Regarding DJT Bragging That He Doesn’t Read Books

[windriverrange]

Politicians should be readers, avid readers of philosophy, economics and history, if nothing else. A well read politician develops a foundation of principles that become the bedrock of his political
Intentions. It allows him to argue persuasively what his intentions are, and show the people that he has thought through his policies.

A poorly read politician, and IMO a disgusting braggart that enthuses he doesn’t read, tends to rule on the basis of sound bites that have a shallow appeal to emotion. There is no there there, it’s just a mishmash of unconnected feelings, with no known foundation. It wanders all over the map, seeking to gain approval of polls. It’s a really dangerous way to run a government. That’s what I think when I think of DJT. I don’t consider my opinion to be trolling.

Biden and Harris are idiots from a different plane. Trump at least has his “gut” to tell him what to do. Those two have nothing. They are blank slates, balls in a pinball game, getting whacked from one position to another, with no understanding of what they are advocating, just doing and saying what they are told to do and say by unknown voices hidden from our view.

As for me I would rather have a leader that I disagreed with but who could articulate what he was attempting to do, based on a well thought out and formulated plan of action that has a strong philosophical foundation, than one who flits from scandal to scandal in a game of political team rivalry. And that kind of leader cannot exist if he refuses to read.

My opinion; food for thought.

Yes of course because all those educated politicians (most of them lawyers) have done such a splendid job of running the country and solving world problems. They continue to thrown billions at failed businesses/industries and don't bat an eye when it becomes obvious the expenses are a waste. Suppose they read many economy books? Just look at the recent peace deals in the Middle East. I have known farmers who couldn't read period, but can fix anything there is on the farm. Who would you rather have running your food production? An illiterate farmer or a book reading politician? You can solve most anything in the world with common sense, intuitive thinking and acting like the money you are prepared to throw away on frivolous crap is your money.

 

[Ponca Dan]

OK.
Sounds good.
Just don't slip me a 'Roofie'.

Pervert...

that would take all the fun out of it!

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

In the first place I never called Trump a Marxist, and never said he is more socialist than Democrats. The link points out that some of Trump’s policies could come straight from the Democrat playbook, the playbook you and others regard as socialist.

The link specifically says neither Trump nor Biden are socialists from the textbook definition, but that the definition has morphed into a different perspective. Our friend, Pilt, for example, a self identified socialist, insists that Norway is a socialist country. And yet Norway fits more closely the definition proffered by the link than the textbook definition.

Lastly I would posit the people in the institutes you do disparage as having never had real jobs would qualify as having real jobs every bit as much as someone who has practiced law. One thing I learned long ago in debate is when your opponent resorts to trashing the character those that disagree with him, rather than argue the merits of his own position, you have won the debate. It was true then, it was true when I was a debate judge as an adult, and it remains true today. I’m surprised a lawyer with 25 years’ experience wouldn’t know that. At any rate I perceive all I have done is make you mad, which has never been my intent. So I’m going to drop off now. I have a busy, busy day tomorrow, I’m going to bed.

P.S. Yes, JD, I know: PA .... AF!

Are you seriously bringing up competitive debate? That sphere is as lacking in substance as the “think tank” world, or the circular reasoning world of your favorite bloggers. At least you haven’t cited the TED-talkers. I suppose we should just give it time. And I haven’t disparaged anyone’s character. I just pointed out that they’re about as useful as tits on a bull.

Regardless, I still don’t see how Trump is leftist (the dirty smelly Che-shirt-wearing leftists)

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

Or perhaps a better way of looking at it, @Ponca Dan ,:

I suppose we can all agree that George Will, Bill Kristol, GuyBenson and the like are all well-read individuals. So WTF good has all their reading done for me?

 

[GoPokes43]

Fascinating! Can you tell us why a marketing major would be your first choice?

Mostly joking about marketing, but woild be fine.. Engineers, accountants, MBA, etc. would probably be among my top choices. Probably useful to have polisci and philosophy folks in support roles or in the legislative branch. But I don't want my leader to be one who thinks he or she knows how to build a society. I want someone who gets the best out of people and listens to them.

 

[my_2cents]

I don’t think we’ve had a particularly well read president since Ronald Reagan.

