Project 2025: A High School Essay… ? (And Rather Poor at That; And a Disastrous Flop)

The Perched Eye blog is 16 years old,  beginning from 2009 with President Barack Obama's election. The Perched Eye is eclectic ...  we strive to see and write about the styles and directions of American politics and culture, with an occasional comment on the impact of new technologies. We hope our observations attract and sharpen the eye of the reader... in today's world the 'pen' still remains unblunted.  Pericles 21, Author.

PROJECT 2025 IS A DEBACLE!

Project 2025 was supposed to be the conservative GOP's solution to their notions of America's problems - government size and inefficiencies, immigration, crime, economic waste, and more, much much more.

But 10 months later, '2025 has turned out to be more of a superficial, strung-together essay written in ignorance of adult, real world consequences.

 '2025' can still sound with its catchy, but empty phrases that ring around the brain for second or so ....until one realizes how much real-world pain and destruction they've caused. And 2025 is especially painful and damaging to the very audience '2025 was claimed to be written for...Trump's MAGA base.

’25's authors - Heritage Foundation? The Federalist Society? Clubby elitists, Elon Musks managerial-IT flying monkeys … have turned out to be naive, inexperienced (and generally underaged) phrase mongers who apparently sat around at exclusive country spots and downtown gathering places patting each other on the back for ‘smart’ phrases they believed would solve America's governance 'problems (as hey saw it) and incientally preserve 'their' way of life whatever that meant. 

But 'lo and behold' 2025 quickly began to wreck not only the democratic institutions Musk's minions claimed to want to help (but seemed to detest) but 2025  just as quickly threatened their own safety, economic security and peace of mind. (2025 continues to affect America like a bad hangover.)

To the casual eye, a first ‘reading’(look-scan) of the voluminous ’25 tome might have impressed one by the apparent ‘work’ that went into compiling such a lengthy target list of hated institutions that included Medicare, SNAP and USAID..essential elements of America's social safety net and its global diplomatic outreach.

But after ten-plus months we've realized  that that the list is superficially lacks real thought and consideration of consequences, linkages and of what 2025's erasures actually might mean for America and America’s allies and global economic alliances.

’25 reveals its authors have neither sophistication of thought and planning nor an even elementary notions of basic business school principles.

Project 2025 has proven have a startling lack of insight and foresight about consequences.

For example, in the agricultural arena, ’25’s targeting of immigrant farm labor (for deportation) was quickly implemented by masked non-uniformed vigilante raiding-crews…decisive yes but depleting a critical tool needed to plant and harvest America’s crops…in many sectors resulting in fruits and vegetables rotting in fields.

And then the tariff issue. The quickly enacted so-called defensive tariffs actually revealed a shocking gnorance of what ‘tariff’ actually means and who pays tariffs…it’s not the nasty foreign (-er) source, it’s America who collects tariffs at incoming ports. The application of high (and shifting) tariffs on close allies revealed ‘25’s ignorance of global trade interdependences and consequences...America’s historical trading partners have been forced to find more favorable trading partners…amongst America’s long established enemies. T

2025's resultant shift and warping of post World War 2 trade alliances and partners has gotten out of control. We've has even estranged CANADA!

Project 25 even successfully sold itself to the very domestic groups it has turned out to wreck: agribusiness, auto manufacturers, ‘protected’ immigrants whose protections are being canceled (Cubans especially), cancellation of birthright protection, and many more reversals of immigrant policies that appear to target people of color.

In other words, Project 25 seems to be at root a 'plan' implemented by a klan-like cabal of threatened white male elites who hide their race-fears and race-elitism behind hollow sophistry…that fooled and distracted so many groups that were the actual targets.

Trump Is Probably Not Afraid After His August 1 ('23) Indictment. (Fear’s a Different World to a Shark Driven by Bad Instincts)

 The Perched Eye blog is 14 years old,  from 2009 with President Obama's election. Our focus has been eclectic ...  the styles and directions of American politics and culture, with an occasional comment on the impact of new technologies. Our observations sometimes attract a critical eye, but the 'pen' remains unblunted.

American ‘democracy’ can’t handle a ‘Trump’…because we are trying to put on trial a 21st century political megalomaniac according to 18th century codes for ‘gentleman’-class-behavior…our Trump is not a gentleman and this is definitely not the 18th century (regardless of what SCOTUS Justice Alito says.) America needs to grow up, shape up, get educated. 

Further -America found out that Trump is not a leader, and not a good business manager…Trump is just a larger version of the corner ‘Mom-and-Pop general store operator operating on a an ad hoc budget and struggling to stay alive day-by-day…but in Trump’s case, grifting and living large with gold faucets, by any and all means, legal and illegal. America discovered that “Grift” is Trump’s pathway.

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I have a repeating mantra running in my brain about Donald Trump and America’s continual surprise and shock at his dodges and twists that catch us off guard every time he acts out… even though we should know by now to expect the unexpected. The reason, IMO, is that Trump is not human-normal, but is a ‘Force’ which America, as an immature, uneducated, unsophisticated culture, can’t handle.

