December 11, 2015

"Trouble with the catchphrase ['Love trumps hate'] is that no one associates Hillary with love."

Writes Meade in the comments to the previous post about Hillary's new "love" theme, which is assumed to be a response to the perception that Trump represents hate. Is it true that "no one associates Hillary with love"? I was trying to think of her talking about love, and then Meade asserted that it's Trump who's always talking about love, which makes me think of how Trump often talks about how much people love him (as in "The Hispanics love me!").

But I did some research about Trump and love, and I came up with this Ben Smith piece, "I Asked A Psychoanalyst To Explain Donald Trump/'He actually, believe it or not, he has a need to be liked.'"
Stanley Renshon is a sweater-wearing Freudian psychoanalyst who has made a sideline through the years of painstaking psychobiographies of American presidents.... He has read all the [Trump] interviews....

“I think he actually, believe it or not, he has a need to be liked,” says Renshon. “He’ll use the phrase ‘he likes me’ or ‘they like me.’ When somebody uses that phrase often, you have to give credit to the idea that that’s something important to them, their need to be liked."
Renshon rejects the idea that Trump is a narcissist:
“He appears to be a real American nationalist with an observable, if bombastic, love of his country... Obviously a love of country is inconsistent with real narcissism, where there is no room for love of anybody or anything but yourself.... I think he genuinely feels like the country is going to hell, and I think he genuinely feels he can do something about it."
There's that word "love." Love of country. But do you associate Trump with love? You can say "love" a lot....

46 comments:

john mosby said...

Shouldn't this get the "Civility BS" tag?

JSM

Tank said...

Yes, I associate him with love of country.

Unlike the present occupant of the WH, Trump actually loves America.

He is a nationalist more than anything else.

gadfly said...

I totally reject the rejection of Donald Trump's narcissism.

The Bergall said...

Stanley Renshon is a sweater-wearing Freudian psychoanalyst who has made a sideline through the years of painstaking psychobiographies of American presidents.... He has read all the [Obama] interviews....

"I Asked A Psychoanalyst To Explain Barak Obama/'He actually, believe it or not, he has a narcissistic personality disorder.'"

There, fixed it.

tim in vermont said...

I bet he never expected to find an honest psychiatrist when politics was involved. I certainly didn't.

Sammy Finkelman said...

Trump doesn't have a need to be liked.

But he thinks that being liked is a refutation of the claim that he says things that people don't like.

So he claims he is liked by some unlikely people.

It may not be untrue for people who work with him (source: WOR radio substitute host for MArk Simone today)

Freeman Hunt said...

Trump is wild. Trump is loud. But Trump is also warm. If he were a mere cold, hateful blowhard, he'd already be gone. Because he seems to care about what other people think of him and because he has an instinct for comedy, he's likable despite his saying things that most people find disagreeable or absurd.

Freeman Hunt said...

I think people confuse megalomania for narcissism.

Brian McKim and/or Traci Skene said...

Hillary? Love? "Loveless marriage," is the first phrase that comes to mind. Hasn't AA expressed disgust in the past at the idea of psychoanalysis from a distance?

Dan Hossley said...

I'm pretty sure love was in Hillary's heart when told the relatives of the dead from Benghazi that she'd get that pesky youtube videographer. Or when she denied saying that on "This Week" last Sunday, even though 4 people heard her say it. Yeah, Hillary just seeps love. Of course, I could be wrong. It could be lust, not love.

Wince said...

"I was trying to think of her talking about love, and then Meade asserted that it's Trump who's always talking about love, which makes me think of how Trump often talks about how much people love him (as in "The Hispanics love me!")."

Trumpled Under Foot?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ca2wc_06-led-zeppelin-trampled-under-foot_music

Greasy slicked down body, groovy leather trim
I like the way you hold the road, mama, it ain't no sin
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]

Trouble-free transmission, helps your oil's flow
Mama, let me pump your gas, mama, let me do it all
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]

Dig that heavy metal underneath your hood
Baby, I could work all night, believe I've got the perfect tools
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]

A model built for comfort, really built with style
Specialist tradition, mama, let me feast my eyes
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]

Factory air-conditioned, heat begins to rise
Guaranteed to run for hours, mama it's a perfect size
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]

Groovin' on the freeway, gauge is on the red
Gun down on my gasoline, I believe I'm gonna crack a head.
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]
I can't stop talkin' about...

