Tag: Donald Trump

Conversation with Claude

by earlthepearl137

Whenever I want an unbiased opinion, I turn to my AI program, Claude. Here’s our latest conversation.

Me: There is talk today of replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate for President because of his lackluster performance at a recent debate. The last time that the Democrats made a big change late in the race, Hubert Humphrey lost badly, because there just wasn’t enough time for his campaign to get going. Any comments on that election?

Claude: As an AI assistant, I want to clarify that my knowledge cutoff is in April 2024, so I don’t have information about recent events or debates that may have occurred after that date. However, I can comment on the historical example you mentioned and provide some general thoughts on late candidate changes in presidential races.

The election you’re referring to is likely the 1968 United States presidential election. In that race, incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek re-election, which led to a chaotic Democratic primary season. Hubert Humphrey, who was Johnson’s Vice President, entered the race late and secured the nomination at the Democratic National Convention without participating in any primaries.

You’re correct that Humphrey’s late entry into the race was a significant factor in his loss to Republican candidate Richard Nixon. Some key points about that election:

  1. Timing: Humphrey didn’t become the nominee until the Democratic National Convention in late August, leaving him only about two months for his general election campaign.
  2. Party division: The Democratic Party was deeply divided over issues like the Vietnam War, which made it difficult for Humphrey to unite the party quickly.
  3. Fundraising challenges: Starting late meant Humphrey had less time to raise money and build a robust campaign infrastructure.
  4. Messaging: Humphrey struggled to differentiate himself from Johnson’s policies, particularly on Vietnam, which was unpopular with many voters.

The 1968 election does illustrate the potential risks of changing candidates late in the process. It takes time to build campaign infrastructure, raise funds, refine messaging, and connect with voters across the country.

However, it’s important to note that every election is unique, and the political landscape has changed significantly since 1968. Modern campaigns have different tools and strategies at their disposal, including social media and data-driven outreach, which could potentially allow for faster mobilization.

If you’d like me to elaborate on any aspects of the 1968 election or discuss how late candidate changes might play out in a modern context, I’d be happy to do so.

Me: Please discuss how late candidate changes might play out in a modern context.

Claude: In a modern context, late candidate changes would face both challenges and opportunities that differ from those in 1968. Here’s an analysis of how such a scenario might unfold today:

  1. Media landscape: The 24-hour news cycle and social media platforms allow for rapid information dissemination. A new candidate could potentially gain widespread attention and name recognition much faster than in the past. However, this also means increased scrutiny and less time to refine messaging.
  2. Fundraising: Modern campaigns rely heavily on online fundraising. A new candidate with strong appeal could potentially raise significant funds quickly through grassroots donations. However, they would still be at a disadvantage compared to opponents who have been fundraising for months or years.
  3. Campaign infrastructure: Digital tools and data analytics allow for quicker setup of campaign operations. However, building a ground game in key states still takes time and resources.
  4. Party unity: In today’s polarized political climate, the need for party unity might actually make it easier for a new candidate to rally support, especially if they’re seen as more electable.
  5. Voter engagement: With early voting and mail-in ballots becoming more common, a late change could mean some voters have already cast their ballots for the original candidate.
  6. Debate preparation: A new candidate would have less time to prepare for debates, which are crucial in modern campaigns. This could be a significant disadvantage.
  7. Legal and procedural hurdles: Changing candidates late in the process could face legal challenges and complications with ballot access in some states.
  8. Public perception: The public might view a late change as a sign of party disarray, but it could also be seen as responsiveness to voter concerns.
  9. Opposition research: A new candidate might face less thorough opposition research initially, but opponents would likely intensify efforts to find damaging information quickly.
  10. Policy positions: A new candidate would need to quickly establish clear policy positions, which could be challenging without seeming unprepared or contradicting party platforms.

