Supporters turn to show their support as a protestor interrupts an address by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign stop at the Flynn Center of the Performing Arts in Burlington, Vt., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. (photo: Charles Krupa/AP)
Sitting in the audience was like watching blood dry—a convergence of the compellingly grotesque and the mind-numbingly boring.
onald
Trump held a private party disguised as campaign event on January 7 in a
1,400-seat theater in in Burlington, Vt. Sitting in the audience was
like watching blood dry—a convergence of the compellingly grotesque and
the mind-numbingly boring.Grotesque, I had expected, but having seen clips of Trump, I anticipated being entertained by his clownish braggadocio and fact-challenged hyperbole.
No such luck. The rambling, disjointed speech he burbled in the heart of Bernie’s base was a exercise in dull, smug narcissism. Like a kitten distracted by a shiny object, Trump rambled from point to point. His only unifying themes were bullying, bullshit and boast. The bullying was aimed at people either too politically weak (refugees and immigrants) or too distant to counter his weak-wristed slaps (every other candidate—none of whom could match to his exemplary standards of deal making, intelligence, courage, wealth, and charm).
But for his fans, the verbal effluvia fertilized their enthusiasm. And the boasts, a simulacrum of substance, formed the core of the talk. On video, the bragging seems amusingly ridiculous, but in person, mouthed by an actual human, it is strangely childish, sad, and barely coherent—like listening to lonely, beer sodden frat boys declare their drinking and sexual prowess.
Waving his arms like a stoned discus hurler, Trump referred endlessly to himself. He declared, with mock amazement that people called him “plainspoken.” But I went to an Ivy League School, Wharton, and have the most extensive vocabulary of any candidate. Maybe plainspoken is a compliment, he pondered. He went on to prove the point by patting himself on the back for nailing his rivals, all of them, with just the perfect word: “stupid.” He also crowed that he had the highest IQ of any candidate.
The crowd swallowed the red meat and spit out the facts. One attendee said she loved Trump because he represented the idea that anyone who works hard can get rich—not just people who are given things for nothing or—creating her own irony-free zone—get $1 million handed to them. (That exact sum, which Trump described as “a small loan” from his father, was Trump’s start-up money, later enhanced by a $40 million inheritance.) What did she think of the fact that the greatest predictor of wealth in America is parental wealth? “I disagree,” she replied.
On the rare occasions Trump referred to actual policy or politics, he created an alternative universe in which he held, or deserved, the starring role. The Iran deal was a negotiating disaster—Obama is the worst negotiator in the world, he declared—because America paid billions to Iran to sign. (The deal mostly freed Iran’s own frozen assets.) He would have solved the Iran negotiations by walking out of the room until the intimidated Iranians caved.
Misinformation, deception and lies marked the planning and execution of the event as well as the content. The campaign apparently feared opponents and Bernie supporters might pack the room or get tickets and boycott the show, leaving an embarrassingly empty hall. So to ensure an adequate selection of true-believers, Trump issued 20,000 online tickets— for a 1,400-seat venue. The exponential overbooking created a pre-event line that stretched for blocks. At the theater door, Trump’s minions screened the ticket holders and turned away anyone who admitted not being a supporter or even being undecided.
The ruse not only dissed his own followers, who had stood for hours in the cold, but risked sparking public disorder. After word came out regarding its massive ticket dump, the Trump camp “stopped returning the department’s calls,” said annoyed Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo.
A secret service officer regularly detailed to campaign events across the country said he had never seen or heard of such overbooking.
The city of Burlington, less than thrilled by Trump’s high handedness and disregard for public safety, also lamented the cost to taxpayers of dealing with the circus. A spokesperson said the campaign will get a bill for the mess, but since, as Trump boasts, he runs a self-funded vanity campaign, the bill will go straight to The Donald—and presumably The Trash Bin.
Nor was the theater’s executive director delighted. He had been promised a no-sign event only to have Trump people distribute stacks of campaign signs inside the elegant old hall. “They lied to us,” he told VtDigger.com, shaking his head, telling an assistant to not bother to try to take them back.
Meanwhile hundreds of protesters, including several state politicians, filled the street opposite the theater to chant, play music, and rally the anti-Trump and pro-Bernie forces. Anger at Trump’s fascism, racism, misogyny, and anti-immigrant and refugees attacks was blended with humor. One group, in Star Wars storm trooper garb, held aloft a large sign proclaiming “The Dark Side for Trump.” The Kountry Kart Deli, adjacent to the theater, offered a Donald Trump sandwich: Bologna on white bread, “filled with B.S. (bacon slices).”
As the evening wore on the hundreds of protesters outside were joined by the few who had made it inside, raised a ruckus, and were ejected by Trump goons. In his speech, after claiming he loved the 1st amendment as much as the 2nd, Trump informed the audience that this was a private event because he had bought and paid for the space, and protesters were not welcome. If anyone disrupts, he told the attendees, drown them by chanting “Trump” until security can dispose of them.
Scattered outburst did indeed punctuate the talk, and while Trump at first declared himself amused, he soon turned vindictive. Throw them out, he ordered of one disruptor, but “confiscate” his coat.
Media were supposed to be relegated to the very back of the hall and were advised to bring extenders for their cameras. Since I lacked a massive lens or a liking for following orders, I just took a seat up front. The better to bask in Trump’s golden glow and see the show from the crowd’s perspective.
