Plus ça Change, Plus C'est la Même Chose

Donald Trump wastes a golden opportunity.

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The 2024 Republican Convention is officially over. And to most observers, it was a resounding success. Not only was the lost soldier Melania Trump found safe and sound, but she enthusiastically endorsed her (still)-husband and perhaps (future)-President Donald J. Trump - as did the adoring crowd of Republican convention goers, all united in their undying support of their god-like candidate, who not only had survived by a few millimetres an assassination attempt just a few days ago, but who seemingly could do nothing wrong and who was walking on water for four days.

Such a miraculous event prompted Trump to declare that he was a new version of his old self: more subdued, more introspective and more sensitive to the outside world. For the first thirty minutes of his speech, he delivered on that promise, speaking softly about his escape from the assassin's bullet and stating very seriously that he was not afraid because god protected him.

But try as he will, his real nature always has a way of coming back to bite him in the most unpleasant of places, just as the scorpion is incapable of not stinging the frog who is leading him across the river to safety, ensuring his downfall "because I couldn't resist the urge. It's my character." The remaining sixty-two minutes of his speech displayed Trump not only in his usual brash, aggressive and lying manner but in an even more exaggerated and unhinged version thereof. The wannabe imperial president Trump was naked on stage for all to see, and nobody dared tell him he had no clothes on. The final hour of his rambling rant erased all the benefits of the previous four days - Trump had missed the opportunity to change the course and nature of the presidential campaign irrevocably. It was back to business as usual.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same". Trump just couldn't resist the urge as it's his character.

Once the numerous balloons fell to the convention floor in a fantastic display of blue, white and red and Trump was basking in the cult-like devotion of his followers, there was a little glimmer of hope for the Democrats as they observed this from afar. Trump was a man they could beat.