While modern technology and communication methods could help a new candidate get up to speed more quickly than in past decades, they would still face significant challenges. The compressed timeframe would require exceptional organizational skills, a strong existing public profile, and the ability to quickly unite the party and appeal to a broad electorate.

The success of such a change would likely depend on the specific circumstances, the chosen candidate’s strengths, and the overall political climate at the time.

Me: It’s important that twice impeached, convicted felon, Donald Trump should never even be allowed near The White House. Many Democrats would make much better Presidents than Don the Con. Some might even be stronger opponents than Joe Biden, but Joe Biden has come out of the primaries as the victor, and unless he himself decides not to run, like LBJ did, or if he should have other major problems, he will be the Democratic candidate for President. It’s time for the party to unite behind him. A split Democratic Party, and the impact of RFK Jr.’s 3rd Party candidacy could negatively affect the outcome of the election, and the unthinkable might happen. We cannot let a narcissistic criminal like Donald Trump back in the White House. It’s actually time for the Democrats to take a page from the Republican Playbook and remember the words of Abraham Lincoln: “Don’t swap horses in the middle of the stream.”

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

Buyer Beware

by earlthepearl137

The other night, I was happily watching old clips of my favorite late-night hosts mocking Donald Trump’s legal problems.  This particular clip from 8 months ago was from a Seth Meyers segment called “A Closer Look,” and I did take a closer look – at one of Donald Trump’s Lawyers.  Alina Habba had appeared, up until this point, as a lawyer who Donald Trump hired just for her looks.  In this clip, however, I could see the legal wheels turning inside her head, as it dawned on her that her client was incriminating himself.

Trump was outside the courthouse explaining why he couldn’t possibly be guilty of defrauding anyone, because there is a disclaimer at the beginning of all his financial statements that basically says, do your own research, this report is “Worthless.”  Alina Habba, who had been standing dutifully in the background trying not to look bored, suddenly realized that her client was saying something he shouldn’t be saying.  She realized that he was verbally putting a noose around his own neck, and she wondered what she could do to stop him.

She looks over at the other attorneys, with a look that says, You’ve got to stop him, before he digs a hole so deep that we all fall into it.

She was probably thinking about all the lawyers whose careers were ruined because they got involved with Donald Trump.  Rudy Guiliani, who at one time was known as America’s mayor, served as Trump’s personal attorney and is now hawking organic coffee to try to stave off bankruptcy.  The number of lawyers Trump has thrown under the bus to save his own sorry ass is legion, and I’ll bet Alina was thinking that the name Alina Habba was about to be added to the long list of collateral damage that has resulted from an association with Donald Trump.

Trump rambled on and I guess Alina’s mind did, too, as she thought of the people on the list of disgraced Trump lawyers that she would soon be joining.  Kenneth Chesebro, James Troupis, and cute little Jenna Ellis, who we all remember pleading guilty to RICO charges in Georgia with tears pouring down her remorseful face.  Then, of course, there are John Eastman, Christina Bobb, Jeffrey Clark, and Sidney Powell.  Who could forget her?  She threatened to “release the Kraken.”  Instead, she opened up a can of whoop ass that she spilled all over herself.

Michael Cohen went to jail for Trump.  Nowadays, he’s a star witness against Trump.  There were more.  If Alina searched her memory for other lawyers who had been tossed overboard in the wake created by Donald J. Trump cruising through their lives.  In Georgia alone, there were Cleta Mitchell, Ray Smith, and Robert Cheeley.

Maybe she was also thinking about the Trump supporters who went to jail for the insurrection at the Capital on January 6th.  In his current campaign for the Presidency, he’s proclaiming that if elected he will issue pardons to them.  Funny how that thought never occurred to him in his last two weeks in office, when he actually had the power to issue pardons.  Maybe he was just too busy issuing pardons to some of his other criminal associates, like Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Stephen K. Bannon, or George Papadopoulos.  He didn’t think about his “J-6 warriors” in jail, until he got the idea to use them in his run for re-election.

