Trump finally jumps the shark

[catbyte]

Damon Linker
April 12, 2021

I'm starting to think that Donald Trump might be finished.

I don't mean that he's bound to be taken down by one of the criminal investigations digging deeply into various aspects of his conduct, though he might be. Or that his business empire is going to be sucked into a cascade of bankruptcies once the $421 million he owes to creditors begins to come due over the next few years, though that is certainly possible. Or that one or more of a couple dozen pending lawsuits will bring him to his knees, though I wouldn't exactly be surprised to see it happen.

No, I mean that the man's political potency is fading at a remarkably rapid rate. With Trump silenced on social media, still obsessed with nursing personal grievances against leading figures in his own party, and continuing to spread transparent, delusional lies about the 2020 election, he looks increasingly marginal, like a pathetic, weak, and comical figure.

I think Trump may have finally jumped the shark.

snip

https://theweek.com/articles/976786/trump-finally-jumps-shark

[Wounded Bear]

1. The phrase "jumped the shark" jumped the shark 20 years ago, maybe longer...

And I retain vigilance around Trumpistas, they're still dangerous regardless of Former Guy's relevance.

[Towlie]

12. "Jumping the shark" means running out of ideas for your made-up stories.

 
?

Like when the Happy Days writers were reduced to having Fonzie put on water skis and his black leather jacket, and jump over a shark.

[Wounded Bear]

14. Jumping the shark has come to mean whatever people want it to mean...

[Towlie]

19. Jumping the shark has come to mean whatever people who don't know what it means guess that it means.

 
?

[dchill]

24. One thing it doesn't mean: Literally jumping a literal shark.

[Sur Zobra]

49. Well, I would like to see

a squirrel, with water skis stepped to his feet, jump a shark

[Pluvious]

31. We've finally jumped the shark by arguing what jumped the shark means

Early migraine coming on...

[live love laugh]

71. 😂😂😂

[Nexus2]

68. Like Mary Sue? [nt]

[albacore]

30. What is the "modern" phrase that has replaced "jumping the shark"? nt

[localroger]

17. More like 'no longer worth bothering with'

The thing about Fonzie's shark jump is that was the moment many people who had been following one of the most popular TV shows in history realized that it had gotten so ridiculous it was no longer worth following.

[A HERETIC I AM]

44. "Happy Days" ran from 1974 to 1984

The episode in which 'Fonzie' did the stunt was in 1977, and the series aired something over 160 episodes AFTER that one.

I hardly think it was "no longer worth following"

[localroger]

57. Well my family lost the habit of watching it in the late 1970's

...and I've seen it often cited as the classic example of a series that kept gasping along long after it should have been put out of its misery. Just because they kept making episodes in the 1980's doesn't mean as many people were watching it or were watching it as obsessively as people did in the mid 1970's. It reached a point where you could pretty much predict what any character would do in any given situation, and because this was before the era of transgressive cable series the writers weren't willing to challenge their characters with anything surprising. There is an audience for that and you can sell ads to them, but to a lot of people it's boring and repetitious no matter how much you once liked the cast and situation.

[Arthur_Frain]

20. Using "Happy Days" to bolster your argument

basically makes the argument for how dated the phrase is.

[Mysterian]

36. It's a common phrase that was not used to bolster any argument

Your statement is odd.

[Arthur_Frain]

45. Using a 50 year old television program reference to support an argument that

the phrase “jump the shark” isn’t outdated? We disagree about that I guess.

It’s not as common a phrase as it used to be, despite Seinfeld giving it relevance for a limited time.

[Mysterian]

61. Once again, the phrase was not used to "support" an argument

The phrase was used to make an assertion but not for support of an argument.

I see the phrase used commonly so our experiences are different.

Many common phrases have obscure origins.

https://www.boredpanda.com/origins-commonly-used-phrases-words-idioms/

[Arthur_Frain]

69. Okay, you win.

nt

[catbyte]

64. Why don't you complain to the author of the article instead of hassling fellow DU members?

Nobody on DU originated it. It is a direct quote. Lighten up

[Maggiemayhem]

37. I thought that is how the phrase originated. Did it exist prior to 1970?

[Arthur_Frain]

48. Well Wikipedia claims Fonzie first used the phrase in a 1974 episode or some such.

But I wouldn’t use a wiki as my standard for making an argument. It may have been in common use for a while, then made its way into the script of an episode and now that’s how everyone remembers it.