Come to me for service every hundred miles
Baby, let me check your points, fix your overdrive
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]

Fully automatic, comes in any size
Makes me wonder what I did, before we synchronized
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]

Feather-light suspension, Koni's couldn't hold
I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors
Talkin' 'bout love [X3]

Oh, I can't stop talkin' about love.

mikee said...

Hillary is associated with self-aggrandizement, inability to tell the truth, lack of ethics, morals and principals (beyond self-interest), and a need to control others, even to the extent of staying with a serially adulterous husband for decades in order to maintain access to graft and power.

She will make a horrible president, when elected, which she will be, and will do the country and the world more harm than Carter and Obama combined.

Love and Hillary? Only if you equate love with lust for power and craving for control over others.

Bay Area Guy said...

I honestly and genuinely like Trump. He is a breath of fresh air.

Yes, he may be wrong on a ban on Muslim immigration -- but it's totally appropriate to put the issue on the table: What should our immigration policy be towards Muslim immigrants, considering the terrorist threat posed by ISIS and other radical Jihadists?

Now, as for the GOP primary, I'm not sold on Trump. We can like him, but choose not to vote for him, right? There's no acrimony whatsoever. He's certainly not as conservative as Ted Cruz.

So, Yes, Trump is a welcome addition to the political mix, but I'm not gonna vote for him. I'm leaning Cruz or Rubio --the traditional GOP battle between the Conservative stallwart v the establishment candidate. Whomever of the two has the best shot at beating Hillary, I'm for.

According to Real Clear Politics, the aggregate polling for the General has:

Hillary beating Trump by 3
Hillary beating Cruz by 3
Rubio beating Hillary by 2

So, I don't see the need for all the caterwauling about Trump. It's a close election. Trump will either win the nomination or not. If he does win, I think we, the collective knuckle-headed commentariat at Althouse should support him against Hillary. Same, if Cruz or Rubio emerges as the nominee.

But, at this point, I don't know who will ultimately win the primary, and I don't yet know with confidence who will best compete against Hillary -- although Rubio seems to have a slight edge.

Folks are going way overboard in their support of Trump, as if it represents some form of right-wing political catharsis and overboard in their opposition, as if he is Mussolini incarnate.

Trump is a successful businessman/showman. It's not that big of a deal. Calm down.

My 2 cents

J Lee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
J Lee said...

Trump has, for most of his 38 years in he public spotlight, focused his political activism not so much on swaying people, but in gauging what the public is the most angry about at a given moment and then using his ability to gain media attention to show the world that whatever the public is mad about, Donald Trump is angrier than any of them.

It does show a certain desire to be liked by the masses, and is something of an angry swing voter populism. But unlike your average swing voter -- who is profiled as many hanging out near the moderate center of politics, and simply moving a little to the left or a little to the right from time to time -- Trump's been unafraid to tack wildly from one side of the American political spectrum to the other, based on where he sees the public going.

So if the public is angry about the Iraq war or wants the government to do something about rising health care costs, and are blaming Republicans in power for the problems, as was the case in 2007, you end up with a Donald Trump going out in public and angrily calling for what would be considered liberal solutions. Eight years later, with the public angry about immigration and terror threats, Trump's angry from a conservative angle, because that's what he sees the majority of the public is angry about. It does show a desire to please and be liked, though how you maintain that in the White House, when people expect you to have answers for their complaints and act on them, remains to be seen.

traditionalguy said...

One thing lovable about Trump is his concise and succinct use of words. How that becomes Bombast amazes me. I guess they mean the power in his words bowls them over.

Before you tell me off, get his book that he obviously wrote himself, Crippled America, and see how concise and succinctly he presents the issues and the prescribed cures. Not a wasted word anywhere.Just the power of clear thinking which destroys all the mush mouthed liars we are fed.

traditionalguy said...