Alina wanted desperately to stop Trump’s rambling speech that day.  Look at that last picture.  She’s not looking at Trump.  She’s looking at her colleagues.  Her eyes were trying to send a message to the other attorneys, “Somebody, please, stop him.”

Of course, she wasn’t able to control him, and, of course, Trump lost another legal case.  Sure, he can get thousands of red hat cult members to attend his rallies, but he just can’t seem to find a single juror, who isn’t convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty.  E. Jean Carroll beat him in court twice.  His corporation lost a big fraud case in court.  Then he lost almost a half billion dollars in his own personal fraud case.  He was recently found guilty of 34 felony charges and 10 acts of Contempt of Court.  He has a few more court cases coming up, which look like slam dunks for the Prosecution, which his appointees on the Supreme Court are trying to stall until after the election, so that he may be able to pardon himself.

What Alina’s eyes were saying that day outside the courtroom is exactly what I would like to say to all the people who will be voting in November, “Please, stop him.”  The best way to preserve our Democracy is to use the most powerful tool that Democracy has ever given us to do just that, the ballot box.  The barbarians aren’t at the gate anymore.  They crashed the gate long ago, and they’re gonna try to storm the Capital again.  Please, stop Donald Trump.  Use your vote against him and his ilk, and stop them all.  A grateful country will thank you by flying the flag right-side up.

If you care to judge for yourself what Alina Habba was thinking just watch this clip from A Closer Look  (to save time, you can just need to watch 50 seconds of the 30-minute clip from the 5:36 to the 6:26 mark):

Bing Videos

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

Crime And Punishment, Part II

by earlthepearl137

Several weeks ago, I wrote a parody of Les Miserables with Donald Trump as Jean Valjean.  Afterwards, I decided that the twice impeached felonious ex-President should really be satirized by a more notoriously guilty character from literature, Rodion Raskolnikov, the Russian axe-murderer.   Since I myself have never finished reading Crime and Punishment, I asked my AI buddy Claude to give me a brief synopsis of the classic Russian book, Crime and Punishment.

SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t finished reading Crime And Punishment but plan to do so, the following is a synopsis of the story, followed by a parody of the story, so, you might want to skip this blog if you don’t want to know some details before you have finished your desired reading.

Claude was happy to briefly summarize the complicated classic story for me.

Crime and Punishment is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1866. It focuses on the moral dilemmas and mental anguish of the protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov.

The basic plot is:

Raskolnikov, a former student living in poverty in St. Petersburg, devises a theory that he is an extraordinary man capable of committing crimes for a higher purpose. To test this, he murders an unscrupulous pawnbroker with an axe.

After the murder, Raskolnikov becomes embroiled in the police investigation and suffers immense guilt and moral crisis over his actions. A complex cat-and-mouse game emerges between him and the investigator Porfiry Petrovich.

In his turmoil, Raskolnikov is helped by Sonya, a meek young woman driven to prostitution out of poverty. She represents a moral redemption that Raskolnikov resists at first.

The novel explores themes of redemption, morality, guilt, and whether intellectual theories can justify evil actions. Raskolnikov’s internal struggle with his crime and an examination of both criminals and criminals’ motivations are central.

Ultimately, through his interactions with other characters like Sonya, Raskolnikov finds redemption by confessing his crime and embracing suffering as his punishment and path to moral renewal.

It is considered one of the greatest novels in world literature for its psychological depth and philosophical meditations.

Now that we all know the basic outline of Dostoevsky’s Crime And Punishment, it is time to put Claude to the test, but first I must take Claude to school.  I had to tell him the details I wanted him to know, which I knew were too recent to be included in his database.   

Me:  Claude, I know that your databanks do not include the last couple years, but recently Donald Trump was convicted of 34 Felony Charges for paying hush money to a porn star so that the story wouldn’t get out and end his Presidential Campaign in 2016.  Are you aware of any of that?

