One Forward, Two Back

The heavens opened.  Trump gave a presidential sounding response to the tragedies of the week.  Knowing he could not be trusted live, the campaign made a video, allowing retakes and editing.  Score one for the campaign.

Then came Sunday.  After floating General Michael T. Flynn as a possible VP choice, Trump placed his as their spokesperson on one of the morning talk shows.  Hillary used Congressman Joaquin Castro.  Castro had the tougher job.  He had to respond to questions about FBI Director Comey's criticism of Clinton's email practices.  The campaign had him prepped.  He answered thoughtfully and carefully, never veering off message.  Flynn, not so much.  The campaign bungled his introduction to the American people.  He struck out on soft balls.

A man who served this country deserved better.

Donald and the Newt

Trump and Gingrich would be mercantile madness.  Pitches for his golf courses, hotels, steaks and water, are a Trump campaign staple.  Newt spent the 2012 campaign selling both his political books, and his wife's children's books.  Trump and Gingrich would be a ticket to a hucksters' holiday.

They would be the first candidates to buy time on the Home Shopping Network.  Could Donald really shun this natural match for General Flynn?  If he must scoop up a general, put me down for General Mills.  Trump could double down on flaky.

Comey Comedy

Republican's can't help themselves.  They stepped on their punchline.  Decades of attacks on Hillary finally produced a serious unforced error.  Her pursuit of privacy, and control, resulted in a quotable upbraiding from the Director of the FBI.

Trump's stream of consciousness took him everywhere from rigged system, to mosquitos, to doubling down on his retweeting of  white supremacist, anti-Semitic material.  The appearance of Comey before the House was all Hillary could hope for.  Conspiracy theories, and attacks on Comey and his decision, overshadowed his harsh criticism of Clinton.  The GOP conspiracy skit made no sense, since Comey donated thousands to McCain and Romney's campaigns.

The GOP slapstick routine may play to their base, but has critics, and the critical independents, laughing at them, not with them.

The NRA IS Racist

Try to close the gun show loop hole to background checks, the NRA starts writing checks to any Congressman on its payroll.  Outrage flows from the pores of wealthy lobbyists.

But when Philando Castile  is gunned down because he let an officer know that he had a duly permitted fire arm, the NRA is unfazed.  For the NRA, the right to bear arms only applies to whites.

They call a white man with a gun an oath keeper.  They call a black man with a gun, DOA.   The NRA does not care.  Yes, there are a few people of color in the NRA, but window dressing will not bring Philando back to life.

Surrogate Supremacy

Clinton's starting surrogate lineup is President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Michelle Obama, and former president Bill Clinton.  She has a deep bench including Dr. Jill Biden, Chelsea Clinton,  Senator Tim Kaine, Julian Castro, Harold Ford Jr., and virtually all Democratic elected officials as well as most of Hollywood and Silicon Valley.

Trump's starting five are, former speaker Newt Gingrich, Governor Chris Christie, Senator Sessions, Surgeon Ben Carson and Trump's daughter, Ivanka.  His two sons and his wife are on the bench.

For the following reasons Hillary will trounce Trump with her surrogate dream team.

MONEY HONEY

How many Trump surrogates can fill a cocktail party at $100 a pop?  Hillary's team can guarantee $1000 on up to the contribution maximum.  She will maintain her financial edge without spending all of her time fundraising.

QUEEN FOR A DAY

Trump triumphed in the primaries by dominating free media.  Hillary giving a speech with any of her top surrogates, is the lead story, burying Trump in the back pages.

HEAVIES IN THE HUSTINGS

Local media may be below the radar, but it radiates votes.  If Joe Biden or Elizabeth Warren appear in a town of thirty thousand, they will be on the front page and dominate local media.  Local media is usually positive.

ECHO CHAMBER

Hillary's message will reverberate through the thousand voices of a united party.  Trump will often be greeted with the sounds of silence.

Judgement Day

Reasons to vote against Trump are legion including, his expressed attitude toward women and minorities, his lack of experience, his narcissism. and his unrealistic, and often unconscionable, policy proposals.  But his lack of judgement is the most compelling.  After a year of discussing current problems, the defining moment for the next president is most likely over the horizon.  Trump's hand size is of no moment, but his stunted judgement could be momentous.

Time and again Trump has sold his name to questionable ventures.  Trump lent his name and infomercial presence to two bunko artists, with complaints against them by attorney generals in 33 states, to form and promote Trump Institute.  With worthless and plagiarized material, the institute earned its "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau.  Condo buyers in Baja California and Florida have been lured by the Trump name into making deposits with projects that lacked the financing to break ground.  Trump prostitutes his name indiscriminately.

The campaign has been no exception.  Trump has lent credibility to white supremacist groups through retweeting their messages.  Consider the source, is not in his lexicon.

Trump gets his fee off the top, and woe to those who rely on his good name and reputation.  His presidency would be no different.  The problem would be "yuge."

Top Five

Here are the top five reasons The Donald won't release his income taxes;

1. He forged his wife's signature not wanting her to see them.
2. He paid no taxes.
3. He gave no money to charity.
4. He is not a billionaire.
5. He misspelled his name.