A former Bush advisor who specializes in communications breaks the asshole barrier when referring to Trump, and he does it bigtime: On CNN’s State of the Union.
But he is quick to say the other thing: Millions of Americans like assholes, and the more their political assholes smell of shit the better.
Millions of Russians, as we speak, are pining for Stalin; millions of Italians for Mussolini, millions of Spaniards for Franco. It ain’t just Americans.
If some clever boots (Adam Phillips?) could figure out why millions of people absolutely adore assholes and follow their stench to the ends of the earth, it might be useful/interesting.
February 12th, 2024 at 11:36AM
There’s this blue collar formulation, “sure he’s an a**hole but he’s OUR a**hole,” that governs here. A few weeks ago Brett Stephens broke that phenomenon down in the New York Times and it goes a long way toward explaining why Orange Man’s base is as loyal as it is. Sure, Nikki Haley would cause Establishment types some trouble, but the base wants to see full-on hair pulling and Rachel Maddow looking glum all the time. More recently, Joel Kotkin broke down some of the reasons Trump still polls well, that appears in some other forum, not his usual City Journal or Reason haunts. And the best Old Joe could do during the Candid Shots of Taylor Swift attempting to qualify for a drinking game in Wisconsin was — wait for it — slag on those Doritos bags that were a few chips short of quelling the munchies!
February 13th, 2024 at 10:17AM
Stephen: Thanks for those links. Reading them now. BUT — some of the fiercest Trumpians are super-rich.
February 13th, 2024 at 4:33PM
UD: Yes, The Donald has more than a few super-rich fans, but not the Koch family, which sometimes provides amusement. There are also more than a few appliance technicians, air-conditioner maintainers, and powerboat owners who might not sit this election out.
I posted my reactions to those Stephens and Kotkin columns about an hour ago. I suspect we still have a lot to look forward to, besides those Doritos bags with fewer treats in them!