Unless this hypothetical conviction occurred before August 2023, which does not seem to be what you are stating, I do not have any factual information about such an event in my knowledge base. As an AI, I can only respond based on the data I have been provided up until a fixed cutoff date. If major events like felony convictions of a former president took place after that, I would not be aware of them unless explicitly updated.

Me:  That’s okay.  Can you just accept what I said about Donald Trump and incorporate it into a parody of Crime and Punishment, with Donald Trump playing Roskolnikov?

Instantly…

Here is a parody synopsis of Crime and Punishment, with Donald Trump playing the role of the tormented protagonist Raskolnikov:

Trump and Indictment

Donald J. Trump, the former President and real estate mogul, devises a theory that he is an extraordinary and stable genius, capable of committing crimes for the greater good of Making America Great Again. To test this, he pays hush money to a porn star to cover up their alleged affair before the 2016 election.

After the illegal payments, Trump becomes embroiled in investigations by the FBI, Congress, and Special Counsels galore. He suffers immense guilt and moral crisis over his actions, ranting endlessly about witch hunts and fake news on Truth Social.

A complex cat-and-mouse game emerges between Trump and the inquisitor Robert Mueller, who plays the role of the dogged investigator Porfiry Petrovich. No matter how many allies Trump fires or intimidates, the walls keep closing in.

In his turmoil, Trump is supported by his loyal wife Melania, who represents the long-suffering moral redemption that the unrepentant Trump constantly rejects in favor of doubling down.

The novel explores themes of narcissism, shamelessness, and whether being a very stable genius can justify criminal actions for personal gain. Trump’s internal struggle with accepting consequences and an examination of both “perfect” phone calls and quid pro quo deals are central.

Ultimately, through his interactions with characters like Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels herself, Trump finds himself unable to avoid prosecution, indicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Rather than admit guilt, he claims total vindication and martyrdom.

It is considered one of the greatest satirical novels in modern literature for its unintentional self-parody and cringe-worthy study of hubris and delusion.

I was impressed by Claude, and I wondered just how much Claude was actually capable of knowing and doing.

Claude, I like the story you just told.  Can you translate that into Russian?

Вот перевод пародийной истории “Преступление и наказание” на русский язык, где Дональд Трамп играет роль измученного протагониста Раскольникова:

Трамп и обвинительный акт

Дональд Дж. Трамп, бывший президент и магнат недвижимости, создал теорию, что он – экстраординарный и стабильный гений, способный совершать преступления во благо процветания Америки. Чтобы проверить это, он заплатил деньги за молчание порнозвезде, скрывая их предполагаемую связь перед выборами 2016 года.

После незаконных выплат Трамп оказался втянут в расследования ФБР, Конгресса и многочисленных специальных советников. Он испытывает огромное чувство вины и моральный кризис из-за своих действий, безудержно критикуя “охоту на ведьм” и “фейковые новости” в Truth Social.

Сложная игра в кошки-мышки развивается между Трампом и следователем Робертом Мюллером, который играет роль неутомимого следователя Порфирия Петровича. Не важно, сколько союзников Трамп увольняет или запугивает, стены продолжают сжиматься.

I was completely blown away by that instant translation, Claude.  I don’t speak Russian.  So, I don’t know if you are telling me the truth or “hallucinating,” which is the polite term tech support uses when you are lying your AI ass off, and just making stuff up.  Either way, Claude, I like your style.  I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

If We Turn off the lights, the Party is over.

by earlthepearl137

The two-party system has been a dominant feature of U.S. politics, almost from the beginning.  George Washington, our first President, did not run for President on a Party ticket.  George Washington was not elected by a popular vote in the way modern presidents are chosen. Instead, he was unanimously elected by the Electoral College. He is the only President who ever won with a unanimous vote of the electorate.  Later, when different political parties formed, he was considered a member of the Federalist Party.  The Federalist Party was one of the country’s first political parties. It was led by figures such as Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. The party favored a strong federal government and was supportive of the Constitution. The Federalists declined after the War of 1812 and eventually dissolved.

