Unhinged

Donald Trump now has most media big guns leveled directly at him. The more things that he says that seem to be over the top ... yet don't sink him ... the more unhinged the ruling class (politicians from both parties and media elites) becomes. Two cities in the United States have banned Donald Trump from entering there ... St. Petersburg, Florida and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ... see: NBC News Story. Even the United Kingdom is circulating a petition to ban him from entering their country.

Can our political discourse get nuttier than this? We have now degenerated into exchanging playground taunts between petulant bullies. John Fetterman, the mayor of Braddock ... a suburb of Pittsburgh ... has called Trump a "jagoff" see: CNN Story. Being from this area myself, I know this refers to male masturbation effluent ... not a very elevated taunt coming from a mayor.

So when Trump suggests that, for security sake, we should place a temporary ban on Muslims entering our country, he is then banned from entering at least two major U.S. cities ... how puerile and obviously unhinged. I actually find this whole back and forth somewhat amusing ... as it puts on display the discomfort now being felt by the ruling class ... trying to exhibit moral outrage, but really worrying that their political sinecures might be in jeopardy.

What's the Point?

I happen to believe that the world and, yes, the United States should punish Assad for his chemical attacks on his people ... as opposed to the opinion of the vast majority of the American people.  And I have just witnessed the President's press conference in St. Petersburg wherein it seems clear that, even if Congress does not endorse our bombing of Syria, Obama is inclined (at least rhetorically) to go ahead anyway (see: Mediaite Story).

The question then presents itself ... if I were a member of the U.S. legislature, why would I then go against the will of my constituents and back Obama when it may not make one iota of difference in what eventually happens?  What's the purpose of all this legislative theater anyway?  Is it just to delay things?  Is it to provide Obama some rationalisation for his past inaction ... and justification for his previously ill-chosen words?  Maybe it is just to change the subject from the myriad of Obama's domestic problems?

What is Obama's real rationale?  What is the point?