Beware of casino man
Pundits on the left and right are both attempting to understand the Trump phenomenon.
It may take generations of historical analysis to truly bring the reasons to light.
Donald Trump is, without question, one of the most patently unprincipled, graceless and narcissistic panderers ever to put himself on offer for the highest office in the land. His “insights” are rarely more than incoherent strings of platitudes, bombast, incomplete sentences, insufferable self-references and taunts worthy of a middle school bully.
Conservatives have generally stood for decency and respect. Yet a sizable portion of American conservatives are falling for his tasteless comedy bit and self-parody, echoing his claims that hedonism and verbal abuse are somehow virtues.
A man who inherited capital from his father’s government contracts and who has used eminent domain to secure land for his private endeavors tells us now that government is the problem. A man who exploits labor overseas tells us that he puts America first.
A man who avoided combat through several deferments smirks as he beats the war drums. A man who actually campaigns on wages being too high tells us that he’s looking out for the working class. Everything Trump has ever touched has had one purpose: to materially benefit Brand Trump.
The latest tool in his bag is, he hopes, that office of chief executive of the United States. He is a showman and a casino man, but not a statesman. America, remember, when listening to a casino man: the house always wins.
James Hynes, State College
This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 8:49 PM with the headline "Beware of casino man."