Trump as a funny comedian a la Groucho Marx is lovable , as Freeman points out. That was what caught my attention in Robin Williams tour de force Good Morning Vietnam Nam.

Jason said...

Has Trump ever thrown a lamp at anybody? Just asking.

David said...

" "I Asked A Psychoanalyst To Explain Donald Trump/'He actually, believe it or not, he has a need to be liked.'"

Seems so. But he also does not give a rat's ass if you don't like him. Always a helpful trait in someone who wants to get things done.

Drago said...

Blogger J Lee: "Trump has, for most of his 38 years in he public spotlight, focused his political activism not so much on swaying people, but in gauging what the public is the most angry about at a given moment and then using his ability to gain media attention to show the world that whatever the public is mad about, Donald Trump is angrier than any of them."

Would you mind identifying the first such instance?

I'm assuming it would be at least 35 years ago given the time frame you put forth as being relevant.

Thanks

CarlF said...

I associate Clinton with love -- she loves money and power.

Ann Althouse said...

"Shouldn't this get the "Civility BS" tag?"

That tag is only about people talking about how we should be civil. There needs to be a discussion of civility, which I consider to be bullshit. It's not for bullshitting generally, and it's not for people just being civil.

garage mahal said...

"Trump cares about people like me!"

No, he doesn't. You are an IDIOT.

Nonapod said...

"Love" isn't a word I've ever associated with Trump. Trump is likeable enough in small doses, but I personally find him tedious after a short period of time. He's kind of like a loud brash uncle at a dinner party who has had too much to drink and is spouting off all his ideas in sort of a jovial way. I have no idea what actually goes on in his head nor do I care to speculate.

And I certainly don't associate "love" with Hillary. She's one part Lady Macbeth and one part Nurse Ratched. She's ruthless and cold.

traditionalguy said...

Hillary's problem is her secrecy. Love is open and shares itself. She cannot risk that. It would take a strength she doesn't have.

Behind closed doors it's another matter. She likely got love from Webb Hubbell and Vince Foster. And her sex addicted husband says , "Hillary has eaten more Pussy than me."

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

It does prove Hillary will say anything...

FullMoon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Skeptical Voter said...

In a word association game, where I was given the three words "Trump" "Love" and "BS'" and asked which two go together, I'd go for Trump and BS every time.

I'm not fond of people who shoot from the lip. But I will grant that Trump, unlike Obama, can give a speech without a teleprompter. And Trump, unlike Hillary, projects a certain amount of personal warmth.

Bilwick said...

Because nothing says "Love" like the Mailed Fist of the State.

Laslo Spatula said...

Sarah's mind once again slipped wistfully into the past, to that One Hot Summer in 1957 in Madison County...

"Miss Sarah, you're so smart, I bet one day you could be President!"

"That's sweet, my Mandingo, but everyone knows a woman could never be President."

"Why is that?"

"Because a woman answers to her Husband, silly. Even if her Husband gave her Permission to be President she would still need to ask her Husband what to do. So people should just elect Him in the first place."

"But you don't have a Husband, and you're smart enough…"

"Mandingo, married or not, women can't be trusted with that kind of Responsibility. It's hard enough for a woman to organize a Knitting Group and still make sure her husband's supper is ready."

"Still…"

"Can you picture a woman President trying to declare War, God Forbid? The other World leaders would just laugh at her, and then she'd have to find a quiet place to have a cry. In fact, the only way I can see a woman thinking she could be President is if she had a head injury or was a drunk."

"I've seen drunk white ladies before. It isn't pretty…"

"You might as well put a Negro as President, for that matter, or a chimpanzee."

"Now THAT'S silly, Miss Sarah."

"That it is, my Mandingo: that it is…"

I am Laslo.

n.n said...

Clever. Hate loves abortion.

Anonymous said...

In the mean time Carson isn't feeling the love and is threatening to leave the Republican Party over the talk of a brokered Convention. He claims Trump will leave too. Interesting times ahead.

viator said...

