New York Times board: Trump 'turns to mush' around strongmen

[DonViejo]

BY REBECCA SAVRANSKY - 11/14/17 10:45 AM EST

The editorial board of The New York Times blasted President Trump amid his trip abroad, saying he "turns to mush" in the presence of "strongmen."

In a column published Monday, the editorial board wrote that authoritarian leaders have a "strange and powerful attraction" for Trump.

"As his trip to Asia reminds us, a man who loves to bully people turns to mush — fawning smiles, effusive rhetoric — in the company of strongmen like Xi Jinping of China, Vladimir Putin of Russia and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines," the board wrote.

"Perhaps he sees in them a reflection of the person he would like to be." The board said Trump's "obsessive investment in personal relations" might work for a real estate dealmaker. "But the degree to which he has chosen to curry favor with some of the world’s most unsavory leaders, while lavishing far less attention on America’s democratic allies, hurts America’s credibility and, in the long run, may have dangerous repercussions," the board wrote.

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/360270-nyt-on-trump-a-man-who-loves-to-bully-people-turns-to-mush-in-company-of

[SharonAnn]

1. Of course. That's what bullies do.

[Solly Mack]

7. Exactly.

[Adrahil]

14. +1000!

This is not a surprise. He's all bluster and bullshit. Xi and Putin are the real deal. They have real blood on their hands. They are not some fake hucksters hustling the rubes. Meanwhile, you can dazzle the dotard by rolling out the red carpet and having a military parade in his honor. What a fucking embarrassment.

[Larrybanal]

16. and sadly

his supporters think he pulled off a huge coup and all the world leaders have soooooo much respect for our dotard.

[Adrahil]

17. Sadly true. NT

[pangaia]

2. True. But, maybe 'we' shouldn't bait him.

He might take the bait...

[Zambero]

3. Trump the "Strongman": All authoritarian hat and no cattle

The big bad bully-in-chief goes full-tilt juvenile with little fingers afly on Twitter. However, Trump intuitively senses the pecking order when in the company of these people. He is subservient and at the same time envious that he cannot lay claim to the same level of uncontested power and absolute control. Even evil-doers require a measure of intelligence and discipline, so Trump will have to be content with being a starstruck groupie in their midst.

[maddiemom]

8. On the other hand, remember him shoving the prime minister of Montenegro

aside, stepping in front of group while straightening his lapels? Perfect counterpoint to his groveling and fawning over Putin. Screams "Bully!"

[VOX]

10. I saw that clip again the other night...

It’s shameful, and horribly embarrassing. Although not to The Shover, obviously.

He’s an incredibly horrible person.

[Captain Stern]

4. He kisses their asses like a little boy meeting Batman.

That analogy belongs to Jimmy Kimmel, and he wasn't talking about Trump when he used it, but I think it applies here.

[Gothmog]

5. Trump is a weak man

[Achilleaze]

6. The obvious submissiveness of the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief is shameful

If he can't be a bully a-hole, he's a chubby subby whimp. Sad.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. that black or white form of thinking really defines him

He filters people and places and himself into a paradigm of
winner-loser
rich-poor
friend-enemy
good-bad
bully -victim

You HAVE to be one or the other, no shades of grey.

[FSogol]

9. K & R. n/t

[Puzzler]

12. K&R (n/t)

[Hamlette]

13. Trump is a submissive around his dominatrixes/dictators.

If you've ever tried this brand of role play, or read about it, you see it right away. I can even see Melania in leather.

[dalton99a]

20. +1

[marble falls]

15. So the Donald is a fan boy. 'Splains a lot.

[BobTheSubgenius]

18. I don't think it's because matter within him changes density.

I think it's more like an hourglass, only instead of sand exiting his head and filling his body, it's mush. I have no idea what this much consists of, but if it's polenta, oatmeal, or other kinds of mush I like, please don't tell me, if you know.

[Crash2Parties]

19. Just to point out, he has pending business deals in each of those three countries...