Sunday, October 09, 2016

The Grand Old Party's Dirty Old Man

Kissing the Republican Party goodbye
`
"And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”
 
Donald J. Trump
 
This is unprecedented in American political history. The wheels have come off of the clown car. The elephants have thoroughly and completely imploded. It was bad enough that the Republicans nominated their worst, most reprehensible candidate - EVER - but in addition to that, he seems to have sent the party over the cliff, descending into the murky abyss in a hopeless death spiral. Not only has the GOP lost it's mind and it's moorings, they seem to have lost their purpose: to win at any and all costs. This is the price that the silly bastards and bitches are paying for spending the last half century desperately trying to reach out to the lowest moral, common denominator; the weirder angels of our nature. The candidacy of Donald Trump has proven to be their fatal undoing. Perhaps conservatism has a future. Conservatives - like the poor - will always be with us. The Republican Party, on the other hand, is doomed.
 
I cannot even articulate how much fun all of this is to watch. The right wing freak show (which has always been pretty freaky) has gotten freakier still.
 
Caruso only played a clown
`
I'm not going to quote what Donald Trump said in a private conversation from 2005 during a taping of Access Hollywood that was picked up by the microphone he was wearing. The words he used were too vile and sexist - which is something to consider: If a person's words are too profane for my tastes, they must be fairly off color. In fact, The Donald's words were completely disgusting - take my word for it. Trump's defense was that it was "an old recording". Wrong. The voice of the long-dead Enrico Caruso singing Verdi's Il Trovatore in 1906 is an "old recording". The voice of the very-much-alive Donald Trump (from even eleven years ago) is very new indeed. And don't try to dismiss this as "innocent locker-room banter". I would like to believe that most men don't talk in that manner - I don't. I have never, in my life, made reference to trying to "fuck" a woman. I've got a bit more style than that. And please bear in mind that when he made these remarks, he was not some slightly goofy, seventeen-year-old high school senior. He was about two years older than I am now. Context is everything.

When this barrage of audio pornography was unveiled to a, by now, thoroughly suspecting public, Donald made what is as close to an apology as we will ever come near to seeing departing his lips. After an obviously reluctant admission that he was wrong to say the things he said, he proceeded to blame the entire mess on Bill Clinton. Ain't politics a scream?
 
Already the reluctant passengers are starting to abandon this rapidly-sinking ship. John McCain has withdrawn his support; RNC Chairman Reince Priebus seems to have gone into hiding (which is a very logical place to be); even some of the Tea Party crazies are starting to put as much distance between themselves and the Donald. In case it's escaped your notice, these folks have quite a low threshold when it comes to embarrassment. Apparently Trump was the straw that broke the elephant's back. Isn't that something?
 
KellyAnne Conway
The person in all of this with whom I have torrents of sympathy for is Trump's press secretary  KellyAnne Conway. To see this poor gal making the rounds of the television studios, vainly attempting to put a smiley face on this decomposing-carcass-of-a-campaign has been...."interesting" shall we say? I don't envy her, that's for sure. She comes off as very pleasant and gracious when the camera's red light is glowing, Heaven only knows what she's really thinking. I couldn't help noticing that in the last three months she has visibly aged. When this fiasco is finally over in less than a month, she needs to go on a nice, long retreat to a monastery in the Himalayas. It'll do wonders for her.

Now let's tally the figures here: He's lost women (an obvious no-brainer); He's lost the blacks; He's lost the Hispanics; He's lost the Catholics, He's lost the Jews; He's lost the Muslims (another no-brainer). So which group is it whose support he retains?

Upper middle aged, white Christian males with beer bellies and bad breath.

Gee, I'm sorry, but that's not really going to cut the mustard - not anymore. America has changed. Roll with the changes. If there was any doubt in your mind where the Trump for President campaign was headed beforehand, the events of this week should have placed things in their proper perspective. The time has come to fold up the tents and go home. It's all over now, Baby Blue. Hillary Clinton must, at this hour, be relishing her good luck.

BREAKING NEWS:

Reince Priebus and KellyAnne Conway have cancelled all of their TV appearances on the Sunday morning programs. Do I detect a crisis in the air? I can't wait for the debate tonight. That ought to be a hoot-and--half!

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY


1940-1980
SUGGESTED READING:

IT'S JOHNNY'S BIRTHDAY!!!
from The Rant - 10/9/10
 
John Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England - seventy-six years ago today. Six years ago, on what would have been his seventieth birthday, I wrote this:

http://tomdegan.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-johnnys-birthday.html

In a little over four years he'll be gone longer from this world than he walked it. Imagine.


