‘Ruling Class’ Trump-Doubters Still Don’t Get It. And They’ll Pay A Price

Trump’s 2024 dreams destroyed by Capitol attack, say advisers

Trump Erases His Legacy

“After Trump leaves the presidency, he will not be coming back.”

“I think the Trump brand is close to destroyed”

Pardon this commentator while he suppresses a hearty guffaw at expressions of the complete ruination of President Donald Trump in response to his supposed role in “inciting” the “insurrection” by his supporters at the Capitol.

As horrifying and inexcusable a state of affairs as that was – and as seemingly effortlessly and painlessly linkable to the president’s exhortation – one must ask: Did opposing politicians and pundits and even once-friendly prognosticators and wobbly Cabinet members have their heads under the proverbial rock the last five years?

Were they not paying attention from the moment he descended the golden escalator to disintegrate every rule of public and political decorum and conventional wisdom? With each handicapper on the face of the earth declaring, “he can’t possibly survive this one”?

When he announced that Mexico was “sending … rapists”? Maintained a judge would be biased against him because of his Latino heritage? Allegedly queried why we tolerate immigrants from ”sh##hole countries”?

Outrageously suggested that the four female women United States representatives of color known as The Squad (three of them U.S.-born) – in a statement with overtones of the erstwhile racial epithet “ship them back to Africa” – “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came”?

On a national debate stage, bragged about the size of his male anatomy? Commented on a female debate moderator that there was “blood coming out of her wherever” and referred to nursing mothers as “disgusting”?

Insisted a venerated political figure was “not a war hero … I like people that weren’t captured”? Picked a high-profile fight with the Muslim parents of a slain medal winner? Appeared to physically mock a disabled reporter? Trashed allies while praising thug dictators?

Ridiculed his political opponents as “low-energy” … “little” … “lying”? Blurted out of his lone female Republican competitor, “Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that”? Accused a rival’s father of complicity in presidential assassination? 

Attacked his ultimate Democratic opponent as “crooked” and “a nasty woman,” said she should “be in jail,” and asked if she “can’t satisfy” her husband, “what makes her think she can satisfy America”? 

Challenged the “fake news” media face-to-face at rallies and briefings as “among the most dishonest human beings on Earth”? 

And most tellingly and perhaps accurately, boasted, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters”?

Author and scholar Angelo Codevilla once legendarily referred to “The Ruling Class,” a political, cultural and economic stratum, which spanned the Democratic Party and Republican Establishment and included the commentariat with such a spectacularly sorry record in forecasting The Donald’s future. And that Ruling Class still doesn’t get it.

The Establishment may believe it can, in the words of a colleague and close friend, “destroy the mooring,” end its uneasy truce with the president and finally be rid of him and his unruly crowd. The Democrats may fantasize that another round of impeachment can neuter him as a political force. Silicon Valley and corporate America may hope they have found the moment to “cancel” him for good.

Because The Ruling Class still hallucinates that it occupies the commanding heights of politics, the culture and the economy.

This correspondent has news for its members. True power in America no longer resides in the Puzzle Palaces on the Potomac, as Ronald Reagan termed them, Silicon Valley or Wall Street.

Current appearances notwithstanding: thanks to Donald Trump, sir (and madam), the people once again govern. And he still occupies their hearts.

The Rasmussen polling organization claims The Donald’s approval rating has actually soared in the wake of the D.C. violence. Maybe. But the members of his base still believe (correctly) this election was stolen – from them – and that President Trump was justified in fighting until the end. They don’t blame him – as The Ruling Class was willing, waiting and wanting to do – for the assault on the Capitol, and think the Elite’s response was overblown given its tolerance of leftists’ continued burning and looting of entire urban areas.

Yo, Trump-Doubters everywhere. Wake up. “MAGA” is more than a man. It is a movement – Codevilla’s “Country Party” that stands outside classic Republicanism and has risen to protect and promote the neglected interests of Trump’s “forgotten Americans.” This Country Party won’t soon desert him – if ever.

The path to 2024 may be blocked by the Democrats’ new-found skill in stealing elections. But Trump’s leadership of the Country Party will be reclaimed in some very real way in the very near future. Especially given that his main opponents are Bumbling Joe, Charisma-Free Kamala, Polarizing Pelosi, still-Mystified Mitch and the GOP Establishment and the craven, credibility-compromised media and tech/business communities.

These and other members of the Ruling Class who are seizing the ostensible opportunity to bury this noble Caesar, not praise him, as he leaves office will eventually pay a bitter price.