Patterico's Pontifications

8/1/2017

President Trump: Head Of Boy Scouts Called To Say I Gave The Greatest Speech Ever Made To Them

Filed under: General — Dana @ 9:44 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Last week, President Trump spoke at the Boy Scouts of America’s National Jamboree. Traditionally, speeches made by presidents at these events are benign, non-political and focus on the values esteemed by the organization. However, after last week’s speech, the president found himself criticized for giving a political campaign speech, replete with inflammatory rhetoric and political digs. In other words, the speech was typical Trump. Sandwiched in between the sort of comments you would expect a President of the United States to make to Boy Scouts, were assorted jabs directed at President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Fake News, Fake Media, a subtle warning to Secretary Tom Price, and a pathetic rehash of his election win:

Now with that, I have to tell you our economy is doing great. Our stock market has picked up — since the election November 8th. Do we remember that date? (Applause.) Was that a beautiful date? (Applause.) What a date. Do you remember that famous night on television, November 8th, where they said — these dishonest people — where they said there is no path to victory for Donald Trump? They forgot about the forgotten people. By the way, they’re not forgetting about the forgotten people anymore. They’re going crazy trying to figure it out. But I told them, far too late. It’s far too late.

But do you remember that incredible night with the maps and the Republicans are red and the Democrats are blue, and that map was so red, it was unbelievable, and they didn’t know what to say? (Applause.)

And you know we have a tremendous disadvantage in the Electoral College — popular vote is much easier. Because New York, California, Illinois — you have to practically run the East Coast. And we did. We won Florida. We won South Carolina. We won North Carolina. We won Pennsylvania. (Applause.)

We won and won. So when they said, there is no way to victory, there is no way to 270. I went to Maine four times because it’s one vote, and we won. But we won — one vote. I went there because I kept hearing we’re at 269. But then Wisconsin came in. Many, many years — Michigan came in.

And we worked hard there. My opponent didn’t work hard there because she was told —

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: She was told she was going to win Michigan, and I said, well, wait a minute, the car industry is moving to Mexico. Why is she going to move — she’s there. Why are they allowing it to move?

And by the way, do you see those car industry — do you see what’s happening, how they’re coming back to Michigan? They’re coming back to Ohio. They’re starting to peel back in. (Applause.)

And we go to Wisconsin — now, Wisconsin hadn’t been won in many, many years by a Republican. But we go to Wisconsin, and we had tremendous crowds. And I’d leave these massive crowds. I’d say, why are we going to lose this state?

The polls — that’s also fake news. They’re fake polls. But the polls are saying — but we won Wisconsin. (Applause.) So I have to tell you what we did, in all fairness, is an unbelievable tribute to you and all of the other millions and millions of people that came out and voted for Make America Great Again. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!

THE PRESIDENT: And I’ll tell you what, we are, indeed, making America great again. What’s going on is incredible. (Applause.)

It’s like the aged college quarterback who is well past his prime, and is sitting at the bar regaling the regulars with his glory day stories for the 100th time. Because that’s all he’s got.

After the speech, the Boy Scouts of America president Randall Stephenson said he wasn’t surprised by the speech:

“Anyone knows his speeches get highly political — we anticipated that this could be the case,” Stephenson said. “Do I wish the president hadn’t gone there and hadn’t been political? Of course.”

But the organization made the decision to follow tradition and invite this president – in spite of what they knew would come as a result.

And in the following days, there were complaints from parents about the president inappropriately inserting politics into the speech. As a result, the Boy Scouts of America issued an apology:

Scouts have continued to trade patches, climb rock walls, and share stories about the day’s adventures. But for our Scouting family at home not able to see these real moments of Scouting, we know the past few days have been overshadowed by the remarks offered by the President of the United States.

I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree. That was never our intent. The invitation for the sitting U.S. President to visit the National Jamboree is a long-standing tradition that has been extended to the leader of our nation that has had a Jamboree during his term since 1937. It is in no way an endorsement of any person, party or policies. For years, people have called upon us to take a position on political issues, and we have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters. We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.

Learning of the criticism, President Trump argued that the speech was not controversial and consequently, there was not a mixed reaction to it:

“And by the way, I’d be the first to admit mixed. I’m a guy that will tell you mixed. There was no mix there,” Trump said during the interview. “That was a standing ovation from the time I walked out to the time I left, and for five minutes after I had already gone. There was no mix.”

