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You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Dolt 45 / Sad, Low Energy Late-Night Open Thread: Rallying the Deplorables, Disappointing the Rest of Us

Sad, Low Energy Late-Night Open Thread: Rallying the Deplorables, Disappointing the Rest of Us

by Anne Laurie|  August 22, 20183:16 am| 36 Comments

This post is in: Dolt 45, Fables Of The Reconstruction, Open Threads, Republicans in Disarray!, All Too Normal, Bring on the Brawndo!, Our Failed Political Establishment

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We are just a few hours from the most spectacularly insane Trump rally ever, expect hyperbole, expect lying, expect racism, expect crazy like the world has never seen. Will the president strip? It’s a distinct possibility. https://t.co/g95Rg14UAv

— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) August 21, 2018

There's a decent chance Trump kills someone at his rally tonight.

Drone strike on Cohen's house, Sessions in a guillotine, something.

— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) August 21, 2018

On the bright side, Trump will get all the networks covering his rally tonight. Ratings will be tremendous, the best ever.

— Schooley (@Rschooley) August 21, 2018

From early reports, looks like the biggest news from the rally is that it was a bog-standard Trump rally — no epic meltdowns, no mention of the day’s earlier events. SAD!

Biggest takeaway that I can see: Trump *is* still capable of pulling himself together to get through another one of his Greatest Hits Arena Shows, like any other professional performer on auto-pilot. Bad news for the rest of the Repub criminals… it’s gonna be that much harder to convince anyone outside The Base that “we” need to take away Granpa’s car keys & checkbook if the old man can fumble convincingly through a competency performance in front of a sympathetic judge.

Ah, well, we all live with our little disappointments…

I heard the government bagged several swamp people just this afternoon. https://t.co/KC2SUgRpsZ

— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) August 21, 2018

posted without comment pic.twitter.com/3uepYnETGL

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 22, 2018

The crowd at tonight’s Trump rally in West Virginia is chanting, “Drain that swamp” and “Lock her up," on a day where the president’s former lawyer pleaded guilty to campaign-finance violations and his former campaign chairman was convicted on eight counts of fraud charges.

— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) August 21, 2018

Trump topics so far at campaign rally, hours after news of his former aides' serious criminal problems:
-won "by 42 points" in West Virginia
-ESPN
-economy
-Gov. Jim Justice's big size. "I won't talk about the weight." pic.twitter.com/xgbTa3yxUC

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) August 21, 2018

"Sir" alert: Trump claims he came to West Virginia before the election and told coal miners he'd help them learn how to make "little widgets or gidgets or gadgets," but they responded, "Sir, we wanna keep coal."

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 21, 2018


Trump repeats his ludicrously inaccurate monologue about how coal is "indestructible" and you "can do whatever you want" to it, unlike windmills and other kinds of energy, which are not indestructible.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 21, 2018

.@realDonaldTrump on auto tariffs, here in Charleston, https://t.co/IWQ6fBECns. –

"We’re going to put a 25 percent tax on every car that comes into the United States from the European Union."

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) August 22, 2018

Trump is currently talking about how you have to "gestate" a turkey for 8 hours. pic.twitter.com/BdjyoU7S8M

— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) August 22, 2018

I'd currently assess Trump's hingedness level as above-averagedly hinged, by his rally hingedness standards. This is subject to change.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 21, 2018

I'm almost impressed that with this much free associating Trump has managed to not accidentally mention Manafort or Cohen yet. He's got message discipline when he wants it.

— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) August 22, 2018

The Corleones? https://t.co/CbMzEc8jq2

— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) August 22, 2018

In summary: Trump is not talking at all about today's convictions. Instead, he is talking at great length about every other possible subject.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 22, 2018

Trump has concluded after about an hour and 15 minutes, longer than usual. No mention of Cohen, Manafort, or Mueller, and less time spent on the Russia probe – just a couple sentences – than at most events.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 22, 2018

The Crowd Chanted ‘Lock Her Up.’ President Trump Didn’t Mention His Own Team’s Legal Troubles https://t.co/R5qbdUVMWM

— ryan teague beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) August 22, 2018

 
Think this guy might just be correct in his diagnosis?…

So, I'd wager he's going to instead focus on distancing himself from Cohen and Manafort.

Narcissists have only two impulses: Seek adoration; avoid shame.

Trump will likely aim to avoid shame by pushing Cohen and Manafort as far away as possible.

6/

— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) August 21, 2018

When the loudest cheer at a Trump rally is for the Space Force, you know Babyfingers is off his game.

