Readers of a certain vintage will remember the old RCA Victor logo, "His Master's Voice," shown above. It depicts a loyal dog dutifully listening to what he believes is that actual voice, although it is emanating from a facsimile, i.e., a record. I couldn't help but think of that ad as I saw this picture:
I believe that Mr. Christie has fooled himself into thinking he is hearing the real Donald Trump, now his master, but like the RCA logo, he is being misled. And he is paying a heavy price.
The New York Times has had a field day reporting on the reactions Christie's servility is provoking:
Six New Jersey newspapers issued a joint editorial calling for Mr. Christie’s resignation on Tuesday, an extraordinary show of disgust on the same day that the publisher of a major newspaper in New Hampshire took the unusual (and seemingly unnecessary) step of rescinding its previous pledge of support for him as a presidential candidate.Ridicule is pervasive, with the NYT dismissing him as just an overgrown 'fanboy.' But that seems mild compared to some of the pictures making the Internet rounds:
“Boy, were we wrong,” read the scalding essay in The New Hampshire Union Leader, which lamented that “rather than stand up to the bully, Christie bent his knee” to Mr. Trump.
Digitally altered images rendered Mr. Christie as a docile doorman at Trump Tower and compared him, uncharitably, to a panting dog standing beside its master.From my perspective, however, this non-altered image says it all:
Christie's self-debasement is without doubt motivated by an overweening desire to be selected as Trump's running mate; however, my belief is that Trump is merely providing a platform for the New Jersey governor to 'show his stuff' and attract more mainstream Republicans to his side. After that is accomplished, Mr. Christie will likely find himself meeting the same fate as so many others did on the show that made the short-fingered vulgarian such a household name, The Apprentice:
Probably a fitting fate for a man who has reminded all of us that politics is the world's second-oldest profession.
You captured it in one word, "servility." It's the shame that Christie didn't bargain for but now cannot conceal. Everyone sees it and he realizes that. It's hard to imagine what sort of deal he negotiated with Trump but I expect he'll find out, as so many others have, what befalls those who lose their footing.
ReplyDeleteSomething else I've noticed. In most, not all but certainly most, photos, Trump is elevated on a dais while Christie stands below. Trump invariably is seen looking down while Christie has to look up at the Donald. I suspect that contributes to the public view that Christie has debased himself.
ReplyDeleteAll of this, no doubt, has been carefully o0rchestrated by Trump, Mound. His contempt for Christie seems palpable, all part of the political theatre or, should I say, farce, that American right-wing Republicanism has become.
DeleteI think the as more mainstream republicans come out in support of Trump Lorne we will see that they share something in common with Christie. They all will sacrifice their autonomy, that is to the extent they have autonomy, and become subservient to Trump. Trump is a demagogue. His relationship with people is based on people's obedience to his will.
ReplyDeleteI especially like your last sentence, Pamela. It completely sums up the true nature of Trump and the people who support him. I cam across an article on Vox that was quite interesting, its thesis being that the majority of the people who support Trump have authoritarian personalities. http://www.vox.com/2016/3/1/11127424/trump-authoritarianism
DeleteA marriage made in hell, eh?