Untried
Re Donald Trump’s ascendancy into serious contention for the presidency of the United States of America:
One could argue — and I may argue this, after some thought — that this is the triumph of the American concept that anyone — ANYONE — can become President. It’s something we tell ourselves from school age on. The election of Barack Obama, a first-term senator with almost no relevant experience, was another step in this direction, paving the way for Trump, someone with a background completely irrelevant to the presidency.
Re Obama — he turned out to be an excellent president, and one I wish we could keep, someone of fine judgment and character — but note that he defeated a woman with four decades of experience in Washington, DC (starting with the Watergate impeachment hearings). This election cycle, Republican voters have ruled out everyone with real experience (whatever one thinks of that experience): Bush, Pataki, Perry, Christie, Graham, Jindal and on and on — in favor of a bilious naif and two first-term senators.
Although Trump’s skills as a reality television star are serving him well, these election results are not just about Trump. They reflect an attempt to throw over experience for something newer, something “outside,” something entertaining.
March 3rd, 2016 at 1:55 am
“Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone….”
Finish it yourself. I’m faking my own death & fleeing to Canada.
March 11th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
Watching “Idiocracy” come to life has been a bracing experience. It’s one thing when presidents and parties steer a dangerous course because of what they sincerely believe. Trump doesn’t believe in anything and is simply and yes expertly cranking up the mob to feed his own megalomania. His trade deals would truly bankrupt the country. I hope he has enough Trump steaks for everyone. I loathe everything that comes out of Ted Cruz’s mouth. He would be 100 times better than Trump.
March 11th, 2016 at 11:46 pm
Lindsey Graham, when asked whether he preferred Trump or Cruz: “It’s like being shot or poisoned. What does it really matter?”
March 13th, 2016 at 12:43 am
I believe that Trump’s ego is truly a threat to our society and perhaps all of world civilization. Consider: once confined to Manhattan, it grew to engulf much of Florida. It then grew into nationwide marketing of itself, and eventually grew to prime time mass media coverage. Now it threatens to engulf the entire nation. I think it’s too late to call Ghostbusters, and all attempts to destroy Trumps ego are futile. Rubios recent attempts to battle it were brushed aside, and even Hillarys sizable self-importance was reduced to the size of a small, yapping Pomeranian. I am convinced that the only way this overwhelming menace would be to convince him to go into space to dedicate a new sign on the moon saying “Donald Trump presents Earth – in 3D!” Then while his ego is swallowing the planet, we launch every nuclear weapon on Earth and Dennis Leary at it. Sure, it would be a sacrifice, but it’s the only way to be sure.