His speech is off. His delivery is flat. His energy is just not there.

The speech thing, the dry mouth, is a byproduct of a narcissist losing their mojo after a public shaming.

— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) August 22, 2018

 
WATCH OUT HE’S GONNA MAKE A RUN FOR IT!…

Trump says he would campaign more but is held back by the Secret Service, because there are so many Secret Service agents. He says he might make "a few trips without them." (………….)

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 21, 2018

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Reader Interactions

36Comments

  1. 1.

    NotMax

    August 22, 2018 at 3:50 am

    He says he might make “a few trips without them.” (………….)

    Might one suggest trips to, I dunno, L.A.? Or New York City? Or Chicago?

    ;)

  2. 2.

    Jay

    August 22, 2018 at 3:56 am

    @NotMax:

    Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali, Somalia, Syria, Lybia, Lughansk, Donetsk, Nigeria, Yemen,…….

  3. 3.

    SiubhanDuinne

    August 22, 2018 at 3:58 am

    His endorsed choice for Governor of Wyoming, Foster Friess, lost the GOP primary yesterday.

  4. 4.

    Montanareddog

    August 22, 2018 at 4:00 am

    A sitting president cannot be indicted and Trump can “totally” pardon himself. Perhaps, he could continue the sterling work of his DOJ in draining the swamp (convictions for Manafort, Cohen, Flynn, Gates etc.) and show the Deep State who’s boss by indicting himself. Win win!

    OT: mobile site is working much better now (touch wood)

  5. 5.

    NotMax

    August 22, 2018 at 4:03 am

    @Montanareddog

    Or mayhaps someone in the White house can slip in a paper for his signature which removes his own security clearance.

  6. 6.

    Jay

    August 22, 2018 at 4:06 am

    @Montanareddog:

    Actually, a sitting President can be indicted. It’s a DOJ “custom” not a law.

    Pence will be the second to last indictment.

  7. 7.

    NotMax

    August 22, 2018 at 4:08 am

    @Jay

    Yup. Convention, not statute.

    Aaron Burr was indicted as a sitting v.p.

  8. 8.

    Patricia Kayden

    August 22, 2018 at 4:11 am

    Despite everything that happened yesterday, Congressional Republicans are still standing firmly behind Trump and McConnell is pushing ahead with confirming a new SCOTUS Justice.

    So much for a law and order President.

  9. 9.

    NotMax

    August 22, 2018 at 4:12 am

    @Jay

    Also too, is it just my impression or has Pence superglued his lips together?

  10. 10.

    Jay

    August 22, 2018 at 4:12 am

    @NotMax:

    Yup. It’s just sad how much Nazi Propaganda has been internalized as “belief” by the center-left.

  11. 11.

    Rich2506

    August 22, 2018 at 4:19 am

    I like the idea of making the President an offer. “If you take Air Force One to Moscow and ask for asylum, liberals have agreed to let you keep the plane! Think about it. you (Trump) could sell he plane for a lot of rubles, buy yourself a dacha on the Black Sea and settle down.”

  12. 12.

    Jay

    August 22, 2018 at 4:21 am

    @NotMax:

    There’s two schools of thought on this:

    A). Deer in Headlights

    B). Manniquinning. If he freezes in place like his hero’s, Boris and Natasha, in the Rocky and Bullwinkle Documentaries Mother makes him watch, Meuller won’t see him.

  13. 13.

    NotMax

    August 22, 2018 at 4:22 am

    @Rich2506

    “Jailbird One is not cleared for takeoff.”

      – Con Air

    :)

  14. 14.

    Noah Brand

    August 22, 2018 at 4:23 am

    Honest question: do you think he literally didn’t know about Manafort and Cohen?

    Not even joking here. How would he have found out? Via the news? He doesn’t read or watch it. Twitter? That’s a one-way megaphone for him. The only possible avenues are Fox News, or someone on his staff telling him.

    So a conversation was had among that staff. The upshot of that conversation was “Just keep him away from the TV for a few hours, just until he goes onstage.” Any fallout from that decision will, definitionally, be less than the fallout from the decision to tell him the truth and then give him a live mic. Assuming you don’t believe in any principle greater than self-interest, you’d be crazy NOT to hide the news from him.

  15. 15.

    NotMax

    August 22, 2018 at 4:24 am

    @Jay

    C) Dumb as the proverbial post.

  16. 16.

    Jay

    August 22, 2018 at 4:29 am

    @Noah Brand:

    Nope, he made a few comments before flying off to W.Va.

  17. 17.

