Stephen Bannon: Despicable Me Eyes the WH
Vanity Fair ran an eye-popping (if not headache inducing) profile on the inimitable Steve Bannon, chief arsonist and editor of Brietbart News. Bannon describes himself as a ‘revolutionary,’ who is now eying the prospects of a . . . presidential run in 2020.
Before we all fall over laughing, I would suggest everyone read the VF piece because in doing so I suspect you’ll come away with something akin to my own take.
Steve Bannon is a very smart operator who—unlike Trump—is well-educated, politically adept and media/propaganda savvy. He knows how to move crowds despite his staggering loss in the Alabama/Roy Moore debacle. And he has been ginning up support both in the U.S. and around the world to sell his brand of American nationalism.
Oddly enough, he’s using the Obama strategy to gain a grassroots network, a new coalition of libertarians, evangelicals, gun rights activists and union members, those blue-collar workers left behind by globalization. He’s been effectively fanning the flames of victimhood in reverse—the unloved, unschooled white guys, put upon by modernity and immigration and who knows what else. Like all good revolutionaries, he is fixing his sights on The Establishment, the moneyed elites (the source of all evil) and pumps his ideology as a cure to all ills.
Snake Oil Salesman. But a clever, articulate snake oil salesman.
Think about a competent, strategic and take-no-prisoners’ version of the Trumpster and you’ll get a feel for the real danger of a Steve Bannon. His brand of leadership is lethal, even more deadly that what we’re experiencing now.
So, we may cheer Bannon’s desire to rid the world of Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and their various aides and acolytes. But make no mistake: this is careful what you wish for territory.
Remember the snake in the poem/lyric that Trump waxed eloquent (well, almost eloquent) about? The snake ultimately kills its caretaker, reminding her that she always knew He was a snake. Trump called the story ‘beautiful.’
With Steve Bannon? This would be a hyena coming in for the kill, yipping and shrieking with laughter. Because tearing things up is what Steve Bannon and his mini-clones are all about.
We must stay awake, always. Because the barbarians are grouping.
Vanity Fair link here:
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/12/bannon-for-president-trump-kushner-ivanka
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