* Imagine, one last chance in front of a mega TV audience for a presidential game-changer and the biggest media takeaway is the losing candidate not promising to honor the result? But Donald Trump “will keep you in suspense.” In other words, the reality-TV campaign is now in final, all-but-official, countdown-to-the-Trump Network mode.
* Actually, the last chance for Trump to share a forum with Hillary Clinton was the recent Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation charity dinner in New York. They were seated with only Cardinal Timothy Dolan between them. They’ve been holding these white-tie, Catholic-charity affairs for more than half a century–and the formula doesn’t change. Political levity, especially the self-deprecating variety, is always the centerpiece.
Once again, Trump was ill-prepared. He had a “pardon me” line that he attributed to Clinton in a crowded dais scene that worked–and then he reverted to being Trump. As in: “Here she is in public pretending not to hate Catholics.” Winces. Boos. Another day at the orifice.
* Take-no-prisoners bombast aside, the Trump campaign’s chances continue to erode as Nov. 8 approaches. Even his head cheerleader, campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, sounds almost grounded. “We are behind,” acknowledged Conway. “She has some advantages. We’re not giving up. We know we can win this.” In Trumpian terms, this approaches concession.
* Then again, perhaps Conway is holding out hope over data recently released by the Cook Political Report. According to Cook, there were 47 million eligible white voters without a college degree who did not vote in 2012.
* Certain folks are going to take umbrage over this. Obviously, I don’t care.
It’s the consultant class, specifically those who generically help political candidates because that’s what they do. They have a professional skill set. They know media; they know spin; they know demographics; they know logistics; they know marketing. They can help a client. They hire out. We get it.
Ideology isn’t necessarily the foremost priority. We get that too.
But there are clients–and then there are existential threats with national as well as global implications.
So when you are, say, a Roger Ailes or a Kellyanne Conway, you’re also a whore. When you aid and abet a cause that is not in the best interest of your country, you are that–at best.
Careerists such as Conway, who make the rounds of political talk shows, are part of an insiders’ fraternity. They all know each other regardless of tribe. It’s all synergistically part of media self interest that unconscionably now happens to traffic in one of the most meaningful elections in history. Shame.
* Marco Rubio knows he has to defuse the issue that he just might not serve out his 6-year term if re-elected to his Senate seat. After all, somebody has to run against an incumbent President Clinton in 2020, and he is not lacking for name recognition, charisma or ambition.
So, how–in that debate against Rep. Patrick Murphy–could he guarantee he will stay in office, one that he has demeaned in the past? Well, by just flat out saying it–but also including an unassailable qualifier.
“… I am running for the U.S. Senate,” promised Rubio. “I’m going to serve six years, God willing.” In other words, if Rubio opts out early–it’s only because God must have willed it so. For emphasis, he rolled out his “God willing” caveat two more times. Maybe that impressed evangelicals who associate the Deity with Tea Party priorities.
* Doesn’t it speak volumes when the Miami Herald endorses Murphy and not Rubio. Ellos saben mejor.
* This just in. A major newspaper has just endorsed Trump. Could be a media break-through. It’s the Las Vegas Review-Journal. It’s owned by casino mogul and Trump supporter Sheldon Adelson. Never mind.
* We knew Bobby Bowden was a Republican. But supporting Donald Trump? Guard that statue.
* “The president is my opponent–not my enemy.”–Sen. Bob Dole, in referring to Bill Clinton in 1996. That was then; this is not.