The term of art is "acting presidential." Two weeks ago Donald Trump upstaged President Obummer by four days with his visit to the flooding devastation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and commiserated with the its victims. The only equivalent response that Hellary Clinton could muster was a short phone call to the Louisiana governor ... who then covered for her by saying that her visit was not required.
Now today, Trump is on an invited visit with the current president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, to lay out his positions on the issues that fester between our two nations. The former Mexican president, Vincente Fox, has called this visit a political stunt ... a thought that DJT's contender, HRC, agrees with ... even though she has no plans to reach out in the same way ... even though she too was invited. This is not very presidential of her. And I just watched the joint press conference after this meeting and Trump did well enough to embarrass, once again, his opponent.
In fact, the optics of these two events point out a few bright lines between their two candidates:
- One is energy level. Trump is forward-leaning ... he shows up. Hellary seems to be slogging through the motions of her campaign. She has, for almost nine months, not had the fortitude to hold even a live press conference. It's as though she believes she can coast right into the front door of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Two is courage. Trump is willing to deal face-to-face with his friends and potential adversaries. The best that Hellary can muster is staged Teleprompter pap deriding her opponent.
- Three is spontaneity. Hellary is so programmed by her enormous clutch of advisers that she appears almost robotic. Trump is more than willing to respond to events ... one reason that he now seems much more able to don the mantel of presidential power.
Perhaps, Trump is just lucky to do things that have pulled his poll numbers out of the dumpster since Hellary's post-convention bounce. Perhaps like the Chauncey character in Being There, Trump may sometimes be saying inane things ... yet some of us are hearing revelations ... but whatever it is, he is clearly recapturing his mojo.
5 comments:
Looked more like a zombie standing on the stage. And oh yeah, he's now going to save the hemisphere.
He certainly is not as gifted a Teleprompter reader as Obummer ... but he didn't call Pena Nieto a bad name either. He's learning.
The funny thing about optics is how different things look to viewers through their ideological prism.
- One is energy level. Trump is shows up, late because who cares if the little people have to swelter in halls while he rubs enhancement lotion on his little hands. Hillary comes alive on stage, cheered on by devoted supporters. Who needs a live press conference where reporters can raise dicey questions? After all, she can coast right into the front door of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Two is courage. Trump is a sociopath, but he didn't confront the Mexican president with the bill for the wall. Hillary withstood 8 congressional hearings on Benghazi and made the GOPs look like idiots. I wonder if Trump could get through even one hearing about Trump U.
- Three is spontaneity. Hillary can at least read from a teleprompter. Trump sounds like a a high school valedictorian from tech school.
It is a shame that we have to choose between the two worst candidates imaginable.
Yeah, but Trump is far less worst.
Chauncey Gardner spoke in gentle euphemisms that were very charming yet deep, such as:
President "Bobby": Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?
[Long pause]
Chance the Gardener: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.
President "Bobby": In the garden.
Chance the Gardener: Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.
President "Bobby": Spring and summer.
Chance the Gardener: Yes.
President "Bobby": Then fall and winter.
Chance the Gardener: Yes.
Benjamin Rand: I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we're upset by the seasons of our economy.
Chance the Gardener: Yes! There will be growth in the spring!
Benjamin Rand: Hmm!
Chance the Gardener: Hmm!
President "Bobby": Hm. Well, Mr. Gardner, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I've heard in a very, very long time.
[Benjamin Rand applauds]
President "Bobby": I admire your good, solid sense. That's precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill.
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