It is possible he's pulling a Colombo. For younger Freepers, Colombo was a TV detective whose show began by showing the crime being committed, and the drama was in how the perp was caught, not in who-dun-nit. Colombo's specialty was feigning ignorance, and generally acting dumb. The suspect, typically an arrogant, pedantic, blowhard, would be lured into a false sense of security, and find showing off his/her self perceived intellectual superiority, by running their mouth, irresistible. Colombo would appear humbly grateful for the education he was being provided, but all the while he was actually building his case.
For Trump to act in such the self deprecating manner of Det. Colombo would show previously unsuspected depths of subtlety. But for BO to act like an arrogant, pedantic, blowhard, who finds himself unable to resist running his mouth and demonstrating his self perceived superiority, well its not an act, that's who he is.
great post.
Outstanding analysis! You nailed it very well.
I am an old guy and loved Colombo.
Exactly!
Some insight as to how he does it:
'Think of Trump as surrounded by an invisible shield of REACTIVE ARMOUR.
Anything thrown at him is returned instantaneously and with 10 times force.
From the "Art of the Deal" paper back edition page 185 published in 1987:
"I have great respect for the Japanese, but they are very difficult to deal with. For starters, they come to see you in groups of six or eight or even twelve, so you have to convince them all to make a deal. You may succeed with one or two or three, but 12 is more difficult."
Comes Trump with (2016 - 1987) = 29 years experience since...and how many great deals he has negotiated since 1987?.