Lot’s of will-he-or-won’t he speculation preceded Trump’s decision to have U.S. forces drop bombs in Iran. All kinds of musing on who he was listening to, the strategy options (and consequences) it was said were being considered and evaluated. Then came the “two weeks” comment and THAT got plenty into thinking all Trump’s bluster was just more sabre rattling. Hell, I’ll admit to thinking that was probably true but then we learned Generalissimo and Master of the Universe Trump actually ordered a U.S. airstrike in Iran! Now the question is why and Trump’s cousin Mary says forget about all that complicateed analysis going on. She bluntly states his pride, his fee-fees were butt-hurt so he gave in to impulse and pettiness.
It all boils down to Trumpty-Dumpty’s wounded ego over the whole TACO thing. Trump Always Chickens Out. It GOT to Trump more than anyone knew. Impulse control has never been a trait associated with Trump and out of sheer pettiness over being mocked he lashed out. It’s not a stretch to imagine Trump hearing or reading TACO one too many times and saying ‘TACO? I’ll show you guys!’ and ordering those bombings of three nuclear sites in Iran.
That’s the gist of this article from HuffPost. Mary Trump lest we forget hasn’t only known her cousin Donald his entire life, but is also a trained and respected psychologist. As such she offers insight few others can, even if she’s not been a part of Trump’s regular circle. However she has seen him at times over the years at what passed for Trump family stuff and there are mutual family, friends and acquaintances. So Mary knows more about him than almost anyone who doesn’t have to deal with him day-to-day. Mary also has his number so to speak and has never been shy about speaking up when it comes to Donald’s shortcomings, particularly those related to character and behavior.
Since there’s no one willing to stand up to him when Trump’s pettiness took control of him the attack went into motion. It’s not like somewhere plans didn’t exist for such strikes, it’s just no one in the military thought a President would be crazy enough to do it. Given it was an act of war, and worse a war of choice against an enemy that hadn’t done anything but bluster and delay a “deal” that Trumpty’s delusions of grandeur had him thinking he’d get his Nobel Peace Prize the legality of the order was questionable at best.
General Caine and the other Joint Chiefs should have (and they each had their own JAG to consult with and remind them of the law and the specific provision in the UCMJ about illegal orders) said NO. And resigned if necessary. However after decades of rising through their respective branches the concept of civilian control of the military is ingrained in them. It’s not as easy to refuse an illegal order as those who’ve never served might think. I can assure you presumption of innocence goes out the window. You are by god guilty in the eyes of the system and proving your refusal was the proper thing to do is far from assured.
Trump probably doesn’t know this but he’s got butt-lickers who do that were egging him on so the strikes happened. All because of TACO:
It is long past time that we stop imputing some deeper or reasonable motives to Donald Trump. Despite being depraved and cruel, much like his cohort Benjamin Netanyahu, he is driven by the most primitive impulses that center almost solely around protecting his fragile ego from humiliation (about which he has a pathological terror) and himself from the reality that he is a complete fraud.
According to Mary Trump it’s really nothing more than Donald losing his temper and lashing out – because people were making fun of him using the TACO thing. It only takes a minute to read the rest of her short analysis at the link provided. It’s measured and spot-on. I for one think she’s nailed it.
So Trump chose a disastrous and incredibly dangerous way to show everyone he was a tough guy after all. That the ‘TACO’ talk wasn’t just insulting but wrong. He lashed out and majorly f**ked up in the process. Maybe we need to change TACO to TAFU – Trump Always F**ks Up. He sure as hell did with ordering U.S. Forces to attack Iran directly. Because as his cousin Mary says his feelings were hurt.
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How about, in addition to TACO, we start TOFU (Trump Ordinarily F**ks Up)
Maybe TUFU? At first Trump might like it thinking it’s about him being tough. That would make it all the better when he finds out it means Trump Usually F**ks Up!
Well, you and I have the ball rolling. Everyone else reading this feel free to chime in with your own suggestions.
Back to TOFU – The Orange F**k Up?
Like you, I believe she is spot on. A malignant narcissist is easily wounded, has no insight, and will retaliate everytime…often giving back an exaggerated response, even to imaginary slights. It bothers him not that the world could go up faster than a California wildfire in a 100 mph wind. It’s a zero sum game with him. He either wins, or, if he goes down…he has no qualms about taking the rest of us with him. I’ve never seen any SERIAL KILLER show remorse. All of our personal petty problems could suddenly become less important.
I’m with Mary on this but I’d add other recent humiliations to his motivation: his conspicuously failed birthday parade, his embarrassing unwelcome at the G7, his bad press for his inappropriate dress and behavior in the Vatican and the courts humbling him by blocking his policies. Pile those up and you have a malignant narcissist just waiting to explode.
Puff post, Mary Trump…
I can’t imagine taking either one seriously.