A significant question, after August 1’s indictment of Trump for his inciting the ‘Jan6(‘21)’ attempt to overthrow the 2020 presidential election, is…’is Donald Trump now afraid?’ (In other words, ‘is Donald Trump experiencing remorse?’ Most likely not, or at best fleetingly because he is too busy planning chortling over how he is going to gum up the works of America’s naive and corrupt legal works.)

So, I say ‘No!’ Trump is not afraid…Trump has no time for ’fear’. Trump is like a shark constantly swimming to ‘breathe’, i.e., to make money to sustain his errors and extravagant lifestyle (*which he can’t afford.)

Trump’s life awash in real or self-manufactured crises and tension. While he has largely mastered keeping totally focus on money, which IMO, Trump seems very good at (i.e., being 100% focused on money.) But Trump is not actually earning big money — Trump is not actually (net assets-wise) worth the billions that he claims. Rather, Trump, if not owning billions, at least ‘controls’ billions... and lives large off the ‘vig’ like a billionaire (like a real mob-boss, the gold faucets and hookers, etc are apparently all that matters …to him.)

Trump, the ‘Force’, doesn’t feel fear, only heightened aggression….like cornered animal. We thought Trump was a true ‘businessman’ (who nearly half of Americans either wanted, or wanted to try out as President.) But instead, America learned the difference between a corporate leader and an entrepeneur. America found out that Trump is not a leader, and not a good business manager…Trump is just a larger version of the corner ‘Mom-and-Pop general store operator operating on a an ad hoc budget and struggling to stay alive day by day.

The corporate leader knows how to work with a board (governance), but the enrepeneur is a wild-card cowboy who has learned to survive at on the open range, unfettered by fences and rules… except for rules of survival.

The entrepeneur champions ‘laissez-faire’ capitalism; …not of any scholarly, philosophical enlightenment…but because the entrepeneur can only be free to operate in an environment that is unbounded from all behavior chains — ‘ethics’, honesty, fair practcies, consumer safety (meaningless in that fishpond,…etc.

The entrepeneur is not someone who belongs as President. And Trump is an entrepeneur…whether he knows it or not!

Indict, Try and even convict Trump…then ban Trump from ever-again(!) standing for, being elected to, and occupying any future office of any kind — — America’s cultural-democratic structures can’t handle a ‘Trump’…because America asks its leaders to operate by the unwritten rules of 18th century class-based behavior. (America needs to grow up.)

Should Donald Trump Be Seen (And Legally Investigated, and Potentially Punished), As a ‘Force’ (a Psych-Spectrum Case)? Does America Have Precedent in It’s Laws

 The Perched Eye blog is 14 years old,  from 2009 with President Obama's election. Our focus has been eclectic ...  the styles and directions of American politics and culture, with an occasional comment on the impact of new technologies. Our observations sometimes attract a critical eye, but the 'pen' remains unblunted.

Donald Trump might (/should) be viewed as a ‘force’ (a psych-spectrum case), not simply as just a person. But how can an unembodied ‘something’ be punished by a legal system whose underlying origin, purpose, and intent are focused on organic, living things? Can America’s legal system put a ‘force’ on trial? It seems difficult to do …as America is experiencing.

It seems we’re just now realizing that Trump and Trumpism are forces — the former a psych-spectrum ‘case,’ and the latter ‘-ism’ a belief movement intent (by real past actions) on destroying American democratic operations. 

Therefore, at the least to deter future ‘Jan 6’s (2021)’, the punishment for the ‘Jan6’ attempted overthrow of the American government is left with increasing the legal weight of the crime, i’e’, the sentence term. Hence, the DOJ's move to increase sentences for sedition appears logical and perhaps the only recourse to handling cases like Donald Trump’s seditious actions and planning to lead to Jan 6 (and obstructions thereafter.)

One can get lost in legalese ‘entanglements’, but lengthier sentences can serve to prevent future seditious acts, as well as punish the current conspirators whose intent was to overthrow the elected American government. 

(Remember Germany’s experience with Hitler, who was convicted of conspiracy and sedition to overthrow Germany’s 1920s Weimar Republic, but only served 9 months of a 5-year term, then went on to gain total power…with the aid of MAGA-like ultra-right wing thugs and para-military elements, Hitler’s Brown Shirt supporters.) Don’t doubt that America saw the same elements (pro-Hitler thugs and legitimate congresspersons) assembled here to forcibly gain total power for Trump, who openly stated his intentions to serve as many terms as he wanted, and destroy his enemies. Trump’s plans for regaining the ‘throne’ were (are/should be) scary. 

Let’s trust in the American legal process — the simplest route to prevent future ‘Jan6’s is to increase the incarceration terms for sedition. (Otherwise, we will have to wait maybe 4–5 years, or more, for the current Supreme Court to even hear the Jan6 case against Trump-the-person.