Really no way of knowing.

[wnylib]

32. Agree that trumpists and other RWers

are still dangerous without him.

But I still enjoy watching him go down after all the harm he has done.

[geardaddy]

50. LOL

Maybe we could used another dated phrase from a 1970s sitcom like, "added cousin Oliver" or some such

[malaise]

2. The Insurrectionist in Chief is history

Take that to the bank and get thee to the greatest page

[ananda]

33. Lol. That's all that matters!

Now let's put him and his cohorts in jail.

Lock them all up!

[lagomorph777]

3. K&R

[Klaralven]

4. So who will be Joshua to Trump's Moses?

The great irony here is that Trump has been so successful at remaking the GOP in his own image that the party doesn't really need him anymore. Sure, they'll try to avoid provoking his wrath. But every viable candidate for president in 2024 is going to be following Trump's lead on immigration, trade, and waging a rhetorically ferocious culture war against the left — and most of them will be doing it without Trump's own considerable personal liabilities, including the hatred of a large swath of the electorate

Trump will likely go down in history as a blunt instrument who shattered a staid consensus on the right but who was far too widely loathed and incompetent at governing to deliver the party to the Promised Land himself.

[SoonerPride]

7. All o the trump-lie replacements lack his magnetism though

None of the animate the rubes like the TV star.

They are all incredibly boring to them.

[Klaralven]

59. But Josh Hawley, Tom Cotton, and Jared Kushner have a couple of years to take acting lessons.

[Kali]

51. it isn't his lead, he didn't come up with anything new

he just saw that those issues would get him a riled up crowd in public appearances and votes from a shit load of morans.

[underpants]

5. He's disappeared without Twitter

Last edited Mon Apr 12, 2021, 01:19 PM - Edit history (1)

There are reports of what he’s said and what he’s done. There are horrifically written official statements. No actual footage of him. Phoned in appearances on Fox and OANN.

MSM is still reaching to being stories bout him but they are presented with still pictures.

[housecat]

22. Reminds me of the Star Trek episode in a future parallel with nazi Germany.

Their "leader" sat comatose behind a glass window, enabling others to speak for him.

[smb]

27. His Yammerings Were Perfectly Described In That Episode

Spock: Captain, the speech follows no logical pattern.
Kirk: Random sentences strung together.
McCoy: He looks drugged, Jim. Almost at a cataleptic state.

[housecat]

76. thanks. Did you remember that?

[smb]

77. Mostly; Checked The Exact Wording Online nt

[housecat]

79. I'm impressed😎

[getagrip_already]

26. sounds like scotus would love to remedy that....

the clarence all but begged for a test case to be brought forwards.

Former guy may get his megaphone back before long.

[underpants]

60. I edited my post

I had no idea this phone had autocorrected it into gibberish.

If it comes to pass, we’ll see how the press trays it. RW press will swoon like teenage girls be MSM will probably dutifully report on it (but not the hilarious responses). I think most people will omits laugh at how much we used to pay attention to it.

[chia]

6. Twitter broke Trump. Not a political hero or action. That's sobering, on many levels.

It was taking away his social media voice that broke his run. Our Constitution didn't save us from Trump. Our political system almost broke under the weight of him. It wasn't any centuries-long, back-to-the-founders safeguard that protected us from the tyrant. It was Twitter. What does that say about the fragility of our democracy?

[SoonerPride]

8. Live by the tweet, die by the lack of tweets.

You are right.

Twitter made him and it killed him.

He was entirely a product of Twitter.

[chia]

11. Succinctly put.

And well said.

We outvoted his supporters and that brought the 'stop the steal' conspiracy that will never die. It'll be like the second shooter in Dallas.

We had individual heroes but even collectively they couldn't break the GOP stranglehold in the senate.

The impeachment trials were impotent.

What saved us was the decision by Twitter. It was like Delilah cutting off Sampson's hair, it was the simple wooden stake.

Bam. Just like that.

