The upside-down fantasy world of Trumpism

[Donald Trump]made his first speech since leaving the White House at the rightwing Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, to an effusive reception. Trump claims, entirely falsely, that he actually won the 2020 election but was fraudulently denied his victory.

[...]

Trump said, to wild cheers: “I may even decide to beat [Biden] for a third time.”

[...]

“We all knew that the Biden administration was going to be bad – but none of us imagined just how bad they would be, and how far left they would go... Joe Biden has had the most disastrous first month of any president in modern history. And adding: “Biden’s radical immigration policies aren’t just illegal – they are immoral, they are heartless, and they are a betrayal of our nation’s core values.”

  Guardian

Christ.

In a speech that lasted about 90 minutes, Trump fell back on his reliable rightwing themes against immigration, especially dealing harshly with migrants crossing the US-Mexico border, and talking up his barrier strengthening there.

And everyone forgot what he said about Biden's heartless policies.

He also took off on a transphobic rant, claiming that transgender athletes were ruining women’s sport.

And Trump positioned himself at the presumed heart of the Republicans, saying any idea that he was going to lead a breakaway political party was “fake news”.

[...]

“The only division is between a handful of Washington DC establishment political hacks, and everybody else all over the country.”

Most commentators expect Trump, aged 74, to leave open the possibility that he will run for re-election in 2024 without making a definitive commitment. He has remained a looming presence at CPAC, with speaker after speaker pledging fealty to him and his “Make America great again” agenda, while a golden calf-style idol in his image was even paraded around the convention halls.

[...]

Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union, which runs the conference, claimed: “CPAC is your first opportunity to see what actually happened on election day. And there was widespread voter fraud in way too many states, most especially in big cities run by the Democrat machine. That is fact and we gave you evidence to underscore that fact.”

Tom Fitton, president of the rightwing group Judicial Watch, told attendees: “On election day, President Trump had the votes to win the presidency. These vote totals were changed because of unprecedented and extraordinary counting after election day. Judicial Watch has long warned of the chaos and increased risk of fraud from recklessly mailing one hundred million ballots and ballot applications.”

Such claims have repeatedly been proved false. [...] The former president and his allies lost more than 60 legal challenges, including those weighed by Trump-appointed judges. Trump’s own attorney general, William Barr, dismissed the fraud allegations.

For all the talk of party unity, CPAC was notable for the absence of former vice-president Mike Pence, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and other leading Republicans.

Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator from Louisiana, insisted that CPAC does not represent the entire Republican party.

Cassidy could be wrong.

And he could also be wrong about another thing...

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) predicted Sunday that former President Trump would not be the party's nominee for president in 2024, pointing to the number of seats lost by Republicans in the House and Senate over the four years Trump was in office.

Speaking with CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union," Cassidy was asked several times whether he would support Trump should he run in 2024 or back him if he wins the GOP nomination, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would last week.

"That's a theoretical that I don't think will come to pass," Cassidy responded, adding, "I don't mean to duck, but the truth is you could ask me [about] a lot of people, if they are fit. Point is, I don't think he'll be our nominee."

[...]

Cassidy was one of seven GOP senators to defect and join Senate Democrats earlier this month in voting to convict Trump during the former president's second impeachment trial.

   The Hill

Well, he was right then.

The golden idol was made in Mexico. And why are his feet planted so far apart?  Also, what's with the wand in his hand?  Is he supposed to be a fairy?  A magician?

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.