Sometimes I get the sense that Donald Trump is not a real person but an algorithm designed to make every Republican who supports him look like a giant hypocrite.
For instance, I'm old enough to remember when the right was annoyed with President Obama for not believing strongly enough in the idea of American exceptionalism. Sure, Obummer would mouth the phrase, but he didn't mean it, you know, not like a real American president would mean it.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump simply rejects the concept out of hand:
I don't like the term. I'll be honest with you. People say, "Oh he's not patriotic." Look, if I’m a Russian, or I’m a German, or I’m a person we do business with, why, you know, I don't think it's a very nice term. We're exceptional; you're not. First of all, Germany is eating our lunch. So they say, "Why are you exceptional. We’re doing a lot better than you." I never liked the term.
Yes, what does America have that, say, Russia or Germany does not? Note also the worry about offending business partners; not so opposed to political correctness then, was he?
I don't want to say, "We're exceptional. we’re more exceptional." Because essentially we're saying we're more outstanding than you.
Well. Yes? That's kind of the whole point of American exceptionalism? That we are more outstanding than the rest of the world? That our commitment to freedom and equality is a beacon for the rest of the world to follow?
Meh, Pax Americana was overrated anyway.
When I see these politicians get up [and say], "the American exceptionalism"—we're dying. We owe 18 trillion in debt.
I'm not terribly fond of our level of debt either, but you know why the rest of the world will loan us $18 trillion? Because we're pretty fking exceptional.
And you, know, Jim, if you're German, or you're from Japan, or you're from China, you don't want to have people saying that.
I can just imagine the outraged Takes if a Dumbocrat politician said this. "BREAKING: America-hating leftist worries about offending Axis powers, RED CHINA."
But hey. Trump's our guy now! Better support him and all the stupid things he says or we might get ... um ... a White House with ... ah ... someone who doesn't believe in American exceptionalism?
Anyway, this is how I feel all the time now:
I wonder if Paul Ryan feels the same way.