[Eyeball_Kid]

16. Twitter was the perfect medium for Trumpy-Boy.

Twitter doesn't require a conversation or debate. Trump could spew racist and fascist venom, have millions read his diatribes, and didn't have to be held accountable for any of it. He could shun any reasoned debate and simply gloss over his lies with more lies. He could unilaterally forbid any conversation or criticism by ignoring all of it. Trump is a lousy debater because his stock-in-trade is fear and hatred. He doesn't do rationality. He doesn't risk being discredited when he can traffic in tweets. And that's how he gained so much populist power. He focused on legitimizing his lies. He relentlessly pounded away at his self-created untruths, and he was able to gain the following he had because some of his phrasings and words RESONATED with millions. It is/was the resonating that gave him the following, not the content.

But we all now know that when the only medium favorable to Trumpy-Boy cut him off, his power immediately began to wane. We saw then that Trump is a one-trick pony who has nothing to offer his worshippers but the same lies and hatred that got him cut off from Twitter. His words could no longer resonate because the medium used to sustain that effect was gone. Twitter CEO Dorsey rode the Trump pony to exhaustion and made fortunes. Dorsey only cut Trump off because he was being characterized as a pro-Trump fascist tool, and his business would not be able to sustain membership if that reputation solidified.

[C Moon]

23. Twitter only cared to do something because there are laws.

[Pluvious]

34. History will record...

And in the End, they were saved by the brave action of @jack

[Johnny2X2X]

35. YouTube and Facebook are letting him back on soon.

But Twitter was the key to his rise, it remains to be seen if he can use FB and YT half as effectively as Twitter.

Without Twitter, he doesn't win the Republican nomination.

So far he's not relevant at all without Twitter. He doesn't control a news day ever right now. Republicans were extremely stupid to hand over their fundraising to him, it's going to sink them.

[ecstatic]

65. +1000. nt

[Tbear]

9. Trump Finished

That’s how it looks to we sane people.
But he just hosted the RNC in his lair in Florida.

[Maggiemayhem]

39. Good point.

[wnylib]

41. His acolytes will take up

where he leaves off. He is still able to hurt or destroy some Rs because of his inherent vindictive and predatory nature. There are smarter people around him willing to carry on his agenda.

[Lovie777]

10. shithole allowed republicans for 4 years .....

i.e. hatred, racism, lying, cheating, stealing (to name a few) to be open with it and for it to be the normal. It continues and I guess now sexual activities with minors will be the normal as well especially in state's that the law that say the otherwise. Sex trafficking is ok too as long as it isn't republican kids.

I am sick and tired of these motherf**k**s double standards.

[PatSeg]

13. I think you're right

As each week passes, his power and influence decreases. Little by little his followers will start to see an old man with no power, start to fade right before their eyes. What was always so glaringly obvious to us, will begin to be apparent to them. A pathetic, ugly old man with goofy hair and a fake tan, trying to look powerful and dynamic. It might be like looking back at a former lover from years ago and finally seeing what all your friends knew all along. "Ew, what on earth was I thinking?"

[wnylib]

43. I don't know. They still worshipped

St. Ronnie until the orange fascist came along to replace him in their hearts.

His followers still hold the same views, which they will transfer to the next RW leader who shares them.

[Klaralven]

55. You are forgetting Newt and '94.

[PatSeg]

62. There will always be some stubborn holdouts

but so many Trumpers were never really political people to begin with. It was the mainstream republicans who mythologized Reagan and put him on a pedestal. Most of these people are a different breed of voters. People like Bill Kristol and Joe Scarborough are the ones who worshiped the Ronald Reagan who never was.

MAGAs are a brainwashed mob. Once unplugged from the source, many will drift away and go back to sports, reality TV, and the neighborhood bar or church. If they got screwed over by Trump and they realize it, they may even end up resenting him. They do tend to be the type of people who like to blame others for whatever their problems are and Trump would be a huge target for them.

[wnylib]

73. Hope you're right. But consider the RW nut jobs still in

Congress with the full support of their constituents.

[PatSeg]

78. I know, that is very disturbing

We still have a ways to go. The cleansing process will take time.

[sarcasmo]

15. The 421 million is one loan Trump owes. It's laughable when the media says Trump made 1.4 billion.

[multigraincracker]

18. He made 1.4 billion, on paper and not

the kind of paper the Treasury uses.

