- Fri Nov 21, 2025 1:24 pm
#100507
I think the cracks started showing with him and Hegsgeth's speeches to the military top brass. They went in like it was a campaign event, and thanks to the military policy of "don't clap", they got showed up something rotten. When you hear his campaign speeches with a backdrop of whooping and cheering, it's possible to get caught up - or at the very least understand that the euphoria from the crowd is more akin to a rock concert than to a political rally. "Go on, do 'Build the Wall'!", they're thinking. As with any performance, if the crowd are up for a good time, that's half your job done.
But the generals and admirals? Tough crowd. Stony faced and hard to intimidate into joining in. For all their tough guy imagery, they're facing a lot of genuinely tough guys, and they're not breaking uncontrollably into tears, or bursting into spontaneous standing ovations like the end of a Michael Bay film. Every line is falling flat. Every pause for a laugh becomes a looming chasm. And you can't call them out, because if you attack their patriotism, or professionalism, or body count, you'll only invite people to highlight your own failings.
Taking on the military was the beginning of the end for McCarthy. It may well be for Trump as well.
As the actress said to the bishop, rabbi, imam and priest
"My eyes have seen the glory, I'm a born again Atheist!"