George Lakoff: exposing Donald Trump

Somebody finally pulled back the curtain on Donald J. Trump? Maybe Donald Trump has hypnotized the USA, maybe even the whole globe, with his crazy, brilliant tweets. At least somebody figured it out—and his name is George Lakoff, a retired UC Berkeley professor.

Lakoff looks like the cheery professor from Central Casting. He’s full of smiles and a nice tone of voice when he gets interviewed by Ari Melber, a MSNBC anchor. Lakoff smiles but doesn’t get fooled by Trump. He acknowledges Trump is always strategic in his tweeting. And Trump, above all, is a salesman.

Lakoff explains how Trump’s marketing genius works. There are four distinct types of tweets, according to the good professor:

Trump’s Tweets

1)   Preemptive framing

2)   Diversion

3)   Deflection

4)   Trial balloons

The mob howls for Trump to put down his cellphone. How absurd? Trump has the media, his liberal antagonists, the world leaders, including our allies, hanging on his every word. Drop the tweeting... no way. That's like asking Paul Bunyan to get rid of the axe or telling Robin Hood to forget about the bow-and-arrow. 

But finally a TV-talking head reveals how Trump works his magic. George Lakoff, a retired UC Berkeley linguistics professor, sets himself apart by acknowledging that Donald Trump is completely skillful in the execution of his tweets. 

Trumps tweets strategically. His rivals underestimate him. The liberal-minded MSNBC hosts , Ari Melber, Chris Matthews, Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, Brian Williams— promote the message for Trump.

Professor Lakoff does not underestimate Trump.Trump promotes himself and his brand with every statement he makes. They are full of hyperbole:

·      the President is the nation—

·      any leak threatens the security of the President

·      live by Trump’s metaphor—any leak is criminal, etc. unpatriotic

Lakoff goes further and points out that Democrats are always playing defense. They understand facts. The analysis is brilliant. Dems are great on policy but do not understand emotion. Democrats do not understand how the brain works. It’s all about emotion.

Republicans understand emotion. They turn the political debate into a morality play. But people vote on emotion, not the facts. Lakoff adds that Trump’s Tweets do not make him unpopular. His brand is not damaged. He has maintained a 37% approval rating, plus or minus 2%.

Lakoff sees Trump’s failing as the work of a cold heart.

Trump’s Trigger words

·      winning

·      putting down those below him—immigrants

·      wealthy above poor

Trump’s lack of compassion for others is a function of his narcissism. Biologists theorize on the inflexible nature of the narcissist, imagining the sources go beyond theories. Scientists found highly narcissistic people had less gray matter in the left anterior insula. That is the part of the brain linked to empathy.

Donald is just a cold-hearted money making machine. We are his customers—but he’s the one who is always right...

George Lakoff, bless his cheery brilliance-- revealed the Emperor, er, I mean... the President has no clothes.