Finding the Mean Value
The other day, I noted before even hearing the speeches by Michelle and Barack Obama that Trump would have an extremely hard time dealing with what they would be saying about him. Okay, as far as early predictions go, this was an incredibly easy one. Though it did prove correct.
"Did you see Barack Hussein Obama last night?" Trump asked afterward at his rally yesterday. "Take little shots. He was taking shots at your president. And so was Michelle."
Trump continued, talking about his advisers. "You know, they always say, sir, please stick to policy. Don't get personal. And yet they're getting personal all night long, these people. Do I still have to stick to policy? Sir, you must stick to policy."
Yeah, man, what a burden. Being in a political campaign and having to stick to policy. It's so much easier just making things up and lying. (Okay, sorry, I do have to admit I also love him still referring to himself as "your president." The monumental insecurity just oozes out.)
How bad is Trump's paper-thin skin and tender heart not only for his campaign, but down-ticket races that are relying on him? Let’s put it this way: neither Barack Hussein Obama nor Michelle Obama is running for president! Nor are they running against Trump. And Trump – whose opponent is, needless-to-say, someone else entirely – has chosen to direct his focus on them. Even more to the point, not being actual candidates, there is no reason on Earth for Barack or Michelle Obama to lay out a policy plan. As it happens, policy was talked about – not a lot, but a whole lot more than Trump has talked policy, as he himself even noted, pointing out how his advisers were begging him to.
But hey, sure, here's hoping please Trump does go on campaigning against Barack Obama. Or Michelle, it it soothes his soul trying to attack yet another Black woman. Or even still Joe Biden, or whoever suits Trump's need to avoid reality.
To put this problem for the MAGOP in even greater perspective, there was an article for The Bulwark written by Marc Caputo, in which he quoted an aide saying to Trump that should shouldn’t use words like "stupid" and "dumb" when talking about Kamala Harris — and Trump answered, “This is just the way I am. I hate my opponent. I hate my opponents ... Hillary, Joe, Kamala. It doesn’t matter. I just hate them!” And then Trump added, reference the current campaign, “I’m going to be mean.”
Or as his defenders like to say, it's just Trump being being Trump.
To be clear, this wasn’t an exchange in response to the Democratic Convention, but from earlier. So, it gives an even larger oversight to what MAGOPs have to deal with for the next 11 weeks. A candidate who can’t focus on policy, who can’t focus on who his actual candidate is, who – in his own words – says “I’m going to be mean.”
Hmm, gee, y'know, it’s really hard to see that as a winning strategy.
On a lot of levels.
The problem with "I'm going to be mean" as your standard starts with recognizing that the theme of the Democratic Convention -- with a ticket of the ebullient Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, a man who literally gave a half-time pep talks at the end of in his acceptance speech last night -- has seemingly turned out to be “Come over to the joy!.” But most especially, problematic with undecided voters and Independents. The people who have to be won over, who still haven’t committed to “This is the guy for me!,” knowing who he is, having seen Trump operate for the past eight years -- now with 34 felony convictions added, as well as being found liable for rape and found guilty of fraud -- and his argument to them, weary from all the chaos he creates, is “I’m going to be mean.”
I’m going to be mean. Now, there’s a campaign slogan.
And spouted by someone with early dementia, which is degenerative and only going to get worse. "I'm going to be mean."
All from a guy who actually can’t take criticism. Particularly when delivered as ridicule – even telling a rally, “I really, really, really, really don’t like being laughed at.” (Cool, this is like a quarterback telling his opponents, “Whatever you do, don’t rush me from the right side because I really, really, really can’t see out of my right eye.”)
A guy upset over others saying things that are hurtful to him – whose dystopian career has had as its foundation belittling others, slamming their handicaps, giving them rude nicknames. Who can’t take being mean from others. Always telling reporters that they asked a nasty question.
Though, in fairness, this isn’t much of a secret. Even Laura Ingraham on Fox complained that Democrats were too mean to Trump in their speeches the second night by the Obamas, J.B. Pritzker, Bernie Sanders, Tammy Duckworth, Chuck Schumer and more.
But of course, in the end, that's what America needs, a president too tender that he can't take people saying things that aren't nice about him. Especially when they're true.
Though it’s good that Trump at least has the woman who once appeared to give a Nazi salute to him as a loyal supporter rushing to his defense.
But then, the reality is -- if you don't want people being critical about you, don't do things that will get you convicted of 34 felonies, found liable of rape, and found guilty of fraud. And saying you wants to be a dictator. And terminate the Constitution.
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