With Friends Like This...
And now, we head back out to our roving reporter on the campaign trail with Trump... It's been well-reported how, when campaigning in Texas for Senate candidate Ken Paxton -- and we'll pause here a moment to note how much deep trouble the MAGOP is when the head of their party has to come to deep Red Texas to help get MAGOPs to vote for their candidate because he's in trouble -- Trump said in praise of his friend to build up enthusiasm for him: "He may not dress right, he may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I've ever seen. Some may not like the way he dresses. I don't."
Oh, please, go on...
What a great lead-in. Right up there with "Here's a man who needs no introduction." "Please join me in welcoming the one, the only --" And "Ladies and gentlemen...The Beatles!!!"
Yes, Trump did then say how great Paxton was. But after an opening like that, it's not unreasonable to think some in the crowd were so bewildered that they were turning to people to double-check what Trump had really said, and missed what came after. Or were laughing so much they missed it. Or were rolling their eyes and groaning and missed it. Or did hear what Trump said next in praise of Paxton, but the petty criticism dampened their enthusiasm.
And, of course, not long after, audio was leaked of Paxton complaining about how Trump's "convention" in Texas not only didn't help, but hurt his campaign. “When we did that convention, it dropped our numbers,” Paxton is heard saying. "Everybody’s numbers dropped. It’s not good.” No, it's not good. Nor is having that audio leaked. All the more so because, in reaction to hearing it -- and again, we're days from early voting and Trump still knows (I think he knows, but it's hard to tell with those suffering from dementia) that Paxton is in serious trouble and him winning is critical for MAGOPs retaining control of the Senate -- Trump responded in his outdoor voice that while Paxton has long been very supportive of him, "I have to always remember that because he could be a pain in the ass sometimes, I’ll be honest.”
Oh, please, go on...
One can only imagine Paxton and his staff cringing when hearing that from Trump and thinking, "Oh great, now he decides to be honest."
Still, though, as infomercials shout to the audience -- But wait, there's more! That's because just yesterday, yet another audio of Ken Paxton was leaked. And on this one, we hear him say in exasperation, "I’ve never been in a race where I felt less control over the campaign, and what issues are going to matter because it’s all coming, you know, from D.C. I don’t control messaging or what we’re doing.”
Well, man, that's not good either. That said, in fairness to a U.S. Senate candidate admitting to not controlling the message, Paxton had his own massive message problem long before having to accept Trump's control of messaging. Like his federal indictment, being impeached by the MAGOP-controlled Texas House, owning at least 15 homes valued at around $9 million, being divorced by his wife for "Biblical reasons" and that's just for starters.
But wait, there's more!! The good news for Ken Paxton is that it's not about him and Texas. The bad news for the MAGOP is that this time it's about Trump campaigning in Red Ohio, where the party's two candidates at the top of the ticket -- Jon Husted running for re-election to the U.S. Senate and Vivek Ramaswamy running for governor -- are both losing. And how did Trump, that master tactician, build up high enthusiasm for his friends there in the final stretch of the campaign?
He did it as only Trump can. And as only Trump would.
“Even if you hate Jon Husted, even if you hate Vivek Ramaswamy, you’re gonna go out, you’re gonna vote, and then you’re gonna pull their triggers."
Just what candidates want to hear from the head of their party who they think is their friend. Who they hope will say glowing things about them to convince voters to come out during the the Mid-terms. But Trump, as only Trump can, made it worse. That's because he, again, used out outdoors voice and told the rally crowd something he apparently was unaware all voters in Ohio would be able to hear. That -- while praising MAGOP Senator Husted, yet being unable to not insult him -- he might break the kneecaps of the entire state, Democrats and MAGOPs alike, if he didn't get his way and Democratic candidate Amy Acton won. Something that likely repulses most Americans and their love of country when a president, sworn to protect and defend the nation, comes across like a Mafia thug enforcer and says, "What a nice state. It would be a shame if something bad happened to it." Badda-bing, badda-boom.
“Jon Husted, now that he's a senator, I've got to know him very well. He's a pain in the ass. He's called me all the time. He always wants money. You know, think of it, if Amy Acton got in, I don't know anything about her. She's never going to call me." Trump said, assuming that other people all act as small-minded venally as he does, even when sworn to help everyone in their state. Then adding, "But I’m not going to help her, probably. She hates me, I guess. I haven't heard. I don't even know who the hell she is."
Oh, please, go on...
And no doubt he will. Because Trump has dementia, which is degenerative, and also because he is a malignant narcissist which which is a medical condition about needing everything to be about oneself and is also about cruelty when you don't get your way, even to the degree of burning down your own house. And because this is how Trump campaigns for others who aren't him, out there to build up enthusiastic support for MAGOP candidates who are losing, because that's what is absolutely critical for a party to do, not only when you are behind in the polls but, during a Mid-Term election when turn-out is always very low and you need people to actually vote, even if you're ahead. Which none of them are.
Because this is who Trump is. Out campaigning to help people who are on his side. Screwing them over. And MAGOPs did it to themselves, loyally enabling him and tying themselves to him on everything. Because this is who Trump is and has always been.
Trump being Trump.
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