But in the end it was poor entertainment and even poorer politics. More bored than outraged, I left before the sad spectacle ended and joined the companionable assembly gathered outside.
Comments
+37
#
2016-01-11 15:13
Pitiful, sad, disturbing. Ok laughable?? No, this is not really not funny. What in God's name is happening in this country?
+29
#
2016-01-11 19:07
This is a good
description of a Trump speech. He does ramble and free associate and he
reads the audience like a stand up comedian. When he gets a response, he
blurts out more of the same. Trump is not a thinking man. He's a
performer.
Unfortunately, I was once convinced that he would implode and go away. I'm beginning to waver and worry that he might just win the republican nomination. I still don't believe the owners of the republican party want the whole party stolen from them by Trump, but they may have a tactic that I simply don't yet understand. Trump is becoming less of a clown and more of a real threat.
Unfortunately, I was once convinced that he would implode and go away. I'm beginning to waver and worry that he might just win the republican nomination. I still don't believe the owners of the republican party want the whole party stolen from them by Trump, but they may have a tactic that I simply don't yet understand. Trump is becoming less of a clown and more of a real threat.
+17
#
2016-01-12 00:36
"This is a good
description of a Trump speech. He does ramble and free associate and he
reads the audience like a stand up comedian. When he gets a response, he
blurts out more of the same. Trump is not a thinking man. He's a
performer."
You have nailed it !
You have nailed it !
+19
#
2016-01-12 00:31
I made it into the
Trumpfest in the Flynn Theater that night too, and this is a very
accurate account that really catches the flavor of the event. It's the
only version I've come across that mentions the oddly boring aspect of
Trump's talk.
I wasn't expecting that either..... Being adrenilin-charged after negotiating the required "swearing to support Trump" and the airport security wanding, without getting ejected, I wasn't prepared to find myself almost falling asleep during Trump's ramblings ! But the din of the TRUMP, TRUMP chants , and waving of Trump signs at the protesters was jolting enough - hard to watch Trump easily work up the eager crowd to an angry-sounding roar against each protester, as he grew increasingly irritated . We left a bit before the end too - getting outside to the supportive cheers of the people across the street was a breath of fresh air in every sense!
I wasn't expecting that either..... Being adrenilin-charged after negotiating the required "swearing to support Trump" and the airport security wanding, without getting ejected, I wasn't prepared to find myself almost falling asleep during Trump's ramblings ! But the din of the TRUMP, TRUMP chants , and waving of Trump signs at the protesters was jolting enough - hard to watch Trump easily work up the eager crowd to an angry-sounding roar against each protester, as he grew increasingly irritated . We left a bit before the end too - getting outside to the supportive cheers of the people across the street was a breath of fresh air in every sense!
+8
#
2016-01-12 06:31
The goal is money. And that is the only goal. That is what he and his followers are all about. Get more money. End of story.
+7
#
2016-01-12 07:35
I believe that the goal is power, a sickly, clownish power to control more toys.
+3
#
2016-01-12 10:21
Isn't it bliss?
Don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can't move...
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.
Just when I'd stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours.
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines...
No one is there.
Don't you love farce?
My fault, I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want...
Sorry, my dear!
And where are the clowns
Send in the clowns
Don't bother, they're here.
Don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can't move...
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.
Just when I'd stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours.
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines...
No one is there.
Don't you love farce?
My fault, I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want...
Sorry, my dear!
And where are the clowns
Send in the clowns
Don't bother, they're here.
+8
#
2016-01-12 08:07
The eventual crashing and burning of the Trump campaign will be wondrous to behold.
+3
#
2016-01-12 11:12
I find great irony in
the fact that Trump and team have finally discovered that Ted Cruz is
not American-born and that only a native born American can be president.
Cruz knew this and dumped his Canadian citizenship in 2014. My first
thought when Cruz announced for the presidency was, "But isn't he
Canadian?" How is it that it takes a low-life like Trump, who only found
out about it from an MSNBC interview with Lawrence Tribe, to bring this
salient fact to the country's attention? WHY didn't the media, or
historians, or Constitutional scholars bring this up last year? I knew
it from my grade school study of the Constitution; I guess I'm more
knowledgeable than most of the people in this country. (Please pardon my
justifiably swelled head here). Where were Mr. Tribe, Mr. Beschloss, et
al last year? At a time when the American people, esp. Reps., are
behaving like lemmings, where are these people who should be protecting
us from our own ignorance and stupidity? Neither Trump nor Ted
"Shutdown" Cruz has any business in Congress or the presidency. I was
talking to a friend about this and she said, Well, there must be
something we don't know about Cruz... Really? Apparently they all
thought it to be tasteless, racist(?)whatev er, to omit this information. Call me FURIOUS!
0
#
2016-01-12 12:38
After reading this article and the ensuing comments, my stomach churned over.
My parents and their friends survived the Nazis. I remember their late night talks over highballs about Hitler and his methods and I realize that I'm hearing them all over again only this time the name is Trump.
My parents and their friends survived the Nazis. I remember their late night talks over highballs about Hitler and his methods and I realize that I'm hearing them all over again only this time the name is Trump.
