Trump launched a comeback bid on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, with his usual fact-free bombast and braggadoccio.
His hour-long rant, carried live only by Fox and CNN, was filled with lies, exaggerations, and distortions (for examples, see story here).
It also put people to sleep; both Fox and CNN cut away from their live feeds; and security staff reportedly had to keep the audience from leaving, see story here.
Among his promises:
- cheap Thanksgiving turkeys,
- same-day executions of arrested drug dealers,
- one day of voting on paper ballots, hand counting, with election-night results,
- a Department of Justice purge, and
- an American flag on Mars.
For more details about what a second Trump presidency likely would look like, as portrayed by insiders close to him, read Newsweek article here. Warning: It’s an ugly picture, more befitting a third-world dictatorship than a democracy.
Not surprisingly, Trump’s speech was rudely mocked. Conservative firebrand Ann Coulter tweeted: “To Trump: You had your chance, with a Republican House and Senate … Shut the f*** up, forever.” (See story here.)
His daughter Ivanka promptly announced she won’t participate in his campaign. (See story here.) More significantly, Rupert Murdoch, who owns the Fox network and Wall Street Journal, said his media empire won’t support him, depriving Trump of a key media ally. (See story here.)
History isn’t on Trump’s side. Only one president, Grover Cleveland, ever returned to the White House after losing re-election, and there’s almost nothing in common between Cleveland and Trump. (Read story here.)
Trump’s political strength lay in getting disaffected people who had given up on politics to vote. The GOP looked the other way at his bad behavior because he was, as they says, “box office.” He could, for a time, deliver electoral victories. But in 2022, embracing his election lies was the price of his endorsement, and nearly all of those candidates lost. Americans set aside their economic concerns and voted to save democracy.
With his ability to win elections gone, he now looks like a burned-out cinder. Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis is well-positioned to claim the GOP mantle and scepter.
Photo: This is what the audience at Trump’s 2024 campaign kickoff looked like; do you see any young voters? Me neither.
