Trump: Egomania or What?

 

A long-time friend just sent me an email in which he argued that President Trump’s actions and words were the product of his massive ego. My friend has never liked Trump and cannot believe that Trump is motivated by anything other than self -conceit. I think my friend’s views are shared by millions of Trump haters.


For example, in a recent interview conducted by Bret Baier with Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner, a high-ranking member of the Senate Intelligence committee, the Senator attributed all of Trump’s foreign policy initiatives to personal ego, and not to any legitimate policy or strategic concerns. The Senator, given his status, should know better.

In foreign affairs the Trump administration has had one success after another. After the bombing of the Iranian nuclear facilities, the President brokered a cease fire in the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. Later, he brokered a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. About the same time, he brokered a cease-fire between Rwanda and Congo, two warring African nations. Leaders of both countries signed the deal in the Oval office. Earlier, President Trump intervened to prevent a war between India and Pakistan, two nuclear powers. Were these initiatives all motivated by personal ego?

I don't agree. Why would a 79-year-old man who has everything even want to be President? He is rich, has a beautiful wife, luxurious homes, and everything else? He came within an inch of being shot to death, was impeached, and charged with many crimes. Half the country hates him with passion, and will not give him credit for anything.

Could it be possible that back in 2016 he actually believed that politicians were flushing the country down the toilet in both domestic and foreign affairs?

Look at the mess after the invasion of Iraq. If President Bush had known in 2001 that American troops would be fighting in Iraq for over a decade, would he have invaded in the first place? Remember that Vice-President Dick Cheney was detested by Democrats and charged with provoking the war just to benefit oil-driller Schlumberger. Now Cheney is a Democratic saint because Trump opposed the Iraq incursion.

Look at the mess that is Obamacare. Does anyway remember the tricks and deals used by the Obama administration to jam the ACA through Congress. Remember that Federal employees, including Senators, were supposed to be enrolled in Obamacare. What happened to that? Speaking about President Obama, what about Benghazi, his “red line” in Syria, and the rise of ISIS? Just imagine the furor if Trump and Hegseth experienced such disasters.

Look at the Biden administration. Why didn’t anyone call Biden an egomaniac for thinking he could manage a second term? Look at the immigration disaster. What motivated him to open the borders? Can you believe that in 2024 the Democratic candidates were Kamela Harris, and Tim Walz, especially when you look at the massive welfare fraud in Minnesota and other blue states? What qualifications did they have other than massive egos.

Was Trump wrong about the failures of politicians in both parties to put country ahead of their own egos and personal ambitions?

It is interesting to note that practically everything the Democrats blame Trump for doing, they have done themselves. They call him a dictator when he issues executive orders, but Obama said all he needed to govern was a pen and a phone. They say he wants to abolish the Senate filibuster, but progressives urged Biden to pack the Supreme Court with liberal justices. Democrats say he seeks revenge on his detractors, but they are proven masters of that tactic.

Nothing will stop “no Trumpers” from hating the President. They have seemingly been inoculated from giving the President one iota of credit for anything. The other day someone said that if Trump were to fight Cancer, Democrats would be in favor of Cancer.


It is not egomania to want credit where credit is due, and to want recognition for a job well done. Let's stop talking about ego and concentrate on the issues.


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Mark Twain: First Impressions and Second Thoughts

My wife and I recently read and enjoyed Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad, a wonderful read full of Twain's characteristic humor and great story telling. It is an account of a trip he took in 1867 on a steamboat full of what he called pious Protestant American pilgrims anxious to explore the Old World, especially the Holy Land. I recommend the book highly to anyone interested in American history, but do not intend to write a review here. I just want to reproduce an episode that I found illustrated a universal truth. 

While in the Holy Land a few of the pilgrims took a side trip to the desolate Dead Sea. It turned out to be a hot and exhausting journey even on horseback. Afterwards, the weary travelers found an overnight refuge in a lonely monastery. Below is Twain's account of that episode in which his first impressions of the monks were altered by actual experience, a lesson for us all. It starts with a devastating critique but ends with appreciation.

