It's Celebrity Worship.  That explains it.

It has taken me a year of slapping my forehead, trying to understand why Donald Trump could possibly be getting so much attention, so much adulation, so many votes by such a wide variety of average Americans.  Finally, I figured it out.   An acquaintance told me that Hillary thought having Beyonce and other celebrities appearing with her would help, and all it did was disgust him (a Trump voter).  Suddenly I knew.  Why didn't I think of it before?

Knowing that name recognition is the first rule of running for office; knowing that Oprah has often been mentioned as somehow who could run for office; knowing that Jesse Ventura was once elected a governor, Trump was bound to happen.  Those of us who are appalled should have seen it coming.
Celebrities are worshipped.

Millions of people leading ordinary, boring lives want to be friends with a celebrity.  Millions wants to be one.  And apparently, millions wanted one in the White House.  Why?  Because he was entertaining.  Because he was hilarious.  Because he was vulgar, like many of us.  Because, well, he was on TV.

Appalling.

John Glenn

Sad to lose this American hero, though he had a long and so accomplished life.  Personal memories:  Attending the New Jersey Democratic State Convention in Atlantic City in September 1983, meeting and straw-polling for Candidate John Glenn for the 1984 nomination.  One of the highlights of my life. 

And of course, since everything is all about me, I left NJ and had to fly directly to Houston, where my mother was undergoing emergency heart surgery.  When I returned to NJ, appreciation for family meant so much I was ready to expand ours.  Nine months later I was waddling door to door campaigning for Gary Hart, about to deliver the biggest baby that was ever born.....

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION


Why does Donald Trump remind me of a high school reunion?

A high school reunion is a metaphor for life.  The rat race.  It represents the "before" and "after" pictures in a makeover commercial.  Of course, mostly the ones who go to reunions are the ones with a good "after" story, because the ones who take the risk and go without a good "after" are the ones people talk about for years after.  "What a loser!"  "Did you see how fat she got?" "I think that was a toupe."

So that brings me to our (gulp) President elect.  

He's like the guy that can't wait to go to is 20th reunion to show off.  He's the guy who in high school had acne; he was scrawny and no good at sports.  Never got a girl to say yes to sitting with him at lunch.  So he goes to the reunion expecting to blow their minds with his clear skin, toned body with the fake tan, laser corrected vision, expensive suit, hot date with the huge fake boobs, and the Porsche.  When he leaves the reunion he can't shake the sadness, the anger.  Because the classmates he wanted to impress are now still talking about him.  "He's still obnoxious!"  "See that Porsche he bragged about?  Purple! What a loser!" "Those boobs are fake."  "Bet she's never read a book."  "Read a book?  Bet she can't spell 'book'"!....

Trump can't get the respect he wants, no matter how many times he brags about his money.  His women.  His numbers of red hats at rallies.  His votes.  He has never been able to be accepted by the "elites" he wants so desperately to impress, and he never will.  Because underneath the loaded wallet in his back pocket is, you guessed it, an ass.

That makes him so mad it makes him, well, mad.  And his madness is spreading to some very dangerous elements.  All the rest of us can do it pray that his madness doesn't destroy our country.