Trump: The Little Boy Who Didn’t Grow Up

  The Perched Eye blog is 14 years old,  from 2009 with President Obama's election. Our focus has been eclectic ...  the styles and directions of American politics and culture, with an occasional comment on the impact of new technologies. Our observations sometimes attract a critical eye, but the 'pen' remains unblunted.

In the heart (even mine, somewhat), there is a modicum of sympathy for Donald Trump. One senses that Trump lacks self-accountability, and as such, he somehow deserves our overlooking his many, repeated faults.

Trump doesn’t exhibit responsibility for his own actions. He is like a child who pretend-dresses in adult clothing, but, in most other respects he behaves like a child…eating fast foods to the fault of having to wear diapers, ignoring debts, and then chastising debtors for being credulous…of him and his known ways of cheating and welching. (This is a chimpanzee's proto-human game often observed in the wild.)

In other respects, Trump is like the neighborhood’s idiot-savant…virtually lost to understanding because of his unique kind of Tourette’s Syndrome, barely able to make sense when he speaks, and barfing all over the new clothes his parents, children and fellow con-grifter-opportunists put him into each day.

Trump loves luxury. BUT, does he really appreciate luxury — the gold-plated bathroom faucets and gold plating on just about every additional surface that is visible or touched? Or, in reality, is Trump automatically and obsessively reactive to shiny faux plating rather than have an appreciation for the object or utensil underneath…an attraction-response much as a Corvid Raven is irresistibly drawn to shiny paperclips? 

I think the Raven comparison sticks, except that Ravens are probably more clever than Trump.

It's likely that Trump will be convicted of an ‘act of treason’, but he will likely not be convicted of the act… his ‘condition’ may earn him leniency, even in the face of the act (and even if the evidence is found that actual money was exchanged for the American secrets Trump auctioned.)

Will Trump’s mental ‘propensities’ save his ass?

(From Medium, May 24, 2023)

Trump’s Fall: The Guy Just Can’t Help It

 The Perched Eye blog is 14 years old,  from 2009 with President Obama's election. Our focus has been eclectic ...  the styles and directions of American politics and culture, with an occasional comment on the impact of new technologies. Our observations sometimes attract a critical eye, but the 'pen' remains unblunted.

If Donald Trump had shown just a few instances of self-effacement, told a few jokes rather than viciously snarked and attacked, acted like a real manager by hiring people smarter than him to manage the details, really smiled rather than show that fake, crooked, crocodile smirk…then who knows, he’d probably, still, legitimately be President.

But, Trump is none of these and couldn’t bring himself to change his ways…EVEN THO’ HE LIKELY SENSED HIS INCALCITRANT, STUBBORN PATH WOULD LEAD TO HIS DOOM.

Trump is like a passenger on a runaway train, his train, with the brake in hand but unable to tear himself from being fascinated by the approaching end of the line.

Trump, the modern ‘Salesman’….tragic.

(From Medium, May 24, 2023)

THE 'DONALD TRUMP PROBLEM' IS SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND & FIX: TRUMP IS AN ANOMALOUS, ERRATIC 'FACTOR' THAT AMERICA IS JUST NOT SET UP TO CONTROL - TRUMP MUST BE BANNED FROM FUTURE POSITIONS OF POWER AND AUTHORITY

 The Perched Eye blog is 12+ years old,  from 2009 with President Obama's election. Our focus has been eclectic ...  the ways and directions of American politics and culture, and occasionally commenting on the potential impact of new technologies. Pericles21's observations sometimes attract a critical eye, but the 'pen' remains unblunted. 

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The Trump Problem Is Simple to Understand. America just can't handle the irrational, anomalous, erratic 'FACTOR' that is Donald Trump. (Although it has to be admitted that many American citizens and power-influence centers have learned to cave to Trump for questionable/illicit/power gain.

TRUMP IS NOT SMART ENOUGH TO BE INTENTIONALLY BAD ... he is just ANOMALOUSLY BAD. And he must be removed from further mal-participating in society, or at least in America.

'Normal' boundaries and controls can't control Trump, and he appears to sneer at his 'opponents'/competitors who follow law or precedent, ...while he does not. 

Trump operates by ad hoc, transactional-ism which immobilizes and disables his rational thinking, play-by-rules competitors ...and his victims. 

It's time to just acknowledge that:  

(1) AMERCA'S RATIONAL LEGAL AND LOYALTY PRINCIPLES CAN'T HANDLE TRUMP BECAUSE HE SEES THEM AS 'FOREIGN AND EXTRANEOUS'; 

(2) TRUMP HAS TO BE SEEN AS AN ANOMALY; 

(3) TRUMP MUST BE PREVENTED FROM HAVING ANY FURTHER KIND OF POWER/AUTHORITY/POSITION OF INFLUENCE.

Of course, Trump would/did sell/promise classified secrets to Russia (and promise lifting sanctions on Putin) in return for Russia's future favors and past assistance to being elected in 2016, and forthcoming in November 2022 and in 2024.