After watching last night's Republican presidential debate, I could not help but feel the tide shifting away from the avowed front runner and feel a collective sigh of boredom from what once were a rabid core of enthusiastic supporters as the repetition of non-sequiturs, meaningless boasts, and vague to nonexistent policy positions spew unrelentingly from the Donald's mouth.
Let me begin by saying I may be wrong and if so will readily admit it as I have done often in the past but it appears to me that the Donald is losing his luster. This will only be borne out by post-debate polls, but I would not be surprised if the poster child for Cognitive Dissonance has not reached the ceiling that many of us have predicted he would hit sooner or later.
If juvenile antics characterized by exaggerated facial expressions, wildly gyrating upper body flailing, and a seemingly uncontrollable need to aim snarky comments to those who dare question him are any indication of a candidate beginning to lose his edge then the warning signs of a candidacy in trouble are manifesting themselves.
But he has exhibited these same qualities as his star has ascended you might argue. Yes, that is true, but even an electorate as energized and frustrated as the current Republican base will tire of a novelty devoid of substance when it comes to trying to recapture power or at least hold on to a shrinking power base. The reality of alarming demographic shifts portend a world of discomfort and change that threaten the Grand Old Party unlike anything in recent history and the stakes are very high as they attempt to reverse a trend that has seen them lose the popular vote in five of the last six national elections.
While Trump has provided the much despised media with a visual extravaganza and a treasure trove of material for pundits and comics alike the specter of a mistake of Palinesque proportions looms large over what is left of establishment Republicans. And while the Donald may be incapable of apology party leaders will gladly forego narcissism in search of victory. Ironically it is a quintessential maxim that guides most business decisions: namely, maximize profits at the expense of ideology or principles. Trump may be done in by the very business principles he touts as his greatest strengths. Sometimes life is funny that way.
If Trump is truly experiencing the initial stages of a slide into oblivion, the biggest winners will, of course, be the very electorate whose legitimate anger and frustration with a dysfunctional political system boosted his quick and truly phenomenal ascension in the first place. And if Trump finds himself in a position of irrelevance, he most assuredly will cut his losses and take himself out rather than suffer the ignominy of defeat at the hands of those he so blithely dismisses as inferior.
Humility is the missing ingredient in my humble estimation. Deep down inside, people just don't like or respect a bully, but more importantly, they have little patience for a know it all. The Donald may seldom be right, but he is never in doubt. Initially, the brashness of a braggart may have been seen as refreshing confidence especially when confidence is in short supply, but eventually there is a visceral distaste for one who cannot bring him or herself to admit when they are wrong. And when an individual goes out of his way to hurl zingers that are beyond the bounds of even lax propriety there comes a point when people tire of what is seen as sophomoric behavior.
As a Democrat and a liberal, I offer these words of advice at the risk that by some miracle Trump will have an epiphany, see the error of his ways, humble himself before those he claims are stupid, which is basically everyone but himself, and become the self-effacing yet serious candidate that will expound at length on policy prescriptions that are appropriate to the issues facing the country and the world, now that would be a story. But seriously I think the risk is low.
I was never one of those people who feared clowns, but always took them for what they appeared to be, entertaining buffoons meant to fill time before the main act. But I can readily see how some would find them scary and menacing. Either way if the circus is indeed leaving town good riddance to the clown who need not wear a wig.