The greatest mistake of President Barack Obama’s political career happened in 2011.
Because it was in 2011 at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, that Obama publicly humiliated long time birther conspiracy advocate Donald J. Trump.
It’s not that Obama misjudged the mood of the crowd; they were as delighted by his charm, wit, and the execution of barbed invectives as they had ever been. It’s not that Trump did not deserve the dressing down; his racist crusade to delegitimize Obama’s presidency was one that had to be confronted.
No.
His mistake was in misjudging the man. Donald Trump appeared to be little more than an oafish dilettante, an aging Lothario; a second-rate actor with a third-rate brain desperate to win the approval of his long-dead father.
All apt descriptions of course.
But he’s also more than that. He is a petty and vindictive man capable of holding grudges that span decades. With gossamer-thin skin incapable of enduring even the slightest criticism he craves recognition of the brilliance that only he — along with a cadre of lickspittles and sycophants — thinks he possesses.
Prose And Cons
Obama’s speech was a long way off from being a minor slight. On the contrary; it was a major takedown:
“Now, I know that he’s taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald. (Laughter.) And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter –- like, did we fake the moon landing? (Laughter.) What really happened in Roswell? (Laughter.) And where are Biggie and Tupac? (Laughter and applause.)
But all kidding aside, obviously, we all know about your credentials and breadth of experience. (Laughter.) For example — no, seriously, just recently, in an episode of Celebrity Apprentice — (laughter) — at the steakhouse, the men’s cooking team cooking did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks. And there was a lot of blame to go around. But you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership. And so ultimately, you didn’t blame Lil’ Jon or Meatloaf. (Laughter.) You fired Gary Busey. (Laughter.) And these are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night. (Laughter and applause.) Well handled, sir. (Laughter.) Well handled.”
Well handled indeed. Still, knowing what we now know about President Donald Trump, such comments must have burned. Burned more deeply than anything he had ever experienced before.
Which for a man who spends as much time on a tanning bed as Trump is saying something.
For most, the beast with red cheeks that dwells within us all would have subsided. The flagellating arms and spittle coated mouth would have lasted the ride home. The rumination might have haunted that first night’s sleep.
We’d have gotten over it, though.
Not Trump.
Too much of a coward to go head to head with Obama in 2012, he bided his time. He seethed.
And he plotted his revenge.
Repeal And Deface
For a man whose mind operates in such a linear, febrile way, the most obvious way to attack Obama’s legacy would have to be to go after the one thing that bears his name.
So for starters, Obamacare has to go. It would have to go even if it was the most brilliant system of health care provision ever devised.
It has to go because Obama’s name — however unofficially — is attached to it.
Not that Trump is going to stop there. Where Obama is in possession of a position that can be articulated, Trump’s go-to response is to do the exact opposite.
Obama wants to close Guantanamo Bay. Trump wants to expand the facility. If Obama wanted to reduce the USA’s nuclear stockpile then Trump would want to build it back up. Obama likes vertical blinds, Trump wants curtains.
And so on.
Take Saudi Arabia for example.
Shoddy Arabia
If more evidence is needed that Trump is preparing to launch a populist Holy War in the Middle East, his decision to approve Saudi Arabian weapon sales that had previously been blocked by Barack Obama is it.
Despite the fact that 15 of the 19 men involved in the 9/11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia, Trump not only declined to include the country in his so-called Muslim ban but seems to be actively courting their cooperation.
Probably for the war he must even now be planning.
Obama blocked sales of the weapons as a protest towards Saudi human rights violations which according to Amnesty International include curtailing rights to:
“Freedom of expression, association and assembly, detaining and imprisoning critics, human rights defenders and minority rights activists on vaguely worded charges.”
The Amnesty report also alleged that within the nation of 28 million:
“Torture and other ill-treatment of detainees remain common, particularly during interrogation, and courts continued to accept torture-tainted ‘confessions’ to convict defendants in unfair trials. Women face discrimination in both law and practice and are inadequately protected against sexual and other violence. The authorities continue to arrest, detain and deport irregular migrants. Courts impose many death sentences, including for non-violent crimes and against juvenile offenders; scores of executions are carried out.”
Even more chilling is their conduct where they are liable to use the very weapons Trump is peddling them. As Amnesty warned:
“Coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia committed serious violations of international law, including war crimes, in Yemen.”
Being Sold A Yemen
The latest move by Trump — motivated by pettiness though it might be — signals the administration’s willingness to help Saudi Arabia deal with Yemen on its southern flank; such a move is, to say the least, disturbing.
That the USA should not be helping countries commit war crimes is of course hardly the point as far as Trump is concerned. Freed from sideshow entanglements, Saudi Arabia will be able to turn its attention to the east.
Towards the country that Trump desperately wants to start a war with.
A war that will break America.
U.S. weapons will now be used on the kind of crimes shown below. Warning, not for the faint hearted!
Featured image via Twitter
