The Honor, Of A Triumph. . .

(The Honor, Of A Triumph. . .)

In the closing scenes from the war epic, Patton, George C. Scott, with his white dog "Willie," he delivers a soliloquy, how for over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from wars were given "the honor of a triumph, a tumultuous parade." The procession contained strange animals, captured armaments and "dazed prisoners walking in chains" The conqueror himself "rode in a triumphal chariot," sometimes his children would be with him, either in the cab or "on one of the trace horses." A slave would stand behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering into his ear "that all glory, is fleeting."


The last four days of the Republican Convention in Milwaukee was the equivalent of a Roman Triumph for Donald Trump. There were strange animals. There were captured armaments. There were even dazed prisoners. And, of course, the conqueror's children rode in the chariot, and some were on the trace horses. And, on occasion, the conqueror would make an address to his Legions because it was through their efforts that put him in that chariot to begin with.


So, this "conqueror," former President Donald J. Trump, emerged with a supersized "Trump" sign in lights, with riotous applause from the Convention floor, took the podium, and began a ninety-minute speech. Trump seemed more subdued, recounting the attempt on his life, obviously a painful image, saying he "should not be there," considering how close he came to death. The President then hit his re-curing points like curbing inflation, border security, deportations, lower crime and restore cities, and of course "drill baby drill." Trump's tone this time was more subdued and when it was over, the political fortunes for the past and perhaps future President, have really come full circle.


What of the wild animals ? Tucker Carlson ? Hulk Hogan ? Dana White ? All have known Trump for decades and have been entertainers, like Trump, in their own right. Captured armaments ? The Convention adjourned as a united front and the Trump/Vance ticket will be going out into the country, extending the Triumph from the Convention. Dazed Prisoners walking in chains ? The national media who never liked the former President have been witnessing the demise of their preferred candidate, President Biden. Finally both the Trump and the Vance family ended the Convention together and collectively walked off the stage for points ahead. 


In any event, these last four days have been identified as the most successful and unifying GOP gathering perhaps ever. The Convention did not guarantee Trump's re-election, but the conventional wisdom for the past two years, that Trump could not beat President Biden, that he had been losing since 2020, he could not generate a Red Wave in 2022, the political opinion such as it was, Trump could not win a broader contest with President Biden.


How things have changed.

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