Trump’s Colorful Musings at CPAC
President Trump, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference recently, said the Mueller probe was, “Trying to take me out with bullsh*t.”
The increasing silence from mainstream media indicates that the Russia Collusion scenario is a house of cards waiting to collapse. Trump’s rising approval rating lately indicates that trying to take him out is a failed political strategy. In the late 1990s, President Clinton enjoyed similar public approval, as Republicans at the time failed to gain enough support for a case to impeach him out of office. In the aftermath of scandals like Whitewater and culminating in serious criminal charges brought against Clinton (although with the mainstream media on Clinton’s side), the public mostly dismissed it all as a matter of sexual impropriety around the Monica Lewinsky affair.
Like Trump today, Clinton enjoyed a thriving economy, and perhaps voters were simply satisfied with their own jobs, and so they just did not see any need for change. But then, there was an actual criminal case against Clinton, an actual specified crime, with actual evidence. The Trump probe, in contrast, has come up with none of that, after two years of probing, and with mainstream media’s daily reports desperately wanting to eventually declare some.
And so now, it seems that the mainstream media is sort of quietly trying to look the other way. Their daily reports have shifted the narrative, away from the Collusion Delusion, and instead on to the new Democratic House attempts to probe Trump’s money.
While Trump’s colorful comment at CPAC was phrased in the words of a street fight, it probably comes close to what the American public sees. And as the public was with Clinton, the public is on Trump’s side, at least in the continuing absence of any identifiable crime. Mainstream media smears and insinuations just don’t carry much weight for the skeptical public, who have seen a lot in media to be skeptical about.
Some fair Americans will always take issue with a president who cusses during a speech that is being aired worldwide to millions of people, including children and religious folks. Populism does not necessarily accept a lowering of the bar of discourse. The Office of President should be as dignified as possible. It should be civil and accommodating to all citizens regardless of their political affiliation. But being unscripted and unfiltered is part of Trump’s unique appeal, familiar to the public over many decades.
The CPAC speech was hailed as Trump’s longest on record, lasting two hours and five minutes. Many praised it as a worthy accomplishment, highlighting the man’s epic stamina and natural presence. The crowd went wild with patriotic glee while The Donald hammered all his points. The guy is always entertaining and knows how to work the audience. Fifteen years on television have helped him hone his craft in fine detail.
Here are a few other noteworthy gems from the speech:
Trump announced plans to sign an executive order that will require colleges and universities to “support free speech if they want federal research dollars.” It may be a rhetorical and unworkable promise, but it was a warning shot fired at institutions which have become known as Leftist indoctrination centers that stifle conservative voices, sometimes while abetting thugs who do so violently.
AOC’s Green New Deal was mercilessly skewered by Trump’s sarcasm: “The Green New Deal, I encourage it, I think it’s really something they should promote. … No planes, no energy. When the wind stops blowing, that’s the end of your electric. Darling, is the wind blowing today? I’d like to watch television.”
On California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump claimed this doubtful praise: “He called me up the other day, let’s say four weeks ago. He said, ‘I just wanna tell you you’re a great president, and you’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.’ That’s what he said. Will he ever admit it? No, I doubt it.”
On remaining in the White House during the shutdown over the Christmas holidays: “I figured it would look good. I was in the White House for a long time, months. If you’ve gotta have cabin fever, that’s the place to do it.”
On dealing with North Korea: “North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal. But they don’t have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons.”
Well, a ‘brilliant economic future’ probably comes with a bit of death baggage for its murderous Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un. So we will find out how much Kim will cooperate for prosperity. Tyrants tend to dig themselves into their own graves, and then their continued tyranny is the only best way to keep others from shoveling dirt in on top of them. But Kim might be able to learn from Trump, who has proven ability to survive another day, to negotiate and work the deal again, to his success.
