Cotton Begs to Be Picked

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Donald John Trump has to do more than just "feel" the love, he has to be able to turn around and see it standing tall behind him in blue suits and red ties, ready to bend and grovel at his every command.  Trump admires himself to a level that is ludicrous, and he expects others to be as much in awe of him as he is of himself.  During the closing weeks of his criminal trial in New York, the nation watched in amusement, or bewilderment, or disgust as dozens of otherwise prominent Republican politicians rushed to be photographed attending his trial and then giving Trump soundbites to the press, often saying things that the trial judge, through his gag order, had forbidden Trump to speak about in public.  

Personal integrity be damned.  They were there to kiss Trump's ass ring and show their unwavering support for the elderly man who is facing more criminal counts than he has experienced years of life on earth.  They were there, in court, elected US Representatives and Senators standing behind Trump, tall and proud, staring down the judge, prosecutors, witnesses, press, and any others who would dare to hold God's man accountable.  P.T. Barnum would have made a killing with a freak show like that!

Prominent among the GOP pilgrims to Manhattan were all of the vice-presidential hopefuls that Trump is reportedly considering.  Tom Cotton, the junior senator from Arkansas was there, too, and while Tommy Boy wasn't known to be a contender when he took time off from work to go to the Big Apple, he has since been acknowledged by Trump as someone he is considering to be his second-in-command.

Trump has brought Cotton's name up over the past few days as someone who is "experienced" and who has the "ability to run a disciplined campaign," both qualities that could only benefit Trump, a politician who is constantly mired in chaos.  But Tom Cotton has other baggage that would detract from the "all-American boy" image that he tries to project - particularly on the subject of race.  

Tom Cotton has blocked judicial appointments of black and brown individuals on several occasions, and he was a leading Senate opponent to the confirmation of black Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Supreme Court.   He has spoken out against race education in America's classrooms, and is especially critical of the findings of The New York Times' 1619 Project on the history of slavery.  Cotton views slavery as a "necessary evil" that helped to build America, and he sees critical analysis of the subject as generally being "left-wing propaganda."  During protests following the police killing of George Floyd, Cotton published an opinion piece in The New York Times entitled "Send in the Troops" in which he encouraged Trump to do just that.  

Yesterday Cotton may have gained a couple of steps on his rivals to become Trump's vice-presidential pick when he announced that he has placed an "Appeal to Heaven" flag on the wall outside of his senate office.  The flag, which was used by some insurrectionists during the Trump riots of January 6, 2021, has been in the news of late after it was discovered that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito had flown it over his vacation home.  In announcing his display of the flag used by some insurrectionists, Cotton compared himself to George Washington and Mrs. Alito.

Tom Cotton is a skilled politician who is working hard to gain Donald Trump's attention and approval, and he probably has the empty chapstick tubes to prove it.    Trump would certainly be comfortable running with someone who is trying so very hard to be a mini-Trump, but would that be the best campaign strategy?  And what if they were elected and Cotton decided that he wanted to actually help run things?  Could Trump handle someone else vying for some of the attention?

Will Trump stoop to pick Cotton?

Be careful what you wish for Tom.  Maybe you and Mike Pence should get together over soft drinks and discuss it the awesomeness and awfulness of being Donald Trump's number two.

Just sayin' . . .