He then double-downed, saying:

And I got a call from the head of the Boy Scouts saying it was the greatest speech that was ever made to them, and they were very thankful,” Trump said. “So there was — there was no mix.”

Except, the Boy Scouts of America claim they are unaware of any such call having been made.

Look, let’s just be very clear about Trump: that he might lie about this is about as surprising as him littering a speech with boasts of his election win – even if that speech is being delivered to the Boy Scouts of America. Both behaviors are completely consistent with who we know him to be: a proven liar and a shameless braggadocio. So why on earth was anyone in the estimated audience of 40,000 surprised or taken aback by what the president said? Why would anyone expect anything different from him?

(Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.)

–Dana

66 Responses to “President Trump: Head Of Boy Scouts Called To Say I Gave The Greatest Speech Ever Made To Them”

  1. Why would he even go there? Even if, even if the call was indeed made, why even go there? Why not just disagree, if he must. Why be compelled to constantly try to win – at the dumbest stuff possible? He continually exposes his massive insecurity and desperate need to be the biggest and the best at everything, but in the end, reveals himself to be weak and extraordinarily needy for a grown man.

    Dana (023079)

  2. Dow closes at record high, approaching 22,000. Up 4,000+ points or 22% since election day last November.

    Pretty soon the entire nation will be applauding, not just the Boy Scouts.

    ThOR (c9324e)

  3. As opposed to the apologetic bathos that would have nauseated Robert Baden Powell,

    narciso (d1f714)

  4. Now Obama didn’t deign to address thecscouts because like Ron O’neal Cuban colonel in red dawn , he probably regards then as counter revolutionary paramilitary organization, good grief.

    narciso (d1f714)

  5. Dana, given his age and life experience, perhaps he knew exactly who he was speaking to:

    Be Prepared – by Tom Lehrer

    Be prepared! That’s the Boy Scout’s marching song,
    Be prepared! As through life you march along.
    Be prepared to hold your liquor pretty well,
    Don’t write naughty words on walls if you can’t spell.

    Be prepared! To hide that pack of cigarettes,
    Don’t make book if you cannot cover bets.

    Keep those reefers hidden where you’re sure
    That they will not be found
    And be careful not to smoke them
    When the scoutmaster’s around

    For he only will insist that it be shared.
    Be prepared!

    Be prepared! That’s the Boy Scouts’ solemn creed,
    Be prepared! And be clean in word and deed.
    Don’t solicit for your sister, that’s not nice,
    Unless you get a good percentage of her price.

    Be prepared! And be careful not to do
    Your good deeds when there’s no one watching you.

    If you’re looking for adventure of a new and different kind,
    And you come across a Girl Scout who is similarly inclined,
    Don’t be nervous, don’t be flustered, don’t be scared.
    Be prepared!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  6. Jet her, no trump fan, noted teddy Roosevelt denounced the guns inn10956, a decade fore American intervention in the first world war

    narciso (d1f714)

  7. He lives in a world that is compelled to constantly try to beat him – with very little success. If the Elite, in general, is stuck on petulant, revealing their own massive insecurity and need to be the biggest and best at everything, how are we to expect otherwise from President Trump? Why, exactly, should he be singled out?

    It is hard not to see Trump’s behavior as anything be a reaction to the nastiness of his reception in the political world. Yet Trump is blamed.

    ThOR (c9324e)

  8. The news faces the Phillip wroth problem, function cannot compete#
    babalublog.com/2017/08/01/american-politician-says-north-korea-is-being-demonized-by-u-s

    narciso (d1f714)

  9. It is hard not to see Trump’s behavior as anything be a reaction to the nastiness of his reception in the political world. Yet Trump is blamed.

    This is a man who bragged about the size of his sex organ during a nationally televised debate.

    This is a man who boasted about committing sexual assault and peeping at naked little girls.

    This is a man who cruelly mocked a handicapped reporter, and encouraged his supporters to beat-up protesters at his campaign rallies.

    This is a man who launched vile personal attacks against female journalists critical of him, and the relatives of his political opponents.

    This is a man who is caught lying virtually every time he opens his mouth in public.

