Tuesday, Donald Trump hosted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the White House. A right-wing authoritarian who disparages gays and the press, Bolsonaro is known as the “Trump of the Tropics.”
Trump took questions from the press and, when asked why he had tweeted such harsh criticism of John McCain, he became unhinged. (These days it’s hard to tell unhinged from hinged.)
Regarding McCain, in 2015, “bone-spur” Trump infamously said, “He wasn’t a war hero” and “I prefer people who weren’t captured.” (Beats me how any military vet can support Trump.) Seven months after McCain’s passing, apparently Trump isn’t familiar with, “Don’t talk ill of the dead.”
Trump told reporters he holds McCain solely responsible for defeating the repeal of Obama-care when “McCain voted thumbs down.” A sentence later,Trump referred to McCain’s having voted “thumbs up.” Trump can’t get his thumbs straight. (I know what Trump should do with his thumb, but this is a family newspaper.)
Cowardly, Trump attacks a hero in the grave who can’t fight back. McCain’s daughter, Meghan McCain, however, can. Over the weekend Trump tweeted 50 times, more than one per hour. He’s either pathetically lonely, bored, really sick or a combination of all three.
Meghan tweeted to Trump, “No one will ever love you the way they loved my father. I wish I had more Saturdays with him. Maybe spend yours with your family instead of on twitter obsessing over mine?” (Burn.)
Conservative lawyer, George Conway, Kelly Anne’s husband, feels strongly that Trump’s mental state is deteriorating to a dangerous level. Following the president’s morning flurry of tweets in which he floated the idea of a federal investigation into “Saturday Night Live” making fun of him (and this was a re-run!) Conway tweeted, “His condition is getting worse.” In fact, if you Google “He’s getting worse,” Trump comes up.
This brings us to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who once called Trump, “A jackass, a race-baiting, xenophobic bigot.” Before the GOP 2016 Convention he said, “If we nominate Trump he will destroy the Republican party and we will deserve it.” As for his decade-long and close friendship with John McCain, “I love him to death.” (Apparently, after death, not so much.)
Some analysts have said that Graham’s history is that he desperately needs a close, alpha male friend and that McCain fit the bill perfectly. But, when McCain’s health and power declined, Graham suddenly warmed up to Trump. He’s now one of The Donald’s top cheerleaders in the Senate.
Graham finally said Trump’s recent criticisms of McCain “were a mistake.” Mistake? How about, “How dare you attack my war hero friend, you draft-dodging, pathological lying scum!” (Okay, maybe that’s a little strong, but you get my drift.)
Graham’s complete about face on Trump has led to speculation that he’s being blackmailed by some pro-Trump entity. But Graham told the New York Times’ Mark Lebovitch that the reason for his flip is he simply wants “to be relevant” and win re-election in 2020.
Having faced primary opposition from the tea party in 2014, Graham said, “If you don’t want to get re-elected, you’re in the wrong business.” Meanwhile, Graham just announced that VP Mike Pence would kick off Graham’s re-election fundraiser. (I hope McCain’s ghost visits Lindsey in his sleep.)
Three prominent Republicans have finally condemned Trump’s deplorable comments. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senator Mitt Romeny (R-Utah.)
Romney tweeted, “I can’t understand why the President would, once again, disparage a man as exemplary as my friend John McCain: heroic, courageous, patriotic, honorable, self-effacing, self-sacrificing, empathetic, and driven by duty to family, country, and God.” (Trump doesn’t have any of those traits!)
On Wednesday, Trump spoke in Ohio to workers at a tank factory and inexplicably referred to McCain in the present tense. “I allowed McCain to have the funeral he wanted and nobody thanked me.” (McCain wasn’t exactly available to thank anyone.) Understandably, the room turned eerily silent.
So, as Graham sucks up to Trump, I pray other Republicans develop a conscience or a spine. Meanwhile, it was Barron’s 13th birthday, but not a word from his father who was too busy calling George Conway “a big loser.”
I recall one particularly revealing photo of Dictator Don in a golf cart. (Where else?) But, strictly taboo, the cart is on the green! To golfer’s like my late father, the green was hallowed ground. But it’s Trump’s course so he does what he wants.
America is hallowed ground. I wish Trump, who’s seemingly without a soul, would get his lard butt and golf cart off our lawn. But by hook and crook (mostly crook) it’s Trump’s country, so he does what he wants. Hopefully, with the Mueller report due any moment, not for much longer. A guy can dream, can’t he?
For more, Google “YouTube psychiatrist Trump mental health.” Off subject but dear to my heart, the final celebration honoring the centennial of the Ocean Park Branch Library will be tomorrow, March 23, 2-4 p.m. at the O.P. Library, 2601 Main Street. Jack is at jackdailypress@aol.com.
