In the early days of Monday Night Football, former football star and color commentator, Don Meredith, was known for singing “Turn out the lights, the party’s over” (a line from a Willie Nelson song) when a game was seemingly out of hand… otherwise known as “garbage time.”
It’s garbage time for the GOP.
With Trump’s big wins throughout the South and Northeast in yesterday’s Super Tuesday primaries, one could almost hear “Dandy Don” breakout into song in that big announcer’s booth in the sky.
“The GOP establishment is apoplectic, but it’s too late,” said Don Sipple, a former GOP strategist turned independent. “If the party acts in an underhanded way to vanquish Trump, they will disenfranchise many voters who have been brought to the party by Trump. They are in deep doo-doo as an institution. They’re powerless right now.”
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton also had a big night. She not only won in those deep southern states she was favored to carry, but also took the grand prize of Massachusetts … a state that had appeared to be in Bernie’s grasp.
With 316 delegates, Donald Trump is on track to win the 1237 delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination. But what is even scarier, with a possible match up against Hillary Clinton in the general election, he might also be poised to win the presidency.
Trump has become the Jim Jones of presidential politics; a man who can do no wrong. His followers are fiercely loyal like those of the 1970’s cult leader of the People’s Temple; a leader so powerful his disciples willingly drank the Kool-Aid which led to their deaths in the Jonestown massacre.
Clinton supporters are not of the same ilk. While she has her share of loyal enthusiasts, there is an almost equal number of Democrats who despise her. For many, it’s “Bernie or Bust.” They would rather sit out the election … or vote for Trump (who they see as “the lesser of two evils”) … than vote for someone they see as a criminal. This goes beyond Clinton fatigue.
Yes, we may be witnessing a perfect political storm that could sweep Donald Trump to the presidency. Polls have continually shown that Bernie Sanders is the Democrat more likely to defeat Trump in a general election But that does not seem to bother the DNC and its chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who have done everything they could to tilt the playing field for Clinton.
“Dandy Don” and Howard, you are so missed. A little levity is desperately needed at this dark hour in American politics.
Photo | ABC Monday Night Football
David Lerner says
Man I miss those guys!
John DeProspo says
Yep, that was MNF at its best.
Charlie Sloane says
As I watched CNN last nite, I heard Kevin Madden talk about a Clinton v. Drumpf battle as the “Race to the Bottom”. How sad for our country.
John DeProspo says
This is the best we can do? Really? Bernie is not out of it yet. I am waiting for the next Clinton scandal … Clinton Foundation.
frank little says
Bernie has the right message but he may not be the right messenger. It ain’t over yet but doesn’t look good for old Bernie.
John DeProspo says
No, it ain’t over but you know the Clintons will use every trick in the book to stop Bernie.
Joe Drouse says
I’m a Bernie supporter but Democrats desperately need to get out the vote to win this election, no matter who their candidate may be. I actually have nightmares about a conservative Supreme Court. I will reluctantly vote for Hillary if she’s the candidate but I wouldn’t want to be her neighbor.
John DeProspo says
Well said. We as a country cannot afford any Republican in the White House. Taking back the Senate must also be a priority.
Jon says
“Darker and darker the horizon grows-
For Hil-LIAR-y Clinton and all her woes
The FBI and DOJ are closing in fast-
Her bid for POTUS is a mocking laugh!
Run, Hitlery, run! While you still can-
You shall never be POTUS of this land!
And when you’re sitting at your trial-
Spewing your endless vomitous vile
Remember that the American people-
Are not so stupid; and not your sheeple!
Remember this when you’re sentenced to prison-
Ms. Hil-LIAR-y Rodham Clinton!” – Jon B.
“The former Secretary of States believes she will win 90% of the “beaner” vote. It is believed that her opponent, Senator Bernie Saunders, is critical of Ms. Clinton’s planned attack to shamelessly manipulate and win the Hispanic vote and refers to her as a “Taco Bell” Democrat.
In view of the FBI and the DOJ on her ass just now, the only place Hil-LIAR-y Clinton is actually fit to run for is the border!” – Jon B.
John DeProspo says
We are living in a very interesting … but crazy … time. Fasten your seatbelt.
Mike D. says
Even though Bernie beats all Republican candidates by better margins than Hillary, I do not believe that would come true in a general election. Right now Bernie seems quite affable to Joe Public, Hillary has high negatives and the Democratic debates have been civil. When the opposition (Koch’s, Rove, RNC, etc) gets going on Bernie as the Democratic nominee in a general election, they will turn him into McGovern II. The commie socialist scare tactics, your taxes will go up, more liberal than Obama, blah blah blah. I wish it weren’t so, but Bernie would not do better than Hillary against any Republican.
John DeProspo says
You could be right, Mike. But if Trump is the nominee, I think either Bernie or Hillary … or Attila the Hun … will beat him.