Trump Performance

In Biloxi, Mississippi

I watched on Youtube a Trump rally in Biloxi, Mississippi.  The rally was on Saturday, January 2 and it filled up a large arena, plus another overflow room.

I am trying to be objective here and to look at this as political craft rather than as a partisan: Trump is really really good at this.

First of all, the hour talk was interesting and amusing.   Trump has a stand-up act that can be viewed as an alternative to any internationally famous performer doing a solo show on a bare stage--something equivalent to Oprah or Jerry Seinfeld talking or Beyonce singing acoustic.  

He points out noteworthy people in the crowd, a few really tough looking men.  He teases the camera person in charge of the camera used in the Youtube video, insisting that he pan the crowd, laughing when the camera stays completely on him.   If he worked for me, Trump said,  "I'd fire his ass."   The crowd laughed and cheered.

Trump was obviously having a wonderful time, delighting in being the center of attention.  The overall impression was one of good humor and confidence at a time of trouble.   Donald Trump describes America as beset with problems: immigration, war, economic.  But he is confident that there are solutions and that he brings them.

Democrats who like FDR should take note.  This is 1932.  A worried country and a new leader from New York exuding confidence.  Happy days are here again.

Trump's schtick includes some self-aware self-teasing about his idiosyncrasies: he introduced his son, who had lots of hair comb-able front to back the way I used to be able to, he said; he genially noted that he talked about polls because they were extraordinarily wonderful but wouldn't talk about them if they were lousy, like Bush's.   Even his hyperbolic self regard projects a self-aware self mockery, like a long running joke, e.g. Jack Benny being cheap or Steve Colbert playing the right wing blowhard.   Like Jack Benny and Steve Colbert, he stays in character.   He's a negotiator, and in negotiations you don't give up your edge.  His edge is that he is unwavering: he can get things done and make America great.

He is uncomplicated.  He speaks of ends, not means.  Solutions found, not process.  Nothing about checks or balances or impediments.  There are no other sources of power blocking him.  

Nor does he mentions specifics of any kind.  The nation has had a hundred year debate on how to arrange our health care industry and the financing of it.   Obamacare is the result of a tiny, brief national consensus on one approach to widen access.    Trump's 60 minute speech he describes his solution: "We're going to repeal it and replace it,  get something so good  So great."

That's it.

The audience seemed content with that.

Trump speaks extemporaneously, with half sentences and interrupted thoughts.   And humor.   Read it for yourself.     I transcribed the last 90 seconds of his speech below, including the part that includes his approach to health care.   His conversational manner is more apparent when read, not heard,  and its contrast with Rubio's practiced eloquence of polished sentences is most apparent.

"We're going to get rid of--look, this is the easy part--look, this is the easiest, right?   You know what I'm going to say.    We're going to get rid of Obamacare.  (CHEERS)   We're going to repeal it and replace it.    You know your rates, I don't know if you know, your rates have gone up 25, 35, 45 percent, it's going to die in the year 2017.   It's dying.  It's totally dying.   Which I predicted.  It should have been killed except that Justice Roberts and the Supreme Court allowed it to go on.   But we're going to get rid of Obamacare.  We're going to get something so good.  So great.   

"We're going to straighten out our borders.  We're going to straighten out our military.  We're going to take care of our vets.   We are going to make our country better than ever before, bringing back our jobs, we're going to make something really special.

"And I want you to remember this night.   I want you to remember this night.   When it comes to your time you've got to get out and vote.  When it comes to your time, you know you're not too late down in the circle, you know I say it to the people in Iowa, I say it to New Hampshire, I say it to South Carolina, I say it to Nevada: you gotta get out and vote.  We can't take a chance.  I say this all the time.  If you're having problems, if you aren't feeling well, if you're having all sorts of difficulty, if your wife says she's leaving you she doesn't love you anymore, I don't care.  Get out and vote!  Right?   You got to get out and vote.  (CHEERS)"

The three audiences I have seen live, and this one, seemed delighted they endured the crowds and traffic and standing for hours to see this for themselves.   Trump has a very appealing show, and it might make him president.