The Campaign Promised Land

That voice in the wilderness cried out for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.” If that voice sounds familiar, it's probably because it hasn't shut up since long before last June 16, when he descended from the heavens via an escalator and let us know that he was available for the next open position at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Donald Trump (rhymes with "chump") has been spouting his particular brand of hate-filled rhetoric to anyone who will put a microphone in front of him since then, and his lack of shame is nothing short of astounding.

Remember when he jumped on the immigration issue with a fever back in July as a family mourned the death of their daughter, who was shot by Francisco Sanchez. Francisco was most definitely here in the United States illegally, prompting all the sound and fury of the Vox Tumpula: Trump added that the "senseless and totally preventable act of violence" was "yet another example of why we must secure our border. Nobody else has the guts to even talk about it," he said. "The American people deserve a wall." Donald's got the guts. And the gall.

There was no discussion of any other solutions to "senseless violence." Gun control? Mental health? Sorry. This was an immigration issue, and there was no one willing to stand up to the torrent of Trump. At that time, the Republican Party was trying to find its platform and seeing what headway the Trumplemeister was making with his angry wall talk, the rest of the herd of elephants got in line pretty quickly.

Now fourteen people are dead. What's Donald Von Trumpish got to say? Keep the Muslims out. That will take care of things. A completely rational response to a completely rational event. Wait. Strike that. Reverse it. A completely irrational response to a completely irrational event. What sort of solution can be gained by generating more Islamophobia? Fear and hatred make such fine bedfellows, why not chain them together and launch them into the sky? Let the world see us for what we are: frightened and vindictive. Or maybe not. “As a conservative who truly cares about religious liberty, Donald Trump’s bad idea and rhetoric send a shiver down my spine,” wrote Matt Moore, the chairman of the South Carolina GOP, “American exceptionalism means always defending our inalienable rights, not attacking them when it’s politically convenient.” And he wasn't the only one on the right feeling a little fighty with Mister Trump (rhymes with dump). “It goes against everything we believe in,” no less a personage than Dick "Dick" Cheney told conservative talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt. “It’s a mistaken notion.”

And so, at last, it could be that the honeymoon is over, and we can get back to business as usual. Which would seem to be let everyone in, but suspect them mightily as the cause or case decrees. Welcome to the Promised Land.