Howard Stern and I

Howard Stern definitely said it better but I said it first. 

Two years ago, I said that Donald Trump wasn't the real problem.  The real problem was Trump voters.  Don't get me wrong.  I definitely think that Trump is a problem but he wouldn't exist without people voting for him. 

If you haven't read what Stern said about Trump voters on Thursday, I urge you to read it.  Also, update your opinion of Stern.  He is not the young shock jock that would say outrageous mean things to build his base.  He is older, wiser, famous, and wildly wealthy.  He is no longer trying to establish himself.  He is intelligent and secure within his skin.  He does his program because he wants to and not because he needs to make money.  There is a great wisdom that comes when you do what you love regardless of the money.  He basically said that Trump despises his supporters. 

It is something that I have personal experience with that baffles me.  In a time before Coronavirus, we would go to America for a long weekend.  We would typically take off the Friday instead of the Monday.  We could leave work at 4:00 pm on Thursday and drive across the border and check into our hotel/casino which is approximately 6 miles from the border.  We would change our clothes and order a fresh Walleye dinner and we would have it delivered to the poker table in time for the Thursday night Ladies poker tournament.  It was $20 registration or $15 for ladies.  On the Thursdays that we came, there were 15 players.  On the Thursdays that we didn't come, there would be 13 players.  Including me, there were 2 ladies.  So, even though we only played this tournament about four times, by the second time, we knew all the players names.  The first time we played, I thought I was in a Saturday Night Live skit.  I mean these people were so close to me geographically but might as well lived on the other side of the world.  I am sure all of them had been to Minneapolis at one point in their lives but other than that, I don't think they had been more than 50 miles in any direction from their small town.  Their lives were very narrow.  "What's it like up there in Canada?" we would be asked.  Well, you could walk there and find out.  Just a very narrow view on life.  It was like being in a Dukes of Hazard episode. 

After they caught us up on their lives, they would start talking politics.  They loved Trump.  Trump was the best thing that ever happened to them.  I gently asked them what they thought Trump had done for them.  Well, he was making America great again, but no other specifics.  Atleast Trump had gotten out that Obama.  Well, technically he didn't, I would whisper quietly and then they would all pile on about how Obama was a terrorist and actually invited terrorists into the country and on and on.  I tried to correct them factually on a few points but I was bitterly outnumbered and shouted over. 

After we would leave, I would say to my partner that I didn't get it.  Trump wouldn't cross the road to spit on them.  He would never get within a mile of any of them and would never do anything to benefit them.  What is the appeal?  I don't think I will ever understand.  But, his appeal must never be underestimated. 

Howard Stern made reference to the people in Mar-a-lago and said those are the people that Trump was interested in helping.  Three years ago,  on a cruise, we met a very elegant older couple who lived in Mar-a-Lago.  They couldn't stand him.  They said before he built his resort, he went to the HOA and promised to abide by all of their rules.  The HOA was very conservative pre-Trump.  They had rules on the size of flags that could be flown.  On his first day of opening, Trump launched an American flag four times the size that the HOA allowed.  They told him this was a thousand dollar fine and to take it down.  He replied that he would save both time and he would write a cheque for $365,000 and they could talk again in a year.  Not a big deal, but indicates a man that doesn't respect rules.  They had lots of examples of his boorishness. 

I have been doing my best to not blog about Trump, just not wanting the negative energy in my head.  But, I am glad people like Stern are speaking truth to power. 

And, like it was said many times in the twitterverse, #vote.  I would go further.  Show up and take your heads out of the sand. 

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