Was Trump's El Paso a Truning Point?: NYT

[Stuart G]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/opinion/el-paso-trump-racism.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

EL PASO — If consoling the nation in a time of desperate need is a vital and yet simple task of the American presidency, Donald J. Trump failed miserably this week.

From his flight on Wednesday to Dayton, Ohio, to this sprawling high-desert city on the Mexican border, the 45th occupant of the White House not only littered his consolation tour with petty insults — but just to rub salt in the wound, doses of renewed racism. Yet most striking was how alone and outnumbered the president was: rejected, ostracized and told to go home.

The people who streamed the scene of the terrorist attack here — brown, black, white and every hue in between — defiantly defended the nation’s diversity. With no public appearances, the president seemed to shrink, ever more alone as he clung to his white nationalist politics and governance. But he and his supporters were grossly outnumbered. For perhaps the first time in his angry, racist and cruel presidency, the tables were turned in smoldering, righteous popular anger — and he was on the receiving end.

You have to give this to Mr. Trump: He never backs off. He doubles down like a wild gambler in a casino, raising the stakes one more time demanding just a few more chips. . Leaving the White House on Wednesday morning, he said, “I think my rhetoric brings people together,” adding he was “concerned about the rise of any group of hate. I don’t like it, whether it’s white supremacy, whether it’s any other kind of supremacy.”

As if there was some other kind of violent political ideology that has killed people — blacks and whites, Jews and Latinos — from Charlottesville, Va., to Pittsburgh, Dayton and El Paso. Leaving Dayton, Mr. Trump insulted the mayor and a senator from the safety of Air Force One and, of course, Twitter.

Trump even jabbed a racist poke at El Paso, ridiculing the former Democratic Representative Beto O’Rourke’s Spanish first name, though he is of Anglo descent: “Beto (phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage) O’Rourke, who is embarrassed by my last visit to the Great State of Texas, where I trounced him, and is now even more embarrassed polling at 1% in the Democratic Primary, should respect the victims & law enforcement — & be quiet!”

rest of article at link above.

[Journeyman]

1. I certainly hope so. But then, it could have also just been Wednesday . . .

[stopbush]

2. Truning?

[Stuart G]

3. I think you are correct, a lot of people have already turned.

If Trump runs for reelection, we will all find out. But deep inside of me, I don't think he will run. Why? Because I don't think he likes all the constant corrections of his behavior and his language that a he gets. Too much criticism for Mr. Trump. He really doesn't like it, so my hunch is he won't run. Further, he will wait till the last moment to tell everyone. He doesn't care about anyone but himself.

[Dan]

6. The only way that tRump won't run

Would be if he were able to negotiate some type of “get out of jail” card for himself and his daughter. Otherwise, he has no choice but to run....

[Thomas Hurt]

4. There is no turning point until Trump is escorted out of the WH...

then the work begins.

[BigmanPigman]

5. No.

We have been down this road often.

[lagomorph777]

7. +1

[Beartracks]

8. "a shrinking president, stuck in a racist past, flying over a changing America"

And tweeting without a clue.

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