Even as (real) Donald Trump continues to maintain a strong lead in a variety of polls, many Americans continue to dismiss his becoming president as completely beyond the realm of imagination.
Really? Watch the campaign advertisement below (the actual advert starts at 0:39, but it's worth watching from the start for entertaining context) from Silvio Berlusconi. Does it remind you of anyone?
Berlusconi led Italy for nine years as Prime Minister. Before his "coming to power" (and, yes, that is the right diction), he was a mediocre cruise ship singer and a wealthy businessman. Sound familiar?
How about the video full of beautiful women singing "thank God for Silvio"? Sound familiar?
If you want to understand Trump, step outside of the U.S. for a few minutes and look at Berlusconi.
How did a man like Berlusconi win? Like the United States, Italy is a corrupt, dysfunctional country (albeit one that still manages to do universal health care and high-speed rail quite well) -- with huge regional differences in culture, society and wealth -- and a "political outsider" strong man was pretty darn appealing. A God among men: smart, wealthy for having "earned" success, arrogant, cocky, a "patriot." With a political party -- Forza Italia (Forward Italy) -- that pledged to, for all intents and purposes, make Italy great again.
"@misterdish69: @TrumpNewMedia@realDonaldTrump@HowardKurtz@JoeNBCpic.twitter.com/GS1BDUCdcK"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2015If you don't think Trump can win, watch that video one more time -- and tell me, if the Italians elected a man like Berlusconi, why wouldn't Americans elect a man like Trump?
We sure as hell better have a good Democratic candidate to combat his appeal, because, if we don't, Berlusconi (err...Trump) will win.
So, how do Democrats beat an egomaniac? With humility, consistency of message, and generosity of spirit -- it's not rocket science. But we must choose wisely.
This campaign is not about Bernie Sanders or anyone else. This campaign is about the needs of the American people who are hurting.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 2, 2015