The Silver Fern

Rembrandt

So you see @Rembrandt this is why there is no balance or varied viewpoints on the political forum. Comment accurately that Trump's letter reads like that of a child, get told it's honest; comment accurately that he's dishonest,

I don't see the issue here at all. You gave your opinion, others gave theirs. No one completely disagreed with the entirety of either of those statements, what they disagreed with was the scale and the intent. We don't all have to agree on a perspective, I don't mind people thinking he is acting like a dishonest child, hell that was my opinion back in 2016, its just not what I think anymore.

As for the rest, sure there are some 'elbows out' but no personal attacks (unless there is something deleted I'm missing?) and I don't see anyone arguing against a point you didn't make, fully understand getting out of it when that happens but I don't see it here.

Rembrandt

@reprobate Dishonesty is comparative, compared to most folk on the street yeah I'd say he's dishonest, compared to other politicians maybe less so.

Certainly he exaggerates for effect much like the tweet you referenced. From what I can tell these exaggerations serve 2 purposes.

Attention and coverage which served him incredibly well to get elected
Claiming ground in a deal ie door-in-the-face technique
..actually maybe also 3) To drive some people insane, he is the master troll

What was that quote from a while back - "Trump haters takes him literally, but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally". Fascinating guy nonetheless and proven many wrong.

Rembrandt

I was going to do a quiet one at home but I happened to be at a Irish bar midweek which was all decked out for the WC so I've now booked a table there. Risky move for sure if results don't go my way (or even if they do...), I'll be the only kiwi rest of the group being an international assortment of friends, not really rugby fans but coming along for a gander anyway.

Rembrandt

@KiwiMurph That post is not going to get likes

Rembrandt

@Duluth Oh right, I thought someone had posted that it had been leaked to the nytimes along with fox, must have misread

Rembrandt

@reprobate I thought it was very non-typical of what I would expect a presidential letter to be. On balance I think it is positive, clearly a plain straight talking politician resonates with many sick of the ultra slick double talk status quo.

If I were to put my Trump 4D chess hat on I'd say perhaps this 'leaked' only so msm would report on it thinking it a win to mock Trump (which they have, hell it was even on the advertising board of the elevator up to my floor this morning)..and in turn exposing more people to his exact words. Some will continue to think him a fool and continue to underestimate him, some will think "hang-on he actually seems like a normal bloke that I can identify with".