Donald Trump’s tired old lounge act

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Some โ€œconservativeโ€ diehards are hailing Donald Trumpโ€™s CPAC speech as a pivotal event, signaling his return to glory, which they can vicariously enjoy. In truth, it more resembled the sad spectacle of lounge singer whoโ€™d once ruled the airwaves and concert halls with big hits and big crowds, lazily going through his standards before a modest crowd that longed for the glory years as much as he did.

Trumpโ€™s timing was off right from the start. He came onstage before his entrance song had even begun. Like a washed up singer, he began with an old hit, about some dangerous guys down by the border. As Trump surveyed the modest crowd, he wistfully recalled how heโ€™d recently drawn โ€œhuge crowdsโ€ for his 52 rallies, never pausing to reflect that this was a terrible idea during a pandemic.

Trump got a burst of applause when he teased he might run for President again and assured the CPAC crowd they were part of a big movement, โ€œthe likes of which has never been seen.โ€

Apparently against his aidesโ€™ advice, Trump reprised the Big Lie, falsely proclaiming that the election was rigged, and heโ€™d really won. And he lashed out at perceived enemies whoโ€™d turned on him, neglecting to mention they did so because heโ€™d launched an insurrection against Congress to prevent it from certifying electoral votes that showed heโ€™d lost. He said heโ€™d work to banish these officials from the public arena, oblivious to the fact that he did so in front of CPACโ€™s โ€œAmerica Uncancelledโ€ sign.

Finally, he put together a string of crowd-pleaser retreads of his hate-filled policies that brought the crowd to its feet โ€“ whether out of real enthusiasm or nostalgia, itโ€™s difficult to say. And then it was over, and he left the stage. If only for good.

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