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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNYT: Let Trump's 4th of July buckle under the weight of its own absurdities & contradictions
Let Trump Have His Birthday Party for America
And let us all ignore it.
By Alex Kingsbury
President Trumps Fourth of July extravaganza has already achieved what was surely one of its central aims: irritating his opponents.
That helps explain the mainlining of partisan politics into a traditionally apolitical celebration of the nations founding. And why taxpayers are footing the bill for a military review inspired by a French parade that caught the presidents fancy. And why the military, one of the nations most trusted nonpartisan institutions, has been cast as the Greek chorus for Mr. Trumps performance.
Yet for all the norm-shattering brazenness, theres a good argument for checking the outrage and letting the show, complete with flyovers and armored vehicles, buckle under the weight of its own absurdities and contradictions.
Consider the incongruity of a president surrounding himself with military leaders and their hardware while his most recent global power moves include boldly walking into North Korea with his hand extended (two years after threatening to rain down fire and fury on the country) and wisely calling off airstrikes against Iran.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/opinion/trump-july-4th-parade.html
Vinca
(50,168 posts)the raising of massive amounts of donations from high value GOP donors who have already been given tickets and will be cloistered in a VIP area. Wonder if the Trump hotel gave them a special rate, too?
onethatcares
(16,130 posts)mushroom chubbie.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)He attended that Bastille Day ceremony, and he's wanted one of his own ever since. He tried to go through "proper channels" and demand a military parade in his honor, and it went belly-up. So, instead, he came up with a "Fourth of July Celebration" and added all of the military parade elements to it.
I read this morning that the normal DC 4th of July celebration costs around $2 million.
The actual cost to taxpayers for the Trump "event" is being kept under wraps. I assume we will find out the true cost at some point.
Vinca
(50,168 posts)This is going to be little more than a MAGA rally for MEGA donors.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)...there has been discussion on MSNBC regarding whether his "speech" will be a campaign moment.
I don't think he'll be able to resist.
Whether he hits it head-on or dances around it, the point will be that America is great because of Trump.
And yes, it's a rally for MAGAts and mega-donors.
mnmoderatedem
(3,706 posts)his base support seems to get stronger the more absurd he gets and the more contradictory he gets.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)He knew it would "irritate his opponents." It did. Sick Mission Accomplished, and we foot the bill.