    Jay

    August 22, 2018 at 4:30 am

    @NotMax:

    Okay, three schools of thought,…….

  18. 18.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    August 22, 2018 at 4:33 am

    @NotMax: Yeah, that’s the ticket; campaign against Aunt Maxine without the Secret Service.

  19. 19.

    different-church-lady

    August 22, 2018 at 4:40 am

    but they responded, “Sir, we wanna keep coal.”

  20. 20.

    different-church-lady

    August 22, 2018 at 4:41 am

    but they responded, “Sir, we wanna keep coal.”

    I actually find that quite believable.

  21. 21.

    Amir Khalid

    August 22, 2018 at 4:49 am

    Will the president strip? It’s a distinct possibility.

    Such a sight would call for triple-strength brain bleach.

  22. 22.

    NotMax

    August 22, 2018 at 4:50 am

    @different-church-lady

    Still makes one laugh, in a sickly sort of way.

    Also too, T&A to sell … coal? (Did they bother to listen to the lyrics?)

  23. 23.

    Jay

    August 22, 2018 at 4:50 am

    @different-church-lady:

    I don’t.

  24. 24.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    August 22, 2018 at 4:51 am

    “Mamma don’t take my Kodachrome away…”

  25. 25.

    Jay

    August 22, 2018 at 4:51 am

    BTW, the Alberta Rat twitter thread linked by Cole is hilarious.

  26. 26.

    Amir Khalid

    August 22, 2018 at 5:31 am

    Trump hasn’t tweeted one word about Cohen’s guilty plea or Manafort’s conviction. I think he’s afraid.

  27. 27.

    Amir Khalid

    August 22, 2018 at 5:32 am

    @Amir Khalid:
    Make that:
    I think Mueller can smell that he’s afraid.

  28. 28.

    low-tech cyclist

    August 22, 2018 at 5:37 am

    Is it just me, or is Lara Trump auditioning for the Julie Nixon Eisenhower role in this scandal?

  29. 29.

    vhh

    August 22, 2018 at 5:59 am

    @low-tech cyclist: No. Davide Eisenhower. Julie was Nixon’s daughter, David his son in law. And Lara is Trump’s daughter in law. So the blood excuse doesn’t work.

  30. 30.

    Gvg

    August 22, 2018 at 6:03 am

    @Noah Brand: he avoided talking about Mueller too much this time as opposed to other speeches, in fact avoided whole topics he usually hits that might lead back to today’s subjects. Not likely to be a coincidence. I am certain he know the news.

  31. 31.

    trnc

    August 22, 2018 at 7:26 am

    @Montanareddog:

    A sitting president cannot be indicted

    Says who? I don’t see anything in the constitution stating that. Impeachment is explicitly mentioned, not because it’s the only way to remove a president but rather to give congress a way to remove one when classified evidence may prevent a conventional trial.

  32. 32.

    trnc

    August 22, 2018 at 7:30 am

    @Noah Brand:

    Honest question: do you think he literally didn’t know about Manafort and Cohen?

    He’s been talking about them pretty regularly, so the fact that he didn’t give Manafort the pity party at the rally probably means he knew.

  33. 33.

    Butch

    August 22, 2018 at 8:53 am

    I guess I’m a masochist, but we briefly turned to Fox last night to see what they were saying about Cohen and Manafort. Instead of any mention of them we saw footage of the rally and a discussion of how Democrats are veering too far left, courtesy of Tucker. The thing that most impressed me was how listless the crowd seemed at the rally; I assumed Fox would be showing the most enthusiastic supporters and most of those in attendance seemed to be pretty much just standing there.

  34. 34.

    Tim C.

    August 22, 2018 at 9:02 am

    @Jay: Portland. Come to Portland. The city the first Bush administration called Little Beruit. Portland! It will be glorious. There will be a protest like the city has not seen before. Seriously, we need to get our mojo back. We’ve been making Republicans squirm since the early 90s. https://www.wweek.com/culture/2016/05/04/big-trouble-in-little-beirut/

  35. 35.

    JGabriel

    August 22, 2018 at 9:24 am

    NotMax:

    [Trump] says he might make “a few trips without [the Secret Service].” (………….)

    Might one suggest trips to, I dunno, L.A.? Or New York City? Or Chicago?

    Jay:

    Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali, Somalia, Syria, Lybia, Lughansk, Donetsk, Nigeria, Yemen,…….

    … Hell.

    I think Hell would be a good, appropriate, destination for Trump.

  36. 36.

    Sebastian

    August 22, 2018 at 10:59 am

    The Horse Whisperer is a she, not a he

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