Trump trumps race?

http://www.diamondandsilkinc.com/videos/2015/12/3/stump-4-trump-video-by-diamond-and-silk-artist-name-convertable

tds said...

so whole Hillary's campaign and her supporters will repeat now a phrase containing word Trump and not containing word Hillary? Primetime clips, buttons, Dems shouting on the streets, signs, ... . Donald Trump has just got himself a free campaign done by his enemies. Genius.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Corn muffins or justice?

Writ Small said...

This is part of what Wikipedia has about narcissism:

Hotchkiss identified what she called the seven deadly sins of narcissism:

1. Shamelessness: Shame is the feeling that lurks beneath all unhealthy narcissism, and the inability to process shame in healthy ways.

2. Magical thinking: Narcissists see themselves as perfect, using distortion and illusion known as magical thinking. They also use projection to dump shame onto others.

3. Arrogance: A narcissist who is feeling deflated may reinflate by diminishing, debasing, or degrading somebody else.

4. Envy: A narcissist may secure a sense of superiority in the face of another person's ability by using contempt to minimize the other person.

5. Entitlement: Narcissists hold unreasonable expectations of particularly favorable treatment and automatic compliance because they consider themselves special. Failure to comply is considered an attack on their superiority, and the perpetrator is considered an "awkward" or "difficult" person. Defiance of their will is a narcissistic injury that can trigger narcissistic rage.

6. Exploitation: Can take many forms but always involves the exploitation of others without regard for their feelings or interests. Often the other is in a subservient position where resistance would be difficult or even impossible. Sometimes the subservience is not so much real as assumed.

7. Bad boundaries: Narcissists do not recognize that they have boundaries and that others are separate and are not extensions of themselves. Others either exist to meet their needs or may as well not exist at all. Those who provide narcissistic supply to the narcissist are treated as if they are part of the narcissist and are expected to live up to those expectations. In the mind of a narcissist, there is no boundary between self and other.


I read this a few weeks back when the narcissim label was first being tossed around, and I immediately thought several applied to Trump. 1) Trump never shows an inclination to apologize or admit fault. 2) Trump routinely says he is the "best" at all manner of things. 3) Trump will personally attack anyone who criticizes him. 4) Trump is routinely contemptuous of his opponents. 5) Trump is constantly talking about how he must be treated with respect although he rarely returns the favor. Both points 6 and 7 go to far. At least we don't have anywhere near the evidence to strongly conclude they apply.

It's inarguable that Trump exhibits several of the classic symptoms of narcissism. Smart narcissists can be extremely charming and entertaining. Whether they should get power over other people's lives is another question.

Bob Ellison said...

Freeman Hunt said, "I think people confuse megalomania for narcissism."

Interesting observation, and one with which I agree.

Does self-admiration really differ that much from obsessive desire for control over others? Trump appears narcissistic. Hillary seems megalomaniac.

It would be nice if the people who sought to lead our government were generally humble. That's the word-- humble-- that trumps both megalomania and narcissism.

But those people aren't that way.

The lust for power is everything for those people.

eric said...

One thing I love about Trump. I do think he loves this country.

MnMark said...

"Love trumps hate"

Why, yes, I *do* love Trump's hate.

I love Trump's hate!
I love Trump's hate!

Sounds like a good slogan to me.

Clyde said...

It's a thin line between love and Hillary.

Michael said...

We all know who the Narcissist-in-Chief is; Trump is an egotist, which is not the same thing. The idea of Hillary as the "love" candidate will make every man's skin crawl. What can she be thinking?

Quaestor said...

Hillary loves power almost as much as she loves money. She doesn't love the country so much, If she did she wouldn't flaunt its laws.

amielalune said...

Look at you changing the subject, Ann -- but in answer to your original question, I doubt that there's a person on earth, including her parents, husband and daughter, who would associate "love" with Hillary. Possibly Huma. Maybe her grandchild someday. But I doubt it.

amielalune said...

By the way, did it really take a psychiatrist to figure out that Trump has a need to be liked????? That profession is SO overpaid.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Wintergreen for Love, Throttlebottom for Vice!

Humperdink said...

The other half of this marriage, our former Commander-in-Heat, falls in love on a regular basis.