David Brooks compares Trump to a pink rug

[Cyrano]

Last edited Fri Dec 4, 2015, 12:34 PM - Edit history (1)

In today’s NY Times, conservative columnist David Brooks actually compares Donald Trump to a pink rug:

A little while ago I went rug shopping. Four rugs were laid out on the floor and among them was one with a pink motif that was dazzlingly beautiful. It was complex and sophisticated. If you had asked me at that moment which rug I wanted, I would have said the pink one.

snip

Suddenly a subtler and more prosaic blue rug grabbed center stage. The rugs had not changed, but suddenly I wanted the blue rug. The pink rug had done an excellent job of being eye-popping on its own. The blue rug was doing an excellent job of being a rug I could enjoy living with.

For many Republicans, Donald Trump is their pink rug. He does the job that they want done at this moment. He reflects their disgust with the political establishment. He gives them the pleasurable sensation that somebody can come to Washington, kick some tail and shake things up.

snip

The voting booth focuses the mind. The experience is no longer about self-expression and feeling good in the moment. It’s about the finger on the nuclear trigger for the next four years. In an era of high anxiety, I doubt Republican voters will take a flyer on their party’s future — or their country’s future.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/opinion/no-donald-trump-wont-win.html

Donald Trump is far more dangerous than a pink rug. But I suppose a conservative Republican columnist can’t use words like “fascist,” or “malevolent” when talking about a GOP contender. After all, he wouldn’t want to smear the entire Republican Party with those words.

I wish I could be as certain as Brooks that Republican voters will sober up and that Trump will never get near the White House. But Trump knows how to play on the fears of terrorism and the “Other.” And far too many Americans are subject to being manipulated by him. IMO, it’s possible that we could end up with a President “Pink Rug.”

[IDemo]

1. "I doubt Republican voters will take a flyer on their party’s future — or their country’s future."

No, never, they're an introspective group with a history of wise choices at the voting booth.

[patricia92243]

2. We can only hope that a blue rug will beat the pink rug. ANY blue rug

is better than the pink one.

[Cyrano]

7. "Any blue rug is better than the pink one."

I think that Cruz is as dangerous as Trump. Perhaps even more dangerous. And he has a more realistic shot at becoming the candidate.

[patricia92243]

8. True about Cruz, but by blue I mean a Democrat. When the states are color coded

red (or in this case pink) it means the Republicans. Blue represents us Democrats.

[Delphinus]

9. Rubio is in that

category too.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. Whoa, Brooksie, I smell Pulitzer!

[CTyankee]

4. I get his point but does the guy have to go out of his way to look so silly in the NYT?

I swear I don't know where he comes up with these analogies, altho I don't doubt the rug color choice...but he's just weird...

[LuvNewcastle]

5. I see the resemblance.

[Sanity Claws]

6. How does someone with such mind-numbing thoughts get to have a

regular column in the New York Times?

[librechik]

10. douchebag forgot "rug" means toupee...

unintended humor, David?

[FSogol]

11. For people not worried about pink rugs, what about Jesse Ventura, Reagan, Nixon, Arnold, and "W"?

I never thought any of those clowns could get elected and they did.