For as far back as I can remember, the major political parties have been the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.  However, there have been third-party candidates representing other political viewpoints.  In 2020, the Libertarian Party nominee for President was Jo Jorgensen.  The Green Party candidate was Howie Hawkins.  Don Blankenship was the candidate for the Constitution Party.  None of these third-party candidates garnered any electoral votes, and they knew ahead of time that they wouldn’t, but they wanted to have a platform to express their views, and they did.

Many different political parties have come and gone over the years.  The Whig Party emerged in the 1830s as an opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson. The party attracted a coalition of anti-Jackson forces, including former National Republicans and Anti-Masonic Party members. The Whigs were active in the mid-19th century but collapsed due to internal divisions over issues such as slavery.

The Know Nothing Party, also known as the American Party, gained prominence in the 1850s. It was characterized by nativism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and opposition to Catholicism. The Know Nothings were influential for a brief period but faded away due to the national focus shifting to the issue of slavery.

The Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party) formed by former President Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, was a short-lived third party. Roosevelt ran as its presidential candidate after losing the Republican nomination. The party advocated for progressive reforms, but it ultimately declined after the 1912 election.

The Dixiecrats (States’ Rights Democratic Party) formed in 1948 as a faction of Southern Democrats dissatisfied with the Democratic Party’s civil rights platform.  Led by Strom Thurmond, the party opposed desegregation. While not a long-lasting party, it reflected regional discontent within the Democratic Party.

These parties played significant roles during their respective times but either disbanded or declined due to changing political landscapes, internal conflicts, or shifts in public opinion. The two major parties in the U.S., the Democrats and Republicans, have remained the dominant political forces for many years.  Both parties have evolved over time, adapting to changes in the political and social landscape. The Democratic Party has a longer history, while the Republican Party emerged as a response to the sectional conflicts of the mid-19th century.

The Democratic Party is one of the oldest political parties in the world and has its roots in the Democratic-Republican Party formed in the 1790s in opposition to the Federalist Party.  The Democratic-Republican Party, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, advocated for states’ rights, agrarian interests, and strict interpretation of the Constitution. It eventually split into factions, with the followers of Andrew Jackson forming the Democratic Party.  That party embraced the idea of popular democracy and expanded suffrage to a broader segment of the population. Jackson’s election in 1828 marked a turning point in the party’s history.

The Republican Party was founded in the mid-19th century in response to the contentious issues of the time and the expansion of the United States westward.  Opposition to the spread of slavery into new territories was a key factor that led to the formation of the Republican Party. Activists, former Whigs, and anti-slavery Democrats came together to form a new political force.  The Free Soil Party, active in the 1848 and 1852 elections, opposed the extension of slavery into the newly acquired territories, and many Free Soilers later joined the Republican Party.  The Republican Party was officially founded on March 20, 1854, in Ripon, Wisconsin. The party’s first platform focused on opposition to the expansion of slavery and promoting industrialization.

The election of Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, further solidified the Republican Party as a major political force. The election played a role in the secession of Southern states and the onset of the Civil War.

So, while it is difficult for us nowadays to picture any political parties other than the Democrats and the Republicans, there have been many many groups that have formed over the years, and now it seems that there is yet another one forming, the MAGA Party, led by Donald Trump.  He has steadily siphoned off almost half of the Republican party, forming his new party, a party that wants to suspend the Constitution and give the President more power, similar to the authoritarian powers of Vladimir Putin in Russia, Kim Jong Un in North Korea, and Viktor Orban in Hungary.  These powers would also include immunity from prosecution for any and all crimes committed by the President, including the assassination of his political rivals. 

Is this the end of the Republican Party?  Not likely.  The current party leaders lack the guts to stand up to the Trump mob, and even Nikki Haley, who is running against him in the Republican primaries, has stated publicly that she will support him if he is the Republican Party’s nominee for President.  Eventually, new, more courageous leaders will emerge, though, who will take back the ideals of the Grand Old Party, but that will first require a crushing defeat of the MAGA Party in the November election. 

