Trump's Harakari:
an 'Orgy' for Bullshit Connoisseurs (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
"The
Republican debate was a great feast for the bullshit connoisseur; or perhaps I
should call it an unbridled orgy. In the starring role was billionaire Donald
Trump, who for the umpteenth time emphatically proved himself exceptionally
rude and simplistic - which hasn't prevented him from leading the polls and
sustaining that lead for several weeks running (he is now supported by one in
four right-leaning voters). This peculiar sociological phenomenon confirms the
grim hypothesis that billions of dollars can transform even the greatest lout
into Prince Charming - at least in America."
"Bullshit is everywhere" - such was the farewell
message of the now-lamented Jon Stewart, who retired this week from political-entertainment
program The Daily Show [video below].
"How true!" one would like to say, after watching last Thursday's first
GOP debate of candidates for the party's presidential nomination, which was organized
by Fox News [video, upper, right].
That right-wing TV network was an inexhaustible breeding
ground for jokes by Stewart and his best pupil, Steven Colbert, who for the
past several years had his own satirical program (The Colbert Report), and who, in my opinion, surpassed his teacher,
but last December also terminated his show. The sudden and almost simultaneous departure
of both provoked among fans - myself including – a sense of emptiness,
senselessness and a nostalgic meditation on transience. Now we only have John
Oliver left, another Stewart disciple who left The Daily Show and launched his own program.
It's only one broadcast a week, however, so things will never be the same.
Let us turn, however, to our subject: the Republican debate.
It was a great feast for the bullshit connoisseur; or perhaps I should call it
an unbridled orgy of bullshit. In the starring role was billionaire Donald
Trump, who for the umpteenth time emphatically proved himself exceptionally
rude and simplistic - which hasn't prevented him from leading the polls and
sustaining that lead for several weeks running (he is now supported by one in
four right-leaning voters).
This peculiar sociological phenomenon confirms the grim
hypothesis that billions of dollars can transform even the greatest lout into
Prince Charming - at least in America, where successful persons are particularly
appreciated (since everyone craves success and, more than in other countries,
believes they can achieve it).
While Donald Trump insists that 'Latinos love me', the Latinos across the border continue to fret over the candidacy of...
The highlight of the debate came with the question posed by
journalist Megyn Kelly [video, right]. She asked Trump whether it
was right for a presidential candidate to speak contemptuously of certain
women, calling them, for instance, "fat pigs." His answer was that "I
have no time for political correctness." The billionaire apparently confused
political correctness with the basic principle of good manners. However, if you
overlook this minor detail, his retort was clever, reinforcing Trump's main
strength: in public appearances he poses as a man who speaks bluntly and without
beating around the bush like professional politicians. Right-wing voters lapped
it up since they hate political correctness.
Trump's answer sparked a fierce debate on the Internet and
other media, which some commentators saw as a evidence of the shallowness and
even the total collapse of the Republican Party: If the discussion centers on
permissible methods of addressing women after a debate intended to allow a
candidate to emerge who could be leader of the world's greatest power, all is
really not well.
Such comments aren't exactly fair, since Trump could just as
well have happened to the Democratic Party. Only a few years ago he supported
the right to an abortion. During the debate he praised the Canadian health care
system - despised by American conservatives because it provides health care to
everyone, even the poorest. It seems Trump has no fixed views, choosing to
attach himself to the Republicans simply because his chances of winning the
Democratic nomination would be close to zero (Hillary Clinton is their
favorite).
Posted by Worldmeets.US
Rather, if rudeness and boundless and immaculate vulgarity
so easily lead to success, something must be wrong with the whole of American
democracy. One consolation is that Trump's star is now likely to implode, even
if during the debate he fared rather well, i.e.: he answered questions arrogantly
and insolently with a roguish charm that, seasoned with billions of dollars, is
attractive to right-leaning voters. After the debate, however, he lost his
composure and performed political harakiri.
First, in a vindictive fit, he re-Tweeted someone calling
Megyn Kelly a "bimbo." Then he suggested that
her aggressive questioning was due to her period ("blood was coming out of
her eyes, and from her whatever"). On Saturday, a conservative forum in
Atlanta disinvited Trump and voices appeared on the right questioning his
suitability for the post he is vying for. There are things,
it appears, unbefitting even a billionaire.
