I was going to compare the Presidential race to a mud wrestling match, but that would be unfair to mud wrestlers, most of whom are solid citizens. So, I’ll have to defer to conservative commentator Chucky Krauthammer, who called it a “race to the bottom with the one finishing second winning”. Think about that.
Last month, I said I was for Hillary … reluctantly. Let me change reluctantly to barely. Somebody called her Nixon in a pantsuit (I love the visual). But, I’m not sure the comparison is apt. Nixon had some charm and charisma in a perverse sort of way. I’m not so sure about Hillary. I never get the feeling she believes her own BS.
The fact that Hillary hasn’t put Trump away is ridiculous. (One of London’s betting houses has her at a 68% likelihood to win.) Trump has done none of the things a national campaign typically does, like build a sophisticated campaign staff and put together field operations and spend money on advertising.
The fact that the race is still a race is an indication of the depth of disgust in the country at large with the “Clinton Way” … the entitlement, the deception, the money-grubbing, the conniving, the pretending to take responsibility while dodging it.
Seriously, who wants that Mickey Mouse in their living room five nights a week? I mean, that’s part of the job of being President … you’re supposed to be a good house guest. Obama has been great in that role. Always gracious … well-prepared … a good sport … sometimes funny.
I particularly remember when he tried to reach a younger audience to help the sign up for Obamacare and he went on “Between Two Ferns” with Zach Galifianakis. The first question: “Mr. President, how does it feel to be the last black President?” Perfect.
How about Trump? I’m not breaking news when I say that he’s got some off-the-wall positions and he’s said a lot of wacky things. But, because he is who he is, everything is explainable and forgivable by the very substantial (and growing) number of people who support him.
Why is that? He’s a natural-born closer and he puts on one hell of a show. Plus, he makes no bones about who he is. People like that always catch a break. That’s just the way things are.
Remember the guy doing the commercials for the clothing store: “You’re going to like the way you look, I guarantee it.” Just Tuesday, Trump reminded me of that guy when he said at a rally in Virginia, “You’re going to be so proud of your Veteran’s Administration when we win … believe me.”
Another guy Trump reminds me of is Jimmy Swaggart, the Louisiana Preacher and cousin of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Lee Lewis. Swaggart is 81 years old now, and has been at it since he was 15, preaching on the back of a flatbed truck. He married his wife Frances when he was 17 and she was 15. They’re still together, even though Jimmy stubbed his toe a couple of times when he was caught in the company of a lady of the evening once or twice.
I watched a couple of clips of him preaching. He can go twenty minutes or two hours. He’ll sweat and he’ll sing and he’ll shed a tear and when he calls the Congregation down to the altar to accept the Good News, they come. And Jimmy lays hands on them and before it’s over they may put some folding money in the collection plate. And it all goes out on TV around the world.
Is that such a bad thing? Is Swaggart a bad guy? Is it wrong that he’s done well while doing good? I don’t think so … but maybe you should ask Rachel Maddow, she knows everything. People who know everything are really, really for Hillary.
So, we’ve got the Jimmy Swaggart of New York going up against the most perfect little lady that ever lived who never did anything wrong, and if she did, her staff fouled up and Colin Powell did it too.
We’re talking Headache City.
I will put up a special post on Wednesday September 28, 2016 after the first debate on September 26.
Comments are welcome at tomc[at]wednesdayswars[dot]com. Comments will be addressed in subsequent posts.