15 Comments:

At 10:41 AM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

This was intended all along. NO ONE wanted Pence as President, but like Bush Sr before him (and Cheney later)they put up a "more palatable" candidate, THEN let the VP run the show while the figurehead cuts the ribbons.

Trump will NOW drop out and Pence will take over, bringing all the GOP that WERE endorsing Hillary back.

Is this constitutional? Probably not, but the GOP has long since given up caring about the constitution and the nation as a whole. All the Koch's care about is turning the USA into the new "john Birch Society" and they have THEIR candidate right there, without having him go through the actual process.

 
At 2:01 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

From what I have read, the GOP would have to hold a convention to nominate a new candidate....could be Ted Cruz or anyone. not going to happen cause it is way too late. Ballots have been printed and mailed in most states. Let's just hope this has an impact down ballot. RIP GOP. Have fun dragging this loser over the finish line.

 
At 2:01 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

From what I have read, the GOP would have to hold a convention to nominate a new candidate....could be Ted Cruz or anyone. not going to happen cause it is way too late. Ballots have been printed and mailed in most states. Let's just hope this has an impact down ballot. RIP GOP. Have fun dragging this loser over the finish line.

 
At 3:42 PM, Blogger Paul said...

The Republicans get off to easy by denouncing what Trump says, yet, they still won't rescind their endorsements of him. They will claim in future presidential elections, they just had a bad man as their candidate. Hogwash! Their party members voted for him. Their leaders support him even in the face of vitriolic rhetoric, which has been part of Trumps character since he was in Preparatory school, and the Republicans have held most of the same positions Trump does, for decades.
The laws Republicans have been passing in the States are being found unconstitutional (like voting laws, abortion laws, gun laws). Republicans give cover to negative racial attitudes. They support police who shoot unarmed citizens. They vote down the Voting Rights Act then go right to the States and pass voting restriction laws, that are being found unconstitutional. They won't support equality for women. Why are colleges so lenient towards campus rape? Maybe they find cover in Republican national leadership attitudes against women.
McCain said about Trump yesterday, "He alone bears the burden of his conduct and alone should suffer the consequences." Hogwash! He is not alone in his party, and when do we hold the Republican party responsible? Republicans are going to get away with this whole Trump fiasco and probably put up Ryan for president in 2020.
I've been wondering for a year how long America would put up with this demagogue. I've lost faith in the decency and logic of the American voter. If this is what they want, we are truly a third world country. Our fist fights in Congress will be laughed at around the world.
Sorry Tom, Republicans will not only survive, but will rid themselves of the Trump garbage, because 10's of millions of Americans are accepting of this garbage. If this is the last gasp of white power, they are not going to go quietly and don't care if the burn it all down on their way out. In fact, they are quite public about tearing down our government.
I'll stop my rant now. This is a "Twilight Zone" nightmare.

 
At 3:38 AM, Blogger Den said...

Says it all!
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/10/donald-trump-so-much-fun-but-also-terrifying-to-watch

 
At 11:41 AM, Blogger Dave Dubya said...

Republicans have always wanted an uncompromising one party dictatorship.

Now they have their would-be-dictator, and boasting sex offender, threatening his opponent with jail. He called her the devil with hate in her heart.

That display of Goebbels-inspired projection must have sent a tingle up every angry white men's varicose veined leg.

Trump is not an anomaly or "outside" Republican. He exemplifies what that party has become. Their base is angry, racist, authoritarian and wallowing in hate and ignorance.

Krugman correctly notes:

He won the nomination fair and square, chosen by voters who had a pretty good idea of who he was. He had solid establishment support until very late in the game. And his vices are, dare we say, very much in line with his party’s recent tradition.

The civilized world is hoping Americans reject fascism in November. It's not like we haven't re-elected a lying, aristocratic, tax-cuts-for-the-rich, torturer and war monger in the last Republican president.

I never imagined Hillary would look so good, so dignified, so rational, so selfless, so presidential. Compared to the Party of Trump, she exemplifies all of the above.



 
At 12:04 PM, Blogger Majormajor said...

Fun was watching the fly land on HRC's face

 
At 6:15 PM, Blogger Darrell Michaels said...

Trump is a boorish fool and his latest words have only further condemned him. I feel no sorrow for him; only for our nation.

That said, his grotesque behavior was just words.

Everyone seems to forget that Bill Clinton was a serial molester of women and even had a credible accusation of rape against him by Juanita Broderick. And through it all, Hillary badgered, bullied, and attacked those “bimbo eruptions” against her dear husband in order for them to hold onto power.