    I would suggest to you that “the nastiness of his reception in the political world” is a direct consequence of the nastiness with which he has conducted himself in the political world.

    Dave (445e97)

  10. This is a man who helped a sick old lady off the world stage.

    Compared to what Ted Cruz did to Carly when she took a header.

    Pinandpuller (2aeb6c)

  11. Dave is like that real life Billy Madison isn’t he.

    Vanity fair has already lost that small particle of brain,

    narciso (d1f714)

  12. Pin, don’t forget he elbowed his own wife…during a victory speech no less. That LA tatooed harass street poster wasn’t lyin’!

    urbanleftbehind (a7dbde)

  13. My basic feeling about Trump being President is that I’m still in the hospital undergoing brain surgery and it’s a hallucination I’m having while under the anesthetic.

    It can’t possibly be real that someone like Trump could be in the White House. It just can’t.

    nk (dbc370)

  14. Tillerson continues to be a saboteur still working for his gulf clients like Qatar, who are also behind the grishenko narrative, on the black list he’d be guest star tom wilkerson

    narciso (d1f714)

  15. It can’t possibly be real that someone like Trump could be in the White House. It just can’t.


    Second look at James Buchanan?

    Dave (445e97)

  16. I would suggest to you that “the nastiness of his reception in the political world” is a direct consequence of the nastiness with which he has conducted himself in the political world.

    Sure, and the political world is just nasty, period.

    Trump comes across as slightly more petulant and puffed-up than Obama, which is saying something.

    JP (f1742c)

  17. “He lives in a world that is compelled to constantly try to beat him – ”

    He needs a beating, metaphorical and literal.

    Ben burn (b3d5ab)

  18. The World sees the US as the Big Top Circus with trained barn animals and political Clown all vying for the center ring. But the naked Ringmaster keeps interrupting the Greatest Show on Earth with the Greatest of Evah Thing.

    Ben burn (b3d5ab)

  19. Weak tea benno being up your a game.

    narciso (5b8e39)

  20. Empty Wheel

    “The African American former cop that Fox blamed for its retracted Seth Rich story, Rod Wheeler, has sued the network and a Fox associate and GOP rat-fuc*er, Ed Butowsky, for defamation and discrimination.

    The suit is designed to be very inflammatory, using the claims Butowsky made about President Trump’s personal involvement pushing the story to attract attention (and increase the pain for Fox)”

    Next up..Awan

    Ben burn (df1406)

  21. So the same folks behind the Landon deal with Iran, are the same surveillance and unmasking as Sarah carter has revealed.

    narciso (5b8e39)

  22. My basic feeling about Trump being President is that I’m still in the hospital undergoing brain surgery and it’s a hallucination I’m having while under the anesthetic.

    It can’t possibly be real that someone like Trump could be in the White House. It just can’t.

    If you’ve ever seen the movie Brazil, you’d realize that even a crappy dream is sometimes better than reality

    Chuck Bartowski (211c17)

  23. Well we’re finally making headway on the crappy administration. Next..a question..if you were up to your neck in carp and someone threw a bucket of snot at you..would you duck?

    Ben burn (df1406)

  24. Carp is good, although whitefish is better.

    Sammy Finkelman (f9508d)

  25. If one sees Obama as a smooth conman, then the parallel applies.

    narciso (5b8e39)

  26. You know, Buchanan was sort of the forerunner of the NWO, he had the hard-on for annexing Cuba in the 1850s and taking territory to and past the Halls of Montezuma.

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  27. Back on the Kobe Beef-producing ranch (the incident from Friday): http://abc7chicago.com/news/us-tests-unarmed-intercontinental-ballistic-missile/2267268/

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  28. This former Boy Scout caught part of Trump’s speech and noted the audience’s wildly enthusiastic response. Now, I’m reading criticism from the usual sour grapes #nevertrumpers who’ve been quick to take cheap shots at The People’s President, but slow to acknowledge Trump’s astonishing popularity in the hinterland or give him credit for rapidly invigorating the economy, or dramatically reducing illegal immigration, or for ending Obama’s insanely treacherous program of shipping arms to ISIS in Syria.

    So, go ahead and continue nitpicking at the margins while this imperfect man rights our sinking ship, enforces our laws, makes our republic free and prosperous again, and saves us all from the national suicide of unrestrained government coercion.

