George Rebane
Donald Trump got on the down escalator last night. The question now is whether he’ll stuff the Republicans’ chance for the White House in his pocket as he descends. I was much impressed with most of the line-up in Cleveland last night. Fiorina and Rubio got definite steps up in the ratings. Rubio’s best line was that the Dems still don’t have “even one candidate” ready for prime time, this is especially true now that the FBI has opened a criminal investigation into her email scandal. However, the threat of a third party without a fourth party (Bernie Sanders call your office) hangs heavily over the heads of the more legitimate Republican candidates. Job One from here on out will be for the GOP to carefully manage The Donald’s countenance as this campaign season proceeds. The man clearly has an ego that is at least as brittle as it is encompassing. My recommendation to the other candidates is to ignore Trump’s future outrages as if he were not running. This will be especially hard in the coming months for the laggards as they desperately seek attention from any quarter. Now what office could be dangled in front of The Donald to keep him on the rails? [10aug15 update – a correspondent sent me the graphic below that is sure to go viral.]
Chuck Schumer has finally decided to tell everyone that the Messiah has no clothes, and his ludicrously lame Iran agreement may even start the thinking that he never had any. Things can start unraveling fast once the first domino falls, and pragmatic Democrats know there are a lot of first dominos in waiting within Team Obama’s six and a half year run. Is it too early to wonder if Obama will be invited to speak at the Dems’ convention … Thoughts? But you can bet the ranch that ol’ Senator Chuck sees a glimmer of light for himself at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue if he can honorably separate himself from Obama as Hillary self-destructs. Make no mistake that Schumer will then emerge as the most presidential and electable of Democrats – a seasoned warrior, ideologically dependable, and with no blemishes that count. Such an obvious alternative, and an opportunity to be carefully nurtured by the Democratic establishment busy formulating Plan B.
‘Planned (alternative to) Parenthood’ was published in the 7aug15 issue of The Union and on its website here. I thank the newspaper for making these thoughts available to its readers.
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