CNN anchor Anderson Cooper yesterday described Donald Trump as somebody who resembles “an obese turtle” on his back, kicking his legs around, because he hasn’t won.
It’s quite the image, and we should, of course, refrain from personal attacks.
Anderson Cooper: "That is the president of the United States. That is the most powerful person in the world. We see him like an obese turtle on his back flailing in the hot sun, realizing his time is over." pic.twitter.com/Az8Gp22wfJ
— andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) November 6, 2020
It’s enough to say that Trump’s performance at his press conference on Friday (AEDT) was disgraceful.
He was standing at the White House lectern, which gave his words weight, and authority.
But he was telling lies, talking about “illegal” votes and secret counts; and about the dark forces working to “steal” the election from him.
He wanted to stop the count in those states where he’s behind, and yet he was happy with the count in states where he’s in front.
And look, he had half a point: he probably would have been in front, if only the Republican votes were counted.
But that’s not how it works in America.
That’s how it worked in Zimbabwe, when Mugabe was alive. It’s how it works when you’re playing scissors, paper, rock with a four year old who suddenly insists on best-of-three.
Trump looked and sounded exhausted.
He knows the dream is slipping.
But behaving this way is wrong. If he’s lost, he should go away, lie down and bleed awhile, as Robert Menzies reportedly said.
Then get up, and run for governor of Florida. He likes it down there, and they like him. He gets to keep the secret service, and the motorcade, and the Star Spangled Banner playing when he’s in the room, and that’s at least part of what he wants, isn’t it?
The trappings.
He’s put up a tremendous fight.
It will be a long time before anyone accuses US voters of being complacent.
Remember how developing countries used to marvel at them: they have the right to vote, and they don’t even use it.
This has been a record turnout, one for the books.
Trump got three million more votes than last time. He has reason to feel immensely pleased. He has an army of new supporters. He’s been gaining new recruits all the time.
Biden’s turnout is also record-breaking. The Democrats did, in the end, manage to inspire enough people to get out there, and vote for their own version of political and social change.
What’s not acceptable is this terrible-twos tantrum, with Trump tipping over the Monopoly board, sending the pieces flying.
We really don’t want a situation where he has to be carried from the White House, like Charles Dozsa after his succulent Chinese meal (if you don’t get that reference, go immediately here .)
Speaking of which, has anyone made the Downfall video yet? They really should. We need that.
The best part of living in a democracy – really, the most important part – is the peaceful transition of power, from one party to the next. It is, after all, what separates us – the Western, democratic world – from what Trump has himself called … well, it’s a family newspaper, so let’s just say, the other countries.
Who knew? The new president is a petrol head
Under the carports at Florida’s Spanish Revival Mar-a-Lago Club sits an impressive collection of very expensive vehicles – none of which the Trumpster can drive.
Managing $1.3bn white elephants
The costly and so far futile legacy of Melbourne’s Centre for National Resilience will only deepen that public sense of frustration and mistrust.