Yes, a lot is being written about Trump today, including by me. Should be back to what passes for normal tomorrow, since my heart is back in my chest. The worries were nearly overwhelming. A few moments ago, Trump’s physical (and some mental) failures were mentioned. Now we have been handed proof that he doesn’t have “it” anymore. It was done by something unexpected. Let’s get started. With acknowledgment to The New Republic, via, and also, to Raw Story:
A key tactic of President Donald Trump’s “dating back to early in his real estate career,” was proven last week to no longer be effective, The New Republic’s Ross Rosenfeld argued on Tuesday, and largely due to “no one of consequence” being “intimidated by him” anymore. Trump became the first sitting president in history to attend oral arguments during a Supreme Court hearing last week, with justices weighing in on the legality of Trump’s efforts to eliminate birthright citizenship. Ahead of his appearance, Trump had repeatedly lashed out at justices – even those he appointed – as “dumb” and an “embarrassment to their families.”
Good one, dude. He wasn’t obvious, no, not at all. Harassing people when you have a big case on the boards is not a way to get someone on your side. He’s already got the dang absolute immunity. Attempting intimidation in this case was stupid. This one is really big. It’s the birthright citizenship, just in case you’ve forgotten, even though I know you haven’t. This is nerve-racking to watch. Imagine being in that courtroom. That would be amazing!
“Yet none of the Supreme Court justices appeared to even notice, much less care, as they entered the room and sat, never so much as acknowledging Trump’s presence,” Rosenfeld wrote in an analysis published in The New Republic on Tuesday. “And there sat Trump. His glare had evidently failed to do the trick. As the justices questioned the ACLU’s Cecilia Wang, the attorney representing the opposition to Trump’s gambit to gut birthright citizenship, he walked out. It was the latest example of what has become a clear trend in his second term as president: No one of consequence is intimidated by him.”
Nope. He’s lost that touch. It’s a bit of a surprise that more Republicans haven’t figured that out. MAGA Mike Johnson will be the last to go. There’s no way around that. He’s there to nod, smile, and applaud at the right times. It’s Trump’s very own cheering section. A section of one. Trump doesn’t have it. Period. Why is it so obvious to us and not to them? And why don’t our democratic leaders do something with it?
Trump’s “intimidation shtick,” Rosenfeld noted, had seen some success during his real estate career, as well as during his first term. “More often than not, though, Trump’s intimidation act falls flat,” Rosenfeld wrote. “This is largely because, although so many alpha males see him as the top alpha – an image he continually promotes through nonsensical memes refashioning his flabby, overweight body as some sort of iron-fisted muscleman – in the end, he’s all bark, no bite. Or, as some put it, Trump Always Chickens Out.”
“No one’s buying Trump’s routine any longer, but this is not to say that he isn’t still dangerous,” he wrote. “He is, very much so – not because he’s an iron-willed titan but because he’s a foolhardy buffoon. He’s never been tough enough to admit defeat, as a real man would, so he’ll go to great lengths to deny his losses and cover up for his failures.”
There are definitely times when TACO has been the right thing to do. Specifically, today. Thanks to Pakistan and others for all their work on this. But there was no regime change, and the Strait is still under Iran’s control. Apologies to the people of the country. At least we didn’t bomb them. But we didn’t really help them, either. Drat.
As a complete non sequitur, Frosted Strawberry Poptart Peeps are pretty good. See you soon!
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise that among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest-working. We’re a group of elderly, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
