One of the stellar stories of the last 100 or so days has been the near complete absence from the public scene of our erstwhile American First Lady. We already knew she had no taste for the political life, since she said so quite openly in 2015 when her husband was beginning to suffer from his political inspired brain fever of self importance.
She underlined her feelings by declaring in one interview that she didn’t want Donald to get involved in politics, but he doesn’t listen and does whatever he wants to. As he has demonstrated ad nauseum. The man is so rock dumb he doesn’t listen to sincere advice from the few people who actually care about him. From Melania to Howard Stern, a few insiders knew ahead of time just how miserable he would be with the constraints hemming in any President’s conduct, the Great Himself included. Even Trump.45 can only bend reality so far. The limitations chafe and burn, and he can’t make them disappear, like on fictional reality TV, which apparently is his gold reference standard.
Melania’s behavior during the campaign consolidated her honest initial statements as she was scarce and near absent from the entire mess. She did show up for the obligatory wife’s convention remarks, at a rally after her husband pre-fronted her appearance before a rally crowd and forced the issue, and for a brief moment on election night. Otherwise a rara avis she.
And she paid the price. For example, she clearly doesn’t enjoy speechifying, and she is not comfortable with formal remarks in English in front of crowds of strangers. She was given a speech written by one of Donald’s ghost writers for the convention, and promptly found herself accurately accused of blatant plagiarism in lifting whole chunks of Michelle Obama’s original address. The charge was true enough, despite some initial half-hearted attempts to soft-soap the situation by various of Trump.45’s PR minions, but with video and all in a day or two the offending plagiarist writer fessed up and sat on her pen sword.
The key point here is that the fault was Trump.45’’s rampant staff incompetence, a constant millstone around his neck presidency-wise. He didn’t care enough to get it right for his wife. She didn’t want to be there in the first place. The fault is really down to him. The words were stolen, the thief was Trump.45’s doing.
Melania has been wise to largely steer clear of the staffing train wreck that follows Trump.45 like a smelly miasmatic cloud.
So far the total number of actual public presence Melania sightings since Inauguration Day is numbered in a handful, maybe two. This is a rip-off of the American people, who didn’t vote for a wifeless Trump to wander through life being all moody, lonely, and resentful. Mind it’s not Melania’s fault. She may very well have laid the law down to Trump before the election, as in “Win this turkey and go be by yourself in the White House. I like Manhattan and my $100 million penthouse just fine.” The rich are different from you and me. Perfectly OK if that floats their dual boats, but if so, Trump.45 was deceptive by not telling anyone what was bound to happen before forcing it on the rest of us.
Or maybe he thought he could negotiate a better deal, that Melania was just staking out a bargaining position. Thus, we have a new sport in American politics for 2017, called Where in the World is Melania Now? At least we don’t have to search around the world. Mostly she is in Manhattan, with her child, or on a plane to Florida for Mar-a-Lago, with a small dollop of White House ceremonial smiles and haute couture tossed in.
Trump Returns to New York (Sort Of)
But Melania’s rarity in public is not the main point here. Today, Thursday, May 4, 2017 is the first time Trump.45 has set foot in Manhattan since before the inauguration. If my sources are accurate he last spent time in Trump Tower in his gilded three floor eponymous Penthouse aerie on January 18, 2017 before flying to Washington to lay a wreath at Arlington and attend the pre-inaugural whatever it was, the near starless concert at the Lincoln Memorial. That makes his utter absence from what was his business nerve center and primary home since 1983 an astounding 106 consecutive days. The longest disappearing act in 34 years.
And that’s not all. Despite the tepid response from New York’s officialdom, a few Republicans at least thought they might catch a glimpse of him at home after the little military remembrance scheduled with Australia’s Prime Minister on board the Aircraft Carrier Intrepid Museum docked in the Hudson River. But late breaking news has it that Trump.45 will not sleep in the Trump bedroom at home, but instead helicopter out after dining aboard the Intrepid to spend the night at yet another Trump.45 owned private golf club in Bedminster NJ.
