The Right-Cheek Ass Clown for August, 2016

A new month is here, and we're just about 90 days out from the 2016 presidential election. Happily, the election comes after Halloween, so perhaps we might see some of the presidential wannabes dressing up like principled statesmen in whom we can trust.

Aren't fantasies wonderful?

Anyhow, it's a new month and it's the Friday on which we name our

Right-Cheek Ass Clown for August, 2016

Although my conservative friends routinely accuse me of a dastardly and unconscionable liberal bias*, when I turn to the world of politics to bestow this award, I really do try to bestow it on the most deserving ass clowns, regardless of party. In my opinion, which is the only one that counts, since it's my blog, the most amazing sustained levels of ass clownery are coming this season from the GOP, which was the party to which I belonged for many years. The party as a whole is tearing itself apart and degenerating into a scrum of noisy people who believe in the importance of rights over responsibilities, the most insane of conspiracy theories, and the fundamental evil of those with whom they disagree. And the GOP bears the responsibility for creating and nurturing the atmosphere which has produced one of the most unqualified and toxic presidential candidates in American history, who is hereby presented his sixth Ass Clown Award,

GOP Presidential Candidate

Donald Trump

Each time it appears that the bar cannot be lowered any more, Mr Trump comes up with some new, staggeringly-inappropriate and unpresidential comment. This past week it came in a speech in which he said,

"Hillary wants to abolish — essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, and if she gets to pick … if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is. I don’t know."

In case you didn't quite follow that, it can be interpreted as Mr Trump suggesting that "Second Amendment [read, armed] people" should take violent action against his political opponent.

Of course, Mr Trump and his supporters would like you to believe that that's not what he said, or that he was making a joke, or that the Evil Liberal Media^TM is ganging up on him and twisting his words ... although he seems to be doing a fine job of twisting the language on his own.

For yet another example of distasteful, irresponsible language that continues to demonstrate his lack of fitness for the presidency, Donald Trump is awarded the Right-Cheek Ass Clown Award for August, 2016 ... his sixth award overall and the second in a row**. As an American, I'm ashamed of the picture this presents of us to the world.

Have a good day, and come back tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday. I don't know about you, but I could use a good laugh.

More thoughts then.

Bilbo

* I really am conservative in that I believe in a sound and prudent government that is as small as possible, consistent with what we as a nation expect it to do for us; however, I am more liberal in social matters. Sue me, it's my blog.

** Two weeks ago he shared the On-Crack Ass Clown Award for July with Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.