The Gnawing Fear

By David Glenn Cox

“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him.  Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.” ― Sun Tzu

Republicans like John Thune are making the rounds and nervously wringing their hands. Nervous that Donald Trump might fuck up at the debate. Warning Trump to cool it and not “take the bait.” Is Thune’s nervousness a legitimate concern or just opening night jitters?

Mr. Trump is upset at being accused of ah, what do you call it? That thing, you know. Where you forget the names of things, cognitive decline! Yeah, that’s it. If we put on our reality glasses, we can see. If this issue has already percolated its way up to the public surface. What are the Republicans saying behind the scenes down in the sewers? This is a subject which obviously concerns them greatly.

Once Mr. Trump is out there on that stage there is no saving him. And now, Republicans tip their hand and show us their greatest weakness. What are they most afraid of? Hit Donald Trump on the details and make him talk! The landmine which we are all dreaming of is waiting to be stepped on inside of Donald Trump’s garbled verbiage. Let him talk and make him explain how he would do these wondrous things. Ask him, how do you spell cognitive? Make him talk about it, and it will make Mr. Trump explode.

Make him talk about the alleged stolen election, help feed his fires. Help him over the railing and expose his cognitive decline. What’s the Capitol of North Dakota? What ocean borders the Atlantic coast? In what sport would you use a bowling ball? How many pints in a gallon? Who is Wilma Flintstone married to? Oh boy if he couldn’t answer that one the election is over. Case closed! And who would cram for animated characters?

Stay calm Mr. Trump, they plead. Don’t let that famous ketchup throwing temper of yours get the best of you!

Carven worm Lindsey Graham says,  “If I were President Trump, I would talk about right track, wrong track,” he continued. “I don’t think he needs to be overly aggressive. Just make the case that if you think we’re on the wrong track, you’re right.”

There it is again, “I don’t think he needs to be overly aggressive.” That’s Republi-speak for “Shut the fuck up! Don’t speak unless spoken to! Listen more than you talk! Don’t esplain Lucy!” The Republican strategy is to portray Joe Biden as weak and frail. [See above]

It’s normal for people living inside of a cult to talk themselves into believing things because no one is allowed to disagree. Living inside the brown water tank and watching only edited videos and primped pretty boy podcasters prompting them on what to think. They are surprised when they discover, it’s not so. It’s called drinking the Kool aid.  

Not surprisingly, simulated newscaster Steve Doocey of Fox fractured fairy tales accidentally tells the inverted truth. Steve says, “Biden’s team is looking for ways to get under Trump’s skin.” How hard could that be? What Steve means to say is, “Trump team is looking for ways to keep Donald Trump from going off the deep end.” One more shark bite story could sink the whole electric boat and then what?

Lowering the bar just that much more, it was reported Donald Trump claimed that comedian Joan Rivers had voted for him, despite her being deceased for over two years before the election. It’s a wonderland where they can portray the truly troubled as completely normal. I mean, if I told you Donald Trump had said Abraham Lincoln had voted for him, would you be more surprised? Or Napoleon or Joan of Arc or Charles Martell? Not Martell maybe, Trump wouldn’t know who that was anyway.

Vice-presidential aspirant and perennial candidate for something J. D. Vance says, “He (Trump) just has to make his case to the American people. There’s a very clear contrast between how things were under him and how things were under Biden. He just, I think, has to hit that theme and that’s what we’ll do. “What we’ll do?” A Freudian slip perhaps? Or just a J.D. sloppy wanna be wish?

Translation: Do not fuck up. Stay on the path and don’t wander off the trail. Don’t feed the bears. Do not get pissed off and lose your shit. Or start ranting about electric boats again or dead comedians who voted for you while being dead.

Mr. Trump hints he’s already made his choice for Vice-President, but he’s only trying to perform CPR on flatlining convention expectations. If the building doesn’t burn down the convention will be considered a marginal success. A Trump dog and pony show in Horrible Milwaukee. Great play Ace, have a banana! It’s that verbiage thing again.

President Biden is said to be hunkered down at Camp David preparing for the debate. Donald Trump is said to be forgoing the debate prep, confident in his own speaking abilities and grasp of the issues even if no one else is. Maybe, that is what seems to worry the Republican team the most. No one knows what Donald Trump might say under pressure or on the spur of the moment, even Donald Trump.

An old maxim in boxing says, when the champ trains himself. The champ is going to lose.

“If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.” ― Sun Tzu