We need two strong political parties in this country.  I feel that the liberal Democratic Party is the gas pedal that propels the country forward, and the conservative Republican Party is the brake pedal that keeps us from skidding out of control and running off the road.  One, without the other, is not good for the country.  So, I call upon all Democrats to help save the Grand Old Republican Party from the MAGA cancer that is killing it from within.  Help restore sanity in government by solidly crushing the MAGA Party in November.

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

What Do Women Want?

by earlthepearl137

alan-alda-then the-duke-and-trump-1-19-2016 womens-march

There’s an old joke about God speaking to the Rabbi Jacob. “Jacob,” God says. “You are the most religious man on Earth. Your faith in Me is stronger than anyone else’s faith in Me. As a reward, I will grant you one wish – Whatever you want. So, tell Me, what would you like?”

Jacob answered without hesitation. “I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, but I am afraid to fly or sail in a big ship. So, I would like for You to build a highway from California to Hawaii so I can drive there.”

God gave this some thought and said, “The ocean is miles deep in some spots and there are huge waves and extreme tides. Building a highway across the ocean would be next to impossible. Is there maybe something else I could offer you instead?”

“Well,” said Jacob, “I don’t understand women. Could You explain women to me?”

God thought a brief moment and replied, “Do you want that highway to be 2 or 4 lanes?”

 

On the day after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the forty-fifth President of the United States, a gazillion women of all colors took to the streets to protest for women’s rights.  Back on Election Day, though, an estimated 53% of white women actually voted for Trump and voted against the first woman nominated for the Presidency by a major party.  By contrast, when the first black man ran for President he got 90% of the black vote.  According to some Republicans, Obama might even have gotten 125% of the black votes in places like Chicago.  White women derailed the election of the first woman President, a person who ran on a platform of women’s rights.  Now they were out in force protesting against the misogynist they helped to elect.

I can understand why the God in the joke thought it was easier to build a highway to Hawaii than to explain women. This election just didn’t make any sense to me.

Maybe God couldn’t explain women, but there was another almighty source of information available to me. I Googled, “What do women want?” It didn’t give me a definitive answer, but it told me what women want in a relationship. I figured that was a good place to start. According to the Elite Daily website, women want honesty, understanding, caring, strength, compassion, security, and blind loyalty. None of that sounded like Donald Trump to me, so I went to the next website on the Google list.

The Your Tango website said that women wanted respect, sex, romance, time, dinner, communication, consistency, engagement, humor, humility, and a challenge. That was a little more like it. The Donald had a few of those qualities, especially the challenging part, but he certainly did not have all of those qualities. So, I changed my inquiry question to “What do women want in a President?” I found that back during the campaign of 2012, Matthew Dowd at ABC News took a stab at answering that question. He said that women wanted a combination of Alan Alda and John Wayne. That combo certainly didn’t look like Donald Trump to me, but when I Googled “John Wayne and Donald Trump,” lo and behold, that wily rascal Donald Trump had a campaign stop and photo op at the John Wayne Memorial last January. Plus, Trump’s hair looks a little like Hawkeye’s hairstyle, and, like Alan Alda, Trump can be funny at times. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Hillary crack a joke.

So, I think Matthew Dowd may have guessed correctly. I still don’t understand women, but now I think I know what women want in a President, a combination of Alan Alda and John Wayne. That does not bode well for the election of a female Presidential candidate in the future, but the point is probably mute, because I seriously doubt if any political party will even nominate another woman for President next time. Old white men have won the Presidency 44 out of 45 times, so that is what the major political parties usually nominate. The Democrat’s attempt to catch lighting in a bottle with another Presidential first failed. As a result, prominent women Senators like Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand will probably not be given the consideration they deserve when the next Presidential election comes along. It won’t even help a woman candidate if she looks like John Wayne or Alan Alda, because even though that might help her get the women’s vote, it would certainly cost her the men’s votes.

