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The Republican National Convention ended July 21. If you’re checking the calendar, that puts us at twelve days post-nomination wrap up for Donald J. Trump.
In that tiny window of time, DJT has managed to wreck any conceivable polls-bounce he might have gained from the star-spangled show of pretend Republican unity.
Here’s how he did it:
1. July 22: Trump announces he will start Super PACS to defeat Ted Cruz and John Kasich in future elections
In case you were wondering, those guys are fellow Republicans. But Kasich was a no-show at the Republican Convention (despite it being held in Cleveland, as in Ohio, as in the very state Kasich presides over as Governor).
And Cruz committed the unpardonable sin of encouraging Republicans to “vote their conscience” during his convention speech.
These are unforgivable snubs to Trump, so these guys Must. Be. Defeated.
2. July 24: News of Trump’s business ties to Russia permeate the Internet
As the Democratic National Convention was set to kick off, WikiLeaks dropped 20,000+ hacked emails from the DNC, many of which showed top leadership conspiring to ensure Hillary Clinton gained the nomination.
Investigators suggest the hack came from Russian government officials.
What does this have to do with Trump?
His man-crush on Putin is probably legit. But beyond the cooties feel of an American presidential nominee openly admiring a former KGB operative, there’s reason to believe Putin would want Trump in the White House.
Trump would like to pull out of NATO, which leaves several former USSR countries up for invasion a la Ukraine circa 2014.
And then there’s the fact that Trump is deeply invested in Russian money.
If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, it’s probably not a cuddly little kitty.
3. July 24: Donald Trump defends ousted Fox News head, Roger Ailes
Ailes was “let go” by Fox News, supposedly due to claims of sexual harassment being filed against him. (The initial lawsuit came from former Fox host, Gretchen Carlson, but others have been named in subsequent reporting).
Trump’s response? Why not hire Ailes to work for the Trump campaign?
Yeah. Why not?
4. July 29: Donald Trump threatens to “hit this guy so hard his head would spin.” “This guy” was Michael Bloomberg, former New York City mayor and mega-billionaire
What’s better than a spat between billionaires? Not much, in Trump thinking.
5. July 29: Trump releases his own Greatest Hits remix of campaign scandals
Is Trump the dumbest candidate ever? At a speech on July 29, Trump brought up – ALL ON HIS OWN – his spat with Megyn Kelly over suggesting she had blood coming “out of her wherever,” the time he mocked disabled reporter Serge Kovaleski, and the discredited claim that he saw “Arabs” celebrating when 9/11 happened.
6. July 30: Trump falsely states that the NFL sent him a letter complaining about the debate schedule
It’s a small lie. But the endless lies do add up, and lots of Americans take football very seriously.
7. July 30: Donald Trump attacks the Khan family
As part of the Democratic National Convention, Khizr. and Gazala Khan spoke about their son, a Captain who served in Iraq, who was killed in 2004.
The Khans are Muslim, and their speech called out Donald Trump for his nasty rhetoric about allowing Muslim refugees into the country.
In response? Trump wondered why Mrs. Khan didn’t “have anything to say.” Implication: she was not allowed to speak. A double whammy of the usual Trump bigotry against Muslims, plus derogatory stance towards women.
8. July 30: Trump claims he turned down a meeting with Republican mega donors, the Koch brothers
Exceeeeept… The Koch brothers are the ones who refuse to meet with Trump.
As Twitter would put it, another day that ends in –y.
9. August 1: Trump calls Clinton “the devil,” and says Ivanka would find a different job if she were sexually harassed at work
I couldn’t decide if which was worse: comparing your political opponent to Lucifer, or putting the onus of dealing with sexual harassment on the person being harassed. The first is so absurd, you can’t take it entirely seriously.
The second has been a serious problem for women, all over the country, most of whom don’t have the resources to just “quit” and find a different job.
10. August 2: Trump refuses to endorse Paul Ryan and John McCain
Paul Ryan is running for reelection in Wisconsin. He also happens to be Speaker of the House, which makes him the current most high-ranking Republican in the land.
John McCain is a former Republican nominee for president, and has served as an Arizona senator for nearly thirty years.
Let me reiterate: they’re both Republicans.
But Trump just “isn’t there yet” on an endorsement.
All this leads one to wonder: Is Trump the dumbest candidate ever?
Because the only other explanations are either a) he’s actually insane, or b) someone is paying him off to destroy the Republican Party.
Discuss amongst yourselves…
