Naming Rights
by Stoker
"The time has come," the Stoker said,
"To talk of many things:
Of Democrats —and the GOP—and Naming Rights
Of cabbages—and faux kings—And why the sea is boiling hot— And especially electoral swings." *
And alas, but one cannot avoid painful subjects for ever, of Donald J Trump.
There is a lot happening in TrumpWorld, or the United States of America, as it used to be known. Only this morning the Cotswold skies were filled with an appalling racket and fuel fumes as – no, not as the Sussex’s took their children on their daily low-key school run – but as the US Airforce took their fleet of B1 bombers away from their long-term home of RAF Fairford and back to the safety of TrumpWorld.
Fairford, which is really only an RAF station in name, more of an American forward base, was attacked a couple of weeks ago by suspected Iranian terrorists. The terrorists were subtle in their methods; so subtle that they turned up without weapons of any sort but in large vans and disguised as fuel thieves. (It has been suggested that in fact they were actually arriving to steal fuel, although there must be easier places to steal it from than a USAF base; time will no doubt reveal all.)
But our American cousins are unnerved and have removed their war planes. Alternative theories, some appealing and some amusing, are: that they feared the British government under its new leadership might nationalise or tax the planes; that Mr Trump wants to make a point to the Brits that they cannot rely on the American military umbrella; that he intends to send his forces elsewhere (Cuba perhaps); or my personal favourite, that he needs to strengthen his domestic protection for the outcome of the coming midterm elections.
Ah-ha. The midterms. On 3rd November we shall be halfway through the glorious reign of Donald J Trump since his remarkable return to office in 2024. That was an election supposedly impossible for the Democrats to lose, but lose it they did, through the combined efforts of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. They even lost control of the House of Representatives; it currently has a GOP (Republican) majority of four in a House of 435 seats. In the Senate the GOP have 53 seats to the Democrats 47. On 3rd November all of the House seats are up for election, and 33 seats in the Senate. Never believe opinion polls of course but they are often not far off, and Mr Trump is believing that they are totally totally WRONG, my friends. They are, perhaps needless to say, showing the Republicans about to suffer a major defeat.
If they are right, Mr Trump is history. He will loose control of the House, and possibly the Senate. Also on 3rd November, though it matters less for the federal government, a number of Republican Governorships will go to the Democrats, even Texas, which is a lodestar of the GOP. The federal government will thus become deadlocked and Donald will not be able to get much legislation through, may well find himself at risk of impeachment, and find his vanity projects blocked, or at least at risk.
The White House ballroom (which is perhaps not such a bad idea as the White House lacks large entertainment spaces) may get finished – it will look jolly odd as such a large hole in the Presidential garden, but it won’t be the Donald J Trump Ballroom for long. But many other vanity projects will not happen – starting with the annexation of Greenland, followed by Canada. It’s too late for the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario, which will have to await a future, less bombastic president to give up being the Gulf of America and Lake America, and we dare not suggest that the Atlantic and Pacific may yet avoid becoming the East America Ocean and the West America Ocean. Oh whoops. But in Boston, Massachusetts, renaming the JFK Library and Museum as the JFK Donald Trump Library and Museum, looks as though it may not happen.
Now this latter is surely the most remarkable insight into the mind of the 45th and 47th President. The building (which is wonderful but dated) needs modernisation and repair at a cost of circa US$250m, and this falls as a federal expense. Mr Trump agreed to fund the works subject to some changes – basically demolishing the existing building and adding his name to John F Kennedy’s.
Not a joke. Utterly bizarre. How can Mr Trump equate himself, his politics, his impact on social movements, with that of President John Kennedy? This, incidentally, is not to condemn Donald’s policies and impacts, for those of our readers who admire them (step forward please), but two men, two presidencies, two philosophies of politics, of greater difference, would be difficult to find. The Margaret Thatcher and Harold Wilson Memorial Library? The Keir Starmer and Jacob Rees-Mogg Centre for Political Research? Mr Trump cannot be serious. But he is. No DJT alongside JFK on the building, no taxpayers’ money. The trustees, to their credit, said they would close the building rather than submit, and have now done so, supported by a federal judge.
Mr Trump seems to be doing what some presidents tend to do, to secure their legacies. It is understandable that one would wish to be nicely recalled by future generations. A library per president is usual; wanting to stick your name on a building which commemorates a man who would have been your true nemesis is not. Wanting to be carved onto Mount Rushmere is not either. Maybe that one was a joke, but probably not.
Which leads us to something very interesting. The Republican Party, like the British Conservative Party, will put up with a lot if it thinks a winner is leading the party. Why else would a party tolerate Edward Heath or Theresa May?. But it can turn on a dime if the leader starts to look like a big time loser. And such is the odour that is starting to surround The Donald. The small boats are hastily detaching themselves from the Trump Titanic for fear of being dragged down with it. Some senior Republicans give off the distinct impression they would not mind losing the midterms. A deadlocked Congress and President could not do much harm, and a lot of Administration nonsense – Big A, meaning Trumpian – would be stopped. The GOP can go back to its civilised broad roots and select a candidate who might well win the presidency in 2028; not at all impossible given the lack of visible appealing candidates among the Democrats.
Take a step back in other words, to get a run at the bigger jump. Donald can carry the blame for too many wars, for the price of petrol, the growing cost of living, for upsetting every ally and friend that the US used to have in the world. Indeed, given some of DJT’s recent behaviours (see JFK above, and others) the GOP might soon introduce a Biden strategy. “There, there, Mr President, have your pills and a nice sleep, don’t worry about a thing.”
*Apologies to Lewis Carroll, of course
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