Laying aside your misguided (but expected) assumptions about Biden and Harris, this statement isn't true. From what I recall, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama were all well read. Clinton was often seen with a book in hand. I can remember George W. Bush and Obama both discussing on a regular basis the books they were currently reading. I remember once listening to W. talk about his study of John Quincy Adams. Obama also made book recommendations as President, and still does (as does Clinton).

Obama Recommendations

Clinton Recommendations

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

This video pretty much sums up how I view the Trump-doesn’t-read-enough crowd.

 

[Ponca Dan]

This video pretty much sums up how I view the Trump-doesn’t-read-enough crowd.

View embedded media

This is more what I have in mind.

 

[Headhunter]

This is more what I have in mind.

View embedded media

Yep, Trump's not an avid novel reader there for he is for book burning.

Makes sense.

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

This is more what I have in mind.

View embedded media

Taliban and Marxists/progressives are the only ones engaging in book burning/censorship.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Yep, Trump's not an avid novel reader there for he is for book burning.

Makes sense.

It’s you and others like SiL that have made this about DJT. My argument centered around all politicians in general, but the three vying to become our leader for the next four years in particular. Trump bellows proudly that he doesn’t read, giving the impression he thinks he doesn’t need it, he already knows all he needs to know. As for Biden and Harris I don’t know if they’ve publicly commented on their reading habits, but I would be very surprised to learn they read books at all.

The clip from Fahrenheit 451 was not posted to say Trump wants to ban books. You settled on novels, but the longest soliloquy was about philosophy and philosophers.

Considering the indifference to books and reading shown by many of the people who commented, one can’t help but think they would not be that concerned about censorship or book burning. Why should they care, they don’t read. Indifference to books or reading, especially when it comes to people that want to control our lives, should be of major importance to all of us.

I don’t think any of the three want to ban or burn books. I don’t think the posters in this thread want to ban or burn books. But I do think the lack of concern about the intellectual development of people who are going to have power over us is a big problem that eventually leads to the world of Fahrenheit 451, or something closely resembling it.

 

[Deepfork]

And yet many of DJT’s policies are at least as socialist as the Democrats. I posted a link a few days ago outlining Trump’s socialist policies. Had you read it you might have a better understanding of the man you support.

Your comment is a perfect example of what I have been saying. You have been willingly manipulated into hating “the left” so much you will support anyone who says he will protect you from them. Even if some of his policies are as “leftist” as the left’s.

Can you be specific about what policies are as left as the Democrats?

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

It’s you and others like SiL that have made this about DJT. My argument centered around all politicians in general, but the three vying to become our leader for the next four years in particular. Trump bellows proudly that he doesn’t read, giving the impression he thinks he doesn’t need it, he already knows all he needs to know. As for Biden and Harris I don’t know if they’ve publicly commented on their reading habits, but I would be very surprised to learn they read books at all.

The clip from Fahrenheit 451 was not posted to say Trump wants to ban books. You settled on novels, but the longest soliloquy was about philosophy and philosophers.

Considering the indifference to books and reading shown by many of the people who commented, one can’t help but think they would not be that concerned about censorship or book burning. Why should they care, they don’t read. Indifference to books or reading, especially when it comes to people that want to control our lives, should be of major importance to all of us.

I don’t think any of the three want to ban or burn books. I don’t think the posters in this thread want to ban or burn books. But I do think the lack of concern about the intellectual development of people who are going to have power over us is a big problem that eventually leads to the world of Fahrenheit 451, or something closely resembling it.

Now you've gone full on drama queen. No one In the trump camp advocates book burning nor have we shown any indifference! to such hypothetical event. You've pulled a page from high school debate with the straw man argument. I'm just greatly pleased with the results trump has produced a couldn't give two shits about what books he reads or doesn't read. Also, the ire that he draws from mattress stains like sys, David, 2 cents make him a very attractive candidate. And you made this thread about DJT when you referenced him in the subject line.

 

[Deepfork]

And yet some of his policies are as socialist as those advocated by Democrats. Do you approve of those policies?

Is Trump a bigger socialist than Biden?

