Analysis: Here's the problem for Donald Trump with the Atlantic story — CNN Politics

MSgt Steve Sweeney - See, and that's exactly the thing-I don't "know" that Donald Trump is the "Boogeyman" he's been made out to be. If I stopped associating with everyone I know who's cheated on a spouse (repeatedly), said vulgar things, or done things I might personally cringe at... I'd probably end up without many people I could converse with. As to the ongoing "circus" that was the so-called "impeachment hearings"... I left that convinced there are just as many slimy folks on the "other" side of the aisle willing to accuse anyone of anything to hold onto political power. I'm not going to go along with saying he's, "the greatest President"... because he most certainly isn't; neither am I going to go along with comparing him to Mussolini, let alone Hitler. At the end of the day, I think he's an old-school, New York City tycoon whose money and power has afforded him more "cards" than most people can play successfully. I'm not going to nominate him for "Man of the Year"... but I don't think he's a threat to our Republic. I can't say the same thing for some of the people in Congress who seem obsessed with ousting him.

MSgt Steve Sweeney - Thank you. I don't disagree with your analysis of such persons in general... I've known several that would fit that description perfectly. However, I've also seen how willing many are to twist the truth... if not out-and-out lie to forward their own ideological agendas-particularly when they feel it serves the "side of right". I've been "poor"; it sucks... it wasn't "all my fault", and there were times I viewed anyone who seemed to be "making it big" with little to no effort as truly awful-some truly were and still are. Maybe the difference is that even then, I realized you can't make broad assumptions: the "arrogant" person might be simply arrogant... they may also be struggling to manage a million critical things many do not see. The "selfish" can indeed be just selfish... but they might also be jaded from a lifetime of having people try to take advantage of them. If I knew Trump personally... I may be as against him as others, or even more convinced he's at least trying to do good. Without that first-hand knowledge of the man, I can only make assumptions based on tainted evidence. Sometimes... it simply seems like how he's portrayed is too "canned"; too extreme. JFK was reputedly a womanizer... and also a pretty decent man at times. Teddy Roosevelt was an eccentric... and also took on some pretty terrible (and powerful) people for no other reason than because it was the right thing to do. Some "evidence" hints at Lincoln having been involved with prostitution as a younger man... no one's trying to say that denigrates what he did as President. Before running for President, Trump was widely renowned as a fair employer, a promoter and benefactor of the middle class, and judged "intelligent" when it came to business acumen... Personally, I think the only thing that changed is that someone not "chosen" by either of the Parties actually proved the election still belongs to the People.

MSgt Steve Sweeney - Perspective is everything. As a young salesman, what I saw in Trump were the same attitudes and aptitudes that made a successful salesman. When it comes to business, the "law" can be as rapacious as any "Fortune 500" entity... and the lines between what is ethical, and what is "necessary" are thin. In business... profit takes precedence over prudence- so long as it doesn't land you (or your employer) on the losing end of a suit, or in a jail cell. It's not "pretty"... but people who don't understand that don't often last long in that world. Frankly, I was glad to leave it and come back to the public sector... but I didn't leave involuntarily, or because I wasn't "good" at it.

When it comes to politicians, people seem to want results rather than reputations. Reagan enjoyed a "good reputation"... but a lot of dirty things went down on his watch. Supporters of "Dubya" and Obama are fiercely loyal... but can anyone tell me that many of their policies didn't book-end one another; particularly in the Middle East?

If I had to choose someone to vote for based on how "good" of a person they were... I'd be forced to "write in" people I know personally. I vote for who I think will preserve stability and prosperity. However, there's a line to everything, and as of yet... Donald Trump hasn't crossed mine.

MSgt Steve Sweeney - I'd wager we're not all that divergent on matters where the facts are clearly known, and we have direct involvement. As with anything on the national stage, it's ambiguity and ulterior motive that drives suspicion, doubt, and fear.

But the narrative...

And it was debunked by whom?

A1C Michael Allen - John Bolton (who hates Trump) said this was absolutely false, but there will be those who don't care what the truth is. You really wonder what the hell is wrong with them...