Trump declines to attend White House Correspondents' Dinner!

This is nothing more then a corrupt meeting of media and government, where one strokes the other. This event is a pathetic display for America, it should be canceled, forever. Why should anyone care about a function where the elites praise themselves on controlling the population? Good for Trump not going.

originally posted by: queenofswords
President Trump has probably given his fair share of scholarship money over the years and will probably continue to do it.

Actually, going by public records, Trump is the least charitable billionaire in world history. Not just the country, not just current billionaires. The least charitable out of all of them... ever.

He could fight back against those accusations by publishing his tax records, which would include charitable giving, but we all know he's not going to do that. Why provide a source to confirm public record when his goal is to look good rather than to set the record straight?

originally posted by: Logarock
a reply to: SBMcG


They need to reestablish some respect for the office anyway. The press in general wouldn't have much else to talk about anyway if it were not for POTUS. They certainly don't report much on real issues having to do with everyday people unless it has to do with their spin on stuff.

The fact that the roast anyone whose the President means it's in good fun. Besides, have you seen any examples of the press not respecting the office? All I've seen is them not respecting a man whose too scared to face them head on, and acts like a petulant child.

originally posted by: essentialtremors
Did Trump have his own Roast on CC?
Hasn't he been on various tv shows being the butt of the joke?

He's never shown himself to be scared of jokes or criticism before, so why are people even trying to say that???

Sounds like some folks really buy into the "alternative facts".

He did. He also had a long list of stipulations about what was and wasn't allowed. For example, he had to personally approve every female that was shown near him on the camera. He didn't want them shown if he didn't think they were pretty enough. He also forbid any jokes that implied he wasn't as rich as he claims. Other stipulations for example, were that Trump was willing to do it, but only of Comedy Central would guarantee a certain level of ratings. Trump didn't care what was said (outside of his off limits topics) he just wanted a bunch of people to see him. He also demanded a certain level of respect with each joke, only being called Mr. Trum... Don, Donald, etc was off limits.

It sounds to me like there was plenty he was scared of. Trump couldn't even handle the roast which was planned out in detail months in advance. There's no way he's brave enough to face reporters... that's why he kicks them out of the press room if he doesn't like their reporting.

What's the up side for him to attend? If I were in his position, I wouldn't go either. Even if they LIKED me, I am pretty sure I wouldn't go. The event doesn't really have much of a function, it's a booze-n-schmooze where they negotiate for private access, as far as I can tell.

On top of which, it's a YUUUGE security risk. The WHCD is a real mess in terms of protecting the more important people. It's a total freaking nightmare to be honest. One of the books I'll outline to death and never complete has the president meeting her denouement during the WHCD because it's so hard to defend. Even though they've got a fairly well equipped 'command bunker' designed into (something very near by) you still have to get the POTUS and family out of the open room crawling with people you can only partially vet and into one of the rarely mentioned access tunnels.

The rooms they hold the thing in have adjoining rooms that could be used to compromise the event, there are a lot of sight lines into the event from adjacent buildings, you have too many entrances and exits and (for my money) even the emergency egress system in the area could be used to compromise the safety of the POTUS. Say, you knew where the thing was (few do, but hey, if I know it, I assume others can get the info) and placed some sort of explosives or gas in the evac tunnel system. All you'd have to do is spook the SS and they'd hustle the guy right into the gas for you.

Now add in that you've got pretty much everyone there hates you, and they can come right up TO you, and the SS are specifically instructed to allow some of this, and it's even less attractive.

originally posted by: thesaneone
I didn't read all the pages but it's funny that people say President Trump can't handle it, but unless I was in a different universe didn't he willingly get roasted?

Good for Mr. Trump.

No. He was paid a few million dollars for it, he declared several topics off limits, and rewrote everyones jokes until he approved. Furthermore, he required precise control over the cameras so that he would never be seen with people he deemed too ugly or too poor.

a reply to: Bedlam

Sounds like your argument is making Trump out to be a coward. That's a pretty far fetched scenario as far as security concerns go. What if he doesn't go, and because of that he's in the White House which is vulnerable to missile strikes? It's a ridiculous assertion.

Trump being scared of reporters flat out makes him a coward. He doesn't know how to handle the press, because he's deluded about himself as well as their role. He spent 40 years being on the cover of newspapers and magazines, thinking they liked him when really he was the butt of a long running social commentary joke. Now that he's in office and there's serious topics, he's discovering that these people have mocked him his entire life, and until recently he was too stupid to be in on the joke.

originally posted by: Aazadan
a reply to: Bedlam

Sounds like your argument is making Trump out to be a coward. That's a pretty far fetched scenario as far as security concerns go. What if he doesn't go, and because of that he's in the White House which is vulnerable to missile strikes? It's a ridiculous assertion.

Hardly. There is rarely an event as exposed and for as long a time as the WHCD. It's a huge drain on resources, and everyone that has to be part of it dreads it.

When you add in the 'no upside' part, and the fact that I'm pretty sure everyone attending would love to see Trump pushing up daisies, it's not a really great risk-reward ratio, either physically or politically.

Trump being scared of reporters flat out makes him a coward.

Who would want to go to an event that's bizarre, tiresome, and where everyone hates you, and they've all got pre-scripted questions designed to make you look bad? It's not cowardice, it's a lack of masochism.

originally posted by: Bedlam
Who would want to go to an event that's bizarre, tiresome, and where everyone hates you, and they've all got pre-scripted questions designed to make you look bad? It's not cowardice, it's a lack of masochism.

