Dumbkirk

by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist

Have you ever wondered by Donald Trump, a glorified used car salesman who likes to flash his money for the whole world to see and appreciate, doesn't own a yacht?   At one time the hotelier and television reality "star" had his own jumbo jet with  his last named splashed from wing-to-tail fin, and he has his name on dozens of buildings, some of which he even owns, but there is apparently no "Trump" yacht.  What gives with that?

One of Trump's former television associates has recently revealed that Trump, who never learned to swim, has a serious fear of water - and apparently pictures of him on boats are nonexistent because Trump refuses to set foot on any watercraft.

It is also highly unlikely that he even walks on water.

With that background, it is ironic that a group of Trump supporters came up with the idea of having a "Trump Boat Parade" at Lake Travis in Texas over Labor Day weekend - but it happened (kinda, sorta) yesterday afternoon at the lake (a reservoir of water from the Colorado River) near Austin.  Word of the event to honor the land-loving Trump went out over Facebook and more that 2,600 people responded that they would show up for the fun in the sun.

And many did.

Trump-supporting MAGATs with their red hats, beer coolers, and boats of various sizes and shapes began assembling at Lake Travis yesterday morning, and at noon they set off in mass, hundreds of boats packed with enthusiastic amateur sailors, for a leisurely float around the lake.  

But the pleasure cruise was destined to last only a few minutes.

The prevailing wind was estimated at a manageable ten miles per hour, but some of the bigger vessels began racing about and churning up waves - and sending water pouring into the smaller boats.  Confusion set in, and by 12:15 the local sheriff's office was receiving reports of boats sinking in the lake.

By the time sheriff's deputies and emergency responders reached the scene, many people had already been pulled from the boating melee by other boaters and taken to shore.  There were apparently no deaths or serious injuries, but multiple news reports indicated anywhere from four to "several" boats were sunk.  At last reports, foul play was not suspected.

As might be expected, social media had a field day covering the nautical disaster.  Clips of the debacle played on YouTube, and Twitter was on fire with stories of the failed parade.  The actor, Billy Baldwin, posted a clip on Twitter of a group of people struggling to keep their small craft from sinking, and he attached the comment:  "Women and Klansmen first!!"   Baldwin referenced #LakeTravis, #Dumbkirk and #YachtsAndPrayers with his tweet.

In hindsight, a boat parade probably wasn't such a good idea, particularly since Trump himself has a phobia about water.  But Donald John has no apparent fear of flying, so perhaps an air parade might be in order.  How about a beautiful flotilla of hot-air balloons from Mar-a-Lago to the Florida Keys?

It may be hurricane season, but the truly righteous should have nothing to fear!