It is very clear that Donald Trump is not a politician polished to the satisfaction of our media elites. He constantly offers up gritty suggestions that, prior to his becoming the presumptive Republican candidate, were thought as entertaining and, yes, TV ratings' grabbers. One of his primary opponents, Marco Rubio, thought that he could neutralize Trump by echoing his sleezy style. He was very, very wrong. His brief foray into Trumpdom (remember the small hands allusion) quickly sank his nomination chances. In fact, Rubio soon realized his mistake and apologized for stepping out of character ... but it was too late.
Now, both the elite media and Trump's political opponents (one and the same) seem to be wallowing into this same dirty ditch ... thinking, by emulating Trump's coarse communication style, that they can diminish him. I just heard Elizabeth Warren call Trump a "small, insecure money grubber" and Mika Brzezinski say that Trump was "vomiting" out his latest political counterattack. Will this verbal toxicity turn the American voters against The Donald? Judging by my wife and daughter, I might say "yes." But, to me, it also sullied these two anti-Trump speakers. I also somehow doubt that my Massachusetts family is representative of most Americans. It awaits both parties' conventions and the political advertising onslaughts later in the summer before it can be determined how this mud wrestling match turns out.
If you want my guess, it would bet that those who think they can win by out-playing Trump at his grime game are fooling themselves. But what do I know?
"It is very clear that Donald Trump is not a politician..." Period. Typically, those who aspire to the Presidency build their credentials through local, regional, state, and congressional experience. They (should) learn collaboration with peers, and workings of government past and present so that they establish a a record and a network of experienced pols. Reagan, Romney, and Bush were governors.
ReplyDeleteSo the concern of many is not The Donald himself but the way it seems more and more unlikely that he can establish a White House office or cabinet that would not walk out on him every few weeks.
That could be a good thing but I can't say that is what I want in the leader of the free world.
You have described the course requirements for an "establishment" pol. I think that many voters have had their fill of such bozos. To many, including myself, country comes third in their calculus. Money and power are first and second.
DeleteThe Trump story is getting to be more like an Adam Sandler movie: More silly and less interesting with each ensuing frame.
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