A Wanna’ Be Wolf: Cornered

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“We must flee, as we are now in the clutches of a wolf,” said then Cardinal Giovanni di Medici in 1492 upon the election of the notorious Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI. As this was a period during which papal enemies often took unexpectedly ultimate swims in the Tiber (including Borgia’s own son some years later) flee Medici did, eventually to return and become a rather wolfish pope himself, Leo X.

Since November 9, 2016,  I have often recalled that quote: obvious to me — and I believe, to most thinking, humanist people — that Trump was a singularly dangerous wolf. Like a feral canine, he lives only to eat, kill, mate and survive. And like a lupine predator, DJT leads a pack of lesser, subservient wolves. Unfortunately for the United States — and the world — many voters (for and against) saw in Trump an aging dog in sheep-killer clothing: all bark and no bite.  

Alas, after almost a year-and-a-half since 11/9, Trump has proven (as if anyone who had followed his career could have ignored the evidence) that he is not possible of domestication. He is a wild creature, albeit of the Alpha-minus male variety, propped up by other lesser predators such as the “Fox” masquerading as news. His barks are sordid and annoying. His bites — bad enough but reversible with electoral medication.

As Friday the 13th dawned here in Spain — where even from my stairmaster perch Trump’s televised visage is ubiquitous — there seems to be rising with the sun growing evidence of the cornered dog that is the 45th President of the United States.

For one who has traveled and worked internationally for the last 21 years, this has been a profoundly embarrassing time. As my husband Alfredo often points out, Europe has its share of problems and toxic histoiry (e.g see “World Wars 1, 2 and the Holocaust”). However, while I do not romanticize the Romans and their descendants, I do see in their cafèd eyes and hear in their bodegad voices a wisdom-infused weariness and ultimate faith in people. Trump may have partied with paid-off porn stars but in Italy — they have elected several. 

 This, too, shall pass Europa seems to say with a shrug. Thankfully, Trump is no  Mussolini (although they share a jaw and speaking style) nor does he have Hitler’s wicked guile. Here in Spain, where ghosts of fascist Franco still loom large, one might call Donald Trump “Caudillo lite”: a dictator wanna’ be whose lack of intelligence and focus may yet backhandedly save from Russia and ruin the US Republic.

We will survive Trump, and this week’s growing yaw of a snare continues to suck Trump and his administration relentlessly towards a none-too-early demise. As they say here in Spain, ojalà — God willing.

More than those who voted for him, those political and foxy “elites” who supported him (and support him still) will earn a cascade of asterisks on history’s wrong side. To call them collaborators is perhaps too strong. To call them fools is absolutely too weak.

A case in point: The once shiny political penny known as Paul Ryan. This week, PR spin aside, he surrendered: too little, too late. His badge of dishonor is a close second to that of our cornered president. Pass the popcorn and the WD-40 so I may watch and hasten the springing of the trap.

As storied Washington Post reporter Michael Gerson just opined:

“It is hard to fault a man for failing to be a hero. But Ryan will not be judged by history for his agenda of tax cuts, increased military spending and deregulation. He will be remembered as the Republican leader who could not prevent Trump’s total takeover of the GOP. In many ways, Ryan was the best of his party. It was not nearly enough.”

And so, what the feckless Paul Ryan could not — would not — do, the US justice system and a wiser electorate will. There is nothing so vicious, reckless or dangerous as a wounded wild beast: the next few weeks, nay probably months, will be ugly and rough. But, very soon I hope — I trust — the political carcass of this administration, this Trump, will be fit only for carrion. There will be no aircraft carriers named for DJT.
— David Perry

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