Countdown to Extinction: The 2016 Presidential Election

[Madiel]

Just adding a few more cents to our debate about Trump's personality:

"The Art of the Deal" made America see Trump as a charmer with an unfailing knack for business. Tony Schwartz helped create that myth—and regrets it.

(...)

If he were writing "The Art of the Deal" today, Schwartz said, it would be a very different book with a very different title. Asked what he would call it, he answered, "The Sociopath."

Donald Trump's Ghostwriter Tells All

I was coming here to link to the same article. Rather scary.

Not so much for idea that Trump lies, more for the idea that he lies so capriciously and to the extent that he himself appears not to recall the truth.

[Pat B]

I watched various bits of the first night of the Republican convention, including part of Screamin' Rudy's speech, and that by some guy who was apparently on General Hospital. I haven't yet decided whether I prefer this iteration of the GOP to the old Lee Atwater - Karl Rove version.

[Karl Henning]

Nobody does humility better than me, nobody.

[Karl Henning]

I mean, part of it is the breathtaking talent for lying without cease and with no boundaries, almost as if there is no mental filtration beforehand, at all.  Part of it is how utterly deaf he is to any consideration other than the need to puff himself up.

[Brian]

Melania Trump plagiarized two paragraphs from Michelle Obama's 2008 DNC speech. Here's a quick video clip playing the two women's words simultaneously.

https://twitter.com/illct/status/755335336918671362

[Karl Henning]

Sort of says, Vote Democratic!, doesn't it? 

[Madiel]

Melania Trump plagiarized two paragraphs from Michelle Obama's 2008 DNC speech.

It would be more accurate to say that the speech she read out contained two paragraphs plagiarized from the speech that Michelle Obama read out. Authorship is a tricky thing.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Mr Schwartz knows his audience man.

FTFY.

[Karl Henning]

It would be more accurate to say that the speech she read out contained two paragraphs plagiarized from the speech that Michelle Obama read out. Authorship is a tricky thing.

Crooked Melania!

[Ken B]

It would be more accurate to say that the speech she read out contained two paragraphs plagiarized from the speech that Michelle Obama read out. Authorship is a tricky thing.

Exactly. She speaks several languages, but English is not her first or best.This was a speech written for her.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Exactly. She speaks several languages, but English is not her first or best.This was a speech written for her.

Perhaps she should have delivered her remarks in Slovenian . . . .

[Todd]

haven't yet decided whether I prefer this iteration of the GOP to the old Lee Atwater - Karl Rove version.

Lee Atwater was the bomb.

[Karl Henning]

Perhaps she should have delivered her remarks in Slovenian . . . .

Where are they going to find a speech in Slovenian to crib from?

[(poco) Sforzando]

Best "duh" lead line by a NY Times columnist:

"Does anybody else have the sense that Donald Trump is slipping off the rails?"
- David Brooks today

[Ken B]

Where are they going to find a speech in Slovenian to crib from?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/19/short-history-political-plagiarism-melania-trump

[Karl Henning]

Best "duh" lead line by a NY Times columnist:

"Does anybody else have the sense that Donald Trump is slipping off the rails?"
- David Brooks today

My favorite lede from today's on-line Washington Post:

Donald Trump just can't yield the spotlight

For nearly 11 minutes, the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee overshadowed his party's convention with a phone interview that provided no major news.

[Ken B]

Best "duh" lead line by a NY Times columnist:

"Does anybody else have the sense that Donald Trump is slipping off the rails?"
- David Brooks today

I have had that feeling before. And yet he's the nominee and the polls are close. Brooks and I might not be the best judges of where the rails really are.

[Karl Henning]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/19/short-history-political-plagiarism-melania-trump

Of undeniable interest, thanks.  As my opener indicates —

Crooked Melania!

— I am simply giving Melania the quality and character of reaction typical of her spouse.

[Karl Henning]

I have had that feeling before. And yet he's the nominee and the polls are close. Brooks and I might not be the best judges of where the rails really are.

Oh, no room for complacency:  no argument, there.

[(poco) Sforzando]

My favorite lede from today's on-line Washington Post:

FWIW, both "lead" and "lede" are accepted spellings for the same thing.