Cable schmooze networks, masquerading as news organizations have been teasing us for months about the impending dynamics and historical importance of the upcoming Iowa and New Hampshire presidential race caucuses (cauci?). I actually watch these networks, but this is not an endorsement for this kind of television. The practice has been proven to be hazardous for your health. In fact I plead with you: Do not try this at home.
The bulk of these networks’ political conversation, speculation, tribulation and adulation has been centered on a guy you may have heard of: Donald Trump.
I was always aware of him, of course, but must confess to being one of the ignorant minority in this great land of ours who never, ever, even once, watched “The Apprentice,” his uniquely popular show on NBC. So popular, in fact, that the preening Mr. Trump was the peacock network’s top peacock. He’s off the program now and has paraded his illustrious tail feathers into another longstanding show celebrating that bastion of USA values and progress: American politics. The art of that deal has scored big time for Donald Trump. He done good, as they say in Iowa.
Free comedy
So far, Trump towers over every would-be contender of his party that would attempt to hinder his initial and once improbable road to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. D.T. wants to move to D.C. This shows what a regular guy he may be, who like many of us as we get older, needs to downsize his current living quarters.
So the schmooze networks and their anchors, suddenly infatuated with Trump’s rise and his ability to broker enhanced viewership, have capitulated, cajoled and careened into Trump madness in their coverage. An increasing number of the newly faithful Trump Republicans love the guy and his free comedy concerts. He’s stacking up attendance figures that put Fargodome Bison games to shame.
For many of these gatherings, the real estate magnate has become a real-people-in-states magnet. His positive and negative attraction is drawing record crowds of adoring followers. Some critics say his colorful message has hues of divisiveness and racism. I’m more measured and gentle than that. I see it as Mr. Trump’s unique ability to attract the, uh, discriminating voter.
Dress Barn?
I saw supporters from good old rural Iowa being interviewed at one of these corn-fed overflowing assemblies. We love him, they cried. One of these sweet, Midwest-bred ladies said “He’s just like one of us.”
That might be true, but I’d be willing to bet 50 cents that Donald Trump was the only person in the entire 20,000-seat arena sporting gold cuff links and hairspray. I suspect that the lady so enamored with her common man image of the gentleman was actually expecting to run into the current Mrs. Trump shopping at the Dress Barn in the Des Moines Mall.
I don’t predict well, except for that time I speculated with certainty there might be a snowstorm during any North Dakota Class B basketball tournament. I was right then, and I think I’m right now, by saying I don’t anticipate the Trumps are going to prove themselves to be just like “the rest of us” unless the rest of us are Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
It’s fun to watch the TV and print punditry spew and fumble on air and online explaining the Trumping of America.
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Terribly sorry
I love to vote. Always have and always will. I completely accept, if not fully respect, folks whom voters have sent to the White House (with the possible exception of Dan Quayle and not counting Spiro Agnew). Trump could very well receive the GOP nomination and win the presidency if those people of the “We-the-people” crowd, so choose. So, choose, I say. What’s the worst that could happen?
I’ve voted in every presidential election since becoming eligible in 1968 while a freshman at NDSU. I studied the issues and the candidates to be girded and armed with the maturity and confidence of an 18-year-old. I proudly pulled the lever casting my constitutionally given right and privilege to (wait for it) Richard Nixon.
I started editorial cartooning for NDSU’s newspaper and for years when I needed political cartoon fodder, President Nixon never let me down. Dick Nixon was like a fodder to me. For that vote of mine I’d like to tell you: You’re welcome or I’m terribly sorry. He also was just like one of us.
Stark, Fargo, is a Forum editorial cartoonist, presenter of illustrated history programs and a Theodore Roosevelt interpreter. Email sstark@cableone.net
