Excellent analogy Chris, Trump is a dangerous clown. Both Biden and Harris are correct. And as Charlie Sykes continually reminds us; a clown with a flamethrower is still a clown with a FLAMETHROWER!
We need to treat him as a clown, but also be aware he is dangerous, with an even more sadistic and nefarious agenda.
Trump isn’t dangerous by himself, but because he has the SC in his pocket, and an entire party and media ecosystem dedicated to advancing his clownish, nefarious and dangerous agenda.
Can we do both. Weird, creepy, crazy, and dangerous.
Shame on you if you know everything about Donald and support him being the president (rapist, business fraud, insurrectionist, document stealing traitor, project 2025, ended Roe, racist, Covid deaths, deficit, Sex with Stormy when his wife had a baby, climate change denial ). How will you explain that to your kids? How can you risk our world to this demented guy ? How do you look at yourself in the mirror?
I love that dichotomy. Brilliant! And, now that you point it out, I do think that that's a brilliant way to campaign against him. No need to get down in the mud with him (as you've pointed out over and over, that won't win). By smartly passing him off as weak and weird, while remaining dignified, joyful, makes Harris/Walz appear mature and confident, and makes DJT look desperate.
This is so good and so accurate. I have always believed that the best way to deal with Donald Trump is to make fun of him. Kamala and her team are doing that. The Lincoln Project does it really well. If we treat him this way, it will drive him crazy.
The more the Harris campaign can stay positive and hopeful, the better. Let the Trump campaign sell gloom and doom. Never wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig likes it.
A few months ago, when Biden was still in the race, I saw a soundbite from George Conway where he said that the best way to take on Trump was to laugh at him - looks like he hit the nail right on the head 🤣
Excellent piece, Chris. I think that the more casual voter, not all that engaged with politics, this message of the Harris/Walz campaign resonates as it’s more relatable.
I think you’re right. Biden’s characterization of Trump definitely fed the narrative of him being the guy who could protect the country. Laughing at Trump certainly pisses him off and consequently makes me smile.
To pick up on other comments, both things can be true. Trump is a clown- a know-nothing , and he is dangerous for precisely that reason. And the danger is magnified exponentially b/c he surrounds himself with and empowers people ranging from the comically inept/foolish ( e.g., McIntee)and profoundly malign and dangerous ( Vought, Miller).
We seem to believe people when they "virtue signal". I'm a " good Christian"! I'm a "patriot"! I'm not a "racist white supremacist " (direct quote from my maga brother in law). At least when I called my mother out for being a " white, racist bigot" while she raged at "that damn Muslim in the White House" she had the decency to agree. Never believe a person who "virtue signals ". Generally when you call yourself something, you're far from that something.
Maybe the Dems should make a cartoon parodying Trump, his trusty, weird sidekick JD, and his gross hangers- on like Bannon, Roger Stone, Stephen Miller, Charlie Kirk, Giuliani, MyPillow Guy, etc.
Excellent analogy Chris, Trump is a dangerous clown. Both Biden and Harris are correct. And as Charlie Sykes continually reminds us; a clown with a flamethrower is still a clown with a FLAMETHROWER!
We need to treat him as a clown, but also be aware he is dangerous, with an even more sadistic and nefarious agenda.
Trump isn’t dangerous by himself, but because he has the SC in his pocket, and an entire party and media ecosystem dedicated to advancing his clownish, nefarious and dangerous agenda.
IMHO…:)
Perfectly put.
Can we do both. Weird, creepy, crazy, and dangerous.
Shame on you if you know everything about Donald and support him being the president (rapist, business fraud, insurrectionist, document stealing traitor, project 2025, ended Roe, racist, Covid deaths, deficit, Sex with Stormy when his wife had a baby, climate change denial ). How will you explain that to your kids? How can you risk our world to this demented guy ? How do you look at yourself in the mirror?
I love that dichotomy. Brilliant! And, now that you point it out, I do think that that's a brilliant way to campaign against him. No need to get down in the mud with him (as you've pointed out over and over, that won't win). By smartly passing him off as weak and weird, while remaining dignified, joyful, makes Harris/Walz appear mature and confident, and makes DJT look desperate.
This is so good and so accurate. I have always believed that the best way to deal with Donald Trump is to make fun of him. Kamala and her team are doing that. The Lincoln Project does it really well. If we treat him this way, it will drive him crazy.
The Lincoln Project actually does a pretty powerful mix.
The more the Harris campaign can stay positive and hopeful, the better. Let the Trump campaign sell gloom and doom. Never wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig likes it.
A few months ago, when Biden was still in the race, I saw a soundbite from George Conway where he said that the best way to take on Trump was to laugh at him - looks like he hit the nail right on the head 🤣
Strongman personalities HATE to be ridiculed. The analogy you describe/borrow is a perfect way to take the wind out of the sails.
Excellent piece, Chris. I think that the more casual voter, not all that engaged with politics, this message of the Harris/Walz campaign resonates as it’s more relatable.
Man you scared me with that Wednesday talk. Don’t shorten my vacation! 🤣
My boss: Sam, you just didn't show up for work Thursday and Friday.
Me: Chris Cillizza led me to believe that it was actually Saturday and Sunday
🤣
They just mentionned your video on CNN just now!
I think you’re right. Biden’s characterization of Trump definitely fed the narrative of him being the guy who could protect the country. Laughing at Trump certainly pisses him off and consequently makes me smile.
To pick up on other comments, both things can be true. Trump is a clown- a know-nothing , and he is dangerous for precisely that reason. And the danger is magnified exponentially b/c he surrounds himself with and empowers people ranging from the comically inept/foolish ( e.g., McIntee)and profoundly malign and dangerous ( Vought, Miller).
We seem to believe people when they "virtue signal". I'm a " good Christian"! I'm a "patriot"! I'm not a "racist white supremacist " (direct quote from my maga brother in law). At least when I called my mother out for being a " white, racist bigot" while she raged at "that damn Muslim in the White House" she had the decency to agree. Never believe a person who "virtue signals ". Generally when you call yourself something, you're far from that something.
Maybe the Dems should make a cartoon parodying Trump, his trusty, weird sidekick JD, and his gross hangers- on like Bannon, Roger Stone, Stephen Miller, Charlie Kirk, Giuliani, MyPillow Guy, etc.
Trump is a cartoonish buffoon. Kamala and co. are giving him and his cast of buffoons the treatment that they have so long deserved.