Trump just put out a tweet announcing that he would either give his GOP acceptance speech from the White House, which many people believe to be illegal, using the government building and background for his own political pronouncements (nothing is sacred to him), or from the “great battlefield” in Gettysburgh Pennsylvania because … nothing is sacred to him. What an odd f’ing choice.

On the one hand, Trump makes it sound like he might go out on to the balcony of the White House – we’re really getting deep into the banana republic shit now – and give his speech, perhaps chomping on a cigar and wearing one of “his” generals’ jackets. And on the other hand, he wants to go to the scene of the last time this country fought itself in a great civil war? Where Lincoln went to give a near holy speech that lasted less than five minutes? What is he saying?

Is it nothing more than Trump seeing himself as Lincoln again? He has already desecrated the Lincoln Memorial, saying he thinks he has it worse than Lincoln. Is he now going to Gettysburg to deliver another address? Is he going to try to “trump” our greatest president by showing honest Abe how to give a real speech? Or is there something darker at work here? Is he preparing people for the nation to turn inward upon itself even further?

We have narrowed the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, to be delivered on the final night of the Convention (Thursday), to two locations – The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the White House, Washington, D.C. We will announce the decision soon!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020

Either way, there is something distinctly dark about the two possible choices and one doesn’t know if one is being paranoid in considering the second layer of meaning to both or naive to not look at the statement made.

Americans had some things to say about the two possibilities put forth:

This will be the second time the confederacy tries to take Gettysburg. May it go as badly for you as it did the first time.

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) August 10, 2020

Gettysburg would be quite the choice, given the president's recent defense of generals from the side that lost that battle https://t.co/vKbzGaCnrU

— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) August 10, 2020

I wonder if a speech from Gettysburg would include mentions of how admirable Lee was.

— Philip Bump (@pbump) August 10, 2020

but gettysburg is the site of one of your base's greatest defeats https://t.co/cqYmqvHt5b

— Oliver Willis (@owillis) August 10, 2020

Gettysburg? Will he be wearing gray and waving the confederate flag, defending his position that US bases should honor traitors? pic.twitter.com/Rtv7yi2d5R

— VoteVets (@votevets) August 10, 2020

Remember the last time trump spoke at Gettysburg? He said he was gonna sue all the women he assaulted.

— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) August 10, 2020

giving a speech at gettysburg about why we should have confederate monuments https://t.co/b7sUWfBs3l

— David Mack (@davidmackau) August 10, 2020

The only speech that should be given if you’re accepting the GOP nomination on the Gettysburg battlefield:

“On this great field we finally lay to rest the party of the GOP so they can be with their confederate heroes for eternity. RIP traitors.” pic.twitter.com/X52XLsKm3D

— Kaz Weida (@kazweida) August 10, 2020

The Confederate’s Gettysburg Address https://t.co/AhzLzCuNxZ

— The Good Liars (@TheGoodLiars) August 10, 2020

Well, those are some interesting takes on the Gettysburg option. It still seems like a damned odd choice. He does seem to think that he’s the new “Lincoln.”

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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom