The Trump Tweet Game:  What Does it Tell Us?

It appears to be something like a law of nature, drummed into every television producer for two years now:  Every tweet tweeted by Trump must be covered fully, especially if the content is truly an outrage to decency or democratic values, like threatening to punish football stars for kneeling at the national anthem, or threatening to fire Rosenstein one more time, or one more insult at Hillary.  The tweet must be displayed in a little box with a hash mark, long enough for viewers to actually read it.  It must be read breathlessly, with an air of disbelief, perplexity, and frustration at the latest installment of the genre, as though it was completely unexpected.  Then a panel of experts will appear.  One familiar face, we know, will support Trump not matter what the case, with the glee and smugness of a secure victor.  Another familiar face, we know, will plead against the factual basis, or logic, of the tweet, as though appealing, desperately, to the inherent reasonableness of the American public, for validation--with the look of frustration of a loser suspecting the game is rigged.  Viewers who, for the moment at least, love the shake-up that Trump represents will smile approvingly at the pitiful scene the tweet has produced on television.  Viewers who hate Trump will cling to the straw hope of voter revenge in November, say a silent prayer for the flip of the House, and allow a shiver to disgust to rumble through their minds once more.

This game has become a ritual, re-enacted daily, and it will continue as long as Trump toys against the interests of the Lower 99% with such glee.  The dirty little secret that gives the tweet game life is that the new Establishment is--surprise!--the same old Establishment of monied interests, only this iteration is more honest and forthright:  Trump is telling them they needn't bother with the silliness of paying homage to the trappings of democratic values.  That game was over years ago.