The Producers
By 
Misty water-color memories, aka August 2015:
What does Donald Trump actually want? That is the practical question posed by his increasingly bizarre, and increasingly successful, “campaign.” . . .
It’s a good question, and my guess of an answer is that Trump’s campaign started as a publicity stunt, but has since spun out of control. It’s the plot of The Producers, but, increasingly, the joke’s on the GOP. And, now that Trump’s bottomless narcissism is being fed by the spectacle of his transformation into a “serious” candidate, it’s hard to predict where all this will ultimately end up.
The Hoarse Whisperer, tonight:
Trump, in his narcissistic, simplistic thinking, thought he was just laying the groundwork to capitalize on losing.
So, when Russia came along and said “Let’s work together….” Trump was happy to agree because he thought it was just buddying up to Putin.
2/
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 18, 2019
So when Russia offered dirt on Hillary, Trump happily says “thanks, you’re such a great partner…”.
…and then Russia says “How about changing your platform on the Ukraine?”
…and Trump says “Happy to, my friends!” thinking he’ll never be in office to folllw-through.
3/
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 18, 2019
So Trump was just taking the quids and promising the quos as a courtship of sorts.
He thought he was being smart.
Posturing like he’d bend over backwards for Russia without actually having to do anything… since he’d lose and not have to deliver.
4/
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 18, 2019
In Trump’s lizard brain, he’d think that was brilliant. His fantasy:
“I told them I’d do anything for them. I’d lift sanctions. I’d break up NATO. Whatever they wanted. I didn’t have to do any of it… but they were so happy, they gave me a big hotel deal. I’m a genius.”
5/
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 18, 2019
…but then he won. Russia delivered on their end of the bargain.
Then Trump was trapped.
No hotel. No $300 million. None of the goodies he wanted… and Russian partners who could put him and put him in prison if he didn’t pay up on his end of the deal.
6/
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 18, 2019
I dunno, I think this is all quite plausible.
Trump thought he was being a super slick grifter. Blowing smoke up the asses of his Russian friends. Setting them up to close the deal he wanted.
Then he ended up upside down with Putin calling to collect.
7/
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 18, 2019
Trump was working on his big Moscow deal right up to close to the election.
His plan was to win by losing… and then he lost by winning.
Now it’s all coming out and he’s sunk.
He’s just dumb enough for this crazy theory to be true. We’ll see.
8/8
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 18, 2019
Sounds plausible.
. . . meanwhile, P.T Barnum, H.L. Mencken, etc: (Coincidentally this was the lead “story” on Fox this morning):
Another big Caravan heading our way. Very hard to stop without a Wall!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2019