It. Is. ON! Coming to a TV (or computer or phone) screen near you it’s the bigliest BATTLE OF THE RATINGS showdown. Trump whined like a baby over not getting to have a big military parade during his first term. This time around there’s no adults in the room to stand in his way so for his birthday he put together what he was sure going to be THE biggest TV event EVER! Now Pope Leo has gone and upstaged him and oh boy are the walls of Mar a Lago, or Bedminster or wherever the hell Trump is today running red. (with ketchup)
Sadly, fate is such that Donald Trump and the United States Army share the same birthday of June 14. That’s bad enough but it gets worse. Come the 14th of June this year it will be the 250th anniversary of Congress voting to approve the Continental Army. Which became the U.S. Army we know today. 250 years is one of those markers for special things we tend to make a fuss over. I’m sure no matter who was in the WH this year it would be a BFD in the Army and bases/posts all over the country and world would have special celebrations. So will the Navy and Marine Corps later this year but do you think for one second Trump will horn in on the action? Hell no! The Army’s 250th birthday is in his mind fate, so he’s making it all about HIM!
Here’s a fun fact. Fifty years ago the country celebrated the Bi-Centennial in a big way. I won’t bore you with my own gig in the pageant at the bandshell in the park where my hometown hold a several day July 4 series of events each year. The point is that in every town a big deal was made. DC of course went all-in that year. Curiously, one institution did NOT make a big deal of its 200 year anniversary, except on military bases. No, the U.S. Army didn’t hold a major parade in DC or any other city! Well, that was then and now Trump, the President who PAINTS HIS FACE ORANGE is in charge. He demanded a show on HIS birthday and he’s using the Army’s 250th birthday to get it:
That same date, President Donald Trump‘s birthday, Washington D.C. will play host to a major military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will be forced to shut down for several hours on June 14 to accommodate the parade, affecting more than 100 flights and thousands of passengers, according to The Washington Post.
Oh the plans he had. It was going to be the only thing on TV and the news that anyone paid attention to. The Army would put on the show he wanted, he felt was his birthright by god and he’d sit there in an airconditioned enclosed podium soaking up all the spectacle. Making damned sure cameras were across the street focused on HIM with all that “Warrior” stuff (formations of troops and military bands, tanks, artillery etc. in the foreground) parading by. Oh how Fox and RWNJ would have a field day proclaiming how the Army wasn’t celebrating itself, but rather ‘honoring’ their Commander-In-Chief.’ (not for nothing be assured the tens of millions of dollars of damage to DC streets will go unpaid by the DOD but that’s a different story to write about) It was all set up. TRUMP DAY! Now Pope Leo has done gone and tossed a papal turd into Trumpty’s punch bowl.
Yep, as Newsweek tells us the Pope has already sold out an event at a stadium in Chicago. Here’s the best part. The Pope won’t even be there! He’ll appear virtually on a giant TV screen. More importantly, like Trump’s bigly parade the Pope’s event will be carried live on TV and streamed on the internet. Around the United States and the world. I’m sure the odds makers are busy today addressing the line not only on the ratings winner but the over under on the margin on how badly Trump gets his fat orange ass kicked in the ratings game!
The Vatican actually made the announcement about the event at Rate Field (home of the Chicago White Sox) on June 2 but if it got news mention I didn’t see it. Well, it’s being talked about now. Tickets as I said sold out quickly. They were only five bucks but as with any major event scalpers prices tell the real story. I hope someone tracks what scalpers get in Chicago vs. what those who scored a pass for a seat in the bleachers along the parade route in DC get. Hey, the more humiliation for Trump the better!
It’s worth the time to read the linked article but the part that stood out to me was the section where some reasonably well-known pundits offered their thoughts:
While the pontiff’s message will be delivered from Rome, commentators noted the symbolism in the timing. “A bit of counterprogramming there,” said MSNBC‘s Jonathan Lemire. “But I will say, when the Pope does come for real in the flesh—Chicago. Millions of people.”
John Heilemann, speaking alongside Lemire, added: “The counterprogramming point remains, Lemire, because the truth is—for America and Trump’s military parade in Washington, if you don’t live in Washington, that’s a television spectacle. If you don’t live in Chicago, the Pope’s doing a video mass there at Rate Field. It’s the same thing for those of us who live in New York. They’re both just TV shows. And, you know, that’s the definition of counterprogramming.”
I like that comment about counter-programming. It’s fun imagining Trump’s rage over the Pope, the POPE providing people something far more worthwhile to look at when everyone is supposed to be looking at “Warrior” (another set of bets – will Hegseth be allowed in Trump’s viewing box?) Trump.!” These two have more to say as does the overall Newsweek article so check out the link. In the meantime join me in enjoying how pissed off Trump will get every time he thinks about the Pope doing a ‘TV show’ directly competing his his own. Without a medical license how is Ronny Jackson going to get his hands on the amount of pills it will take to calm Trump down?
***From Ursula*** Zoomers, if you’re able to contribute in any way, we could use help. I’ve been ill and recuperating from a brief hospitalization. Times are tough for political commentary to begin with, and that’s been the case since November 5. Half the country is in a major depression. But we need to keep on keeping on. This too shall pass and there will be a brighter, post-Trump day if we work for it. Please join us and help if you can. Thank you. Ursula
DAMN, this is *wonderful news! I know which one *I* would be watching. As a matter of fact, I wonder if anyone will give us the name of it to search for. Suggestions would be welcome. Thank you, Denis, for yet another amazing article!!!!!