28 Comments
User's avatar
Ma's avatar

Trump is making a bigger fuss over the algae in the reflecting pool than he is about the war with Iran. Just let the level of insanity sink in.

Theodora30's avatar

I love that he accused Jonathan Carl of vandalizing the reflecting pool because he held up a part of the peeling liner to show viewers.

Negative assertions without evidence = slander

Yaska's avatar

He's a megalomaniac and dumber than dirt. And there are no guardrails in place to prevent this from ever happening again. This is absolutely, without a doubt, the most idiotic and effed-up timeline.

Charles's avatar

He also has no leadership skills of any kind. Leaders set visions, establish goals and then find ways to achieve them. Trump does none of these things. He's bombastic and vindictive. IMHO, these are not the characteristics of successful leaders.

Cindy's avatar

His whole life of screwing up is perfectly encapsulated in this episode. He doesn't hire or consult experts in managing a shallow pool that is 100 years old. He simply hires someone because "I know a guy". He gives them an exorbitant amount of money, which isn't his BTW, and predictably, it's a clusterf***. And the MAGAts still explain away his bad business management, numerous bankruptcies, etc. The only thing he seems to be good at is corruption, of which this is another example. I wonder how much he got in kickback money.

Sun's avatar
2dEdited

I wonder whether that guy even got the money.

PTW's avatar

This is the most likely scenario, especially since the job was botched. Donald wouldn't even pay the technicians if he didn't like the sound system or lighting during his klan rallies.

Scott Shershow's avatar

Thanks for this brilliant essay, which I find to be the very best on this subject that has come to my attention.

Jonathan D. Simon's avatar

All just too true, Paul. And Trump is Caligula or the Mad Hatter with nukes.

But I think there is a dimension here worth taking note of: From the Big Big Lie to all these Little Big Lies, Trump is -- semi-consciously, at least -- building, adding to, and fortifying his Cult Mythology. This Vandalism Whopper takes its place, along with the Stolen Sacred Landslide et al., as an article of faith that determines membership in the base/cult. The more absurd the whopper, the stronger the bonding adhesive for the believers.

Trump has long since given up on general popularity -- his salvation lies strictly with the unwavering support of his rabid (and well-armed) base/cult.

Lest we forget, Christianity (along with other major religions) also began with a Whopper of Faith ("Et resurrexit, et resurrexit ... cum sancto spirito in gloria dei patris! etc. etc.") and somehow managed to pull through. Trump, deluded messiah that he is, is putting his eggs in that basket. A very different epoch, to be sure -- but still plenty dangerous.

Jeffrey Jon Bode’'s avatar

Anyone who had a pool repair go bad should complain, to the repairer, not accuse others.

Bombay Troubadour's avatar

His insanity on the reflecting pool has achieved its desired outcome, we’re still talking about it.

Jane Clarke's avatar

No, he’s been insane for a really long time

Vanessa Sheridan's avatar

Driving him mad? I think that ship sailed a long time ago

jeff cooper's avatar

more trump lies article 25 now

Christine B.'s avatar

Does he not realize that it isn't that HE is the most powerful person to have ever lived, it's modern American Presidents as a whole? If he stands astride the globe, so did Joe Biden.

Sun's avatar

I think the technical term is psychosis.

Eddie's avatar

It's a short drive to madness for a hacker that makes everyone pretend he doesn't cheat on the course greens.

Ron Bravenec's avatar

Absolutely hilarious opening, Paul!

I have also been of the opinion that Trump is an idiot savant: an idiot in all things other than the con.

Stephen S. Power's avatar

Best. Opening graf. Ever.