Trump’s Standards
A thoughtful tweet from reporter Kurt Eichenwald of Newsweek: “Is the first step to MAGA to block those with diabetes, asthma, etc. from getting health insurance?” And this: “Watching Trump again praise Putin while his staff insults the American intelligence community is one of the most horrifying moments of my life.”
Time to follow up on last week’s mention of insane sleazebag Carl Paladino, the chairman of Trump’s New York campaign and author of two of the most execrably racist comments ever made about the Obamas. I was concerned that Paladino was going to get away with his ugly slime job without repercussion, but the decent people of Buffalo, where Paladino lives and serves on the school board, stepped up and passed a resolution by a vote of 6-2 that demanded Paladino resign his post immediately (and who the hell were the two mouthbreathers voting against?). So far, Craphead Carl hasn’t complied, but it appears his future as a political figure in New York is about to end, something that can’t happen a moment too soon.
At this time, denial of Russian involvement in cyber attacks upon the Democratic National Committee is right up there with denial of Earth roundness, skunks smelling funny, or of the 2016 popular vote being won by Hillary Clinton by 2.9 million votes. But, of course, denial of reality is a finely honed talent of many, if not most Trumplodytes. Just absorb the factoid that 50 percent of Trump voters still think Putin Pup actually won the popular vote. This scary and revelatory tidbit reminds us of the obvious—that a disturbing number of Trumplodytes have Palinian reading habits. Remember Trump’s quote in Nevada last February about how he loves the poorly educated?
Which reminds me of a recent quote from foodist Anthony Bourdain. “I’ve spent a lot of time in gun-country, God-fearing America. There are a hell of a lot of nice people out there, who are doing what everyone else in the world is trying to do: The best they can to get by, and take care of themselves and the people they love. When we deny them their basic humanity and legitimacy of their views, however different they may be than ours, and treat them with contempt, we do no one any good.” This is a thoughtful statement, and worthy of consideration. As a matter of fact, I’m sure that to some extent, it’s spot on. But then, you gotta consider Bourdain’s quote in light of the paragraph preceding it. Yes, decent folks many Trumplodytes may be, but they still need to pick up a goddamn newspaper on occasion. And then read it!
