Showbiz politics: Trump, Romney, Obama and Jesus

Romney declined to participate in a debate Donald Trump planned to moderate. (Screen snip from CNN video)Rumors hit Twitter ahead of The Donald’s endorsement of Mitt Romney—the first messages I saw said Trump would endorse Newt Gingrich. I found that hard to believe—the two just don’t go together. That was just my gut reaction.

In the world of big capital and big business—the Trump-Romney alliance made more sense to me.

If Romney should fulfill the prophecies of numerous entrenched Republicans, do I think people will rush to the precincts in November and yell, “Gimme a ballot so I can vote for the guy Trump endorsed!”?

Nah.

As a matter of fact, Trump as surrogate may prove to be an annoyance—The Donald loves the limelight and there's no leash large enough to restrain him.

The biggest payoff for Romney was having free airtime conferred, although that’s sort of a given anyway when you have the biggest war chest in the Republican field.

Isn’t it ironic that the guy who wouldn’t be part of a debate Trump was moderating (scheduling changes, Old Chap, so sorry) is now happy as a clam to get an endorsement?

The endorsement benefits the other candidates too—it would be hard now for Trump to carry out his threat for an independent run after changing his party affiliation a couple months ago. Trump’s been a Dem, a Republican and an NPA  (No Party Affiliation) as we call indie voters here in Florida. Trump said he wouldn’t run if he approved of the candidate; apparently Romney pleases The Donald.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama found his inner evangelical on one issue—money. Jesus, Obama posits, wants taxes from people who make a lot of money. 

That, of course, is showbiz religion. For one thing America, as I often remind my fellow Republicans, is not a theocracy. For yet another, there is a rather large commandment that goes along the lines of “Thou shalt not covet…”

I don’t think in all the studies I’ve done of The Bible that there’s a single commandment instructing, “Thou shalt steal from the well-heeled and hand the contraband out to thy cronies.” Solyndra comes to mind.

I also recall those commandments would take a dim view on worshiping big government as a god—false idol, you know.

No one should pay more taxes right now. The more you pay, the larger these politicos will grow the government. The larger the government, the smaller your freedom and unless you’re in the political class, it’s likely your net worth will be smaller as well.

Between Trump, Romney’s free air time and Obama’s faux sermon, Thursday was a typical day in American politics—much posturing with little of merit being accomplished or articulated.

If all the theatrics spilling across that flat screen don’t scare you, you need to reassess your fear factor.

Thursday’s events reminded me of a line from a Billy Currington song—God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Feb. 3, 2012)