No Worries, Mate about Trump.45 and the Australian Prime Minister Turnbull’s meeting in New York on the ship to celebrate the joint American and Australian role in the Battle of the Coral Sea in WWII in May 1942. It all happened before Trump.45 was born. He doesn’t know what happened from May 4-May 8 that year, and he surely doesn’t know where in the world the Coral Sea is located anyhow. No trump.45 hotels or Golf Resorts anywhere nearby, don’t you know.
America and Australia: Allies in War in 1942
Trump’s painfully glaring historical ignorance is brilliantly on display in this little theatrical episode with Australia. In the battle of the Coral Sea, the US Navy lost the carrier USS Lexington and the carrier USS Yorktown was badly damaged, but made it to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Less than a month later in June 1942 at the Battle of Midway, the USS Yorktown was lost in a climactic battle sea battle most historians think turned the tide of war for the United States and its Allies against Japan. The Yorktown was expected to require months of repairs to be battle ready, but it sailed for battle after 72 hours of immense effort with most of its air wing available for duty. It played a critical role at Midway, but was sunk. In 1943 a new replacement carrier was christened USS Yorktown and took part in the remainder of WWII.
The second USS Yorktown is now a museum ship at Patriots Point, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (1975). She is a National Historic Landmark (1986). Just like the USS Intrepid in New York Harbor is a museum (1982) and a National Historic Landmark (1986).
So, for those who care a whit about the integrity of history and the brave deeds of the military heroes who fought and died for our freedoms, Trump.45 has this ceremonial celebration all bollocked up. The USS Intrepid was a brave and valiant ship, but nothing to do with the Australians at the Battle of the Coral Sea. The USS Yorktown fought at Coral Sea, was badly damaged but returned to active service to play a major role in less than 30 days at the was critical Battle of Midway. She was sunk, but replaced by a new carrier named Yorktown within the year and fought throughout WWII in the Pacific theater. She was decommissioned as a museum ship and National Historical Landmark in Mount Peasant South Carolina, just 10 miles from Charleston.
The blindingly obvious right choice for a joint celebration aboard a big relevant carrier for Australia and the United States on the Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea is the USS Yorktown, not the USS Intrepid. Of course Trump.45 in his ineffable ignorance doesn’t know or care about any of that.
My question is why is Trump.45 slighting South Carolina, a state that voted for him, loves the military, and would welcome him. They have named the museum location Patriot’s Point for goodness sake. It’s not like Trump.45 needs to be in New York to visit his family. Maybe he just doesn’t have a Trump branded golf course nearby to soothe his weary diplomatic head after his 30 minute World Leader visit What a dunce.
Besides in a brilliant example of Presidential planning, though Turnbull has travelled roughly 10,000 miles by Great Circle Air Route to come to the first meeting between the two leaders, Trump decided to linger in Washington patting himself on the back for the House vote on Healthcare at an extended press conference. Like that battle is over and done. So Turnbull is left hanging in New York while Trump,45 exhibits the gracious manners and good sense he is renowned for and stands up the Prime Guy by delaying his own 200 mile jaunt from Washington. Now the Boys will get to hold a whole 30-minute meeting, before diner and Trump.45 sends Malcolm on his way.
Remember this is the very same Leader of an American Ally that Trump.45 hung up on during their phone call after his first week in office in January. No steep learning curve there. Imagine the Aussie Press reaction to this latest further diplomatic insult. If the reports are accurate Trump.45 hung up after 25 minutes of a call scheduled to last an hour. So maybe 30-minutes in person is a step up, and entirely worth a 20- hour 10,000 mile flight to visit someone who is supposed to be a close ally. Or else Trump.45 is just acting like his usual dunderhead ignorant self. Clearly, the Australian naval and air force contributions to the Battle of the Coral Sea were a limited secondary effort compared to our own crippled Navy resources in May 1942. You know, six months after the Pearl Harbor wipeout.
