The Daily Escape:
Wizard Island in winter. Crater Lake, OR – photo by Livid Narwhal
How do we avoid talking about him when he reveals himself so completely? We could split hairs, and discuss whether to call him a racist, or a white supremacist, but why bother? How is this any different from the way he’s always been? Â We’re talking about a guy who wanted the Central Park Five executed, and took out full page ads in the New York papers to say so at the time. They were later found innocent.
Trump has become the GOPâs id. He uses an air horn while the rest of them know to use a dog whistle. He asks:
Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Why do we need more Haitians?
Answer: For the same reason your grandfather and mother fled their countries. Americans weren’t clamoring for more Germans and Scots in their day, either.
It is possible that his comment was calculated. The far right wasnât happy after Trump, during the bipartisan immigration photo op, showed off his stable genius skills, only to end up looking like he had no clue about the GOP’s immigration policy. GOP House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy tried reeling him back in, but the stable genius was insisting that the GOP try to give the Dems what they wanted on immigration and DACA.
The RW reaction was immediate: Ann Coulter went on Lou Dobbsâ show and trashed Trump. Many others on the right were pissed off.
Immigration is a red line for all deplorables. So maybe calling the countries of black and brown people “shitholes” was just the ticket, to let his base know he still has their backs. And then saying white immigrants “from Norway” are cool, drove it home.
This kind of talk has been normalized. White business leaders and politicians, as recently as the 1970s talked like that, and no one gave it a second thought. Since then, racist talk became shameful. But Trump’s open bigotry carries no shame for him, or for others who engage in it. His base loves him, because now they can come out of the closet with their hate.
And itâs ok, if you accept the argument that PC talk is a worse sin than showing your naked prejudices to the world.
This is how he was raised, and how people talk in his circle of friends. He’s mouthed off like this his entire life with zero consequences. Heâs not likely to suffer any consequences from this either. Remember, this is a man who doesn’t understand why we can’t actually use nuclear weapons.
We need to remember this every day until 11/06/2018. And every day after that until Trump can no longer hurt America.
Wrongo certainly requires soothing, and so do you. Maybe weâll go and see âThe Postâ this weekend, to remember a time when newspapers had the courage to take on a president.
In the meantime, sit back and make yourself a vente cup of Ethiopian Fancy ($19/lb.) from San Franciscoâs Henryâs House of Coffee. Now, put your feet up and listen to the âSonata in G Minor for Violoncello and Continuoâ by Henry Eccles. Eccles was an English violinist and composer in the Baroque era. He was a member of the Royal Band of Queen Anne. He moved to Paris, and entered the service of King Louis XIV. This recording has Simca Heled on violoncello and Edward Brewer on harpsichord, although it is often played with a double bass and piano, or violin and piano:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI5NYRz7EQw
Those who read the Wrongologist in email can view the video here.
