I am as angry as I’ve been in weeks.
My last column, finished about an hour ago, included some language about granting Trump points when said well and with the right intention, based upon the fact that it is a time to unify, even if I despise everything about the man.
Then he goes and does this, making me regret even thinking that a partial acquiescence to unity was possible. Of course, the ultimate joke is on me. Unfortunately, this is no joke, nor is it funny.
It all began with a question from a reporter than included the fact that Trump’s credibility was in question by many Americans, indeed it has taken a hit. (About as obvious an observation as could be made, and an equally obvious, critical and brave question).
Obviously, Trump cannot take a question that doesn’t somehow include a reference to how great he is, how unbelievably rich he is, and that he’s the object of every woman’s desire. Thus, his response veered away from the importance of credibility in a national “wartime footing,” and went to an indignant, dishonest, untrue attack:
From Rawstory’s great coverage [1]:
“I see that they’re very high,” the president said, insisting that “95% of the Republican Party” backs him.
“We just had a poll that was done by a very reputable group where I’m beating sleepy Joe Biden by a lot in the state of Florida,” he continued. “And in other states. So, I don’t really know who you’re talking about.”
Please to be fcking off now!
I know what she’s talking about, Biff. She is “talking about” the fact that the country is not solely made up of Republicans, so if his “credibility rate” (it is not a “credibility rating” it is an approval rating, which is not the same thing, but we’ll play along), if the rate among Republicans is 95%, and Republicans constitute 40-45% of the country, it could easily mean that 60% of the country thinks he has no credibility.
But that’s only the first part of the problem.
More obviously problematic is that he doesn’t care about Americans who aren’t Republicans. Never has. And it exposes the utter bullshit within his calls for unity and non-politicization of this danger.
Next – even though I think he’s full of shit about his “reputable poll” (If you were a pollster hired by him, and wanted to continue to be hired by him, would you ever hand him poll results he doesn’t like? He would MUCH prefer a poll that is “wrong,” but makes him look great, than an accurate one that makes him look bad. Most pollsters take a ton of pride in being as accurate as possible and are ethical, but with this guy …), but let’s accept his “poll” numbers for a second, is he so stupid as to think that the election numbers are interchangeable with whether or not people find him credible concerning this disaster?
Am I so stupid as to even ask the question?
Credibility in a disaster is about as critical a quality as a leader could have. The reporter knew she was taking a risk and bravely asked a necessary question, leave it to Trump to put it in the context of his political interests. I doubt he sees the question as concerning anything else. Even in a national crisis, he can’t resist “sleepy” Joe. Not for one instant could he simply reference “Vice President Biden,” if he had to attack at all.
This man is far too small to lead us in this through this disaster, and that is what the country is figuring out. That is why MSNBC is covering Governor Cuomo’s press conferences – because a leader is speaking about a real plan.
This “president” – runner-up in the vote total in the last election – needs to simply retreat to his big white public housing project and sit on his gold throne, tweeting to his heart’s content, while real adults lead us through the epidemic. We are not leaderless. We just need to stop listening to the one who will lead the nation into a modern Waterloo.
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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom