* I still say the Donald Trump-scorpion analogy works. It derives from the parable where the scorpion begs a duck for a ride across a river and then–half-way there–stings the duck and dooms them both. Its answer to the duck’s dying-gasp ‘Why?’: “It’s my nature.”
It’s why Donald Trump hasn’t begun acting “presidential” yet. Even after his “on-the-table” nukes-option remark. Even after his NATO dissing. And even after his punish-the-woman abortion comment. He’s alarmingly unprepared, disturbingly uninformed and outrageously insensitive. You don’t pivot to being “presidential” from the essence of who you are.
His response to an interview query from Maureen Dowd was instructive. Here’s how he answered her question about how he planned to turn it around with women: “I’m just going to be myself. That’s all I can do.”
He’s a scorpion. It’s not his nature to be presidential. He just wants to be president.
* BTW, recent polls show Trump’s unapproval ratings with women hovering around 78 percent. One obviously begged question: What’s with the other 22 percent? There are that many STrumpets?
* So how did Trump move on from his gaffe-fest? He needed to change the subject, so he talked down the American economy by saying we were headed for a massive recession. Investors beware. Unless, of course, the voters elect him president. Beyond self-serving. Contemptible.
* Speaking of that abortion comment by Trump, he made it in response to some Q&A back-and-force with Chris Mathews at a Milwaukee town hall. Mathews, better known for interrupting people on MSNBC’s “Hardball,” was on his game with follow-ups–and follow-ups to follow-ups–that underscored how unprepared Trump was, even for a major network interview before an important primary.
* Can’t believe we haven’t seen any “Abort Trump” bumper stickers yet. Yet.
* Five reasons for the Stop Trump movement to feel confident: Women. Youth. Hispanics. African-Americans. Suburbs.
* Frankly, I would take Trump’s side on the battery charge against his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. That video didn’t show enough. He was grabbing a (female) reporter who busted through post-address security to confront the candidate with a question.
Here’s the rule-of-thumb for press conferences, including those of presidential candidates. Some journalists do not want to ask a question–and have everyone be privy to the answer. They would rather wait until it’s over and then try to get in a drive-by as the candidate is being ushered out by Secret Service and campaign aides. And then there are journalists–such as relatively unknown bloggers–who rarely get called on. This is their chance.
Security is, for obvious reasons these days, less than understanding, regardless of motivation. Stuff happens, but it’s not criminal.
* He is still the Republican odd-man out and considered a relative long shot, but Gov. John Kasich is certainly not a no shot. Here are three quick reasons why he’s more viable than consensus would have it: 1–He does best of the three candidates in polls against Hillary Clinton. In fact, he wins most of them. 2–The longer the pre-convention process, the more reasonable, more obviously experienced–and presidential–he looks juxtaposed to Trump and Ted Cruz. 3–Syndicated cartoonists are now targeting a recognizable caricature.