Trumped

Donald Trump, loud-mouthed, New York real estate developer and GOP presidential contender is his own worst enemy.  If his lips are moving, one has to anticipate another self-inflicted wound to his empire or his reputation. There were problems in the first six sentences of his presidential candidacy announcement -- a speech that had all the flavor of an off-the-cuff rant.

Before he even started speaking, The Donald paid some members of his audience to be vocally enthusiastic and to shout appreciation.  He said: “This is beyond anybody’s expectations. There’s been no crowd like this.”  That’s a fact.  Most crowds occur naturally when they are loyal to a person or party.  Trump continued patting himself on the back for the crowd he brazenly bought like delivered pizza by comparing himself to other candidates.  “And, I can tell, some of the candidates, they went in. They didn’t know the air-conditioner didn’t work. They sweated like dogs.  They didn’t know the room was too big, because they didn’t have anybody there.”  After it was stuffed with actors, Trump Tower WAS the perfect venue, right Donald?

This was a segue to his international policy: Saber rattling and name-calling.  In an incoherent, hate-filled diatribe Trump listed the following countries and entities as U.S. enemies: China, Japan, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Latin America and ISIS.  Why?  His reasons were primarily based on his perception of personal competition.  Some countries were making greater financial gains than the U.S. and Trump, himself, and that’s just not fair!

The biggest problems that came from Trump’s speech were derived from his statements regarding Mexico.  He made it sound as if the Mexican government had CONSPIRED!

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best… They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.  But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we’re getting. And it only makes common sense. It only makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people.”

Reacting to these statements, Univision, America’s largest Spanish-language station, terminated its broadcasting partnership with Trump’s Miss Universe Organization.  The Organization, which is owned as a joint venture by NBCUniversal and Trump, also operates the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.  As of today, NBCUniversal announced it also was terminating its partnership with Trump due to his “derogatory statements” regarding Mexican people.

According to CNN, Trump’s NBC program "The Apprentice" might also be on the chopping block.  CNN reported, “Following his presidential announcement, NBC said it would "re-evaluate" Trump's role on the reality show.”  Although the network reportedly indicated it would like to keep the “Celebrity Apprentice” program on the air, they reportedly do not want him to host it.  True to form, Trump pledged to sue Univision and said he might sue NBC as well.

Not surprisingly, Trump’s popularity within his own party is growing.  Currently, he is favored by 11 percent of would-be GOP voters in New Hampshire, second behind Jeb Bush's 16 percent popularity rating.  While Trump believes people support him because they appreciate his tell-it-like-it-is style, this writer believes his popularity is based solely on name recognition.

If asked, many of those polled likely would concede they did not sit through the entire broadcast of Trumps’ presidential announcement.  I have viewed and then read the transcripts of most GOP candidates' announcements.  Even if I disagree with the content of the speeches, most candidates presented logical and sequential messages.

By contrast, both in listening to and in reading The Donald’s announcement, this writer went crossed-eyed.  After quashing feelings of disgust for his arrogance, I asked: “How does any of this pertain to running a country?”  The answer is that it doesn’t.  The man is clearly an insane megalomaniac who should never be allowed to come within ten thousand light years of the mechanisms that command our nation’s nuclear or traditional arsenals.  While there are several presidential contenders who might be dangerous due to lack of experience or narrow philosophy, Trump is dangerous because he is just f---ing nuts.

Somewhere in the first 25 minutes of his 54 minute monologue, Trump declared: “Now, our country needs— our country needs a truly great leader, and we need a truly great leader now.”

When does America or any other country not need great leadership to safeguard her people from threats foreign and domestic?  Do great leaders call constituents and other elected officials “stupid” as you did eight times, Donald?  No.  Great leaders find a way to avoid contentious language and seek viable, diplomatic solutions.

Do great leaders impugn the character of every person living in one’s neighboring country with vulgar accusations?  No, Donald, great leaders extend hands of friendship and seek solutions to mutual problems.  Great leaders do not threaten to invade countries half-way around the globe while promising to bypass diplomacy.  Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte did this and we all know how that worked out for them in the end.  Donald, great leaders do not attack other nations carelessly and invite the self-protective wrath of World War III to descend upon their nations.

When the American people get over your bombastic platitudes, they will know that you will never lead our nation.  Go ahead, Donald, spend all the money that you want.  In the end, the American people won’t be buying it.