Combat! - Page 65 of 406 - A blog by Dan Brooks

After bruising news cycle, Trump says he “may go a different route”

By Dan Brooks in Republican Candidates June 21, 2016 1 Comment

Donald Trump at Marla Maples at the US Open in 1991—photo: Timothy Clary

Donald Trump and Marla Maples at the US Open in 1991—photo: Timothy Clary

According to its FEC filing, the Trump campaign raised $3.1 million dollars in May, compared to $27 million donors gave to Hillary Clinton. That’s a startling gap, especially considering Trump clinched the nomination on May 3. Possibly in response to this dismal performance or maybe because of everything else he ever did, campaign manager Corey Lewandowski got fired yesterday. It’s fun when Trump does that on television, but political people tend to interpret it as a sign of weakness. It was such a tough day that the pathologically sanguine candidate struck a glum note. This morning, he called in to Fox and Friends and complained that he wasn’t getting enough support from Republicans. “It would be nice to have full support from people that are in office, full verbal support,” he said. “With all of that being said, I may go a different route if things don’t happen.”

A sad idea about Chris Christie

By Dan Brooks in Uncategorized June 17, 2016 0 Comment

All around me are familiar faces, worn-out places, worn-out face-eh-eh-ehs

All around me are familiar faces, worn-out places, worn-out faces…

There’s no time for Friday links today, because I’m going camping. The good news is there’s plenty of other stuff to read. If you’re wondering just what kind of crazy this country will become after Hillary Clinton gets indicted, former Trump corporation executive John O’Donnell has written a tell-all book titled Trumped! that characterizes the billionaire as a “racist boor.” Props to race-neutral boor Ben al-Fowlkes for the link. Be sure not to skip the last paragraph, which reads as follows:

Trump declined yesterday to be interviewed. His assistant, Norma Foederer, said that she had not read the book but understood that it was filled with mistakes and that the public would be well advised to ignore it.

Just some friendly advice from the most patient woman on Earth, Donald Trump’s assistant. Meanwhile, over at the New Republic, Alex Shephard quotes another former coworker who wonders if Trump embraced Chris Christie because he likes having a funny fat guy around. Apparently, he stubbornly retained a fat buffoon on one season of The Apprentice, explaining to producers, “Everybody loves a fat guy. People will watch if you have a funny fat guy around. Trust me, it’s good for ratings.”

Man, I hope Chris Christie doesn’t read that. For the rest of us, it’s proof that Trump believes he can do lots of other people’s jobs better than they can, not just politicians. But it might make Christie sad. Let’s work toward a gentler, more decent America by not electing the mean billionaire and voting for the lady who will invade Syria instead. I’ll be in the woods if anybody needs me, possibly forever.

Zinke agrees to five debates, perhaps wisely

By Dan Brooks in Montana Politics June 16, 2016 1 Comment

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) endorses Donald Trump.

When former Navy SEAL and then-state senator Ryan Zinke ran for Montana’s sole congressional seat in 2014, he did not embrace debates. Under pressure from his opponents and a dozen local newspapers, he grudgingly participated in three, and he briefly pulled out of the last one. But that was a different election. Now Rep. Zinke is an incumbent. His Democratic opponent, Denise Juneau, challenged him to six debates in a May press release. The Zinke campaign was silent for a month, and we opinion-havers of Montana settled in for a reprise of the commander’s earlier reticence. But last week, just hours after Juneau issued a second press release noting his silence, he agreed to five.

Five! It pretty much doubles last year’s total of two and a half. It’s unclear exactly why Zinke’s attitude toward debates has changed, but in this week’s column for the Missoula Independent, we’ve got some ideas. For one thing, he’s got a maniac at the top of his ticket. It’s going to take some nuanced messaging to convince voters that Zinke’s tough foreign policy and outsider image are different from Trump’s mindless aggression and general ignorance. Also, Commander Zinke’s “I’m a soldier, not a politician” theme gets less powerful with each incumbency. Now is a good time to add depth to his political image, and I’m glad he’s seized this opportunity. We’ll be back tomorrow with Friday links.

Combat! blog writes ghost, isn’t useful

By Dan Brooks in Uncategorized June 15, 2016 0 Comment

A luxury resort of the kind one might visit, if one contracted enough ghostwriting

There is no Combat! blog today, because I have spent the whole day ghostwriting. Probably I am the only vain neurotic who experiences this phenomenon, but it’s easier to write someone else’s project. It really defangs that old bugbear of composition, the ego. Anyway, I’ve been stacking that paper and counting them words since I woke up this morning, and now I am all typed out. We’ll be back tomorrow with exciting news from Montana politics, featuring one of our favorite personalities.

Citigroup sues AT&T, claiming trademark on phrase “thank you”

By Dan Brooks in Here Is Your American Culture June 14, 2016 0 Comment

“Mammon and His Slave” woodcut by Johann Jacob Weber, c. 1896

Like most consumers, I associate the phrase “thank you” with Citigroup THANKYOU Marks, which the financial-services giant uses in its customer rewards programs. When I hold the door open for a little girl and she says “thank you,” I suffer a moment of confusion. How has this child become employed by Citigroup, and why has my act of courtesy earned me THANKYOU Mark rewards? But then I remember that, oh yeah, trademark violations have diluted the THANKYOU Mark brand to the point where people started using it in non-rewards point contexts. It’s the kind of infringement on intellectual property that has become too common in the modern world. Fortunately, Citigroup has fought back against such lawlessness by filing suit against AT&T for using “thanks” and “AT&T thanks” in its own marketing materials.