    Be happy in your work.

    ropelight (eaa946)

  29. “while this imperfect man rights our sinking ship, enforces our laws, makes our republic free and prosperous again”

    EOOT! WOOT!

    Ben burn (df1406)

  30. Rumsfeld warned us,if this missile threat nearly 20 years ago.

    narciso (364166)

  31. Keeping Trump in his playpen.

    This is an area, though, where the administration is going to be watched very carefully,” said Peter Feaver, a Duke University professor and director of the Triangle Institute for Security Studies, who served on the National Security Council staffs of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. This sanctions bill, he said, was passed “by overwhelming majorities in both houses and it’s on one of the most important issues of the day. If the president tries to wiggle out from under the constraints of the law, I think he will pay a high political price for doing so.”

    Feaver also said he expects Congress will replace this sanctions bill with one that returns more flexibility to Trump once the administration comes up with a clear and tough Russia policy.

    Ben burn (df1406)

  32. give him credit for rapidly invigorating the economy

    Stock market bubble is not the same as invigorated economy.* We’ve had less than 2 quarters with Trump in the WH, still much too early to say the economy (and the stock market) is actually reacting to his policies, and not simply taking a bet on his bluster. So far, there’s no change in health care, and we’ve yet to see what will actually happen to tax reform.

    *Remember, since the Fed crushed interest rates as low as humanly possible, there’s little place for investors to go other than the stock market, here and abroad. Meaning the stock market has been to some degree subsidized through government action for the last decade.

    kishnevi (2f2588)

  33. Hannity especially loved the Rich conspiracy theory and vowed to keep with it despite a request from Rich’s brother. Hannity “selflessly,” declared, “[T]he family wants the truth and I think the country deserves the truth.”

    So what kind of “truth” will Hannity provide now?

    Ben burn (df1406)

  34. “since the Fed crushed interest rates..”

    Has the FED started paying banks to take freshly printed money or is it still just FREE!

    Ben burn (df1406)

  35. Dotcom bubble credit goes to Clinton.

    Great Depression goes HOOVER.

    Ben burn (df1406)

  36. The argument over the appropriateness or rehashing the election overshadows the Levitt story he told as a way of urging scouts to remember that dedication and hard work with perseverance breed success but without sustained momentum it all goes away. Levitt’s heirs dispute the authenticity of the story but whether BS or not it seemed a revealing moment into how Trump views the ingredients for success and a tale that certainly matches up with all the crazy personnel moves and tweetstorms of late.

    He certainly acts like a guy who feels he’s losing momentum that allegedly led to Levitt’s failure to recover from leaving his business. Hmmmm…

    crazy (11d38b)

  37. Posh..these are not your Father’s Boy Scouts. They didn’t have merit badges for Cheeto eating contests.

    Ben burn (df1406)

  38. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article164451467.html

    ‘DARK’ money isn’t so dark. YAY! CITIZENS UNITED. IF CORPS ARE PEOPLE THEY CAN OCCUPY A JAIL CELL.

    Ben burn (df1406)

  39. It’s humorous, almost. Personal property has no civil rights under Federal Asset Forfeiture Laws, but corporations are people with the same rights as Joe Lunchbucket.

    Ben burn (df1406)

  40. Trump introduces his plan to increase illegal immigration
    https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-senators-unveil-bill-cut-legal-immigration-u-151200337.html

    [Those of you who know I think the standard GOP thinking on immigration is unrealistic fantasy will probably be able to figure out why I describe this plan the way I did]

    kishnevi (2f2588)

  41. Time for people to research the RAISE Act.

    Looks interesting.

    NJRob (7f4bec)

  42. 44..unmasking the fiscal dodge toward true Nativism..

    Ben burn (df1406)

  43. I like the RAISE Act.

    DRJ (15874d)

  44. DRJ,

    we discussed Williamson a few days ago. Check out his most recent appearance on MSNBC. Think you’ll change your opinion on him.