I guess her new campaign rhetoric of “Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be heard, believed, and supported”, must not apply to Kathleen Willey, Paula Jones, Elizabeth Gracen, Juanita Broderick, Monica Lewinsky and the untold others that were loyal Democrats with nothing to gain that claimed that her husband groped, molested, or attacked them. She did everything she could to discredit and quiet them. Irony, thy name is Hillary.

If there was any decency and integrity left in the majority of the American people, Hillary Clinton would be in jail and Trump would fade away into pauperism and obscurity.

Wouldn't it be amazing what we could do to fix this country if every American vowed not to vote for either corrupt, disgusting, lying candidate of the two major parties?

I know my vote is next to meaningless next month, but I am going to vote my principles. I know that seems to be a very odd notion these days. I will be voting for the Constitution Party and its presidential candidate Darrell Castle.

I would far rather see the egregiously foolish platform of Jill Stein be enacted as she begins her presidency than to ever see Trump or Hillary sit behind the desk in the oval office.

Indeed we will get the pernicious government we all deserve in less than a month.

 
At 10:51 AM, Blogger Rain Trueax said...

I believe our vote has to be on issues as both of these candidates are ethically challenged-- one way or another. In voting on issues, with either, who knows what we'd get but to defend either ethically is to ignore a lot of what has happened. Those who want to think they are voting on ethics just ignore what doesn't suit their preconceived agenda. It is a sickening election.

 
At 12:18 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

ASSANGE DRONES HILLARY!
Releases Another 1,000 Emails From Podesta...
His UFO Obsession...
How Saudi Arabia And Qatar ARE Funding ISIS...
UNIVISION chief urged Clinton to hit harder...
CNN Jake Tapper congratulated Podesta...
CNBC John Harwood Advises Campaign [And he was debate moderator?!]...
NYT Gave Hillary Veto Power On Quotes!
BOSTON GLOBE coordinated to max her 'presence' in paper...
SHE WAS TOLD WHEN TO SMILE...
Aide calls Chelsea 'spoiled brat'...
BRAZILE BUSTED: DNC Chief Leaked Sanders Dirt...
State Dept Coordinated Email Release With Hillary...


Anyone still wonder how Bernie was defeated?

The FIX was in, the Clinton's rigged the system.
Trump won his nomination WITHOUT the help of the media, special interest groups and his party.

So of the two, who better represents the people?

 
At 12:40 PM, Blogger Jefferson's Guardian said...

T. Paine: "I would far rather see the egregiously foolish platform of Jill Stein be enacted as she begins her presidency than to ever see Trump or Hillary sit behind the desk in the oval office."

I have to ask you what you find so "egregiously foolish"? Her platform, more than any, advocates for all -- not just those with elite status. Indeed, it's a radical departure from platforms put forth, past and present from any party, revolving around the moneyed and corporate interests we've all grown accustomed to over the years. Maybe it's "egregiously foolish" because it puts human life and a healthy environment at the forefront. Quite a novel idea, I know, but the current story only favors a select few.

It's time to write a new story.

 
At 7:40 AM, Blogger Jefferson's Guardian said...

Chuck Morre: "Anyone still wonder how Bernie was defeated?"

No.


"The FIX was in, the Clinton's rigged the system."

I was telling you this months ago...


"Trump won his nomination WITHOUT the help of the media, special interest groups and his party."

What?! You're kidding, I hope. Trump received, by far, more free media time than any candidate. It wasn't even close.

Wherever it is that you receive your information, it's usually wrong and it's mostly dated.


"So of the two, who better represents the people?"

Neither. One represents elitist and corporate interests, and permanent war; the other is endeared by those holding strong beliefs in white supremacism, anti-Islamism, anti-feminism, anti-semitism, ethno-nationalism, right-wing populism, nativism, traditionalism, and the neoreactionary movement. In a word, he's a neo-fascist.

Hey, I thought you were banned from this site?

 
At 9:27 PM, Blogger Majormajor said...

Free time in the primary's is not the same as favorable reporting in the general and in the debates.

 
At 6:48 AM, Blogger Jefferson's Guardian said...

Majormajor: "Free time in the primary's [sic] is not the same as favorable reporting in the general and in the debates."

Sure it is. It's all about free exposure to the masses.

Besides, that's not what "Chuck Morre" said. His exact words were: "Trump won his nomination WITHOUT the help of the media..." Based upon those words, he wasn't intending to differentiate between free time during the primaries and free time during the general campaign. If he was, he should have made that distinction clear.

 
At 1:31 AM, Blogger Frieda said...

I was never a Trump supporter, but your blog has convinced me to never side with a democrat. You're even worse than he is.

 

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