You just described every single event a Head of State is expected to attend.

originally posted by: Aazadan

originally posted by: Bedlam
Who would want to go to an event that's bizarre, tiresome, and where everyone hates you, and they've all got pre-scripted questions designed to make you look bad? It's not cowardice, it's a lack of masochism.

You just described every single event a Head of State is expected to attend.

Probably, but the WHCD serves no State purpose. Thus, a particular lack of upside potential.

OTOH, it WOULD make a nice setup. Let's say you're a secretly insane POTUS, and all your perceived enemies are gathered in one place for the purpose of mocking you, in a location that's already acknowledged by your security staff to be painfully vulnerable and, in addition, all your political and personal allies will have, no doubt, also canceled out, leaving only your political enemies there, with the fourth estate. In one poorly controlled, insecure venue.

What a wonderful time for something unfortunate to occur. Then you could be seen weeping for the unfortunate victims. A nice pieta scene with the mangled corpse of Pelosi or something.

eta: and of course, you'd have to have it be muzzies or BLMs or whatever group you hate second most as the evil perpetrators.

a reply to: Aazadan

Expected? Phooey!

This dinner serves/served no purpose so far as the country is concerned. It's not a visiting head of state, or new diplomat being welcomed...it's a bunch of pit vipers, who, frankly, should be treated as such.

None of them are friends, at best there is an adversarial relationship, at worst, they despise him.

Why in the blinkin' blue blazes should he give them a free target? Screw that. I'd tell 'em to bugger off, too. Actually, I wouldn't be that polite.

a reply to: Bedlam

There's a thought. Total deniability. I mean he was there, right? No way would he be involved...

You're sneaky. I like you!!

Poor Donnie, he really has been upset by all the mean questions hasn't he. Best to just keep banning everyone and running away instead. Weak.

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: SaturnFX

Well.. if you look at the platform of Democrats, they believe in taking from hard working people and giving it to everyone else. So naturally, they are going to be lazy when it's "rubber meets the road" time. GIVE ME = LAZY.

They need to change that "Stronger Together" motto to something else for the Mid-Terms. Maybe the new DNC chief, Thomas Perez, will use something that worked in the Dominican Republic, his country of origination.

Maybe, but I will say though the left seems to be the give to the poor and lazy type, its a bit better than give to the obscenely rich in its place.
Both platforms run on redistribution, one is to the top, the other to the bottom. Which one is bound to blow all the money on nonsense to stimulate the economy vs which will tuck mass extra earnings in some offshore account?

Everyone is acting as though this event is a big Democratic back slap fest, surely there will be right wingers there..

FOX News will have a contingent there for sure!

originally posted by: Chadwickus
Everyone is acting as though this event is a big Democratic back slap fest, surely there will be right wingers there..

FOX News will have a contingent there for sure!

Of course there will be - plenty. He's just scared once again of having to take 'non-easy' questions from anyone other than yes-men.

a reply to: fencesitter85

Doubtful.

Yes, he seems to have yes men, but he doesn't fear the media.

originally posted by: Chadwickus
a reply to: fencesitter85

Doubtful.

Yes, he seems to have yes men, but he doesn't fear the media.

As soon as anyone asks a question he doesn't like, he either deflects, answers a different question or just calls them fake news. He's now banning organisations which ask questions he doesn't like from attending the WH. Open your eyes buddy. The man is terrified of being cornered into saying something as ignorant and ridiculous as the uranium comment again.

originally posted by: fencesitter85

originally posted by: Chadwickus
a reply to: fencesitter85

Doubtful.

Yes, he seems to have yes men, but he doesn't fear the media.

He's now banning organisations which ask questions he doesn't like from attending the WH. Open your eyes buddy.

Totally agree... The best advice for anyone who still supports Trump. Just open your eyes... The reason everyone is against him is because he's exhibited an unprecedented level of combativeness and disrespective toward people a President is expected to work with. He disparages with intent to hurt U.S. press, U.S. Intelligence, U.S. judiciary, and anyone else who questions him.

Umm.. Ok, to all the people slagging Trump off for declining to attend this...

So, just imagine, me and my buddies have been going around the town you live in and telling everyone we meet "hey, spiritual zombie (sorry to pick on you, you just happen to be the most recent poster) is a disgusting racist piece of #hit", "hey did you know spiritual zombie is a rapist?!" "Did you hear spiritual zombie is a paedo, a bigot and a scumbag", "did you know spiritual zombie is as bad as Hitler?", "spiritual zombie is a disgusting homophobic #itstain", "it wouldn't be a bad thing if someone just killed him, it'd be doing us all a favour". Not only this but we said this to everyone we met, spread it as far and wide as we could, in fact, we did it day in and day out, practically 24 hours a day.. And people believe us! Every time you try to talk about what's happening you're shouted down, told you're just being a snowflake, you're told in fact that by denying it and calling it out you're just proving that what a piece of crap you really are... and so we double down on the rumours and the accusations, we go after your kids, your wife.. Everything and everyone you care about, spreading rumours accusing you of being all the worst possible things a person can be accused of...

Then after months of this happening, every day, one day you receive a letter from me and my buddies asking(with a totally straight face) if you'd like to come round for a bite to eat and a nice glass of champers, but you have to be nice and you have to sit there and take a whole lot more of the same, in front of everyone, all done under the guise of good humour and jocularity, or you're a spineless piece of #hit

What would you say to me and my buddies? What would your response to that be?

Bear in mind if you come and try to speak out about what we've been doing, you'll just attract even more abuse and if you don't come you're a spineless piece of #hit whose scared of "the truth" (as we've been telling it)

So, what's it to be? Genuine question...