In my previous post I tried to etch a rough line between the Trump TV show and the Trump presidency, while trying to make the point that the show has gotten most of the attention while Republican congressional actions have often been sidetracked or delayed by Trump speaking his mindless.
On the other hand, Trump’s outrageous speech and actions have drawn attention away from the right’s steady actions to dismantle the administrative state allowing them to progress steadily unnoticed like termites in your attic. In short, it’s a twisted relationship.
BUT THE KEY POINT TO KEEP IN MIND IS WHAT MATTERS MOST TO TRUMP IS THE SHOW NOT THE PRESIDENCY.
What matters most is not achieving anything in particular but to hold our constant attention while appearing to win often while blaming anyone he can think of when he doesn’t. This is most clear in situations like the attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare, where he was obviously ready to sign anything and call it a great victory for the people with no clue of what impact any of it would have.
That Trump sees this all as a show was supported in a tweet by conservative talk show host Erick Erickson Saturday. Referring to the now infamous “hole” comment, Erickson wrote:
“It’s weird that people in the room don’t remember Trump using that word when Trump himself was calling friends to brag about it afterwards. I spoke to one of those friends. The president thought it would play well to his base.”
Trump bragging about using the word. (get that Paul Ryan? who called the comment “unfortunate and unhelpful” as if Trump had just misspoken with his 4th grade vocabulary. No, he meant to say that. He was proud of saying that.). To be fair Erickson, formerly the editor of the conservative blog Red State has been a strong critic of Trump since the vulgarian described Megan Kelly’s bleeding from somewhere in that debate. Because of that Erikson disinvited Trump from a Red State event.
I infer he disinvited Trump because of a sense of common decency which mattered more than whatever political overlap there was. This is just a theory, but I think where there is decency, you’ll also find more honesty.
So, Erikson can’t stand the guy either, but he sure has a lot of conservative friends who would have connection to Trump and I believe his comments because he has shown decency and honesty in the past, qualities harder to detect in Trump than finding oxygen on the moon.
Today is Martin Luther King day, so many Republican politicians must feel those comments by Trump were particularly unfortunate and unhelpful, especially to their own political careers. Trump doesn’t care. MLK day only amplifies his “unfortunate” comments from last week assuring him the spotlight, which to him is fortunate.
Well, boys and girls that’s what comes of making a pact with the devil’s showman.
P. S. – There is a piece on Red State that discusses two problems of Trump’s “holes” comments in a thoughtful way. I suggest you look at it as it seems the kind of piece that many could read and actually discuss without yelling at each other, such a novelty these days.
AMERICAN TITANIC: Joseph R. Biden in Command 