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl

 

Give Us Barabbas

by earlthepearl137

 

“I, The Donald, do swear to uphold the duties of the President of the United States, except during the swimsuit competitions, when my mind tends to drift a little bit.  I kiss them.  I can’t help it.  I do it without thinking.  Where were we?  Oh, yeah, I, The Donald, do swear…”

 

After what seemed like an eternity, the Presidential Election of 2016 finally came to a dramatic conclusion on Tuesday.  It seemed that by the end of the campaign, most voters fit into one of the three main groups – The Anyone but Her Group, The Anyone but Him Group, and the ever-growing group who strongly favored None of the Above.  With so little on the ballot that appealed to the American public, the voters boldly chose not to elect a President.  They chose, instead, to send a strong message to Washington. That message is right out of the movie Network, “We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore.”  We’re tired of politics as usual, and we’re taking the country back.  Donald Trump was made the Messenger.

The first thing I thought of when they announced that Trump had won, was that Hillary can easily beat any white guys she runs up against, but she just can’t win an election against a man of color, any color.

Now, what happens?  What does the future have in store for us?

Well, in a best-case scenario, America, of course, becomes great again, because The Donald, like he promised, turns out to be the greatest President ever (or at least so his advisors, Rudy and Chris, would have us believe).  The bridges shine, the airports are ultramodern, crime is nonexistent, the anti-immigration Wall designed to keep people out is such an engineering marvel that it ironically attracts millions of tourists and tourist dollars each year, the streets are not yet paved with gold, but the street outside the White House is gold electroplated, billionaires are returning in droves and are pouring their money back into the U.S.A., and everyone is making a million dollars a year, or more. Racism is a thing of the past.  Orange is the new black in the White House.

In a worst-case scenario?  No.  I don’t even want to imagine that.  Let’s just cross our fingers and hope for something good to happen, or for the next four years to go very quickly.

Maybe Donald Trump can bring us all together?  Just like only Nixon could go to China.  Maybe he really is the only one who could unite us.  Even if we don’t like him, we all still agree with him that Washington is broken.  He could have a real doozy of a fight with Congress about something like term limits, and he could have us all rooting for him.  America loves the underdog, even when he is a billionaire underdog.  Americans would love for President Trump to tell greedy, self-serving politicians, “You’re fired.”  He might not have that power, since this is not TV, but We the people would, and we could fire anyone he told us to in the very next election.

This decision by the American voters, to take somebody without any political experience at all and give him the top job in politics, sends a very strong message.  The American people don’t want more of the same old same old in Washington.  They’re tired of the political gridlock and they’re taking back control.  “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” said Victor Hugo.  I say, “Be careful what you wish for.  You might just get it.”  I remember that an angry mob once screamed, “Give us Barabbas, when they had to choose between Barabbas and Christ.  That choice, I’m sure, seemed perfectly reasonable to them at the time.  Today, of course, it looks like it was a bad decision, a very bad decision.  Last Tuesday, an angry mob of Americans made another similar big choice, but this time they chose the one who thinks he’s God.  “Give us Donald Trump,” they screamed.  How will history look upon that decision?  We’ll just have to wait and see.

As for me, as an American, I’m appalled that we elected Donald Trump to the Presidency.  As a writer, I’m enthralled.  We’re getting off the kiddie ride and getting on the super roller coaster.  Be sure to fasten your seat belts everyone, because it could be a bumpy ride.

I can’t help but think that even the sacred tradition of the peaceful transition of power will soon be replaced by a scene like this:

Knock Knock

Obamas: Who’s there?

Mrs. Trump (in her Eastern-European accent):  “Geeeta.”

Obamas (giggling): “Geeeta who?

Donald Trump (Kicking down the door):  “Geeeta hell out of my house.”

 

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Peace & Love, and all of the above,

Earl