One big talking point that Republicans are hammering against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is that he is a socialist. Vice President Mike Pence has warned that Biden would set America "on a path of socialism and decline." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had already...

finance.yahoo.com

That article starts with a false assumption that Biden's campaign is not Socialist in the true sense of the word. Biden? No, but everyone surrounding him is. Harris, Bernie, AOC, just to name a few. It's been obvious that Biden is just an empty suit as a Trojan Horse for those around him. They'd love to rewrite the Bill of Rights, if not just get rid of it, especially the first 2. They would love to nationalize industry and redistribution of wealth is a constant goal. The democrat party has both outwardly and quietly supported both BLM and Antifa , both either Socialist or in Antifa's case, more anarchist. Might be a good idea for you to "read a book" about socialism.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Now you've gone full on drama queen. No one In the trump camp advocates book burning nor have we shown any indifference! to such hypothetical event. You've pulled a page from high school debate with the straw man argument. I'm just greatly pleased with the results trump has produced a couldn't give two shits about what books he reads or doesn't read. Also, the ire that he draws from mattress stains like sys, David, 2 cents make him a very attractive candidate. And you made this thread about DJT when you referenced him in the subject line.

At no point did I say anyone from the Trump camp advocates censorship or book burning. In fact I specifically said I don’t think you do. You may want to reread what I wrote. Nor did I say you are indifferent to a hypothetical case of censorship or book burning. You made that up out of thin air. I said you have shown an indifference to books and reading, both for yourselves and for those you want to rule you. And I went on to say such indifference will ultimately lead to a Fahrenheit 451 scenario. You are the one in this discussion presenting and knocking down a straw man. BTW, DJT was referenced in the subject line as a path toward questioning the intellectual development Biden and Harris. Your knee jerk reaction that the thread is intended as a slam against Trump is breathtaking. It is a slam against Trump, a well deserved slam IMO, but the main focus was on the other two. The fact you cannot see that is testament to your absurdly blind loyalty to a man that doesn’t deserve it. Trump is preferable to the other two; IMO
vastly preferable. But that does not make him above reproach. He most certainly is not above reproach.

 

[Ponca Dan]

That article starts with a false assumption that Biden's campaign is not Socialist in the true sense of the word. Biden? No, but everyone surrounding him is. Harris, Bernie, AOC, just to name a few. It's been obvious that Biden is just an empty suit as a Trojan Horse for those around him. They'd love to rewrite the Bill of Rights, if not just get rid of it, especially the first 2. They would love to nationalize industry and redistribution of wealth is a constant goal. The democrat party has both outwardly and quietly supported both BLM and Antifa , both either Socialist or in Antifa's case, more anarchist. Might be a good idea for you to "read a book" about socialism.

Neither Biden nor Harris are socialist in the “dictionary definition” sense. They do not advocate government ownership of the means of production. What they do advocate is heavy government regulation and high taxation, which more closely resembles a soft fascism like Mussolini had in Italy. That was one of the primary contentions in the article. Biden and Harris are “socialist” in the modern version of socialism. And unfortunately for us Trump is too, at least more often than any of us want to believe. And the author showed several instances where Trump has been socialist in today’s vernacular. On some policies he has shown to be more “socialist” than his opposition.

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

At no point did I say anyone from the Trump camp advocates censorship or book burning. In fact I specifically said I don’t think you do. You may want to reread what I wrote. Nor did I say you are indifferent to a hypothetical case of censorship or book burning. You made that up out of thin air. I said you have shown an indifference to books and reading, both for yourselves and for those you want to rule

And I went on to say such indifference will ultimately lead to a Fahrenheit 451 scenario. You are the one in this discussion presenting and knocking down a straw man. BTW, DJT was referenced in the subject line as a path toward questioning the intellectual development Biden and Harris. Your knee jerk reaction that the thread is intended as a slam against Trump is breathtaking. It is a slam against Trump, a well deserved slam IMO, but the main focus was on the other two. The fact you cannot see that is testament to your absurdly blind loyalty to a man that doesn’t deserve it. Trump is preferable to the other two; IMO
vastly preferable. But that does not make him above reproach. He most certainly is not above reproach.

Just reread your words:

Considering the indifference to books and reading shown by many of the people who commented, one can’t help but think they would not be that concerned about censorship or book burning. Why should they care, they don’t read. Indifference to books or reading, especially when it comes to people that want to control our lives, should be of major importance to all of us.

 

[Ponca Dan]

Just reread your words:

Considering the indifference to books and reading shown by many of the people who commented, one can’t help but think they would not be that concerned about censorship or book burning. Why should they care, they don’t read. Indifference to books or reading, especially when it comes to people that want to control our lives, should be of major importance to all of us.

Keep reading, my friend. You will come to the part where I write I don’t think you want to burn books. If you’re going to quote me, include the whole thing.