This may be a landmark occasion, when Steve Bannon and I are on exactly the same page. We are of one mind on this, although I have to suspect that we have different reasons. Bannon told Donald Trump on his morning broadcast that he needs to do the opposite of whatever Lindsey Graham or other advisors tell him and step in front of the microphone tomorrow at Mar-a-Lago.
My reason for wanting this is that I think the optics would be absolutely horrific. I encourage Trump to disgrace himself. I would love to see it. I don’t know what Bannon could be thinking. I have a feeling that this is one of those situations where Bannon had an agenda in mind, arising out of this press conference and now, no press conference no agenda.
I’m really curious as to why Bannon is pushing this. Maybe he’s gone rogue? Or lost his mind?
What is known about Bannon generally is that he loves confusion and chaos. The more chaotic a society gets the closer it gets to authoritarianism, because all that is wanted is somebody to get things under control. That’s Bannon’s game plan, to get things so stirred up that an autocrat can take charge because people craving peace and stability will throw away certain liberties to get it. Hitler came to power that way. Germany was still reeling from WWI and Hitler came forward and said he had the solution, just give him the power, he’d take of everything. And you saw what happened.
The optics of the press conference were horrific to begin with. But despite that, Trump would have gone forward if he could have been assured of mass media coverage. That’s why he canceled the press conference.
But I for one am all for Trump doing the press conference. Hey, if I was there, I would help him mount the podium and shine his shoes beforehand. I want to do anything I can to see Trumpty Dumpty take yet another fall.
I don’t think there is any good scenario in the Trump press conference, especially if “press conference” in this context has any of the usual meaning, i.e., a question and answer session. Maybe that’s it. Maybe Bannon knows who was invited to the press conference and it’s all right-wing media and they’re going to do a Kabuki dance with Trump, asking only questions that will reinforce all his idiotic talking points, the Big Lie first and foremost.
Who knows? The Shadow and Steve Bannon know. And if The Shadow comes forward and demands Trump do the press conference, we’re really going to know something is up.
I hope Trump takes the bait and dances to Bannon’s tune. I fervently hope so.
Bannon is clinging for dear life to the last of his relevance. At this point, stirring the pot is the only move he has left.