Dominic Strano

[CALL TO ACTIVISM @CalltoActivism]

A British writer penned the best description of Donald Trump I’ve ever read:

“Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?”

A few things spring to mind. Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever. I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman. But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers. And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults – he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface. Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront. Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul. And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist. Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that. He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat. He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully. That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead. There are unspoken rules to this stuff – the Queensberry rules of basic decency – and he breaks them all. He punches downwards – which a gentleman should, would, could never do – and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless – and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority – perhaps a third – of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think ‘Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:

• Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.

• You don’t need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss. After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.

God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid. He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart. In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws – he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish: ‘My God… what… have… I… created?' If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set.”

-Nate White

[VeryBritishProblems @SoVeryBritish]

As I get older my tolerance gets lower. I often used to think, “this meeting could’ve been an email”, now it’s more, “this email could’ve been a thought you kept to yourself”.

[Saving Elephants @svngelephants]

“Conservatives are not in the business of conserving just any law, institution, or custom. Their desire is to conserve the institutions that embody collective solutions to recurring problems, and which pass on socially generated knowledge."

~Roger Scruton

[Stella O'Malley @stellaomalley3]

Padraig Harrington is a good psychologist! His words could also be applied to kids and music, education, reading, art ...

[James O'Brien @mrjamesob]

There's an MP called, I think, Nick Fletcher, who gave a speech in this debate so completely devoid of understanding, humanity & intelligence that you wonder how he ties his own shoe laces unaided.
This is the polar opposite.

[A-P @rugby_ap]

La Rochelle are finished.

[Gideon Rachman @gideonrachman]

Striking thing about this is how incredibly slow on their feet these college presidents are. My guess is they were so over-coached they were unable to respond with clarity. MIT pres says, in passing, that nobody actually is calling for genocide. That seems important - if true.

[Dominic Strano @Dom_Strano]

@geordinhl @CityofCT @SANParks Yet 6 people were mugged today in the same spot on Signal Hill. The technology, money and people to sort this shit out are available. We just need some political leadership.

[Xavier @CricketAndre]

Over 110 incidents IDENTIFIED impacting vehicles, runners and hikers within the @TableMountainNP area in 2023. Officials, organizers, persons in charge - Conduct assessments, provide advice, avoid hotspots. https://t.co/3W80hqE9qv Matter of time before something dreadful happens

[Dominic Strano @Dom_Strano]

@geordinhl All going to reverse if we don’t sort out the issue of safety on Table Mountain. Many people are very willing to help; all that is need is some political will.

[Dominic Strano @Dom_Strano]

@hageorgel @OscarChalupsky Mooi Georgie!

[Dominic Strano @Dom_Strano]

@geordinhl Finally. Long over due, but a great start. With only a small effort this could be a permanent force funded by contributions from cape town tourism orientated business and provide hundreds of jobs. Why not co-op a retired corporate CEO with enough clout to make it happen?

[Craig Ray @craigray11]

Duane Vermeulen didn’t suffer fools, but was/is generous, interesting & interested. Was the first rugby player who asked how my tour was going at the end of a long slog. Straight shooter, magnificent team man and best ever Bok No 8. Massive contribution to SA rugby. @Springboks

[Malu Lambert @MaluLambert]

Hello news journos, please help get the word out, or civilians if you're able join in the protest in person or however you can. @CityofCT plans to plough a road through Noordhoek's wetlands. The environmental implications are terrifying. The court hearing is tomorrow at 10am.

[Geordin Hill-Lewis @geordinhl]

Langa is showing the Bokke incredible love 💚🇿🇦🏆

@Springboks @CityofCT #TrophyTour

[Massimo @Rainmaker1973]

Over the course of 3 days scientists pumped 10 tons of cement into an abandoned ant hill. After weeks of digging, the colony’s intricate & impressive structure is revealed. This one

[From: Ants! Natures Secret Power]
https://t.co/kYoAON9amS

[Matthew Bauer @MB5Plug]

What a special interview between two special human beings, Siya Kolisi and Ardie Savea at the World rugby awards .
#RugbyWorldCup

[Radioraps (Rikus de Beer) @RadioRaps]

Alles!!!!

[Khaya Dlanga @khayadlanga]

Listen to this New Zealand radio host calling the Springboks the rugby version of a horror movie because they won’t die and won’t quit. Beautiful 🤣😂

[Dominic Strano @Dom_Strano]

@DominicWard14 @RobHouwing @WorldRugby @dominicrumbles The only undeniable racists and Kants are @WorldRugby. If the roles were reversed I guarantee this would have been swept aside.