Folks participating in the Republican hajj to Highland Heights this weekend to witness President-cum-Dictator Donald J. Trump spew his usual filth and slander will undoubtedly be subjected to one feature above all.
Lies. Lies like no one has ever heard before. A flood of lies that will make the infamous Johnstown disaster seem like a rainy day. He will lie about gas prices, he will lie about inflation and, of course, he will lie about the results of the 2020 presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
As critic Mary McCarthy once wrote of playwright Lillian Hellman, “…every word she writes is a lie, including ‘and’ and ‘the.’”
Pick a subject and Donald J. Trump will lie about it. The curious thing is that many attending Saturday’s rally are secretly, or, perhaps, not so secretly, hoping Trump uncorks a gusher of lies that out-duels Old Faithful, offering an opportunity to act like yokels at a hoochie-coochie show when he smears the same people they despise with whoppers that, for most, are impossible to believe.
Now, there’s no debating the claim that lying holds an honored position in American politics since the founding of the republic, involving Democrats and Republicans alike. You can’t find a campaign free of bamboozling and it’s undoubtedly a tradition that will extend far into the future.
But Trump is the Babe Ruth of lying. He has transformed prevaricating into an art form, stretching the truth to limits not previously explored. During this parade, in what has been characterized as a “midterm rally’’ intended to generate GOP turnout for upcoming House and Senate races, Trump is crossing the country leaving the truth battered on the side of the road.
There are too many lies to list here. But perhaps the grandaddy of them all during the tour came in Arizona on Wednesday in Bullhead City, when he accused, with no evidence, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, of being in the pocket of drug lords.
“Your Governor, Katie Hobbs, does the bidding of the cartels,’’ he told the crowd. “People say she’s paid off by the cartels. I wouldn’t be surprised. What she does, it doesn’t make sense. Something has to be between her and the cartels, because she’s causing tremendous death in your state.”
Then he called Hobbs “a dumb person’’ just for laughs, indicating the level of high political discourse the president has been engaging in.
Trump’s choice of Highland Heights for one of these confabs is rather curious. Truist Arena on the Northern Kentucky University campus, on Louie B. Nunn Drive, after a former Kentucky Republican governor, is located in a region where Republicans aren’t expected to face many problems this Nov. 3. It is the area that in May featured a famous Trump victory — his hand-picked choice in the 4th Congressional District primary, Ed “Stooge’’ Gallrein, a nobody, defeated the incumbent, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-SomewhereorotherLewisCounty, who was on Trump’s bad side, thanks to about $25 million spent in his behalf.
It’s likely Trump will spend a few moments maligning Massie; he may have decided to travel here to do just that. Otherwise, the only other race in Northern Kentucky that bares attention is the Senate showdown to replace the retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville, another Trump favorite, involving Rep. Andy “It’s Not A Sin To Be White’’ Barr, R-Lexington, and the Democrat, former state representative Charles Booker, of Louisville.
Barr is thought to have a reasonably easy ride to election, so, perhaps, Trump is coming in so the two can trade tips on how to stage a racist campaign.
The race that Kentucky Republicans are nervous about is actually occurring in the 6th Congressional District, which is south of Highland Heights and the 4th District, where former Republican state senator Ralph Alvarado faces former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo, the Democrat. Trump endorsed Alvarado during the primary campaign but polls are indicating a very close race with Dembo modestly ahead in some surveys.
Trump might have provided more of a pick-me-up for the GOP by appearing in Lexington. Or it could be his approval number — the most recent poll from Economist/YouGov, released Monday, shows it at 39 percent with 60 percent disapproval — may have led the Alvarado forces to beg him to stay away. Ralph will likely attend the festivities to get a shout-out but that may be about it.
The real reason for appearing in Northern Kentucky might be across the river. Cincinnati media will be on hand to cover the event on Saturday, traditionally a pretty slow news day, and carry the goings-on to Ohio where several high-profile races are being played out. Trump was recently up in Youngstown and this gives him an opportunity to show his face to viewers in Southwest Ohio.
In the Buckeye State, former senator Sherrod Brown, who lost a re-election bid two years ago, maintains a slight lead over incumbent Sen. John Husted. A recent CNN poll had Brown ahead by about six points but others show Husted with a slight edge. The race for governor is also tight, with some recent surveys showing Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy ahead and others giving the nod to Democrat Amy Acton.
Regardless, in addition to the avalanche of lies, attendees can look forward to the usual Trump horse manure that he always provides in substantial servings. He will hurl slurs at all foes who come to mind — I’m checking in at Draft Kings to catch the odds on Massie and maybe Gov. Andy Beshear, who hopes to take his place in the White House. Trump will further provide plenty of obscenities (how presidential) to wake the folks up, and, if they’re lucky, he’ll dance to “YMCA,’’ which truly is one of the most grotesque sights an American has ever been forced to witness.
And it will all be done in what Trump has described as “the weave,’’ where he bounces and skips from one incomprehensible subject to another, with few, if anybody, understanding what the hell he’s talking about, before arriving at some grand conclusion where he declares himself king of the world.
It’s ridiculous.
“Friends of mine that are, like English professors, they say, ‘It’s the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen,’” Trump has said.
Now, even you folks who are Trumpsters out there, do you believe a word of this? For one thing, he has no friends, save for the late Jeffrey Epstein, and we all know how that turned out.
And, if he had friends, would any of them be English professors? And if he did have friends who are English professors, would any of them consider his idiotic musings “the most brilliant thing’’ they’ve ever seen?
As a bonus feature, those attending might be lucky enough to witness the President of the United States providing a review of male body parts.
In Youngstown, Trump spoke quite admiringly of Husted’s rear end, for no particular reason.
No, this is not a joke.
Trump said he found himself examining Husted’s athletic physique.
“And I looked, and I watched up and down. And I looked at his ass…’’ Trump said. . .
Now, and no offense to anyone who might be so infatuated, as a straight guy, I have rarely felt the urge to ogle and then comment on another man’s backside. In fact, I have never done that, nor do I expect to in the future.
Yet, here is the president of the United States reviewing and praising Sen. Jon Husted’s keister.
How in God’s world can anyone take this man seriously?