BloggeRhythms

For the past few days, the visiting Pope and Speaker Boehner’s resignation have been the major topics of news coverage across virtually all major media.

 

As far as the Pope is concerned, the topic isn’t one that can be adequately covered here. In the speaker’s case, it’s far too soon to even speculate on what the future holds regarding who his replacement will be, or what it means to the Republican party in general. Which means there’s an opportunity in the news gap to write a few words about Trump.   

   

An article this morning, by Jonathan Martin @nytimes.com seems to confirm that despite his continuing lead in voter polls, there doesn’t appear to be any substance whatsoever to Trump himself.

 

For example, Mr. Martin writes: ”word of House Speaker John A. Boehner’s abrupt resignation reached Mr. Trump as he made his way down a hotel staircase. But he showed surprisingly little interest in what was a political bombshell.

 

“Well it’s a big decision that he made, it’s a great decision,” Mr. Trump said. “I think so. I think it’s good for everybody. I think it’s time, he’s been there a long time. But I think it’s time.” (After further questions, Mr. Trump grasped for an escape hatch: “What do you think?” he asked his interviewer. “You tell me.”)

 

Thus, in essence, in a five line paragraph, Trump said absolutely nothing meaningful whatsoever.

 

Another example can be seen in an exchange taking place last Wednesday when: “Speaking in North Charleston, S.C., in a room that, as Mr. Rubio noted later, had scores of empty seats — Mr. Trump, 69, belittled Mr. Rubio, 44, for running up personal credit card debt.

 

“He’s got no money,” said Mr. Trump, who calls himself a billionaire 10 times over, “zero.”

 

Now, whether Mr. Rubio has any money or not notwithstanding, when it comes to presenting himself he certainly sounded far more professional in response then Trump did. Rubio said about Trump, “He had a really bad debate performance last week. He’s not well informed on the issues. He really never talks about issues and can’t have more than a 10-second sound bite on any key issue. I think he’s kind of been exposed a little bit over the last seven days and he’s a touchy and insecure guy. So that’s how he reacts and people can see through it.”

 

Thus, it looks like Trump got trumped by Rubio, quickly, accurately and succinctly.

 

Which brings us to today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife, and a new indication that she may be significantly losing her luster. As evidenced by some recent information about the Clinton’s foundation.

 

Kenneth P. Vogel and Noah Weiland write @politico.com that: “The Clinton Foundation invited everyone from Pope Francis and Leonardo DiCaprio to Bill de Blasio and Janet Yellen to its showcase gathering starting Saturday in New York City, according to multiple sources familiar with the planning.

 

“But those invitations were among the dozens turned down by all manner of celebrities, dignitaries and donors, according to the sources, who said the controversies swirling around the foundation and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign have made some bold-faced names and donors wary of the foundation.”

 

As far as details are concerned: “The documents, reviewed by POLITICO, also show that the foundation had hoped to land either Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen or French economist Thomas Piketty to deliver a presentation on income inequality. Both declined, as did Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Rock legend Elton John was invited to receive an award for his efforts to fight AIDS, but he’s not coming, and neither is New York City Mayor de Blasio. He had been invited as a guest rather than as a speaker and notably has refused to endorse Clinton, despite having managed her successful U.S. Senate campaign in 2000.”

 

While all those declining to attend have plausible reasons, the overall trend-line is a clear indication that fear of Clinton retribution has significantly been reduced, if not eliminated completely. And, those who've declined aren’t run-of-the-mill celebrities, but are well-informed, high-profile, popular individuals.

 

Which also means that if those choosing to accept other alternatives to attendance indicates doubt about Bill’s wife’s electability, another question has to be asked:  Joe Biden, Mayor Bloomberg, and Starbuck’s chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are you reading this? 

 

That's it for today folks.

 

Adios