Among the many and varied grotesqueries of Donald Trump’s political career, this week’s Fourth of July events promise to earn a prominent place. Trump has made clear his determination to turn a national celebration into yet another political rally and ritual of self-promotion.
Unlike any other past president, Trump has chosen to make himself the centerpiece of the event and to exploit it by presenting an unprecedented, excessive and expensive display of military hardware. But why should we be surprised? Such displays have long been a tradition of dictators and autocrats, a class of ruler for which Trump has repeatedly shown his affection and admiration.
In heralding the event in remarks from the Oval Office, Trump demonstrated, once again, his inability to speak about virtually anything without an inane misstatement or exaggeration. He boasted that there would be “the brand new Sherman tanks and we have the brand new Abrams tanks.” Was there no one on hand to tell the President that Sherman tanks have not been produced since 1957 and that Abrams tanks are hardly new, having been in service since the early 80s?
There is obvious irony in President Bonespurs attempting to cloak himself in the gratitude and respect we accord the military. But there is an even greater and more painful irony in Trump’s intention to give an address from the Lincoln Memorial. No other president has failed so conspicuously and consistently to follow the ideals and moral standard of Abraham Lincoln. When Trump was nominated in 2016, RINOcracy.com reproduced the drawing that Bill Mauldin rendered after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The thought of Donald Trump speaking from the Lincoln Memorial makes that drawing more appropriate than ever.
Has Trump ever been deliberately funny? We see so much of him, but there’re never any laughs, no sign of a funny bone. Is that why he made up bone spurs? Or am I getting in over my metaphor?
Doug, I feel your pain, my brother. This may be the 4th of July but it feels like the long winter of our discontent.
Monica, don’t get me started on the Dems’ debate. They seem committed to re-electing Donny.
May we all have a Happy 4th regardless.
For more on Trump’s tanks, see https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/03/how-sound-like-you-know-what-youre-talking-about-when-you-talk-about-trumps-tanks/?utm_term=.2d0405174058
I see you have joined The Donald in name labeling as you called him President Bonespur. Unfortunately, bone spurs have multiple meanings in metaphors. Bone spurs cause pain but to whom? The latest capitulation by Democrats is that yes, there is a crisis at the border means their blocking any border relief for so long is a painful bone spur in their election hopes. Sleepy Joe Biden deserves a nickname after his first debate with fellow Democrats. He is a bone spur in Democrat hopes. And so on …
Well said, Doug!
Please “ Don’t rain on my parade.”
As a Korean War veteran , of more than four years in the Navy, 1951/1955, I am pleased to see our President, and our nation acknowledge with pride, “Duty, Honor, Country.”
The age and display of Tanks is of little ot no importance, and nit picking.
Better to recognize the contributions of so many women and men that continue to provide us with unparalleled freedom.
Bob
OK, allow me to make an inane comment: in the most recent episode of “A Handmaid’s Tale,” the protagonist went to the Lincoln Memorial to find the entire upper-half of the statue (of the seated Lincoln) obliterated.
If we don’t get rid of Trump, I think this country (as we supposedly think we know it) is going to be obliterated.
But after watching the Dem debates, I am in despair that we’re going to do it. As one of my stalwart Dem friends wrote me, “we’ve got to get out of this left-wing death march asap.”
Indeed, he is our Mad King.
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