Posted on 11/22/2016 6:43:53 PM PST by Steelfish
Trump, In Interview, Moderates Views but Defies Conventions By MICHAEL D. SHEAR, JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS and MAGGIE HABERMAN NOV. 22
Donald J. Trump on Tuesday with Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr., the publisher of The New York Times, right. Credit Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times President-elect Donald J. Trump tempered on Tuesday some of his most extreme campaign promises, dropping his vow to jail Hillary Clinton, expressing doubt about the value of torturing terrorism suspects and pledging to have an open mind about climate change.
But in a wide-ranging hourlong interview with reporters and editors at The New York Times — which was scheduled, canceled and then reinstated after a dispute over the ground rules — Mr. Trump was unapologetic about flouting some of the traditional ethical and political conventions that have long shaped the American presidency.
He said he had no legal obligation to establish boundaries between his (snip)
He displayed a jumble of impulses, many of them conflicting. He was magnanimous toward Mrs. Clinton, but boastful about his victory. He was open-minded about some of his positions, uncompromising about others.
The interview demonstrated the volatility in Mr. Trump’s positions.
He said he had no interest in pressing for Mrs. Clinton’s prosecution over her use of a private email server or for financial acts committed by the Clinton Foundation. (snip)
On the issue of torture, Mr. Trump suggested he had changed his mind about the value of waterboarding after talking with James N. Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general, who headed the United States Central Command.
“He said, ‘I’ve never found it to be useful,’” Mr. Trump said. He added that Mr. Mattis found more value in building trust and rewarding cooperation with terrorism suspects: “‘Give me a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers, and I’ll do better.’”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
He can do things he promised to do or not. But Calling the CLIntons “good people” is totally unnecessary and just dumb.
It’s simple enforce the current laws banning hiring of illegals and make them tougher. They will self deport and leave on their own.
Pogo was right - not only are we our own worst enemy but we tend to be pathetic too.
Morons do what morons do - if this single statement in NYT article is enough to turn your back on Trump then your front has no value.
Must suck to already be jaded from so much winning before he has even taken the oath of office.
I am retired CIA. Overseas and under cover most of my career.
Most generals I have met are political scum. I don’t think Mattis falls into that category (and I did not definitively say he did) but I have a problem with him because he fundamentally does not understand who the enemy is. That makes him ignorant and unprofessional - or - someone who places value in being politically correct. Not good either way.
Still - could be a lot worse.
Politically correct? Have you read any quotes at all from the man? He is most definitely not politically correct. Sorry, but I’ll accept the judgment of President elect Trump and scores of Mattis supporters over that of a keyboard warrior
Mattis has a lot of great quotes - but none of them go beyond traditional MC culture. Yes - they upset snowflakes but it is only vintage Marine.
Which means it is possible he plays the PC game when it comes to islam. From what I have read, which isn’t that much but more than most, he thinks we are at war with the mean muslims when the actual issue is that we are at war with islam.
An understanding of the difference is absolutely crucial. Islamic terror is just a sideshow, a distraction to keep the West from perceiving the real issue which is cultural assimilation vectored through immigration and birth rates.
Now maybe I’m wrong and if you can point me to some source material I’ll gladly read it. And maybe Mattis plays PC just for public consumption. Time will tell.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.