[ProfessorGAC]

66. Other Reports Said...

...the value of his assets fell $1.2 billion. Forbes, still overstating asset value & understating total debt, showed his net worth falling. Moody's estimates are harsher.
Both can't be true.
I'm going with "He didn't make $400 million per year in office."

[griloco]

21. And shark jumpers say it was the biglyest badlyest shark

ever seen and were amazed at the margin that Donnie cleared it!!!

[Firestorm49]

25. Now if we could only convince Republican legislators and

former white supremest candidates in Georgia, there might be hope.

[BobTheSubgenius]

28. Good lord, he'd better be done!

Even another campaign would be an orgy of hate and maybe even violence...let alone a win. It doesn't bear thinking about.

[joetheman]

29. Nah! That snake is just waiting for a python to come along and devour him..nt

[Buns_of_Fire]

38. Hopefully followed by the sequel:

[Jon King]

40. As I said last week, Trump Corner, FL has died out, thats a barometer...

Trump Corner, a super busy intersection in Florida, has been the hot spot for pro Trump demonstrations for over 5 years. Every Friday for a year before he was elected until a month after Biden was sworn in, they would show up. Elaborate flags, signs, just the feel of a party. It became such a thing they had food trucks near by, police mingling with them.

It suddenly died. 4 weeks ago there were fewer, 3 weeks ago a handful, last 2 Fridays not even one.

It may not feel that way because he is so loud and in the media....but his power is fading fast. People get bored of anything after too long.

[bucolic_frolic]

42. American public opinion moves slowly, in part because it is so accepting

but in the long run they will recognize lies, and only tolerate them if their emotions allow. If you can no longer feed people's delusions, there's not much gas in the tank, and if the delusions are exposed for what they are, the tires are flat too.

[IronLionZion]

46. He needs to take down the Republican party with him

Until enough voters realize the GOP has jumped the shark

[randr]

47. One trick pony

All he offers is insults

[PatrickforB]

52. Ah, catbyte, you have entertained us so much with your wonderful Dodo

posts. Those are wonderful...

So, in that vein, let me present the happy image of Donald Trump actually jumping INTO the gaping maw of a huge, Great White Shark, or perhaps a Megalodon.

Instead, then, of 'jumping' the proverbial shark, I'm thinking Trump is about to actually be CONSUMED BY the shark.

At least one can hope...

[Alien Life Form]

53. This from the article says what I hope for

"Who wants to listen to an angry old man rant and rave about how he was robbed and outsmarted in 2020 by people he labels as dumb? ..... The most likely outcome is that, with each passing month, he will sound more and more like a petulant crank railing impotently against his enemies, real and imagined."

[LudwigPastorius]

54. I believe that, when Hitler was released from jail, ...

very few people took him seriously. They considered him a traitorous buffoon who was finished on the national political scene.

If there's a lesson to be learned from cheesy slasher flicks, it's that the monster only looks like it has been killed. It always rises up again and wreaks havoc.

[BlueNProud]

56. Hes as powerful as the GOP lets him be and they are all genuflecting

so no he's not toast at all.

[struggle4progress]

58. But there are so many people left to kill and so many windows left to break!

[Bluesaph]

63. People on here argue for the dumbest things!

I love the phrase, “jumped the shark”. And if someone thinks it’s outdated too bad so sad. Get a life.

[Azathoth]

67. There is no shark for conservatives

By any objective measure, Trump jumped the shark back in 2012 when Obama showed him to be an utter fool over his birth certificate buffoonery.

For conservatives, there is no bottom to the well of failure, no point when the incompetent buffoonery makes you ineligible to have the nuclear codes. As long as you "own teh libs", conservatives will shove their money into your hands and vote for you.

[uponit7771]

70. ***NO!!!!*** Trumps still holds power on DC KKKons, normal kGQP prolly going to act like they don't

... know him but DC KKKons are going to stick him like white on rice.

Trump holds 20% of the kGQP base per county and will use them to punish anyone who doesn't allow him to grift as much as possible.

[DFW]

72. It wouldn't bother me in the slightest

....if he were to take a dip in the ocean in front of his resort, and some shark were to jump him.

[Goodheart]

74. I don't think Damon Linker knows what "jump the shark" means

[CousinIT]

75. YouTube & Facebook have let him back on their platforms. nt