I wonder if many people these days recall the character in the "funnies," as we used to call them, named "Baby Huey." Read all about him here on Wikipedia (make a donation to support them while you're there); but he looked like this:
and, though I hadn't thought about him in years, the name and its related image suddenly popped into my head as I considered our OUTgoing U.S. President's latest childish fit. After lying [savor the double-entendre here] in his crib for weeks, soiling his diaper at least daily while single-mindedly insisting it wasn't fair for him to have to get up from his cocoon and go face his creditors, but being largely ignored, he suddenly came to life to throw tantrums about the covid relief bill and the defense authorization bill.
Analysts in the press, on television, and on social media are all yapping about Trump's reasons for jumping into the legislative process at the last moment, even though his own party's legislators had been led to believe the terms they negotiated were acceptable to him -- in fact, in the case of payments to individuals, the maximum he would accept. These pundits theorize that Trump really was concerned that people needed more support to keep their heads above water; or that there was "waste" spending in the bill that could be used more wisely. These are valid concerns. After all, Morning Fog has itself argued that the payouts would have only token effect.
But it's completely wrong to attribute such concerns to Donald J. Trump. In four years, haven't we learned that every move he makes is strictly for his personal benefit? I submit that Trump's real and only concerns are to satisfy his craving for attention, to re-attract media attention to himself; to give him the opportunity to appear to be championing the cause of the common man, to provide him a pretext for slamming Congress; to complicate and delay the transition process; to make it seem he is still active and effective as President; to get him more air time to press his completely false claims of fraud in the election, and to reinforce the loyalty of his base. Period.
It's depressing to see all our opinion-makers struggling to explain Trump's actions in logical terms. It's all about him, as it always has been.
The lesson here, for all of us, but maybe especially for Trump fans, is that it's all a swindle. It's been four years of swindle. None of us should let ourselves be manipulated any more.
He doesn't and never has cared about other people and certainly not us "commoners." He just wants to wield his power as often as he can for as long as he can. What an insufferable little creature he is.
Merry Christmas anyway!
Posted by: PiedType | December 25, 2020 at 01:17 PM