The Emperor Hath No Clothes–And Is Proud of It
It remains amazing to me that a man known for overselling himself, of stiffing others, a man who became notorious for saying, “You’re fired!” to a lot of ordinary people and a few celebrities as well, is somehow seen as a champion of little guys and gals. Of course, it’s not like the Democrats offered much of an alternative (Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris as working-class champions? I don’t think so). Nevertheless, Donald Trump is about the furthest thing from a public servant to America that I can imagine. When he’s not playing golf or stirring the pot or posing and preening, he’s finding new ways to cash in as president.
Well, as Richard Nixon famously argued, if the president does it, that means it isn’t illegal. Right?
Trump is a creature of Pottersville, the nightmarish alternative to Bedford Falls if George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) had decided to jump off the bridge rather than serving the humble people of his community. Lurid Pottersville, shiny and decadent and shallow, where everyone’s on the make or on the take: that’s Trump’s kind of place. It’s a wonderful life—for Trump!
Which brings me to a fine article by Juan Cole at TomDispatch, Trump of Arabia, in which Cole recounts Trump’s grasping and greedy trip to the Middle East. You gotta hand it to Trump: he knows how to party down with the sheikhs, with all the hair-flipping and exotic dancing.
One thing is certain: Trump isn’t lecturing them about democracy and human rights. It’s just gimme-gimme-gimme. Trump puts the naked back in naked capitalism. The emperor who hath no clothes.
Well, at least America got a big beautiful jet out of the deal: a “free” luxury 747 from Qatar, the new Air Force One if Trump has his way. How sad is it that the new Air Force One that America was supposed to have is years behind schedule and billions over budget? Thanks a lot, Boeing!
Maybe on his next trip to the Middle East, Trump can convince the sheikhs to help fund Medicaid and SNAP for the poor. For struggling Americans, it sure would beat luxury jets and hair-flipping.
Bracing Views 
“It remains amazing to me that a man known for overselling himself, of stiffing others, a man who became notorious for saying, “You’re fired!” to a lot of ordinary people and a few celebrities as well, is somehow seen as a champion of little guys and gals… Nevertheless, Donald Trump is about the furthest thing from a public servant to America that I can imagine. When he’s not playing golf or stirring the pot or posing and preening, he’s finding new ways to cash in as president.”
Gotta admit, one helluva Vegas act, only geographically corrected to “Washington act.”
“Trump is a creature of Pottersville, the nightmarish alternative to Bedford Falls if George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) had decided to jump off the bridge rather than serving the humble people of his community. Lurid Pottersville, shiny and decadent and shallow, where everyone’s on the make or on the take: that’s Trump’s kind of place. It’s a wonderful life—for Trump!”
Can’t recall where I recently read it, but it was an observation that the only mega-developments in America these days (financed, of course, with tax breaks and other giveaways from the public realm) are sports stadiums, in lieu of housing, infrastructure upgrading, schools… you get the picture. This for latter day Coliseums used perhaps half a dozen times a year, all to benefit the already shamelessly wealthy team owners and their sportscasting pilot fish broadcasters (who often preempt all local and national newscasts, not that that’s such a great loss, but nonetheless…)
“How sad is it that the new Air Force One that America was supposed to have is years behind schedule and billions over budget? Thanks a lot, Boeing!”
Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis were in a 1965 movie called “Boeing, Boeing,” the plot involving some philanderer being secretly and simultaneously engaged to three flight attendants (oy!). Too bad there’s now such a chill over the entertainment business, and dissent in general, that we likely will not see a remake, only this time centering upon all the simultaneous screwings “the humble people” of this country are getting, in addition to Air Force One delays and cost overruns..
Am I being snarky in suggesting we come up with a riff on the “988 Suicide Prevention Line”only this being a “9XX Go Ahead, Please Jump! Line” and pass it along to Trump?
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