New Orleans If there’s fake news and real news, then for sure there are real issues and fake issues. As one pundit after another tries to make hay out of Trump’s comments that he’s thinking about running for a third term, it’s safe to say, this is a fake issue.
The papers and podcasts are full of speculation about whether Trump is serious or joking, with long lines on both sides of the question. Trump at different times has said, “hey, I’m joking.” Now, he is trying to say, no, I’m serious.
Is he trying to just rile up his opponents, since this is clearly unconstitutional, because there are limits to two terms? They would say, no, he’s already made Swiss cheese out of the constitution in recent months with one executive order after another, while keeping federal judges working overtime on injunctions, while he presses forward, catch me, if you can.
Or maybe, he’s just tossing lollipops to his hardcore base so that they can hold in their hearts the hope that maybe this parade will just keep on marching. They can keep their flags flying. They don’t have to repaint the 18-wheel trailer at the edge of their property line. They can keep flipping off the stiff shirts and the rest of the country.
Is he really serious? Yes, sure he is, but not about running for another term. He’s serious as a judge and sly like a fox. He wants to keep the base and all of his sycophants in Congress, states, and across his ecosphere solid by thinking, “just maybe, the ol’ man, has something up his sleeve.” He puts out head fakes about propping up Vance like a puppet and pulling the strings. That’s not happening. Not that even leaving office he won’t be a pain in the neck to whoever is elected, just as he tried to keep his brand active over the Biden years. It’s what he does.
He absolutely wants to be at the center of the storm, even though he knows he is a lame duck. If he can play this out for a couple of years, then pols and people won’t hear the quack, quack that is all voice and no power.
That’s all this is about. It’s a distraction from the real issues, based in denial, narcissism, and fear of the future. No one needs to take this seriously. No president ever wants to be a lame duck. Trump knew what he was getting into, but he’s cagey enough to do what all great politicians do, which is tried to stretch it all out and make the most of it.
Run for a third term? Not a chance. Fool some of the people some of the time. He sure knows how to do that, but don’t fall for that. Keep your eye on the grape and join the real fights.