Again, no need to worry. Since Trump.45 is feeling his Cheerios after solving the Middle East conflict by meeting for an hour or two with Palestinian President Abbas just yesterday at the White House and wiping away 70 years of direct military conflict with a lovely, beautiful PR release, a generous 30 minutes ought to suffice for a minor problem like Australia’s ruffled diplomatic feathers. After all, a man has to have his priorities straight to be such a Fabulous Negotiator as the Great Leader Trump,45 constantly assures us he is.
Anyway, no doubt with the coming of warmer weather, we are about to have yet another private golf property converted to a high security lavish get-away resort for the laziest, most vacationing President in modern history. After all, Florida will just be too hot soon for an obese out-of-shaped 70-year old to play golf comfortably, even with electric carts. Privately Trump.45 has asked the Secret Service and GSA to see about a clear Perspex bubble over the entire course in Palm Beach, but it is too expensive for America taxpayers to fund, and Trump himself doesn’t have the scratch. Besides, in a rare burst of unity his top advisors advised that they couldn’t really figure out a way to blame Obama for the urgent need to enclose Trump’s private golf course in a bullet-proof air conditioned dome to allow full time summer use, despite the inherent attractiveness of the idea.
Trump.45 remains convinced in his gut this is still a cool idea, and has legs. He is likely to return to it, when a grateful nations wants to show its appreciation for the wonderful new jobs on the horizon, the tremendous tax cuts coming, the Mexican Wall completed, and the end of ObamaCare, maybe in a year or two when the dust settles.
The Patent-Pending Trump Duck
Trump’45 has already tried to inoculate the story line for his New York visit by saying he doesn’t like to see New Yorkers having their streets blocked when he cones to town.
The patent rubbish of this pseudo explanation is exposed of course, since from November 9t, 2016 until January 19,m 2017 Trump was perfectly comfortable with disturbing New Yorkers in general, businesses in the vicinity, and tenants in Trump Tower in substantial ways on a constant basis, all at 100% public taxpayers’ expense. Nor that he doesn’t give a damn about having closed down Palm Beach every other weekend on average since his unfortunate assumption of office. Nor that the sad taxpayers of New York City are out roughly $125,000 per day whether he is in New York or not, paying for security at Trump Tower for a wife that doesn’t want to be in the White House, and an 11-year old kid in grammar school. So, for the last 105 days, in Trump.45’s absence, New York has gotten stuck with paying for $13 million of gold-plated excess in his wake.
It’s no wonder Trump.45 won’t dwell on these piddling little financial matters. After all, no one is giving him a bill to pay, and the losers can just eat it, if they don’t like it.
However, on a more serious note, remember that Trump.45’s registered voting place is in Manhattan. And he received a whopping 10% of all the votes cast in the borough. There was no fakery in these votes from illegal Mexicans. Trump got stomped with the worst performance in a home district by a Presidential candidate in probably 200 years. What a record he is accumulating.
Bad enough no one wants him or misses him in New York, and his performance in office with respect to the provisions of the newest TragicCare Zombie health bill, or the attitude of JeffBeux Sessions on Sanctuary Cities, or the impact of the attempted Muslim bans have further eroded any residual good feeling New Yorkers might have felt. So, the New York word on the street is generally Good Riddance, and Don’t Let the Door Hit You in the Ass on Your Way Out.
Protests of various sorts are planned today but they are likely to be muted, with access to the Intrepid Museum area highly controlled, and Trump.45’s quick in and out . So, what we really have here is the latest example of a patent pending Trump Duck, an avoidance of any person, place or thing that he can’t control at ease.
In the meantime the longest streak of avoiding home at any cost is now 105 days and will still be counting after the aerial flight to Bedminster to cap Trump’s quickie New York toe dip.
