I saw two brief, seemingly inconsequential snippets of political news analysis the other day. Both confirmed for me that President Spray Tan McCheetos will not only be elected to a second term but will become America’s first Ruler for Life.
The first was a TV talking head wondering whether Sen. Elizabeth Warren should try to out-liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is surging in the polls. The idea was that Warren is losing ground because she and Sanders share the same end of the political spectrum, therefore, she should out-Bernie Bernie to recapture her mojo.
To bolster his point, he showed video of Warren attempting to do exactly that, telling a crowd of supporters that “Now is not the time to think small,” the suggestion being that Bernie is a small thinker and she is not. It was, basically, “mine is bigger than yours politics,” which benefits no one.
Warren didn’t say what “big” things are coming but you can bet it won’t be long before she’s proposing something grand and probably silly, like government-funded butlers for all or a law requiring employers to provide mandatory recess for employees twice a day, like in grade school. (Both good ideas, actually.)
Like most Democrats, Warren, who is the sort of tough, smart, compassionate person who would probably make a fine president, seems to believe with every fiber of her soul that Americans care a lot about a candidate’s policy stances.
News for her: We do not. We may like to think we do. We may say we do. But the fact is, when faced with a choice between a longtime policy wonk (Hillary) and a TV reality show character whose primary policy stance was “Make America Great Again,” we chose the latter. And we did so despite ample evidence that Trump is a deeply flawed, morally bankrupt human being.
Like most Democrats, Warren, who is the sort of tough, smart, compassionate person who would probably make a fine president, seems to believe with every fiber of her soul that Americans care a lot about a candidate’s policy stances.
Historians will argue the “why” for centuries. I don’t know what their ultimate judgment will be – was it the red hat, the jingoistic slogan, the fact that enough people thought they were getting “The Apprentice” guy? But I do know that none of them will say, “It was his deeply-researched and nuanced policies.”
It boggles me that Democrats don’t understand that. They continue to act as if America will swoon and fall in line if they can just come up with the right policy. (A million dollars for everyone! Spray tans for all!)
That’s what I call “magic bean” thinking, the idea that enormous beanstalks will emerge from ordinary beans, and we will climb these beanstalks and reach a land of riches in the clouds.
The media is into magic bean thinking, too. The other day, for instance, another talking head suggested that the audio of Trump of talking to Lev Parnas, the Ukrainian-born American businessman-slash-sleazebag who helped Giuliani and Trump unsuccessfully pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden’s son, might finally be the revelation that topples the president, who claimed he doesn’t know Parnas.
But it won’t be. There have been approximately 150,000 “a-ha!” gotcha moments before this one, and none has brought Trump low. Why would this one be any different – because Trump lied? Please. The Washington Post has kept a running list of verifiable Trump lies. As of last week, he was up to 16,241. (Say what you want, but the man is an over-achiever when it comes to prevarication.)
Clearly, people – not enough anyway – care if their president lies to them. Nor are they likely to care when the GOP Senate acquits him in several weeks’ time. Right now, Trump, the ultimate cult of personality candidate who, for all his faults, understands Americans far better than his opponents, is on the glide-path to re-election.
If only the Democrats had a policy that could prevent it.
Image credit: Donkey Hotey
R. A. V. says
Pretty much agree with that assessment of the Democrats. Dearly hope they will find the right niche’ to defeat “Cheeto-head”.
Fred says
Bloomberg
NativeOfMichigan says
The Democrats are dealing with a country with a lot of “bubble-heads” who are lacking critical thinking skills. Most of them were “bubble” students because much of what they learned in school was how to fill in that oval instead of critical thinking. Perhaps this is one reason that they easily follow and believe far right propaganda. Will the republic survive this nightmare?
Jims says
The idiot doesn’t understand Americans at all. The man was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He and most politicians don’t understand Americans. Millionaires don’t have a clue what it is to work for a living. Sorry Andy but can’t agree with that. People need to start understanding what each party stands for. I know people that voted for him that abuse the programs that him and the Republican Party are trying to cut or do away with. Total ignorance.
Brian says
Andrew Heller, you SUCK!!! I’m here to tell you that your views and opinions are just that and only that. Also, you’re not funny. You’re attempts at humor are lame and worn out. President Trump is far from perfect, but he is the first president in a long long while that is making progress for the American people. The economy is booming, our military is strong once again, our borders are more secure, he has dared to confront foreign terrorist leaders instead of kiss their asses like Obama did. He will improve health care and lower prescription drug prices. All of this without one shred of support from congress. Sure wish Satan herself Hillary Clinton would have won. Guaranteed she would have been a status quo president and accomplished nothing except maybe making herself richer. Also, who is against immigration as long as it is done legally??! Why do brain dead liberals refuse to see that President Trump only wants immigrants to be properly vetted before entering America? I love diversity, but I don’t our borders should be a free for all. Maybe you could try coming up with something of substance Heller, instead on commenting on Trumps hair and skin color. Can I say one more time that YOU SUCK!!
Andrew Heller says
So why did you read it?