Today’s post comes from Congressman Loomis Beechly, representing Minnesota’s 9th district – all the water surface area in the state.
Greetings constituents!
As the district thaws out for spring 2016, I’m encouraged to see many of our residents still honoring the tradition of having a contest around when the ice will ultimately leave their local lake.
Once my dad and his friends dragged a broken-down 1940 Studebaker Champion out about a quarter mile from shore to see how long it would take for the thing to drop.
But that was back in the day when nobody would complain if you tossed a car in the water and left it there.
We don’t do that kind of oil-slicked, gravity-based, gambling anymore, but I’ve been running into a lot of people lately who want to know the same thing about Donald Trump – as in: “He’s big, he’s an eyesore, he’s been sitting way out there for a long, long time – when is he finally going to disappear beneath the waves?”
I’ve been around elections far too long to feel OK predicting the political demise of anyone. Oh, demise comes to all politicians, but just like comedy, timing is the key!
Recently, the Republican Party establishment has been outspoken about trying to hasten the end of the Trump candidacy, with no real effect.
I think people are beginning to realize that Trump is a NEW kind of political animal – one that feeds on our scorn! It used to be that pure, focused criticism destroyed careers. The most successful kind of politician tried to be loved by virtually everybody and negative comments ate away at their support. Donald Trump has turned that equation on its head. You can’t defeat Trump by disapproving of him because that just makes him stronger. Attention is the fuel he runs on, so the only way to weaken him is to pretend that he is boring!
That’s why, whenever I see Trump on one of my many screens, I force myself to yawn.
At first it felt odd, but it became easier and now it’s almost automatic. I’m actually starting to think he IS boring.
I’m not saying it will change things overnight, but in the same way children work to save Tinker Bell by clapping, I think we can send Trump back into the murky depths of Lake Biggity with a coordinated, open-mouthed, closed-eyed campaign.
Like internet cat videos, yawning is contagious and potentially viral. And even if it doesn’t change the election, it might help distressed Americans get the rest they so desperately need!
What popular fascination do you find boring?