By Beau Elliot
Donald Trump — who presumably needs no introduction because he lives so often in the nation’s various media platforms that you have to wonder why he bothers to have four or five homes — was surprisingly empathetic last week.
Yes, I know. Trump and mean-spirited bluster and bombast have seemed as inseparable as Castor and Pollux. But last week, in response to the horrific shootings in Baton Rouge, the Twin Cities, and Dallas, wrote on Facebook:
“Last night’s execution-style shootings of 12 Dallas law-enforcement officers … is an attack on our country. … We must restore law and order. … The senseless, tragic deaths of two people in Louisiana and Minnesota remind us how much more needs to be done.”
Well, goodbye to bluster and bombast. Hello to kinder, gentler Trump.
Well, at least he didn’t blame President Obama and Hillary Clinton for the Dallas killings.
However. (You ever notice how often “however” jumps into our lives? Me, too.) Trump’s supporters quickly jumped into the hate gap, writing on his Facebook:
“We’re prepared down south [sic] … To [sic] many people sit around hoping someone else will do something.” “Race war is coming and not even the Donald can stop it.” “I wish so bad you were wrong but unfortunately you’re right, there will be a race war, it’s already started only to get worse.”
Um, yeah.
And Trump himself has not exactly started on a 12-step program to stop his addiction to blauster and bombast. Just one example:
“And this really stupid guy, Chuck Todd. I won’t use his name. I refuse to use his name.” — Trumpster
Well, Donnie boy, everything pretty much worked out as you had planned, except that you used the name of the “really stupid guy.” Who’s stupid now? Sad.
The way things are going, Trump’s “stupid people list” will become the equivalent of Richard Nixon’s “enemies list.” People are going to start feeling left out because they’re not on the list; they’re going to wonder what they did wrong.
— I can’t believe I’m not on Trump’s stupid-guy list, says Fennelblogger. I mean, I called him a mutton-head and a dummkopf.
— Maybe Trump and his people don’t understand German. They wouldn’t be the first Americans.
— Mutton-head isn’t German.
— True. But it’s vaguely British, and the only thing Trump knows about the British is Brexit, which might aid his golf course in Scotland.
— Golf course, schmalf-Borscht. I’m not on the list.
— Lots of liberals aren’t on the stupid-guy list. Even Beau Elliot.
— Who?
Or something like that.
Then there’s Trump’s reaction after the FBI refused to recommend charges against Hillary Clinton in the email case.
“The system is rigged,” Donald Trump proclaimed from high on his mount.
Of course the system is rigged, Trumpahontas. Where have you been all these decades? Hiding out in rich people’s enclaves? Nooo. Say it ain’t so, Joe.
Yes, the system is rigged — for the few people just like Trump: white rich kids whose fathers have the money and connections to get them “started” in their careers.
The only rigging the majority of people get comes in pictures of 18th- and 19th-century sailing ships.
I guess that would be rigging you can believe in.