Despite economic and social theories which suggest individuals and civilizations will, in most instances, behave in their own self-interest, it seems there are more and more cases where the opposite is true.  This human condition was most famously articulated by Pogo creator Walt Kelly (1913-1973) on a poster he created to promote the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970.  “We have met the enemy and he is us.”  (HISTORICAL NOTE:  The more often referenced version is attributed to a daily edition of the Pogo comic strip which appeared on April 22, 1971, to commemorate the first anniversary of Earth Day.)

I thought about Walt Kelly several times during the past week.  On Sunday, NBC News and the Wall Street Journal released the latest poll numbers on Comrade Trump’s voter approval as he approaches his 100th day in office. An article about the opinion survey on NBCNEWS.com summarized the results as follows, “Trump is holding on to his base — but he’s losing nearly everyone else.”  Men, of whom 52 percent voted for Trump in 2016, now disapprove of his job performance by five percent.  Seniors, who voted for Trump by a margin of 52-45 percent also expressed disapproval by a margin of two percent.  Independents who favored Trump by 46-42 percent on election day reported a net approval rating of -23 percent.  Even Republican support has dropped from 88 percent on November 8 to 69 percent in the NBC/WSJ survey.

The only group which continues to voice overwhelming support for Trump (85 percent approval rating) are those who voted for the GOP nominee last November.  When you factor in the decline in generic Republican support, it’s clear die-hard Trump voters continue to be die-hard fans.  This should come as no surprise.  Remember, at a Sioux City, Iowa rally on January 24, 2016, Trump told the attendees, “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.”  And on this rare occasion, the liar-in-chief was telling the truth.

Which brings us back to Walt Kelly.  And why Trump’s decision to back down on funding the border wall as part of the pending budget resolution was a moment of personal enlightenment.  For 97 days, I and many others have wondered at what point would Trump voters realize they had been played.  Intervention in Syria and North Korea instead of “America First?”  “Drain the swamp” becomes a cabinet that looks like a board of directors meeting at Goldman-Sachs?  “I hire the best people” results in the immediate resignation of the national security adviser?  And most recently, “the most beautiful wall you’ve ever seen” is sounding more and more like a memorial to Marcel Marceau.  (No undocumented mimes need apply!)

Forget repeal of the affordable care act, ridding the nation of undocumented immigrants, protecting Americans from terrorist attacks and every other policy position espoused by the Trump campaign.  Donald has one, and only one, prime objective.  Prove the “fake news” media wrong.  And though he eschews polls, he would love nothing more than to get his favorability rating above water.  One need only examine the lengths to which this administration has already gone to achieve this goal.  To disprove mainstream media criticism of the now infamous Obama wiretap tweets, the administration went on a wild goose chase to find collaborating information, and in the process, exposed the chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence for the political hack he is.

That is why die-hard Trump supporters are their own worst enemy.  He can break every promise he made during the campaign.  He can make it easier for companies to poison their water with an executive order.  He can support a health care bill which is a front for tax breaks for the wealthy while taking away their health insurance.  It doesn’t seem to matter.  The only way Trump can raise his approval rating is by doing things he said he would never do.  Damn the deficit if he can pick up a little support through massive tax cuts and an unpaid for trillion dollar infrastructure program.  The cost of replenishing the military’s supply of Tomahawk missiles and MOABs is a small price to pay for gaining the praise of neo-cons.  Every time Trump supporters allow him to break a promise without consequences they are giving him a hall pass to continue screwing them over.

Okay, Trump voters.  You want us to believe you are not anti-Muslim, bigoted homophobes?  You want us to believe you supported Trump because you thought his professed policies were good for America?  Stand up for them!  Don’t give this con-man a pass.  Otherwise, we’re on to your con as well.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP