Saturday, August 20, 2016

Charm offensive

So The Donald came to town last night. And he got a yuge, classy response:
The New York businessman made his first visit to the state as the Republican presidential candidate for a private nighttime fundraiser at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Dozens of protesters gathered out front ahead of the event and marched around the large building. Later in the ­evening, a smaller contingent grew unruly. Some fundraiser attendees were pushed and jostled, spit on and verbally harassed as they left the ­convention center.
And these protesters were justifiably proud of their behavior:
The demonstrators who harassed donors were not present earlier on, when the protest was peaceful. Many in the later group hid their faces behind scarves.
When you hide your face, that's always a sign that your side is correct.

You are under no obligation to like Donald Trump, or to believe he should be the next president. I agree with that sentiment. At the same time, I harbor no illusions concerning many people who "protest" Trump. It's going to get uglier and uglier, especially now that Trump finally seems to be pivoting to a more traditional approach to campaigning.

And example -- before Trump came to Minneapolis last night, he was in Louisiana handing out toys and supplies  to victims of the massive flooding that's been going on down there. You can question whether such moves are strictly p.r. or something else, but given the beating George W. Bush took 11 years ago for his response to Katrina, and his successor's complete lack of interest in interrupting his vacation, it was a good move.

If I were to bet, I would assume Hillary Clinton is going to win this election. It's going to get closer, however, and if Trump starts to gain momentum, we're going to see some horrible things before November.

7 comments:

Gino said...

since i've come out loudly and affirmatively for Trump, i'm getting a lot of others who, with lowered voice or whispers, say 'i like him too.'
Trump supporters seem to be feeling bullied in the media and the in the public square, but the voting booth is private. i'm not exactly buying into the polls right now. i now know a lot of quiet trumpers, and a large % of them are hispanic, too. (one of the loudest Trumpers i know is a strict practicing muslim. figure that...)

Mr. D said...

I don't doubt what you are reporting is accurate, but what I don't know is whether the reaction you are getting is universal. I do think a lot of lefties are overplaying their hands, and I am reasonably certain that support for Hillary is not strong in the least.

Let's see what happens.

jerrye92002 said...

I keep wondering how much longer the lamestream media can keep us focussed on their outrage at Trump's existence while keeping us ignorant of Hillary's multi-faceted failures. I'm starting to see signs of a backlash against the media's obvious bias, and hope it comes to full fruition. It simply must, if we are to have a country left. If Hillary wins it will be because she cheated, and we will all lose.

3john2 said...

I'm somewhat reminded of P.J. O'Rourke's coverage of the shocking Chamorro election over Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua decades ago. (Ortega, like Dracula or Freddy Krueger is back from the dead, of course).

The American Left flew in for Ortega's supposed victory celebration and the (to use O'Rourke's word) "Sandalista's" were dazed and confused at the unexpected upset. They couldn't understand how the polls could have been so wrong.

I wish I could find the exact O'Rourke quote, but it was along the lines of, "Excuse me, poor person working in the field, I'm a stranger with a microphone who wants to ask you if you support your benevolent government that controls every aspect of your life. Who will you be voting for?"

Mr. D said...

I remember the piece and your paraphrase is pretty much spot-on.

Bike Bubba said...

I think the closing part to O'Rourke's quote was something to the effect of "and can take what little you have from you for any reason. Who do you support in this election?" I can't openly support Trump around my workplace--half my coworkers are immigrants after all--but I'll be doing what I can to keep Hilliary out.

jerrye92002 said...

I'm curious to know whether Trump's recent comments (as reported, not actual) or his Thursday "serious" immigration proposal might make it easier. Unless those folks are illegal and criminal (and if they're working, they're at least halfway there) I think they might be happy with Trump's expected proposal.