If You Want to Understand Trump, Understand This: Revenge Is What He Cares About Most

[babylonsister]

From January, but seems even more applicable now.

If You Want to Understand Trump, Understand This: Revenge Is What He Cares About Most
That’s what he says.
David Corn
Jan. 30, 2018 1:44 PM


With the recent developments in the Tale of the Mad King—the revelations that President Donald Trump tried to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last year, that Trump was enraged that former FBI director James Comey was allowed to fly back to Washington on an FBI plane after he canned him, that Trump told FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe he should ask his wife what it was like to be a loser, that Trump has supported the release of a dodgy classified memo drawn up by Republican aides that supposedly questions a super-secret surveillance order approved by the Justice Department—there has been much speculation that Trump’s master plan is to remove any institutional obstacle that might impede his ability to give Mueller the boot. That may well be true. Mueller, with his 16 prosecutors highly experienced in money-laundering, organized-crime, white-collar crime, and cybercrime prosecutions, has demonstrated a seriousness of purpose that ought to scare any sentient person on the special counsel’s radar screen. But there could be a more basic motive propelling Trump: his obsession for revenge.

I wrote about this prior to the election (for all the good it did), noting that one constant in Trump’s life was his profound desire to get even and smite any of his detractors. Often he follows this impulse when a reasonable person might conclude it was self-defeating. As I noted back then:

Revenge—it’s a big part of Trump’s life. Following the first presidential debate, he spent days of valuable campaign time (and hours of valuable sleep time) slamming Alicia Machado, the former Miss Universe. At other times during this contest, he could not let go of his feud with Rosie O’Donnell. He tried to smear Judge Gonzalo Curiel, the American-born federal judge hearing a fraud case against Trump University, as a “Mexican” unqualified to preside over this litigation. For days, he derided Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of an Army captain killed in Iraq, after Khizr criticized him during a speech at the Democratic convention. He launched misogynistic attacks against Carly Fiorina and Megyn Kelly. Rather than attempt to unify his party after a divisive primary fight, he threatened to finance future campaigns against GOP rivals, most notably Ohio Gov. John Kasich. He encouraged violence against protesters at his rallies. And there were the mean and nasty nicknames: Lyin’ Ted, Little Marco.

Trump seems to live to settle grudges. For him, retaliation is a religion. But don’t take my word for it. Take his. In speeches and public talks Trump gave in the years before he ran for president, he hailed retribution as an essential element of a success. One example:

In 2011, he addressed the National Achievers Congress in Sydney, Australia, to explain how he had achieved his success. He noted there were a couple of lessons not taught in business school that successful people must know. At the top of the list was this piece of advice: “Get even with people. If they screw you, screw them back 10 times as hard. I really believe it.”

In that article, I cited multiple instances of Trump expressing this sentiment. In an 2007 speech, he shared his first rule of business:

It’s called “Get Even.” Get even. This isn’t your typical business speech. Get even. What this is a real business speech. You know in all fairness to Wharton, I love ’em, but they teach you some stuff that’s a lot of bullshit. When you’re in business, you get even with people that screw you. And you screw them 15 times harder. And the reason is, the reason is, the reason is, not only, not only, because of the person that you’re after, but other people watch what’s happening. Other people see you or see you or see and they see how you react.

more...

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/01/if-you-want-to-understand-trump-understand-this-revenge-is-what-he-cares-about-most/

[BigmanPigman]

1. Very true!

Remember how pissed off he was that Obama made jokes about Birtherism at the 2011 W House Correspondence Dinner? He was plotting revenge that night.

His enormous ego and emotional maturity level of a three year old is not a good combination. He IS dangerous to the safety of the country.

[Skittles]

15. there are people who actually VOTED for that sick fuck to be PRESIDENT

WHAT THE *FUCK* WERE THEY THINKING

[BigmanPigman]

17. Those who voted for him fall into two categories...

1. They DON'T think, they let Fux Ruse do that for them.
2. They make too much money from him to give a damn about anything but getting more and more and more $$$ no matter what it entails (including treason).

[Skittles]

21. how do they make money when repukes crash the economy

repukes are anti-worker and ALWAYS end up costing us more

[BigmanPigman]

22. Taxpayer bail out as usual.

[oberliner]

19. 63 million people

That's not a small number.

