YES HE CAN! YES HE CAN!

It is strikingly apparent that the ordinary American lives in a bubble with respect to history and its' consequences. This was no more glaring to me than after watching the audience response to Michael Moore's statement concerning Donald Trump's chances of victory in November. It was a vast flight from reality of a 30 year trend in America. Moore cited as evidence, the support that Mitt Romney was able to garner in states like Michigan, Ohio & Wisconsin. He also noted the mood of the country. He skillfully painted a picture of the psyche of the average Trump supporter. Noting the absence of intellectual prowess and the presence of nationalist fervor, Moore explained how these people will be in lockstep with Trump in November. And He's right! When MSNBC's Joy Reid countered with the argument that massive numbers of African-American votes would equalize the possibility of a Trump election, Mahr countered by saying:"I'm not gonna rely on the argument that Black People are gonna save us." Mahr went on to imply that Moore's premonition was the motivation needed to shake off the chains of complacency. But with election day right around the corner, is it too late?

Moore is sounding an alarm that's been ringing since 1970 when Attorney General John Mitchell stated that: "this country is going so far right that you're not gonna recognize it." How could Americans have missed the explosion of militia movements across the country; the onslaught of propaganda against the objectives of the 1960's and 70's movements; the proliferation of the gospel of de-regulation; the repetitive stale talking point about a liberal media bias; the explosion of right-wing talk radio; and the abhorence of intellectual discourse in politics by a poorly informed working class citzenry. How anyone could think that a Trump presidency is a remote possibility is virtually astonishing. It was as though the emergence of tea party extremism and the election of its' candidates were simply Republican mirages that vanished with the Obama Re-election of 2012. Political amnesia can only be the reason that so many forgot the recall re-election of Wisconsin anti-union Governor Scott Walker. When we consider these events, who could not see the Republican nomination of a "The Donald?"

While liberals snicker and mock Donald Trump as a kind of Reality TV President, many of people in the American heartlands, resentful of what they see as a snobbish, condescending, liberal elitist popular culture, have swelled the ranks of the Trump Army under the call to "Make America Great Again." It is as if Ronald Reagan has been resurrected to reside over the national consciousness. The same sloganeering; the same angry conservatives; the same rhetoric about big government; the same complaints about illegal immigrants; the same arguments about the efficiency of the free market; and the same talk of endless wars.  Can he win? YES HE CAN! Don't be surprised! You've been warned!

Till next time, this is the RED HORNET, signing off!