    NJRob (7f4bec)

  45. Nativism is the political policy or practice of preserving or reviving an indigenous culture.[1] However, this is currently more commonly described as an anti-immigrant position[2] considering the policy to be one of protecting native interests against those of immigrants. In scholarly studies nativism is a standard technical term. The term is typically not accepted by those who hold this political view, however. Dindar (2010) wrote “nativists… do not consider themselves as nativists. For them it is a negative term and they rather consider themselves as ‘Patriots'”.[3]

    According to Fetzer (2000), opposition to immigration commonly arises in many countries because of issues of national, cultural, and religious identity. The phenomenon has been studied especially in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as in Europe. Thus nativism has become a general term for “opposition to immigration” based on fears that the immigrants will distort or spoil existing cultural values.[4] In situations where immigrants greatly outnumber the original inhabitants,[5] nativistic movements can allow cultural survival.

    Ben burn (df1406)

  46. “First, we kill all the Dreamers…”

    Ben burn (df1406)

  47. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/450010/kevin-williamson-morning-joe-interview-trump-glengarry-glen-ross

    Starting at 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

    Tries using a reasonable tone, but just calls people he doesn’t like (Trump voters) as racist, anxiety ridden, ignorant fools.

    No different from the leftist trolls on this site.

    P.S. Hilarious that Williamson is trying to dress as a “regular Joe” while speaking so condescendingly about them.

    NJRob (7f4bec)

  48. “racist, anxiety ridden, ignorant fools.”

    Is refutation too difficult?

    Ben burn (df1406)

  49. “It’s all a big bubble”
    – Donald Trump on the stock market, August 2016

    Dave (445e97)

  50. Trump has apparently invented another phone call that didn’t happen, this time from the President of Mexico.

    Can we leave nuclear launch capability in the hands of a man so obviously delusional?

    Dave (445e97)

  51. In the famous “words” of a Hawaiian pidgin language bumper sticker — “Inokea”

    shipwreckedcrew (f4dbf1)

  52. ainokea – Pidgin English Definition ainokea. (eye no kay-ah) Definition: Made to resemble a real Hawaiian word, ainokea sounded out is actually “I no kea” (I don’t care). There is also a clothing company with Ainokea as their slogan/logo.

    I prefer ,dats kukai Bra”

    Ben burn (df1406)

  53. 56 — LOL.

    I guess I don’t pay too close attention to the actual spelling on the bumper stickers as I pass by — or the pass me by, as the case may be.

    But you’re right — its “Ainokea.”

    shipwreckedcrew (f4dbf1)

  54. My favorite because I used it to roast a “lingusistics” expert from the mainland in a trial who was purporting to “interpret” various pidgin responses in a recorded conversation for a jury of Hawaiian residents, is “da kine”.

    I asked him to explain the reference in a couple of different parts of a transcript, and he was forced to respond “I couldn’t figure that one out.”

    That resulted in roars from the jury box.

    I don’t think he’s coming back to provide “expert” linquistics testimony in Hawaii any time soon.

    shipwreckedcrew (f4dbf1)

  55. ‘Da kine’

    That kind of thing..

    Ben burn (df1406)

  56. Can we leave nuclear launch capability in the hands of a man so obviously delusional?

    It doesn’t exactly instil confidence.

    OTOH neither does a fool who insists upon a “red line” he has no intention of enforcing.

    JP (f1742c)

  57. More on Trump’s latest lie about the president of Mexico calling to compliment him.

    Dial 1-800-COVFEFE to leave your imaginary message of praise for our great leader…

    Wait, you already did, without even knowing it!

    Dave (445e97)

  58. SWC–
    Try upcountry Jamaican patois, when spoken by a native.

    kishnevi (6fbba2)

  59. More on Trump’s latest lie about the president of Mexico calling to compliment him.
    Dial 1-800-COVFEFE…

    Why toll free? Reverse the charges!

    Bill allocates $1.6 billion for Trump’s border wall | TheHill

    thehill.com/homenews/…allocates-16-billion-for-trumps-border-wall

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  60. I do find it creepy Mooch, Pena Nieto and Don Jr. Could morph into a Robin-like figure.

    urbanleftbehind (04f888)

  61. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that right after the speech members of the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts praised the speech. She also said that when Trump said he was told something in a call from the president of Mexico, (I think about how people coming to Guatemala were now staying in Mexico and claiming asylum there) he was referencing a personal meeting at the G-20 summit.

    Sammy Finkelman (f4eebb)

  62. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in brief: If it wasn’t the truth, it was at least its second cousin. She’s good.

    Sammy Finkelman (86325b)


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