[jodymarie aimee]

24. 1/2 of us DID NOT vote

the quarter that voted for him....who the hell knows.....2 choices, and they hated the lady...AND they cheated.

[Butterflylady]

20. They weren't thinking! In there lies the problem.

They only heard want they wanted to hear.

[MicaelS]

25. The thing Trump said.

If people screw you over, then screw them over 10 times as hard.

[Skittles]

26. when has he ever been screwed over?

he has always been an entitled rich bastard who has NEVER been held accountable - he has others do his dirty work for him

[MicaelS]

27. When he gets told "No".

That is what I think.

[Tatiana]

32. They cared more about giving us the finger than having a safe and secure country.

Hope they're having a great time. Heard there are lots of happy Trumpsters in Indiana where Carrier has announced they are sending their jobs overseas.

Selfish, racist, misogynistic morons.

[nadine_mn]

2. It becomes a cycle - each time he "gets even" with one - he makes a dozen new 'enemies'

When he acts so blatantly irrationally and childish against one person (like the Khan family, Comey, members of his own party) it causes people around him - that may have supported him - to say something like "what a fucking moron". And that gets leaked and now he has a new target that he fires via tweet. Then other people say - wtf is wrong with that idiot, he is a danger to our democracy. Oh shit, now he has a new list.

So he just spends his executive time in this ridiculous rage that becomes all-consuming. Like at that rally in PA when he is just muttering "Obama".

I cannot imagine living that way - no wonder he needs to go to bed early and get up late - it has to be exhausting to keep such an extensive list of people to hate, and then add to it daily.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. As usual,we are on the same page.

Agree,it is all about the money and vengeance. Over the years this has always puzzled me ,surprised the East Coast Wise Guys never moved on him.

[dawg day]

5. He's probably too penny-ante to deal with

He brags about being a real big guy, but he's not even that important in real estate.

[Wellstone ruled]

23. Couple of Trump's deals

were so bogus,and thought those who lost their butts would have pulled the plug on this fake.

[malaise]

4. Off to the greatest page

to spread the truth

[Journeyman]

6. ''Anybody ever asks you what the sweetest thing in life is" said Paul Lazzaro . . .

the despicable car-thief from Cicero, Illinois, ''it's revenge.''

Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut (1969)

[Boomerproud]

7. David Corn even says "I wrote about this prior to the election (for all the good it did)."

Well, there you have it. He does it 1) because he has always gotten away with it and 2) the people he damages never fight back and 3) he's dangerous.

[Motley13]

8. I WANT REVENGE!

revenge for trying to destroy our country for your own monetary gain. Not caring in the least for the people, only your own greed.

Not caring in the least for democracy, just your own ego. You are despicable scum & an embarrassment to us and a danger to the whole world, for your stupidity & ineptness

[safeinOhio]

9. Acient wisdom

Before you start a journey of revenge, first dig two graves.

[treestar]

10. What a child

He proves every day he is nothing but a big baby

[Achilleaze]

11. Dirty Donny* and his republican cronies are pissing on Christ's teachings

Disgusting how republicans piss on everything Christ taught. Very anti-



* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief

[Thunderbeast]

12. The Mad King got serious after the Correspondents Dinner

when President Obama ridiculed him in public. After all of the racist "birther" nonsense, Obama made fun of him in a public setting....a venue where self-deprication and good-natured ribbing of politcal opponents is usually laughed off. Not so with Trump. He was seething with anger.

His Presidential campaign began largely as a vendetta against a black man who made fun of him in public.

[TDale313]

31. Yep. Im convinced thats when he decided to run.

It’s also why he will undo or destroy anything- absolutely anything- Obama did or supported as President. He’s a petty, vengeful, insecure little man-child who can never let a perceived slight go. He’s sick- and seriously dangerous.

[Skittles]

13. Trump is a sick, SICK man

[Demovictory9]

14. he gets even with the weak (or weaker).

[Ilsa]

16. Yeah, and Omigrossa said the same thing about him.

All of his critics would have to bow down before him and kiss his huge ass.

[oberliner]

18. That strategy has been very effective for him

Republicans are afraid to utter even a mild rebuke of anything he does for fear of retribution.

[Stuart G]

28. k and r...outstanding post..

[democratisphere]

29. Revenge is important to US too!

Feed him to the sharks!

[HipChick]

30. Good article...however I don't want to understand him, I just want him gone..