“History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” ― Mark Twain.
In December of 1972 former President Richard Nixon, declared the press, an “enemy” www.theguardian.com/... The parallels between the paranoia of Richard M. Nixon and the narcissism of Donald J. Trump are staggering and frightening. It also appears, much like Nixon, the press will eventually be the catalyst for the downfall of the Trump administration. The Washington Post, much like in the Nixon years, is again at the forefront with daily breaking news stories, followed closely by, the Trump labeled, “failing New York Times.”
Mr. Trump has saved Saturday Night Live and been the reagent for the recent resurgence of the Times. Being the media savvy personality that he is, he has even tried using the ‘controversy tactic’ to save the truly failing Celebrity Apprentice money.cnn.com/.... Steve Bannon, top aide to Trump, has manipulated his way onto the National Security Council by equaling his bigotry with his own paranoia. Bannon has attacked any group that challenges his jaundiced view of the world www.cbsnews.com/.... The recent ravings of Bannon, in an attempt to destroy the fourth estate, was to get the President to join him in his assertion that the press is the “opposition” nymag.com/... . The only problem with his theory is that it ignores the weekly protest that have attracted millions of people in disapproval.
Strawmen serve a purpose…
Donald Trump needs a hero as a counterpoint to his villain. Even his participation in the family owned business [WWE] of his new Small Business Administration head, Linda McMahon, is a play for attention. He participated in a loser gets his head shaved wrestling match billed as the “Battle of the Billionaires” in April of 2007 at WrestleMania
. So, the man who now decries legitimate media as “fake news” indulged himself in the most blatant fakery in modern times. What billionaire does that, except one starved for self-aggrandizement. Lest you think I am a snob, I have watched professional wrestling since I was five. He did it because he enjoys his villainous persona, from demanding the former President show his papers, to implied sexual interest toward his own daughter on the Howard Stern show www.hollywoodreporter.com/...
In a 2004 conversation, Stern asks Trump if he can call Trump's daughter "a piece of ass," which Trump agrees to. “By the way, your daughter," says Stern. "Can I say this? A piece of ass." Trump responds: "Yeah."
This is the man the Christian right endorsed. Nixon deployed his attack dogs and Trump rolls out a new contestant for Celebrity Liar every week. All with the intent of having the public watch him wave his arms in the air, while he kicks you under the table.
I am laughing at this buffoonery on the outside but my insides are churning. President Trump controls, at last official count, a nuclear arsenal of 5,113 warheads www.reuters.com/.... Not derailing this train as it barrels down the tracks toward disaster, is a vast mistake. After just twenty-four days the National Security Adviser had to resign because of ties to a foreign enemy. News reports last night, have allegedly tied officials from the Trump campaign to Russian operatives during the election run-up. Watergate, Kremlin, Putin, Nixon; hopefully the press saves us from this mess. Maybe history will just rhyme and not repeat.
’18 and Change’