Friday, June 17, 2016

When Politics Becomes Reality TV



Kevin O'Leary wants to lead the Conservative Party of Canada. But, before they hand him the keys to the kingdom, the Conservatives would do well to examine the fate of another star of reality television -- who is spontaneously combusting. Micheal Harris writes:

Frothing-at-the-mouth populism is face-planting south of the border. The Donald is not only getting the big “F— you Donald Trump” from rocker Neil Young. He’s not only being told that he’s a fascist democracy-killer by the likes of Johnny Depp — in effect, according to the actor, the “last” president of the United States Americans will ever have if they’re foolish enough to elect him. He isn’t just being called out as a fake and a fraud by the Republican establishment, including the party’s last presidential candidate, Mitt Romney.

The polls seem to indicate that Young and Depp are not alone in their opinion of Trump:

Despite the Rosie O’Donnell treatment Trump has meted out to Hillary Clinton, the first woman running for the White House in American history leads the Donald by 12 points nationwide. Trump owns a 70 per cent disapproval rating with women; with Mexican Americans, the Donald’s disapproval soars to 89 percent — and when it comes to African Americans, the reality TV star is about as popular as the Zika virus, with a stunning 94 per cent disapproval rating.

And then came Orlando:

Orlando was a train-wreck for Trump. Obama, he hinted, had not taken forceful action to stop domestic terrorism because he sides with Muslim extremists. It was an odd moment — a presidential candidate actually suggesting that a sitting U.S. president was in some way complicit with terrorists — was a traitor. As Bloomberg News reported, that “landed with a thud for the majority of Americans, with 61 per cent disagreeing with that suggestion.”

Trump also displayed what a horse’s ass he is when it comes to informed analysis of world events. In referring to the Orlando shooting, the Donald talked about the danger of allowing “thousands and thousands of Syrians into the country.” But the shooter Omar Mateen was an American citizen, born in Queens, New York. And his parents didn’t come from Syria, but Afghanistan.

You don't have to be smart to make it on Reality TV. You just need to be controversial -- the more the better. And, in the final analysis, everybody loses -- including the star.

Image: time.com

16 comments:

The Mound of Sound said...

Let us pray to Odin that Trump should not rebound from this as he has from slumps past. I will sacrifice my finest long ship should Hillary prevail in November.

Steve said...

The Chickens of every type are commming home to roost. Sharia law is an insult to humanity. Trump is right about this.

Owen Gray said...

I have to confess I don't see Hilary as a blessing, Mound. But, given the choice, she certainly beats the alternative.

Owen Gray said...

Sharia law is certainly no gift, Steve. But Trump would undermine the rule of law.

Steve said...

Owen the rule of law has become just bullshit, the law has been changed to make crimes legal if the rule is applied.

Owen Gray said...

But Trump won't restore the rule of law, Steve. He won't make things better. In fact, he'll make them much worse.

The Mound of Sound said...


I'm with Owen. Hillary is the lesser of two evils. Steve is a devoted Green and yet he supports Trump who says he'll re-activate America's coal industry. In fact it's hard to reconcile any Trump policy(assuming any of his promises are believable) with Green Party policy.

Owen Gray said...

Trump's line is that he's an anti-politician, Mound. That's not a reason to make him president.

Steve said...

Its a hobsons choice. We need a radical solution. Hillary is just more mumbo jumbo. I believe Trump is a pragmatist. He no more believes in the skygod than I do. Sure he will loot the country, but so will Hillary. For me the key issue is the TPP, Trump will not pass it Hillary wrote it. The TPP is the end of demorcracy period.

Owen Gray said...

I do think that Hillary has a point about Trump's temperment, Steve. Giving the nuclear codes to him spells disaster.

Dana said...

That anyone believes anything Trump says about what he's done or what he believes or what he will do or anything else that comes out of his cakehole simply astounds me.

Steve said...

It is the Hillary Neo Cons right now pushing for war with Russia. I believe the checks and balances will stop Trump. The guy may be a buffon but he has what ten kids? I made the mistake of supporting Iggy. To me Hillary is a smarmy version whose prescription for troubled times is more of the same.

Owen Gray said...

I agree that Hilary is a flawed candidate, Steve. But she's the lesser evil.

Owen Gray said...

I agree, Dana. But snake oil salesmen have a long history to draw upon.

Steve said...

Owen I Trumph you with Foundation and Empire. Trump is the mule that is our only hope to destroy the masters of the Universe. I am the second most important historian ever after Seldon.

Owen Gray said...

We've seen Trump's kind before, Steve. Think Benito Mussolini.