This is one of the best descriptions of Trump—ever—by a British writer.
Someone on Quora asked “Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England wrote the following response:
A few things spring to mind.
Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem.
For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed.
So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.
Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever.
I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman.
But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.
Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.
And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults – he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.
There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface.
Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront.
Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.
And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.
Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that.
He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat.
He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.
And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.
That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead.
There are unspoken rules to this stuff – the Queensberry rules of basic decency – and he breaks them all. He punches downwards – which a gentleman should, would, could never do – and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless – and he kicks them when they are down.
Love it..Posted it at Oped. Thanks
Here’s a good one, too: https://www.laprogressive.com/rightwing-conspiracy-theory/?utm_source=LA+Progressive+NEW&utm_campaign=b1802aa695-LAP_News_4_15_April_17_PC4_15_2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_61288e16ef-b1802aa695-286983695&mc_cid=b1802aa695&mc_eid=89923fe117
What an accurate picture of Trump the Terrible! Gotta love the Brits, their guiding principles and their incredible insights! Trump. the shallow tyrant-wannabe, is described here to a “t”!
This Brit captured the essence of our supreme ugly American. It confounds me that so many Americans continue to support this lying, vulgar, shallow narcissist.
Nate nailed it.
The punchline is good: “And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.”
It reminds me of the Orwell (probably my favorite writer) entitled “What Is Fascism?”
http://alexpeak.com/twr/wif/
Orwell concludes:
Perfect, FLERP!
Dick Whittington is an English folk hero who started out poor but raised himself up by virtue of his ownership of a cat who cleared the pantry and merchant ships of his employer. In the stories, the plucky Dick becomes Mayor of London and is known for his charity. So, he is kind of the anti-Trump. One delightful part of the Dick Whittington tale is that early on, Whittington, running away from home, overhears bells ringing out “Dick Whittington, Mayor of London.” And it is said that bells continue to do this. Love this tale!!!!
He is a kind of Jabba the Hut of privilege.
Donald (“J” for Jabba) the Trump
Pitch perfect. Several months ago I found myself wishing Evelyn Waugh or Kingsley Amis (or, on this side of the pond, H.L. Mencken or Paul Fussell) had lived to see and write about Trump.
But this squib suffices nicely.
Squib. What great word choice!
Or Christopher Hitchens had he survived to see Trump’s election!
“Christopher Hitchens admired wit, rigorous argument, erudition, and honesty. Thus, he would naturally despise Trump and find his administration abominable.”
To whom it may concern
Dear all readers:
This article describes very truthfully. I have to agree with the last sentence from retired teacher as above:
“It confounds me that so many Americans continue to support this lying, vulgar, shallow narcissist.”
IMHO, most of today billionaires and millionaires, like Walmart owner, Koch brothers, Amazon owner, Testlar owner, all charter education owners … are very similar to Trump as the article’s description.
We must wait and see “the” awaken REAL humanity in all of the billionaires and millionaires. Not because people have the human being form of head and four limbs with full of organs like brain and heart of red blood plus more…, we automatically consider them as human.
Contrarily, some animals are having much more humanity love in their mind and behavior. For example, some of apes, whales, raccoons.. save people and other animals in trouble.
I appreciate to read words of wisdom from all wonderful, wise retired educators in this blog.
Yours truly,
Almost dying faithfully reader.
Dear May,
How are you? I did not like the way you signed your comment. Please assure us that you are NOT “almost dying…”
Dearest Dr. Ravitch:
Thank you for your kindness and patience plus extremely tolerance to “bully” people whether they are not human being or are uneducated = impossibly cultured or civilized.
I had been half dead since I had second stroke. My voice and my walking, sitting and standing are misery. Since I am not an Alzheimer yet, I still can think and write properly.
Pattern of one life is dependent on each person who is cultivated or not. However, all educators are patiently educating uneducated or uncivilized people who can be rich or poor. I cannot control my intermittent thought. It is very frustrated. It makes my blood pressure being so high. I am almost dying sooner. Sigh!!!
Always love you,
May
May-
May your health continue and permit you to remain one of the wonderful guests who share perspective in Diane’s living room.
“.. in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.”
True, and paradoxical, I think, in light of the long history of the British Empire, which has not always behaved as though these people were their heroes.
Love this. So funny. Sometimes the Brits’ dour demeanor is useful in understanding. 😄😄😄
Joe
________________________________
May I distribute this freely, please?
The bullying characteristic is what makes Trump attractive to the religious right. American religious leaders acting as representatives for about 50% of the population positioned and legitimized Trump as God’s weapon hammering out his will- authoritarian control for the benefit of the rich.
Church congregations could challenge and stop their leaders from citing religious affiliations when the leaders champion Republican candidates. They don’t.
Result- 11 GOP women, no black people, in the U.S. House, 186 GOP men.
Voiceless and vulnerable- women and the 99%.
So how would Brits characterize Boris Johnson?
Just wondering….especially since he has copied many of Trump’s bullying tactics.
That would be interesting to read.
One difference between Boris Johnson and Donald Trump is that Johnson is a graduate of Oxford and is well educated, whereas Trump appears never to have read a book.
And Trump and Trump Jr. are graduates of the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania. I will quote the Guardian on Boris at Oxford, where he had
“membership of the Bullingdon Club, an upper-class drinking society renowned for its casual vandalism of other people’s rooms, property and feelings.”
Boris made up a quote in his first job, got fired, and still managed to get a job at a different newspaper. Later:
“The chilling tape of his conversation with his friend Darius Guppy, a convicted fraudster, in which he agreed to help Guppy with his plan to beat up a journalist, also came to light.”
It’s amazing what privilege makes people forget. Boris’ history of bullying and spouting whatever lie or position will get him power certainly rivals Trump’s. (He famously wrote two columns, one arguing for and one against Brexit.)
Well put indeed!
I would add “jabba the hut with fake hair”
He does hit those who are down AND cannot fight back. A perfect coward.
Easiest song paradoy ever!
You’re a mean one, Mr. Trump
You really are a heel
You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel, Mr. Trump
You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel!
You’re a monster, Mr. Trump
Your heart’s an empty hole
Your brain is full of spiders, you’ve got garlic in your soul, Mr. Trump
I wouldn’t touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!
You’re a vile one, Mr. Trump
You have termites in your smile
You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Trump
Given a choice between the two of you I’d take the seasick crocodile!
You’re a foul one, Mr. Trump
You’re a nasty-wasty skunk
Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch
Trump
The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote
“Stink, stank, stunk!”
You’re a rotter, Mr. Trump
You’re the king of sinful sots
Your heart’s a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mr. Trump
Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful
Assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots!
You nauseate me, Mr. Trump
With a nauseous super “naus”!
You’re a crooked dirty jockey and you drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Trump
You’re a three decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce!
Spot on, sir!! So many of us iU.S. citizens agree with you. These have been frightening and disheartening times for us. Thank you for sharing these words. It helps to know we are not alone.
When did he write this?