I'm most of the way through, I never really thought (at least I don't think I did) that Trump was an actual Russian agent. I do think he's particularly vulnerable to manipulation of his ego, and...
I'm most of the way through, I never really thought (at least I don't think I did) that Trump was an actual Russian agent. I do think he's particularly vulnerable to manipulation of his ego, and that Putin has wanted Trump elected over the alternatives, and that Putin has manipulated Trump. Perhaps Trump has manipulated him back, but we don't typically see Putin's day to day here in the US. I'm less convinced of that.
I do think Trump is a mixture of manipulating us and waving in the wind of whatever he's fixated on which also comes from others manipulation of him. See the South African fixation - does he truly believe in this "genocide" or does he know it's a lie? Either way why has this come up now? Because I don't think that he's ever noticed it before. Whether this is Musk, Miller or a video he saw on social media, his machine is in full "lie to the President of South Africa" mode. And that's the part that sort of flummoxes some of the steelmanning of Trump's intentions, I think his intentions are far less straightforward.
But I agree that Europe needs to stop trying to "educate" him. I'm not sure if they aren't just trying to manipulate him on top of what looks like negotiating to the public. But I do agree that he is not needing convinced that he's being strung along.
Trump is a Russian asset. The question is whether he: 1: Was actually recruited by Russia, possibly because they have blackmail material on him 2: Happens to have goals that align with Russia 3:...
Trump is a Russian asset. The question is whether he:
1: Was actually recruited by Russia, possibly because they have blackmail material on him
2: Happens to have goals that align with Russia
3: Is an accidental useful idiot
2 and 3 are certainly true. I think that #1 is also most likely.
You said you don't think he is a Russian agent. If find it surprising when people say this. First of all, because his behavior is almost indistinguishable from whether or not he's actually an agent. Second of all, there is so much evidence that he has had a lot of dealings with Russia, he has pro-Russian statements that happened after he first returned from Russia, and they clearly have had financial power over him for a long time, he's had a lot of top advisors that are directly tied to Russia.
Here's an article about All of Trump's ties to Russia. I'm not sure what metaphor I can use for something that is way more serious than a smoking gun.
There are so many scandals about Trump that I think people forget how uniquely horrible he is in every way.
Did you watch the video? Because I'm responding to the video. I absolutely think he's willing to do things for Russia, but I don't think he's an "agent" in the sense that he's controlled by...
Did you watch the video? Because I'm responding to the video.
I absolutely think he's willing to do things for Russia, but I don't think he's an "agent" in the sense that he's controlled by Russia. That to me is separate from "being all in with the Russian mob/oligarchs/being paid to say shit." because as president he is not always "all in" on Russia's agenda. I think the video made some good points along those lines. I also think he's very easily manipulated by his ego and before and during his first term I'm sure his ego was being stroke sufficiently. I don't see the same enthusiasm now.
I'm not defending the man, I'm putting the blame on him rather than on Putin.
I don't think the phrase "Russian Agent" is a useful term at all, as it brings false assumptions - an agent is a subordinate in a hierarchy , whereas with Trump and Putin it's pretty obvious that...
I don't think the phrase "Russian Agent" is a useful term at all, as it brings false assumptions - an agent is a subordinate in a hierarchy , whereas with Trump and Putin it's pretty obvious that the whole game is about incentives, beliefs/desires/preferences, and power dynamics. Trump will support Putin when he has a mix of incentives and prefers to, and will throw Putin under a bus with the same.
Like, I feel like people are applying post-WW1 State Hierarchy logic to something that's closer to Medieval Feudalism logic, where the state is the King and international diplomacy is how the King feels about other kings, and how those kings feel about the King. It's like asking if Charlemagne had a 401k.
Trump has a solid working relationship with Putin and is probably friends with him enough that he wants to work with him, but Putin doesn't have any power over Trump - frankly, there's no level of blackmail that could actually sink Trump at this point, and if Putin tried to use his blackmail then Trump would be giving Ukrainian generals seats in the Pentagon's Situation Room.
I'm most of the way through, I never really thought (at least I don't think I did) that Trump was an actual Russian agent. I do think he's particularly vulnerable to manipulation of his ego, and that Putin has wanted Trump elected over the alternatives, and that Putin has manipulated Trump. Perhaps Trump has manipulated him back, but we don't typically see Putin's day to day here in the US. I'm less convinced of that.
I do think Trump is a mixture of manipulating us and waving in the wind of whatever he's fixated on which also comes from others manipulation of him. See the South African fixation - does he truly believe in this "genocide" or does he know it's a lie? Either way why has this come up now? Because I don't think that he's ever noticed it before. Whether this is Musk, Miller or a video he saw on social media, his machine is in full "lie to the President of South Africa" mode. And that's the part that sort of flummoxes some of the steelmanning of Trump's intentions, I think his intentions are far less straightforward.
But I agree that Europe needs to stop trying to "educate" him. I'm not sure if they aren't just trying to manipulate him on top of what looks like negotiating to the public. But I do agree that he is not needing convinced that he's being strung along.
Trump is a Russian asset. The question is whether he:
1: Was actually recruited by Russia, possibly because they have blackmail material on him
2: Happens to have goals that align with Russia
3: Is an accidental useful idiot
2 and 3 are certainly true. I think that #1 is also most likely.
You said you don't think he is a Russian agent. If find it surprising when people say this. First of all, because his behavior is almost indistinguishable from whether or not he's actually an agent. Second of all, there is so much evidence that he has had a lot of dealings with Russia, he has pro-Russian statements that happened after he first returned from Russia, and they clearly have had financial power over him for a long time, he's had a lot of top advisors that are directly tied to Russia.
Here's an article about All of Trump's ties to Russia. I'm not sure what metaphor I can use for something that is way more serious than a smoking gun.
There are so many scandals about Trump that I think people forget how uniquely horrible he is in every way.
Did you watch the video? Because I'm responding to the video.
I absolutely think he's willing to do things for Russia, but I don't think he's an "agent" in the sense that he's controlled by Russia. That to me is separate from "being all in with the Russian mob/oligarchs/being paid to say shit." because as president he is not always "all in" on Russia's agenda. I think the video made some good points along those lines. I also think he's very easily manipulated by his ego and before and during his first term I'm sure his ego was being stroke sufficiently. I don't see the same enthusiasm now.
I'm not defending the man, I'm putting the blame on him rather than on Putin.
I don't think the phrase "Russian Agent" is a useful term at all, as it brings false assumptions - an agent is a subordinate in a hierarchy , whereas with Trump and Putin it's pretty obvious that the whole game is about incentives, beliefs/desires/preferences, and power dynamics. Trump will support Putin when he has a mix of incentives and prefers to, and will throw Putin under a bus with the same.
Like, I feel like people are applying post-WW1 State Hierarchy logic to something that's closer to Medieval Feudalism logic, where the state is the King and international diplomacy is how the King feels about other kings, and how those kings feel about the King. It's like asking if Charlemagne had a 401k.
Trump has a solid working relationship with Putin and is probably friends with him enough that he wants to work with him, but Putin doesn't have any power over Trump - frankly, there's no level of blackmail that could actually sink Trump at this point, and if Putin tried to use his blackmail then Trump would be giving Ukrainian generals seats in the Pentagon's Situation Room.