Current Events > Rex Tillerson, on Donald Trump

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/07/rex-tillerson-trump-undisciplined-doesnt-like-read-tries-do-illegal-things/

Rex Tillerson came a little bit closer Thursday to saying what he actually thinks of President Trump.

The fired secretary of state, who while in office reportedly called Trump a moron (and declined to deny it), expounded on his thoughts on the president in a rare interview with CBS Newss Bob Schieffer in Houston.

It wasnt difficult to read between the lines. Tillerson said Trump is pretty undisciplined, doesnt like to read, and repeatedly attempted to do illegal things. He didnt call Trump a moron, but he didnt exactly suggest Trump was a scholar or even just a steady leader.

What was challenging for me coming from the disciplined, highly process-oriented Exxon Mobil corporation, Tillerson said, was to go to work for a man who is pretty undisciplined, doesnt like to read, doesnt read briefing reports, doesnt like to get into the details of a lot of things, but rather just kind of says, This is what I believe.

Tillerson said Trump believes he is acting on his instincts rather than relying on facts. But Tillerson seemed to suggest that it resulted in impulsiveness.

He acts on his instincts; in some respects, that looks like impulsiveness, Tillerson said. But its not his intent to act on impulse. I think he really is trying to act on his instincts. [Antifar's note: this doesn't seem like a meaningful distinction]

(Notice Tillerson doesnt say Trump isnt being impulsive; hes saying he isnt trying to be impulsive.)

Perhaps the most damning quote came when Tillerson talked about how Trump as president regularly attempted to do things that violated the law.

So often, the president would say, Heres what I want to do, and heres how I want to do it, " Tillerson said, according to the Houston Chronicle, and I would have to say to him, Mr. President, I understand what you want to do, but you cant do it that way. It violates the law.

Tillerson also appeared to take a shot at Trumps chief method of communication, Twitter.

I will be honest with you: It troubles me that the American people seem to want to know so little about issues that they are satisfied with a 128 characters, Tillerson said.

He was quick to say that that wasnt meant as a shot at Trump but our political system more broadly. Next to his other comments, though, it wasnt difficult to see he was lumping Trump with all those Americans who arent intellectually curious enough about policy and the actual details of U.S. government.

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So basically we have a selfish idiot pretending to lead the country while all those he hires are sleazy opportunists looking to line their pockets by abusing their new positions of power rather than doing anything that they were suppose to do and all Don asks of them is that they keep him out of prison and kiss his ass.
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Ex-Kefiroth posted...

Let's not start painting Rex Tillerson as a sympathetic character now, or whitewash the destructive agenda he tried his best to enact.

Of course not, it it's even more frightening that Trump is clearly hiring people thinking he's better than they are only for us to know that not only are they smarter than him, they're there to accomplish their own goals and the goals of their corporate overlords. This entire administration is a bunch of factions vying for power against each other, it's chaotic mess full of infighting corruption and malicious actions and it's only going to get worse from here on out.
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Make America great again lmao!!
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Antifar posted...

What was challenging for me coming from the disciplined, highly process-oriented Exxon Mobil corporation, Tillerson said, was to go to work for a man who is pretty undisciplined, doesnt like to read, doesnt read briefing reports, doesnt like to get into the details of a lot of things, but rather just kind of says, This is what I believe.

jfc that is terrifying.

the leader of the free world is too dumb to understand semantics
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Donald Trump, on Rex Tillerson
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1071132880368132096
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you mean a spoiled brat who was handed everything on a silver platter and never told "no" his entire life ISNT good at running the country? man what a shock
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spudger posted...

Antifar posted...

What was challenging for me coming from the disciplined, highly process-oriented Exxon Mobil corporation, Tillerson said, was to go to work for a man who is pretty undisciplined, doesnt like to read, doesnt read briefing reports, doesnt like to get into the details of a lot of things, but rather just kind of says, This is what I believe.

jfc that is terrifying.

the leader of the free world is too dumb to understand semantics

And this is why people like him. He's dumb like they are. He speaks their language.
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spudger posted...

Antifar posted...

What was challenging for me coming from the disciplined, highly process-oriented Exxon Mobil corporation, Tillerson said, was to go to work for a man who is pretty undisciplined, doesnt like to read, doesnt read briefing reports, doesnt like to get into the details of a lot of things, but rather just kind of says, This is what I believe.

jfc that is terrifying.

the leader of the free world is too dumb to understand semantics

What should terrify you is that there are 40 bordering on 50 percent of hte country who are loyal to him no matter what and think he's some sort of god emperor and any criticism of him is faked and if not, they applauder his willful ignorance
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Crazy to believe living people support our President
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Ex-Kefiroth posted...

Let's not start painting Rex Tillerson as a sympathetic character now, or whitewash the destructive agenda he tried his best to enact.

I don't think you could accuse tc of this tbf
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Ex-Kefiroth posted...

Let's not start painting Rex Tillerson as a sympathetic character now, or whitewash the destructive agenda he tried his best to enact.

I agree he was unqualified for the job he was appointed and did a poor job.
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Guide posted...

spudger posted...

Antifar posted...

What was challenging for me coming from the disciplined, highly process-oriented Exxon Mobil corporation, Tillerson said, was to go to work for a man who is pretty undisciplined, doesnt like to read, doesnt read briefing reports, doesnt like to get into the details of a lot of things, but rather just kind of says, This is what I believe.

jfc that is terrifying.

the leader of the free world is too dumb to understand semantics

And this is why people like him. He's dumb like they are. He speaks their language.

sadly, I dont think you're wrong.
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Giant_Aspirin posted...

you mean a spoiled brat who was handed everything on a silver platter and never told "no" his entire life ISNT good at running the country? man what a shock

You just described most US presidents throughout history though
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Ex-Kefiroth posted...

Let's not start painting Rex Tillerson as a sympathetic character now, or whitewash the destructive agenda he tried his best to enact.

He was a corrupted corporate America CEO trying to run a government department while milking it dry and shaping it to serve his corporate interests.

As opposed to corrupted corporate America CEOs or political ideologues who dont give a fuck about running their own departments to the ground or even the entire country and having them collapse completely in order to enact their corporate or ideological goals.

The latter arent even trying to run thing, let alone trying not to have then collapse under their watch so they can pursue their interests.