BITS AND PIECES 19

well, the pivotal moment has come and gone and i actually took the time to watch it.   now, mind you, this wasn't 'THE INTERVIEW', that'll come later, after it's been polished to the appropriate sheen (more on that later) but for now let's take a look back on what was and what i was led to expect.

WHAT I WAS EXPECTING:   donald trump bursting into flames upon entering a church.

WHAT WAS:  not that, unfortunately.

WHAT I WAS EXPECTING:   late last week, the new york times released information regarding trump's appearance at great faith ministries intl. in which bishop jackson said mr. trump would be treated like any other celebrity guest, allowed to give a greeting but not turning his time into a typical rally event asking for support and votes.   in other words, no 10 minute speech.

WHAT WAS:  donald spoke to the congregation for about 10 minutes.   of course, after saying it wouldn't happen this was changed at the last minute after news was leaked about how the interview with bishop jackson was scripted, from questions and answers to what words to say and what words (like racist) to avoid.   in hushed, strangely uncharacteristic tones and reading from cue cards, trying to appear humble and 'christian-lite', he seemed to want to come across as someone a religious community could get behind.   i'm guessing that means someone who is phony and condescending, even bizarrely finding it necessary to remind his audience that 'abraham lincoln was a republican'.

WHAT I WAS EXPECTING:  it was intimated that the interview would take place after what was to be a typical church service.

WHAT WAS:  this might have been due to the above mentioned leaks but it seemed apparent the interview had already taken place as was evidenced by the comment donald made about how expert bishop jackson was and how he did a much better job than members of the mainstream media.   and he was also extremely complimentary about the reverend's wife, a talented gospel singer, claiming the bishop should be worried because hollywood could come knocking because of her talent and beauty.   talk about kissing ass!!   and stereotypical thinking that if you compliment the wife she'll fall under your spell, follow you obediently (like his wives) then turn around and convince her husband to do the same.

WHAT I WAS EXPECTING:  melania and at least one of the trump kids.

WHAT WAS:   where was melania?   usually the dutiful wife is there to be introduced as part of the obligatory 'my wife and i thank you for your warm and generous welcome' but  nowhere and nothing.   now, the kids?   ivanka i might understand since it's sabbath and like a dutiful orthodox wife she's probably at temple (sarcasm intended) but the only excuse i can find for the boys is that there were animals to  be killed somewhere.   also, another reason he might have left melania at home could have been he heard how all thems negro mens have such a fondness for pretty blond white women.   but mind you, he's not racist.

WHAT I WAS EXPECTING:   a polite crowd of people, firm in their religious convictions, willing to give a man the chance to state where he stands on issues the find find mutually important;

WHAT WAS:   an unusually raucous bunch with a fair amount of cheering and applause.   now it's possible they were still overcome by the spirit after the performance by the bishop's wife, who's to say for sure, but considering a picture tweeted from the scene by shane goldmacher ar 10:18 a.m. just as trump (at left) was coming in (he spoke at approximately 10:55) i can only think that the enthusiasm might have had more to do with the announcement of some large donation that had been promised than anything the donald actually said. if that were the case, i personally would have suggested they hold the applause until after the check cleared.

WHAT I EXPECTED:  because this was considered to be a pivotal moment in a campaign already noted for many other so-called pivotal moments i thought this would be widely covered but, once again, it became one more never-to-be allowed moments.

WHAT WAS:   while donald was still talking, major news feeds went blank which, of course, led laura ingraham to claim it was more evidence of the msm not allowing trump to be trump.   however, much to laura's chagrin (if she has one) she was immediately contradicted by personnel who were there who reported that they were shut down by campaign personnel leaving only bishop jackson's own people there to film for broadcast over his very own personal network.   now this could have been that he wanted whatever there was to be available only to his chosen audience at impact network (at least until he can negotiate the proper licensing fees) and didn't want to share quite yet but all i can say to that is 'not very christian, dude'.   that, or the fact that just in case donny didn't stay on script they wouldn't have time to scrub or edit.  and it's just such a pain-in-the-ass to send out the 'he didn't mean to say' squad all the time.

so, after his well-chosen and moderately well-read words donald was presented with some gifts from the holy land, a book and a prayer shawl and as by that time i was numbed to anything more being said i think i vaguely remember the word 'anointing' being thrown out but my trump-tolerance level had pretty much reached critically low levels.   next on the agenda is the somewhat highly anticipated interview (at least in some corners.  as for me i could wait a while....like, a few months) which is supposed to reinvigorate his african-american outreach.   my only question is can you reinvigorate something that's been on life-support since june.   but maybe that's just what his campaign gurus are hoping for with his appearance alongside a black pastor in a black church in a black community....the witnessing of the spirit-raising, soul-stirring power of prayer.

good luck with that guys.