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Some of those men have been shut up there for thirty years. In all that dreary time they have not heard the laughter of a child or the blessed voice of a woman; they have seen no human tears, no human smiles; they have known no human joys, no wholesome human sorrows. In their hearts are no memories of the past, in their brains no dreams of the future. All that is lovable, beautiful, worthy, they have put far away from them; against all things that are pleasant to look upon, and all sounds that are music to the ear, they have barred their massive doors and reared their relentless walls of stone forever. They have banished the tender grace of life and left only the sapped and skinny mockery. Their lips are lips that never kiss and never sing; their hearts are hearts that never hate and never love; their breasts are breasts that never swell with the sentiment, “I have a country and a flag.” They are dead men who walk.

I set down these first thoughts because they are natural—not because they are just or because it is right to set them down. It is easy for book-makers to say “I thought so and so as I looked upon such and such a scene”—when the truth is, they thought all those fine things afterwards. One’s first thought is not likely to be strictly accurate, yet it is no crime to think it and none to write it down, subject to modification by later experience. These hermits are dead men, in several respects, but not in all; and it is not proper, that, thinking ill of them at first, I should go on doing so, or, speaking ill of them I should reiterate the words and stick to them. No, they treated us too kindly for that. There is something human about them somewhere. They knew we were foreigners and Protestants, and not likely to feel admiration or much friendliness toward them. But their large charity was above considering such things. They simply saw in us men who were hungry, and thirsty, and tired, and that was sufficient. They opened their doors and gave us welcome. They asked no questions, and they made no self-righteous display of their hospitality. They fished for no compliments. They moved quietly about, setting the table for us, making the beds, and bringing water to wash in, and paid no heed when we said it was wrong for them to do that when we had men whose business it was to perform such offices. We fared most comfortably, and sat late at dinner. We walked all over the building with the hermits afterward, and then sat on the lofty battlements and smoked while we enjoyed the cool air, the wild scenery and the sunset. One or two chose cosy bed-rooms to sleep in, but the nomadic instinct prompted the rest to sleep on the broad divan that extended around the great hall, because it seemed like sleeping out of doors, and so was more cheery and inviting. It was a royal rest we had.

When we got up to breakfast in the morning, we were new men. For all this hospitality no strict charge was made. We could give something if we chose; we need give nothing, if we were poor or if we were stingy. The pauper and the miser are as free as any in the Catholic Convents of Palestine. I have been educated to enmity toward every thing that is Catholic, and sometimes, in consequence of this, I find it much easier to discover Catholic faults than Catholic merits. But there is one thing I feel no disposition to overlook, and no disposition to forget: and that is, the honest gratitude I and all pilgrims owe, to the Convent Fathers in Palestine. Their doors are always open, and there is always a welcome for any worthy man who comes, whether he comes in rags or clad in purple. The Catholic Convents are a priceless blessing to the poor. A pilgrim without money, whether he be a Protestant or a Catholic, can travel the length and breadth of Palestine, and in the midst of her desert wastes find wholesome food and a clean bed every night, in these buildings. Pilgrims in better circumstances are often stricken down by the sun and the fevers of the country, and then their saving refuge is the Convent. Without these hospitable retreats, travel in Palestine would be a pleasure which none but the strongest men could dare to undertake. Our party, pilgrims and all, will always be ready and always willing, to touch glasses and drink health, prosperity and long life to the Convent Fathers of Palestine.

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2025 Review

 

I’ve learned from experience not to make predictions or resolutions at the New Year. But there is no harm in looking back over the past year and trying to assess whether it was a good year or not. In my opinion I rate 2025 as a good to very good year. Here are some reasons.

The World did not come to an End.

There are still real problems facing the world today but 2025 turned out to be a pretty good year despite dire predictions following the Trump victory. War still goes on in Ukraine but no one can say that the Trump administration has not tried to broker a peace. For the time being, the war in Gaza is over, and the Iranian nuclear program has been derailed. Despite threatening gestures China did not invade Taiwan.

President Trump has also brokered a number of peace deals, and the U.S. military must be given credit not only for the destruction of the Iranian nuclear sites, but also for the weakening of Iranian surrogates in the Middle East. 

The United States did not go down the Drain.

Predictions of doom did not materialize after Donald Trump was sworn in as President in 2025. Somehow, the nation has survived his first year as President. Despite unprecedented and vitriolic hatred on the part of his enemies, President Trump and his administration have chalked up a number of achievements. I said at the beginning of his first term that it would be wise to see what Trump does as President rather than obsess over his words and tweets. I think this still holds true today.

