Here is what I am picking up on about Trump's Speech tonight, Tuesday. I realize most of my thoughts make "logical" sense based on previous Trump actions, even if I wasn't "picking up anything".
It will be a speech which will play on people's emotions and purposely be divisive. He will use people's fears of wanting to protect what is theirs from in infestation of what he portrays as vermin (immigrants) and evil. While the expensive cost for the wall may be discussed, I believe the greater cost will be to Trump in the end when all is said and done. There may be some unusual or bizarre results. Perhaps fresh faces get involved, a new wave. There will be a ripple effect, or something stronger. I believe his decision will ultimately involve the courts. Any celebrating will be premature. I don't know where a new wave or the bizarre part comes into play but perhaps it is related to the government shutdown. Something will rally people to get involved.
The ancient Greeks said to never look directly at Medusa or you will be turned to stone. I won't listen to this speech. My psychic firewall isn't thick enough to keep out the darkness.
I am sitting in a busy doctor's office waiting for someone whose having surgery. It's hard to be psychic right now with all this commotion and a television going. When I get home I'll tune in again and see if I get anything different. I can't tell if what I'm getting is just tuning into the man's usual M.O. or tuning into the actual speech and its effects.
Here's what is coming to me:
I wish the press would avoid covering the speech. I feel sorry for anyone who has to listen to such darkness.
Trump's history is to channel hype with little regard for truth. He will channel dark energy from the gods of hate and lies, scapegoating and blame.
Only Trump doesn't sound dark to those who fall for the hype. He sounds reasonable, even cuddly, at times, then he mimics toughness and decisiveness. Sometimes when I forget to not listen, I too pick up the reasonableness and his belief that he is saving America from perpetrators. Although even he doesn't really believe all that he says. It's a role he goes into.
The New York Times and other media will fact-check the speech, and that would be worth reading so you will better understand the truth of our borders and the people who are seeking asylum there. The Republican viewers and Fox News watchers will not be given fact checking on the speech.
(Note: Unbiased factchecking organizations have given Fox the highest error rate of any mainstream news organization.)
The speech is potentially dangerous. Words can be dangerous. My concern is that he will build a case to call a national emergency if the Dems don't give him a border wall. A wall is not dangerous by itself. It's the scapegoating that's dangerous. And also it's his using the excuse of calling a national emergency to stretch the limits of our Constitution that is dangerous. He keeps trying to stretch the limits of democracy. I'm not alone in feeling since 2016 that if unimpeded he would move in this direction to go full authoritarian.
I hope when I get home and throw cards that I will not see that this is going to be Trump's big moment, the one in which he morphs into the fascist terrible (French pronunciation of terrible) that I believe he is capable of becoming.
He will blame the democrats for the problem which he will say now has reached crisis proportions. He will make immigrants look like perpetrators upon our society, along with democrats and the liberal press.
He hasn't figured out the whole speech yet because he likes to work on inspiration in the moment. He feels the collective as he speaks and channels darkness.
Will this be a Mark Anthony Julius Caesar moment where a clever orator sways the crowds? I hope not.
Enough. Not going to watch it.
I will take a walk in the woods or a soothing bath and send prayers to the immigrants instead.
Lovendures, I read your awesome post after finishing mine to stay independent. I love what you wrote. I feel comforted by it.
I want to add that whether or not Trump's speech has an effect, I agree with you that the fallout for him will ultimately be to discredit him and the direction he takes.
Remembering Joseph McCarthy, the alcoholic anti-Communist witch hunter of the 1940's and 50's. The press ultimately brought him down with truth and integrity and his name burns in infamy.
In case any of you want to join those calling the networks to protest the airing of DJT's speech tonight here are some phone numbers:
CNN: (404) 827-1500
ABCNetwork : (800) 230-0229
NBCNews : (212) 664-4444
FoxNews: (888) 369-4762
CBSNews : (212) 975-3247
Jeanne and Lovendures,
Thank you for sharing your comments. I agree with everything you both have stated. I have no intention of watching the speech. In fact, for the past 2+ years, I have changed the channel or put the television on mute whenever Trump is on. I can't be exposed to his energy; it feels like I'm dealing with a psychic vampire. I now find myself turning off the TV whenever S.Sanders and McConnell are on as well.
This morning I'd heard some people on MSNBC discussing why the networks are even broadcasting his speech. They stated that the speech will be political, rather than factual news, and questioned why they are choosing to air it. They added that back in 2013, the networks didn't broadcast Obama's immigration speech because they considered it too political! So one can assume that they are choosing to broadcast Trump's speech because it will pull in ratings. Sadly, it's always the bottom line, isn't it?
I feel like this speech is a pivotal moment, a real turning point. The networks will be instrumental in getting this fireball rolling, because they are airing the speech. I see a fireball picking up speed and causing some destruction, but eventually petering out. Perhaps this ties into what Lovendures said about the bizarre results and how it might relate to the shutdown, and what Jeanne stated about the Constitutional challenge Trump may present to us. I started feeling physically ill this afternoon, which further confirms for me where things might be headed. But for as heavy as this feels, and as challenging as this will be, the turning point I mentioned earlier is actually a good one. I feel it in my core. I get this "Ahhh..." -- an exhale. I feel an angel standing behind me as I say this. I don't need to see the outcome to know that a positive end is in sight.
Wishing you all peace and blessings.
At this point, I think that the speech is an another distraction from the Mueller investigations, where Mueller was granted an extension.
On a lighter note, maybe Trump is just going through the terrible twos and we should just read Dr. Spock for advice. Dana Milbank, WAPO columnist, uses the famous pediatrician to understand Trump in his third year. Pretty hilarious:
That's really funny, Jeanne! I often read Dana Milbank and love his insightful humor.
Nothing good is going to come out of this just lies and lies and also he gets to play President ? i will not watch him talk I never liked to. He makes me sick when I hear him talk. This whole speech is being written by Stephen Miller. when is he departing this administration? Everyone else had why not him.
Ditto to what's already been said. Psychologically speaking, Trump really is a little boy who just wants attention, and I refuse to patronize his neediness. Most modern autocrats thrive in the spotlight of the 24/7 media (think about Putin's annual call-in television show), and this speech is just par for the course.
For anyone who wants some facts about the border situation, this New York Times story sums it up well.
Key points:
- Trump's "own government’s assessments conclude that Mr. Trump has seriously overstated the threat. And counterterrorism officials and experts said there had never been a case of a known terrorist sneaking into the country through open areas of the southwest border."
- Even the The White House itself, in a recent document on border security measures, did not include any mention of the need to construct walls, fences, or barriers.
- "The U.S. Intelligence community says cyberattacks are the top threat to the United States — not terrorists at the border."
“There is no wave of terrorist operatives waiting to cross overland into the United States,” Nicholas J. Rasmussen, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said on Tuesday. “It simply isn’t true.”