It's hard for someone like me, who remembers President Truman, albeit fitfully, that there are many people alive today who are too young to remember Pee-wee's Playhouse, a children's TV show that was popular in the late eighties. In that series, a frenetic little guy named Pee-wee Herman (Paul Rubens) clowned around to the delight of many children everywhere.
He devised a routine which deflected insults back onto the insulter, a sort-of Anglo version of Y Tu Mamá también. If someone called him a derogatory name, he would reply, "I know you are, but what am I?" The insulter would invariably lose his cool and call Pee-wee something worse, whose sing-song reply would be, "I know you are, but what am I?" This would go on until Herman's belittler, now in a rage, stormed off the set, allowing Pee-wee to return to his frenetic shenanigans unfazed.
Little Pee-wee Herman made kids laugh. The modern master of deflection can sometimes make us adults laugh as well--but the joke is on us. I will provide a few examples.
During a recent meeting of Republican senators, Trump was informed by a journalist that Nancy Pelosi said that he, the President, being morbidly obese, should not take hydroxychoroquine as a prophylaxis against Covid-19 infection. (I think she was trolling him; technically, Trump, while obese, is not morbidly obese).The drug, which can result in a fatal cardiac arrythmia, has not been approved for this purpose. Any comments, Mr. President?
At first, Trump said that dealing with Pelosi is a waste of time. But, after a few questions, he lost his cool: "These people are sick. Pelosi is a sick woman--she has lots of mental problems."
Except she doesn't. Trump knows that many people--including this author--think Trump is suffering from mental illness. Dr, Brandy Lee, a Yale psychiatrist, wrote a book, supported by many other psychiatrists, about Trump's probable pathology and obvious decline. Lying the way he does; never admitting an error; lack of empathy; a narcissistic obsession with his own supposed greatness; all these factors and more signify a serious morbidity. Trump knows this. So the hidden "I know you are, but what am I?" question is Nancy Pelosi asking him, "Are you crazy?" I know you are, is his response, but what am I? A very stable genius.
Another Pee-wee moment arises from Trump's incompetence. During the first three years of his presidency, Trump was able to gaslight his base into believing he was, well, perfect. With the coronavirus pandemic's arrival, a true emergency arose, demanding excellent leadership. Trump, as those who know his number would expect, failed miserably. He dithered, while fevers burned. There is no doubt that many would be alive today if he had acted earlier. No excuses--the medical community predicted disaster, and disaster arrived. He said he was not a clerk, and thus refused to see to it that health care workers received much needed protective gear. He is our naked emperor insisting that he is dressed to the nines. His lack of leadership continues to cost lives. If the choice--as he sees it--is between saving his presidency or saving grandma, good-bye grandma--If she dies miserably, alone in a hospital without the comfort of family or friends--so what? And when I say grandma, I also include people of all ages and both genders. Viruses, clever mindless creatures that they are, do not have the prejudices we do.
President Obama gave a virtual commencement address during which he alluded to the incompetence of the current president. A chaotic response, Obama stated without mentioning names, some aren't even trying. Another round of the Pee-wee defense--Obama's implication: Trump, you're incompetent. Trump's unspoken reply-- I know you are (Trump responded to this understood, unsaid assessment with fury) but what am I? A very stable genius.
My last example of the Pee-wee defense is regarding China and the W.H.O. China, an autocratic nation obsessed with its international reputation, did cover-up the initial cases of Covid-19; the World Health Organization did not criticize them at this point. Then they got their act together. Trump, however, had dithered for two months, denying the seriousness of the pandemic presumably to help get himself reelected. Trump knows that the majority of Americans now disapprove of his handling of the crisis.
Trump touts that he banned travel to China, which 'saved many lives'. Nonsense. First, he only restricted travel--43,000 traveled from China to the U.S. during the so-called ban. Second, the source of spread by this time was Europe. Once again, he was desperately trying to deflect blame. You delayed acting to help stem the spread of the disease, China and the W.H.O. --you're the bad guys. But what am I? A very stable genius?
Indeed.
Herman wore make-up that made him look like a clown; Trump wears make-up that makes him look like a clown. That's where the similarities end. Only Trump, because we let him, has been able to carry our country around as if we were a Fool's bauble. (Yes, he's unwell, but we can't afford to have sympathy for him until he is out of office; he's causing far too much damage.) Let us work together, Democrats and Republicans, to remove our national disgrace from the world stage.
