There’s a story floating around the internet about President Trump going to Mt. Vernon and making a total fool of himself. While most new services not in the conservosphere are touting the story as true, there is a report posted on the Ladies of Mt. Vernon site that reads in part, “Comments pulled from sources who were not present for the tour do not properly convey the tone and context in which they were delivered.” This is key to the argument. It does not deny the reports that XYZ happened, but argues that tone played a role. Of course, this is a smart move on their part, because tone can be argued. Text cannot. This is the lifeline of the defense of this American presidency. Those who care about the value of intelligence and knowledge (as those are not the same thing) may argue that Trump is simply ‘joking’ but in the serious moments he is a serious leader. Whereas public speaking Trump plays to the crowd and puts on a show the people love.
They can say that. They can say a number of things. They also say this, “His supporters don’t care, and if anything they enjoy the fact that the liberal snobs are upset” that he doesn’t know much history, this person said.
That part is what truly frightens me, because the people who are in charge of our country are increasingly impressed with their own intelligence as it becomes astoundingly clear that they are, in fact, not intelligent people. The Herman Cain nomination is only the latest example of that. It all leads to an unfortunate conclusion: This is going to hurt America.
Trump is not the kind of person that recognizes what it means to fade away. As such it is increasingly likely he will buck and fight long into his second term to remain relevant. The central truth of all presidencies is that they are eclipsed late in their second term by whomever is running to succeed them. Do we really think Trump will go that quietly?