I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.
~President Joe Biden/July 13, 2024
Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for president, and is certainly not fit to serve – and never was! He only attained the position of president by lies, fake news, and not leaving his basement…We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly.
~Former President Donald Trump/July 21, 2024
Donald Trump loves to talk about his golf game. And as anyone who has picked up a club will tell you, golf is a game of honor and respect for others on the course. This includes fixing divots on the fairway, raking sand traps and repairing ball marks on the green. Failing to do any of these is more an inconvenience, not a matter of life or death. There is only one courtesy that approaches the latter. Yelling “FORE” following an errant shot in the direction of another player or spectator. I doubt whether Trump has ever used the term, since according to him, he has never endangered the safety of another golfer, having never executed anything but a “perfect” swing.
As America enters the final phase of what must be one of the least predictable contests in the history of presidential contests, the above quotes are one more reminder of the choice voters have on November 5, 2024. In the face of potential tragedy, one side yells “FORE!!!” Despite the bucolic nature of the rolling fairways, forests and water features of August National, Pinehurst, Pebble Beach or St. Andrews, competitors and spectators are often subjected to incoming projectiles. And on those occasions when one of those dimpled spheres collides with its unintended target, the responsible golfers, regardless of the severity of the strike, inevitably check to see if their “victims” are okay and wish them well. That is what Biden and every Democratic officials did upon hearing of the events at Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania rally.
An equally defining moment in golf comes at the end of a match when competitors, regardless how intensely their rivalry played out, acknowledge their common experience. Yesterday was a prime example. Runner-up Justin Rose congratulated Open Champion Xander Schauffele and conceded he had been outplayed on the final nine holes. Likewise, Schauffele attributed his ability to focus on the task at hand to Rose’s equally good showing. Not so with Trump. Despite his professed love of golf, his response to Biden’s announcement again proves he may understand the mechanics of golf but has never mastered the culture of the game.
This fact is documented in sportswriter Rick Reilly’s 2019 book, Commander-in-Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump. His dislike for Trump has nothing to do with politics, triggered initially by Trump’s many outrageous claims of golfing excellence on Twitter and confirmed by rounds of golf with the former president. Reilly writes, “I wasn’t offended as a voter. I was offended as a golfer.” For example, he recalls how Trump races ahead of his playing partners in a “turbo-charged golf cart,” giving him time to improve his position before the others catch up to him. Balls landing in hazards beam, Star Trek-like, to preferred lies in the middle of the fairway.
Reilly’s primary thesis in his book is to reveal a much larger truth about Trump and others who approach the game in a similar manner.
If you’re going to cheat at golf, you’re going to cheat on your taxes, cheat on your wife and cheat on — what else? Elections? If you’re going to lie about your round, why not lie about how many votes you got, or how big your inauguration size was? Do you realize he lies about the size of his buildings? It’s incredible to me.
It is too bad First Tee, launched by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem in 1997, did not exist when Donald was growing up. It would have a been a better alternative to the lessons he learned at New York Military Academy. For those unfamiliar with First Tee, here is its mission statement.
First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, we create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do.
What does this have to do with the presidential election, especially in light of Biden’s withdrawal from the contest? Echoing Richard Nixon’s “last press conference” after losing his 1962 bid for governor of California, the press won’t have Joe Biden to kick around any more. Which shifts the spotlight back on Trump. And as he demonstrated in his nomination acceptance speech last Thursday night (and Friday morning), there is no “newly tempered Trump,” chastened by his near encounter with death. He will return to form, taking errant shots at his opponent, especially if it is Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, none of his sycophants dare remind him to yell “FORE!” Instead, they will “let Trump be Trump” for the 105 days between now and the election. Hopefully voters will recognize only they can yell “FORE,” warning others of Trump’s barrage of incoming misinformation, outright lies and gaslighting.
What is the message? There is no “new Trump” just as there was no “new Nixon.” And the question? Is 15 weeks of the “old Trump” enough to jog voters’ memory how quickly they tired of the chaos, making four more years (or longer) of it an unbearable eternity?
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP
Another great analysis, (even though I am not a “sports geek” , let alone a “golf geek”). But no one makes me appreciate the value of a sports metaphor more than you!
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The biggest problem for me is being completely unable to understand the people who worship Trump. Wealthy people I understand. The millions that they have are never enough. Some new to politics who have no morals to stand in their way. But established respected members of Congress who kneel while knowing their country is at risk? And people who refuse to believe their own eyes and ears? There are so many books and articles written about how autocrats rise to power how can there be so much ignorance? Trump has always told us exactly what he is. The Heritage Foundation is certainly making good use of their “useful idiots”.
Darlene, you’re not alone. But you’re right. The rich are voting for their own self interest. Lower income supporters are just the opposite. That is why I wrote the blog about the tax proposal in Project 2025. We need to show them how they are on the losing end of most of these proposals. Their tax bill will go up. They will lose affordable health care. How deporting immigrant workers will result in a labor shortage that fuels inflation. And on and on.