He devised a routine which deflected insults back onto the insulter, a sort-of Anglo version of Y Tu Mamá también. If someone called him a derogatory name, he would reply, "I know you are, but what am I?" The insulter would invariably lose his cool and call Pee-wee something worse, whose sing-song reply would be, "I know you are, but what am I?" This would go on until Herman's belittler, now in a rage, stormed off the set, allowing Pee-wee to return to his frenetic shenanigans unfazed.
Little Pee-wee Herman made kids laugh. The modern master of deflection can sometimes make us adults laugh as well--but the joke is on us. I will provide a few examples.
During a recent meeting of Republican senators, Trump was informed by a journalist that Nancy Pelosi said that he, the President, being morbidly obese, should not take hydroxychoroquine as a prophylaxis against Covid-19 infection. (I think she was trolling him; technically, Trump, while obese, is not morbidly obese).The drug, which can result in a fatal cardiac arrythmia, has not been approved for this purpose. Any comments, Mr. President?
At first, Trump said that dealing with Pelosi is a waste of time. But, after a few questions, he lost his cool: "These people are sick. Pelosi is a sick woman--she has lots of mental problems."
Except she doesn't. Trump knows that many people--including this author--think Trump is suffering from mental illness. Dr, Brandy Lee, a Yale psychiatrist, wrote a book, supported by many other psychiatrists, about Trump's probable pathology and obvious decline. Lying the way he does; never admitting an error; lack of empathy; a narcissistic obsession with his own supposed greatness; all these factors and more signify a serious morbidity. Trump knows this. So the hidden "I know you are, but what am I?" question is Nancy Pelosi asking him, "Are you crazy?" I know you are, is his response, but what am I? A very stable genius.
Another Pee-wee moment arises from Trump's incompetence. During the first three years of his presidency, Trump was able to gaslight his base into believing he was, well, perfect. With the coronavirus pandemic's arrival, a true emergency arose, demanding excellent leadership. Trump, as those who know his number would expect, failed miserably. He dithered, while fevers burned. There is no doubt that many would be alive today if he had acted earlier. No excuses--the medical community predicted disaster, and disaster arrived. He said he was not a clerk, and thus refused to see to it that health care workers received much needed protective gear. He is our naked emperor insisting that he is dressed to the nines. His lack of leadership continues to cost lives. If the choice--as he sees it--is between saving his presidency or saving grandma, good-bye grandma--If she dies miserably, alone in a hospital without the comfort of family or friends--so what? And when I say grandma, I also include people of all ages and both genders. Viruses, clever mindless creatures that they are, do not have the prejudices we do.
President Obama gave a virtual commencement address during which he alluded to the incompetence of the current president. A chaotic response, Obama stated without mentioning names, some aren't even trying. Another round of the Pee-wee defense--Obama's implication: Trump, you're incompetent. Trump's unspoken reply-- I know you are (Trump responded to this understood, unsaid assessment with fury) but what am I? A very stable genius.
My last example of the Pee-wee defense is regarding China and the W.H.O. China, an autocratic nation obsessed with its international reputation, did cover-up the initial cases of Covid-19; the World Health Organization did not criticize them at this point. Then they got their act together. Trump, however, had dithered for two months, denying the seriousness of the pandemic presumably to help get himself reelected. Trump knows that the majority of Americans now disapprove of his handling of the crisis.
Trump touts that he banned travel to China, which 'saved many lives'. Nonsense. First, he only restricted travel--43,000 traveled from China to the U.S. during the so-called ban. Second, the source of spread by this time was Europe. Once again, he was desperately trying to deflect blame. You delayed acting to help stem the spread of the disease, China and the W.H.O. --you're the bad guys. But what am I? A very stable genius?
Indeed.
Herman wore make-up that made him look like a clown; Trump wears make-up that makes him look like a clown. That's where the similarities end. Only Trump, because we let him, has been able to carry our country around as if we were a Fool's bauble. (Yes, he's unwell, but we can't afford to have sympathy for him until he is out of office; he's causing far too much damage.) Let us work together, Democrats and Republicans, to remove our national disgrace from the world stage.
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