I don’t understand it; you’ll have a room like this.
Advertisement
Trump spoke for about an hour once the show started, but it wasn’t a speech in the sense that we’ve come to expect from politicians. During a ride to the airport he invited me to join, the billionaire presidential frontrunner is gracious and warm, every bit the accessible everyman. And he is taking on Trump, and the dangers the demagogue poses, more forcefully than anybody in the race.
“Looking at the other candidates”, said Bob Myers, “I just felt he was the most qualified”.
“I don’t think that’s fair”. He says out loud in plain, blunt, sometimes crass English what millions long have believed – like this, for instance: “We’re angry because we’re run incompetently by incompetent people”. “Well whether you like it or not, he is so weak on illegal immigration, it’s laughable”. “They all tell you what you want to hear and then forget about you once they get into office”. “You don’t want to make a deal, and all of a sudden you’re in court being sued for $30 billion”. “And I am for the community”.
“What’s the view in Florida?”
Supporters say he was energizing, confirming support of his ideals.
“They’ve already got plenty in the Gulf….” “I never believe I’d see the day in this country when a communist is the leading Democrat”. “That’s an issue I’d absolutely study and do the right thing”.
Trump fired back that Bush has been a potty mouth but has gotten away with it. Might Rubio be an attractive running mate for Trump? He gets up and says that.
The political spotlight is on Florida, thanks to the arrival of the star of the Republican Party in Tampa. President Barrack Obama, he said, won’t even use the term “radical Islamic terrorists”, so he can’t address the problem.
“We’re going to win again”, Trump said, spreading his arms to signal the scope of his ambitions. Trump and the governor speak about once a month.
A handful of top supporters warmed up the crowd: a pastor, a mother whose son died in combat, a xenophobic talk radio host and a retired colonel-not an elected official among them; a contrast to rallies for more conventional candidates, which usually involve a spattering of high-profile elected officials touting said candidate’s accomplishments and conservative cred.
As in the past, there were several groups of protestors outside of Trump’s rally. “The head of his finance committee, Woody Johnson, he’s from Johnson & Johnson”, Trump said.
“I’m not sure who I’m going to support”, said Tom Harrington. Now, I don’t often agree with Marco, and I don’t often agree with Ted, but I can in this case.
He is still fired up from his Tampa rally.
It’s like nothing we’ve seen in American politics, at least in my lifetime. He was also accused of making gestures to mock a disabled New York Times reporter.
Write something nice, he exhorts, and then takes off.
Advertisement
The SUV pulls up to a private plane at Tampa Executive Airport.
