This doesn’t seem to have a whole lot to do with what we’re talking about. While in public and on Twitter Trump (unlike modern Presidents before him) constantly treats people like shit and talks about things that don’t even remotely matter. I see this “he doesn’t have a filter” trotted out like it should be a badge of honor. That’s the problem. Other presidents recognized the power of their words and behavior towards others in public. Trump doesn’t. If your parents or grandpa acted like he does you’d seek medical help because you know they aren’t right.
I believe more of what other Presidents have said than Trump. Trump makes it all up and will just tell you shit like no one knows more about wind or viruses or whatever else. All politicians Stetch the truth and try to spin to make them look good. But none of them have lied with the frequency of Trump and it’s not even close.
We’ll agree that all politicians lie. To me it doesn’t matter if one tells 10 lies and another 50. Few of them can be trusted which is why I put little stock into what they say publicly. Everybody who matters in politics knows this to be true and I don’t think they put much credence into what another politician says publicly. It’s whats being said and done behind closed doors that really matters.
Did you believe Bush when he said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Or when Obama said you could keep your health plan? Or when Clinton said he did not have sexual relations with Monica?
I get that you have an abiding hatred of Trump but does it really matter if he’s lied more than past Presidents? Isn’t a liar a liar? If someone is a liar why does it matter if they say all the “right” things if you know it’s likely BS? People are too focused on how politicians make them feel instead of focusing on what they are doing and until that changes we’ll continue politics as usual. You’ll have a lot less angst once you realize neither side cares anything about you other than your vote and will say anything to get that.
We’ll disagree it was a mistake rather than a lie. Do you think a thief who steals $1000 from you has committed an act worse than one who only steals $200?
Without getting too much into a philosophical discussion here, intent matters as well. Intent isn’t always clear or even possible to determine, but it matters.
Who would you judge more harshly, a thief who took $1000 out of a bag with $10,000 in it?
or…
A thief who took $200 from three different people, leaving each with nothing?
So what? We decided long ago that yes, there’s a meaningful difference if you rob someone of $200 versus $2,000. Because there is, and our justice system reflects it.
Well in my very simple and contrived scenarios I’d say the thief who took $200 caused more harm, because his victims now have no money.
Who knows though? Maybe that $1000 was to pay for a life-saving operation for an orphan that will now be impossible, leading to the orphan’s preventable death.