The irony. The guy owns a $100 million penthouse in a building with his name in 20- foot high letters on the side. and can’t stay there in peace. The poor guy is subjected to steady stream of New York raspberries at high volume The old non-presidential days were so much better. Trump.45 actually thought (entertained the delusion) that after lying, deceiving, and screwing over millions, in fact the majority of his fellow citizens, he would get a Golden Free Pass of good will for his prior actions. He didn’t really mean all those things he said and did, it was just politics to win, and now let’s get back to normal. That is the core of his psychological pathology. That will never happen.
The May 4 New York mini-visit is the latest in a high profile series of Trump Ducks. Add this to the fuller list, including the recent April 29 Trump Duck at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where he was too afraid to show up in person and smile. And the Monday, April 3 Opening Day First Pitch for the Washington Nationals baseball team that Presidents for 100 0years have participated in, as a tribute to America’s game. Another Trump Duck, which however saved us pictures of a flabby awkward delivery attempt to home plate in front of a live 40,000 member crowd who couldn’t be vetted for political support leanings ahead of time.
Trump.45’s new normal is to Trump Duck any large or open event venue when he can’t rigidly control the audience reaction.
To contrast this behavior to his comfort zone, compare his nocturnal wanderings on April 29 when he manufactured a First 100-day rally in Harrisburg PA to counter program the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Remember, this was a private political event run by Trump.45’s Presidential Campaign, which controlled all tickets for admission, and could screen and deny attendance at will, besides using Trump-paid private security to obliterate inside protests.
If Trump.45 can’t control the audience, he is ever ready to Duck and Cover (Run or Make Excuses).
After the usual media attacks to the faithful in Harrisburg last Saturday evening, Trump.45 naturally enough bragged that his crowd was setting the all time attendance record for the venue.
The rally was held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, where the largest venue is the New Holland Arena with a capacity of 7,600. For a man with Trump.45’s unconquerable ego and ambition, who routinely brags about rally crowds of 20,000, 25, 000, and even 30,000 (in Florida and Mobile AL, for example), a mere 7,600 to celebrate the conclusion of the Best 100 First 100 Days in American History seem a trifle modest, at best.
That is if the boast from Trump.45’s fertile imagination, without Fire Marshal confirmation (lacking), is to be believed. Add to this the pictures taken of the Arena on the night in question showing a flowering of empty seats.
Even if the venue was filled to capacity, and the pictures lie, Trump.45 is still engaged in image manipulation. The Giant Center in Hershey PA is just 15 miles away from the New Holland Arena where Trump staged his victory celebration. That venue has a rated capacity of 11,500, more than 50% larger than the puny venue Trump decided to use.
No waiting, no crowd turnaways would be an issue, but empty seats would be a red neon marker. More of Trump.45’s flim-flam magic: book a small venue, give out lots more tickets than seats, encourage long waiting lines, excuse any inside empty seats by talking about early outside waiting lines self-created by overbooking tickets.
It’s a little like wearing pants that are too tight in order to artificially inflate the apparent size of one’s underlying male equipment. All in a good Trumpian cause, if somewhat juvenile in execution.
In the meantime, the actual full crowd of 7,600 (if it got that high) is hardly awe inspiring. Like much of what Trump.45 says or promises. Long on words, short on delivery.
So we now have a variant of the Trump Duck from the WHCA Dinner. He added a Trump Duck and Sideways Crowd Dip to further deflect attention from the Duck itself. The Crowd Dip was not entirely successful.
Stay tuned for more Trump Ducks.
Another arrow in Trump.45’s performance excuse quiver.
Trump’s New Ethnography
In sum, we have a new duality of Trump Couple ethnography. Places Where Mrs Trump Will Go, and Places Where Mr. Trump Won’t Go. Will She Peek-a-Boo, Will He Duck?
The register listings are open for expansion. Take heart America. It only costs the rest of us a few million dollars in wasted security and ego salves per fiscal quarter. Who can begrudge such high quality entertainment, now that the Apprentice is behind us?