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Notes -
Normalizing Donald Trump.
I just watched this video in which golfer Bryson DeChambeau plays best ball with Donald Trump to see if they can shoot under 50 on the short tees in an 18 hole golf course.
First of all, for those people who think Donald Trump sucks at golf, you're wrong and you have TDS. He's an extremely good golfer. Actually, ridiculously good. Multiple times, the duo used his shot over Bryson's. Combined, they shot 22 under par. Even if you think he's literally Hitler, he's extremely good at golf. If you don't think so, it might be worthwhile to examine why you think that. Watch the video and update your priors.
But the bigger CW angle is how a mainstream celebrity (Bryson is maybe the biggest golf player today) played a round with Donald, gave him a lot of respect, and just treated him as a normal, chill dude. And Donald reciprocated in kind. Bryson isn't overtly political and he said he'd be happy to play with Biden (lol) too.
https://x.com/b_dechambeau/status/1815447305467970034
There has been a massive effort to delegitimize Trump as a candidate, to make voting for him beyond the pale even if you mostly agree with his platform. But videos like this completely obliterate those efforts. He becomes human. Maybe if you have 12 piercings and purple hair Trump would seem unappealing in this video. But to a normal person, he just seems like a decent hang who is remarkably, extraordinarily good at golf.
The stigma is no longer there. People are coming out of the closet. And I think when it comes down to it, Trump is just way cooler than Kamala, even if he's old. It's said that the more charismatic candidate always wins. In 2020, there were some unique circumstances that made this not true. But if the Democrats cannot maintain the cordon sanitaire around Trump, it's over. He's just too likeable.
Strong agree. He comes off as the exact opposite of a mean spirited sociopathic bully, he’s downright warm, empathizing, understanding, if I only had this footage to judge from I would absolutely believe he is a very good grandfather.
I clicked randomly through the video and ended up at 18:50, which is a conversation where he is listening to his opponent talk about his own experience and Donald is intently listening, not interrupting, not changing the topic, and then expanding on what the other guy said. A lot of people who think of him as mean or abusive could learn a thing or two about how to socialize from him.
Anyone can come across well while doing their favorite thing with a sympathetic person. And let's not forget he's running for election. Of course he wants to try to come across as something other than an asshole too.
I completely disagree. I think many people can’t be charming while doing their favourite thing. Some people really don’t know how to be anything but self centred. People trying to fake warmth are usually very obvious, and if indeed Trump is faking here, it reveals a very sharp mind.
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