In his second term President Trump seems to have put together a skilled and experienced set of advisors at the Cabinet level and on down. It appears as if adults and not ideologues are now in vital government offices. It would be hard for anyone to deny that Marco Rubio has done a good job as Secretary of State, or Scott Bessent has done a good job at the Treasury. More than anything else, Trump is an active and energetic President. He is out there every day answering questions from all sides. In this important respect he is the opposite of his predecessor.

The Stock Market hit an all-time high.  

The Dow Jones Industrial average rose 14%. The tech heavy NASDAQ gained more than 20%, and most global markets also hit record highs. Stock market gains benefit everyone, not just wealthy capitalists. Retirement plans, both public and private, are primarily invested in the stock market. Employees of profitable companies also get higher bonuses. President Trump cannot be given all the credit for this economic boom but his election did not cause the economy to collapse. So far Trump's tariff policies have not produced the dire results predicted by his opponents in politics or the media. 

Despite unanimous Democrat opposition, the Republican Congress passed a Tax Reform Bill. Although it is still too early to tell, it would appear that the bill will benefit low income workers more than the well to do. With the increased standard deduction those living at or below the poverty level will pay little or no income tax, and most Seniors will see a reduction in the tax on their Social Security benefits. Eliminating fraud and waste also benefits those in real need.

Inflation seems under control. 

During President Trump's first administration Democratic opponents never tired of complaining about income inequality, but in 2025 they switched to an affordability mantra. My wife tells me that prices are up at the supermarket, but she also noticed that gas is cheaper at the pump. Now that winter is here consumers will also see a marked decrease in the cost of their home heating oil. In 2023 during the Biden administration I paid $6.50 per gallon for home heating oil. That's $6500 for 1000 gallons. This year my price is capped at about $3.00 per gallon, and so our home heating cost will only be $3000. Interestingly, the price is down to what it was in the first year of Trump's first administration. In the first three years of the Biden administration my oil price cap was $6.50, $4.94, and $5.04. Why didn't anyone talk about affordability then? 

I compared my electricity and water bills and they are practically the same this year as they were last year. The cost is remarkably cheap considering the essential importance of electricity and water in our daily lives. I was even able to switch our cell phone carrier and reduce our monthly bill from $125 to $70. The new carrier even threw in two new smart phones (I hated to part with my old dumb phone), as well as $650 in Costco bucks. Competition is still the best way to keep costs down.

I really wonder about affordability concerns when I see the following:

The LA Dodgers won the World Series and the cheapest seat in their ballpark was around $800 and the stands were packed. Prices for playoff games in Yankee Stadium were similar. The cheapest seat in Madison Square Garden for a Knick game is around $200 but people in court side seats pay up to $13000 for even a meaningless regular season game. When cameras pan the fans in these expensive seats, most appear to be young men. Are they the same ones who can't afford to get married and start a family?

Of course, anyone's evaluation of 2025 will probably be based mainly on personal and family considerations. Despite old age health concerns last year, by the end of the year my wife and I were in relatively good shape for our age. In addition, our children and grandchildren seem to be doing well, and we are even expecting a third great-grandchild in Texas in 2026. Personally, it was a good year and we have much to be thankful for.

Speaking of thanks, I found the lovely and poignant song "Thanks for the Memory" on Youtube last year. It was sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross back in 1938 in an otherwise awful film, but it is amazing to watch the two performers put over the song that would become Bob Hope's signature for the rest of his long career. Click on this link or watch below. 

Happy New Year!  

Foreign Film Picks 2025

Lists of top films will often appear in newspapers and online at this time of the year. Rarely do these lists include foreign films. I'm sure that most foreign films can be as bad as most American films but the cream of the crop are well worth watching even with subtitles. These films open a window into other cultures while at the same time proving that we are all basically the same. Here are eleven films that my wife and I enjoyed this year. 

Fanny Ardant in Callas Forever

    Callas, Forever. Director Franco Zeffirelli recreates the magic, passion, and artistry of the opera diva who was also his longtime friend. Callas died tragically at the age of 53, and Zeffirelli presents an imaginative retelling of her last years. French actress Fanny Ardant perfectly fits the role of Callas, capturing all her fiery intensity on and off the stage. Jeremy Irons co-stars. This 2002 film is a rare gem featuring actual sound recordings of Callas arias. 115 minutes. 

