POLITICS AS USUAL: Send out the clowns

February 3, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Alison Collins-Mrakas

Unable to obtain the endorsement of anyone of note, not even an Alderman from Podunk in the State of Nowhere, Donald Trump has instead obtained the dubious achievement of receiving the ringing endorsement of none other than Sarah Palin.
Or should I say, rhyming endorsement of Sarah Palin because, true to whacko form, the former Governor of Alaska, VP candidate and reality star extraordinaire, gave a rhyming, rapping, riotous “statement” of support for Trump that simply has to be seen to be believed.
It was beyond bizarre.
As an aside, SNL’s parody of Palin’s statement is pretty much bang on. And hilarious.
Campaign theme songs? Yes.
“Born in the USA” seems to be a favourite of candidates on both sides of the aisles, although I don’t think either really understands the song, or I am certain that the Republicans wouldn’t be using it. But, a rhyming, rapping, smiling, clapping “endorsement” for a candidate for President?
And let’s not even mention the prosti-tot mini “freedom” cheerleaders he trotted out last month.
Good Lord!
This should be the final straw for Trump folks.
I mean, Sarah Palin is your big gun? Really? I know she has a certain amount of unexplainable appeal to a small demographic, but Sarah Palin is the best you can do?
She’s not fringe; she’s the fronds on the fringe for heaven’s sake.
By any reasonable definition, Trump is not a serious candidate for President.
Full stop.
He has no policy background, no platform to speak of, no political bona fides that would warrant him being considered let alone discussed as the leading candidate. He doesn’t even make sense half the time.
And now, with Palin stumping for him, the three-ring circus that was the Trump campaign, has become a chaotic mess of incendiary messaging, quips and quibbles.
And yet – as of this week even after losing Iowa! – he is still leading in many polls. And don’t get me started on the polls.
Why?
Because his campaign is all you hear about.
Public opinion is shaped by what is put in front of it, and if what they see and hear is “All Trump, all the time”, then of course he is top of mind for those harried folks answering the phone for a political poll.
These polls decide who even gets to be on the stage for the debates – top tier and undercard. Contender and Also-ran. The viability of a candidate decided by a debate organizer. How does that further the cause of democracy?
Elizabeth May faced the same obstacles in the recent Federal election as some debate organizers’ failed to include her in various debates, arguably inhibiting the ability of the public to fully assess all the candidates for Premier.
Before I get a flaming email, yes, I know it is not a strictly analogous situation, but I’m using it for illustrative purposes.
The bottom line is coverage matters. Who you choose to focus your valuable air time on affects who we choose to consider as important – or not.
In my opinion, it’s time that choice is made a bit more wisely.
Trump’s campaign is a joke.
It should be seen and framed in that context, in my humble opinion. Stop covering it like it’s a real campaign – because it isn’t. It is a bizarre vanity exercise that needs to end. Now.
Someone – anyone – please give that man the hook, and let the serious contenders take the stage.
Until next week, stay informed, stay involved because this is – after all – Our Town