“A Republic, if you can keep it.”
- “I alone can fix it.” Does that apply to what has happened as a result of what Trump has broken? As in, scandalously unnecessary American COVID deaths borne of misinformation, negligence and narcissism; trickle-up economics that benefits the wealthiest; abandonment of NATO obligations and values; disparagement of the national security community that wasn’t aligned with Vladimir Putin’s agenda; withdrawals from the Paris Agreement on Climate and the Iranian nuclear deal; and the resurrection of the George Wallace-inspired, law-and-order playbook intended to motivate and rally white Americans. Jacob who?
- The caudillo incumbent as insurgent: The president’s acceptance speech on that massive White House South Lawn stage was vintage pandemic-era Trump. Message of unity? Empathy? Try incendiary rhetoric and revisionist reality. For counter-productive optics: A tightly-packed crowd of more than 1,000 that was largely maskless sent the Trumpian message that masks are not his kind of props.
- Michelle Obama, speaking for more than political partisans: “Being president doesn’t change who you are; it reveals who you are. Even to “Apprentice” fans.
- In an unprecedented move, the Republican National Convention didn’t bother with an actual political platform, instead going with a one-page resolution declaring that the party “will continue to enthusiastically support the president’s America First agenda.” In other words, Trump was the platform. The Grand Old Party (Ronald who?) has now rebranded itself in sycophantic fealty to Trump and his WWE-stagecraft manner. In short, the de facto platform was law and order; voter fraud, culture war; white nativism; science denial; and tax cuts for those who need them least. What racial injustice?
- Not all scathing, high-profile criticism of President Trump is via tell-all books. Miles Taylor, a Trump Administration appointee who until earlier this year had served as chief of staff to both Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson and Acting Secretary Chad Wolf, recently made an ad for Republican Voters Against Trump. Among his comments: “I came away completely convinced based on first-hand experience that the president was ill-equipped, wouldn’t become equipped to do his job effectively, and what’s worse, was actively doing damage to our security.”
- Donald Trump’s characterization of Democrats: “They want no guns, they want no oil and gas, and they want no God.” Arguably, Dems also would want no outlandish, deceitful, bumper-sticker characterizations that only cult followers believe and crave.
- “A wicked nation that must be punished for its sins.”—How Dems view America, according to the American president.
- “When I’m re-elected, the best is yet to come.” You can take that to the bank—but only Deutsche Bank.
- How unsurprisingly ironic that a “law and order” president is also unlawful and disorderly.
- “America is not a racist country.” Now you know—thanks to Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor, former Trump-appointed ambassador to the UN and a current favorite to be on the 2024 GOP ticket.
- At last count, Trump has visited his own properties 270 times as president. As a result, the Trump Organization receives a stream of private revenue from federal agencies and GOP campaign groups. So much for those early promises of Trump to “completely isolate” himself from the Trump Organization. Presumably, that didn’t include “resort fees” charged to Secret Service agents who protect the president—all 270 times so far.
- Prevaricator-in-chief (2016): “I may never see these places again, because I’m going to be working for you. I’m not going to have time to go play golf. Believe me.” Sure, who wouldn’t?
- Speaks volumes when the Republican Party’s only living former president, George W. Bush, is a no-show at the Republican National Convention. Perhaps “compassionate conservative” still seems too far left for this GOP iteration.
- “From Seattle and Portland to Washington and New York, Democrat-run cities across this country are being overrun by violent mobs.”—Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, piling on with more Trump-induced fear.
- “The hard truth is … You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”—VP Mike Pence.
- “I want my daughter to grow up in President Donald Trump’s America.”—That was White House press secretary—and Tampa native—Kayleigh McEnany. Yes, she really said that—as her daughter will one day remind her.
- “(Trump is) the most pro-law-enforcement president we’ve ever had.”—Michael McHale, president of the National Association of Police Organizations. Shame on you.
- “I love you for being real.” Ivanka Trump’s reality-show shout-out to her father.
- “Donald will not rest until he has done all he can to take care of everyone impacted by this terrible pandemic.”—That was Worst Lady Melania Trump trying to spin her husband’s unconscionably incompetent, misinformation-laden, fatality-fraught handling of the coronavirus. It’s what you wind up saying when plagiarizing Michelle Obama won’t help.
- More Melania: “Total honesty is what we as citizens deserve from our president.” From the mouth of babes…
- High-profile election analyst Nate Silver—on the cusp of the 2016 presidential election—gave Donald Trump a 3 in 10 chance of winning. As of now, Silver calculates the odds of a Trump win at approximately 25 percent.