      Dersu Uzala. Famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa made this 1975 Russian  film, the product of an arduous two year film making expedition into the far reaches of Siberia. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film in 1975. Dersu Uzala is a primitive Mongolian frontiersman who is taken on as a guide by an early twentieth century Russian surveying crew. While the soldiers at first perceive Dersu as a naïve and comical relic of an uncivilized age, he quickly proves himself otherwise with displays of ingenuity and bravery. 141 minutes.

       Breaker Morant. This acclaimed 1980 film from Australia is based on a true story. Edward Woodward stars as the controversial folk hero Lt. Harry “Breaker” Morant. As South Africa’s Boer War draws to a close, Morant and two fellow Australian soldiers are court-martialed for murder. Their only hope lies in a small town lawyer who fights passionately for their lives. Winner of 10 Australian Film Institute awards, this powerful film directed by Bruce Beresford (Tender Mercies, Driving Miss Daisy) continues to stir audiences. CC, 107 minutes.

        Enchanted April. In post WWI England two wives fed up with the dreary London winter, and their seemingly loveless marriages decide to rent an Italian villa for a husbandless vacation. To share costs they enlist an acerbic widow, and a beautifuk young aristocrat. Miranda Richardson, Josie Lawrence, Joan Plowright, and Polly Walker star. This 1991 film also features Michael Kitchen, Alfred Molina, and Jim Broadbent at the outset of their notable film careers. Based on a novel by Elizabeth von Arnim. 95 minutes. CC.

        Incantato. Director Pupi Avati won the Italian best director award for this 2003 comedy set in Rome and Bologna in the 1920s. Neri Marcore plays a shy and clumsy man devoted to the academic world. His lack of interest in women has become an increasing source of anxiety to his womanizing father (Giancarlo Giannini), a tailor for the Pope. He sends his son to teach in a high school in Bologna with the hopes that he will find a wife and produce an heir for the family. 107 minutes. Subtitles.

        A Foreign Field. This British film has an acclaimed international cast that includes Alec Guinness, Leo McKern, Jeanne Moreau, Loren Bacall, John Randolph, and Geraldine Chaplin. Two British war vets meet an American vet when all three return to Normandy on the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Old rivalries resurface, particularly when two of the men discover they are searching for the same lost love. This disparate band of survivors eventually finds common ground in the memory of what they lost on that fateful day in 1944. 95 minutes. CC. 

           Persuasion. Amanda Root and Cieran Hinds star as separated lovers in this 1995 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s final novel. She is the proverbial ugly duckling in a pretentious upper class family, and he is a young somewhat lower class young naval officer who has risen during the Napoleonic wars. It is as close to the spirit of the great author as it is possible to get. 104minutes. CC.

           Pagliacci. Franco Zeffirelli directed this 1982 film adaptation of Leoncavallo’s famous opera. Placido Domingo and Teresa Stratas star as the principals in a travelling performance of the Commedia dell’ Arte but the comedy turns to real life tragedy. 72 minutes. Subtitles.

           “12”. Famed post-Soviet Russian film maker Nikita Mikhalkov directed this powerful story of a room full of jurors from all different levels of Russian society who are thrown together to determine the fate of a young man accused of murdering his stepfather. Each juror reveals his own story as they seek to discover the truth about the murder and themselves. Based on the famous American drama, Twelve Angry Men. 160 minutes. Subtitles.

          The Twilight Samurai. This 2002 Japanese film made by renowned director, Yoji Yamada, is set in a changing Japan of the late nineteenth century. Hiroyuki Sanada, one of Japan’s leading film stars, plays a low ranking, poverty stricken samurai trying to support his family. However, he is caught in the turmoil of the times and ordered to confront and kill a renegade warrior. The film won an unprecedented twelve Japanese Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. 129 minutes. Subtitles.

         Italian for Beginners. This warm and playful story from Denmark is about six perfect strangers and the shared journey of discovery that changes each of their lives. In a small Danish city, a mismatched collection of opposites have signed up for an Italian language class in hope of spicing up their lives. The film was shot in “cinema verite” style without any special effects or overbearing sound track.  118 minutes. Subtitles.

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