I've started and restarted this countless times over the past week or so because every time I think I've got a handle on what i want to say, "BOOM!", along comes another episode of the new WTF reality show starring Donny Littlehands, the Cheeto-dusted, pussy-grabber-in-chief. Note: If you were looking for something a little more favorable or non-partisan, you're out of luck. This isn't a Fox affiliate.
Beginning on inauguration day, while photographic evidence of smaller-than-expected crowds witnessed his swearing in, including video of his parade passing along nearly empty bleachers, Trump and his surrogates SWORE that this was the most viewed inauguration in the history of the country and anybody who claimed otherwise was only trying to undermine and delegitimize Trump's glorious victory. Even bringing up the fact that Hillary won the popular vote by almost 3 MILLION VOTES was turned into something that was inconsequential because it was only due to the voting of what they claimed was the criminal activity of 3 - 5 million illegal voters, with a high-level White House aide even recently claiming New Hampshire bussed in thousands of voters from Maine, saying 'ask anybody in New Hampshire politics' and they'll tell you it's A FACT. However, when pressed for evidence he went on to claim a network news show (ABC's 'This Week') was neither the time nor the place to do so, while New Hampshire election officials came out saying the claims were ridiculous.
Now, going back to the day after the day after the swearing in we were witness to over 1 million marching in Washington D.C. in support of America's women (much more than the estimated 300,00 that were in attendance the day before), joined by millions more across the country and the world. White House and conservative defenders of the new president put forth with what would soon become minted as an ALTERNATIVE FACT, that these were organized and PAID FOR by such billionaire supporters of candidate Clinton, like George Soros, calling them 'whiners' and 'sore losers', telling them to 'just get over it'.
After promising to get to work 'ON DAY ONE', the new president decided that since what should have been DAY ONE was actually a Saturday, he'd wait until Monday to 'JUMP RIGHT IN' because, well, even he deserves a weekend, doncha know, and he didn't want to confuse anybody. Actually it was more likely that he wanted to get out of town since all those 'sore losers' were marching quite vocally within earshot of his new (part-time) residence. And from some sources it didn't put the usually jovial guy in a very good mood. can i get a collective 'awwwww'?
But once he set himself down to actually get to work ("Yes", his staff told him, "Sir, you really have to work now. This is actually what the common folk call 'a job'.", he dove right in, falling back into "Apprentice" mode, scheduling interviews for all those unfilled cabinet posts (and it's been reported he even invited audiences in to watch when he held those screenings at Mar-a-lago, his winter White House/private club, claiming 'It will be fun!' True? I wouldn't be surprised. The man loves an audience). And there were all those executive orders to sign. Granted, they tend to be expected with an new administration but considering how vilified President Obama was every time he issued one, Donald turned every one into a spectacle, opening each one, appearing to scan them, then signing with a flourish and holding it up as if to say 'Look, I can sign my name!'. It was almost like watching a child giving mommy a piece of artwork that was destined for the refrigerator door, after which he'd get his cookie for being such a good boy.
During this time we've also been witness to:
the elevation of an anti-public education advocate to the head of the Department of Education;
the placing of a conspiracy promoting alt-right editor of Breitbart to the National Security Council;
a top-adviser claiming on national television that the president 'shall not be questioned';
the forced resignation of a member of his own security team over allegations of possible collusion with Russian intelligence;
his cabinet picks being rightfully questioned and delayed over concerns about their qualifications;
countless attacks on the press, even claiming most recently that they an 'the enemy' of the state;
claims he inherited 'a mess', but 'no offense' to Obama.
and in his first solo press conference where he spent more time patting himself on the back it would seem he'd need extensive chiropractic therapy, where he claimed the 'fake media' would report he spent the whole time ranting and raving even as he spent the whole time ranting and raving, couldn't let go of campaign mode by continuing to rail about how much better he is than Hillary Clinton, lied again about his greatest victory in the electoral college since Reagan and when called on itsimply excused it because 'that's what i was told', told a Jewish reporter who asked him about antisemitism in America that he's 'the least antisemitic person' because, well, Ivanka, before telling the reporter it was a 'nasty question' and he should just be quiet and 'sit down'.
And that's just a short list. i haven't even mentioned that on inauguration day (or shortly thereafter) he registered his 2020 re-election committee in order for him to begin campaign funding. One might consider that counting one's chickens before the eggs have even been laid but maybe it's just an example of someone who insists on wearing industrial-strength rose-colored glasses to block the harsh light of reality. The only problem is, at least for me, there's a big difference between optimism and outright delusion.
So, whether you want to consider what we're seeing a shitstorm or a dumpster fire, that it's been a roller coaster or simply a bumpy ride, one thing you have to keep in mind is that this has only been a month. One month. ONE MONTH!!!! While he continues to claim that everything is running like 'a well. oiled. machine.', i can only wonder if running a world-class, high-performance vehicle using what's been drained from an 80-year-old deep-fryer is such a good idea. Sure it would be well-oiled but it's certainly not going anywhere.
But, hey, it's probably just all 'fake news' anyway, right?
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