“It’s physical, sure, but not exactly beautiful, you know?”

I promise no more Trump for the rest of the week.* I’m as sick of this as you are. And without even getting into the substance of his immigration speech, I just want to point out two quick parts (from the transcript on Vox).

Number one. Are you ready? Are you ready? We will build a great wall along the southern border. And Mexico will pay for the wall. 100%. They don’t know it yet, but they’re going to pay for the wall. And they’re great people. And great leaders. But they’re going to pay for the wall.

On day one we will begin working on an impenetrable physical tall powerful beautiful southern border wall.

1. They’re not paying for the wall. I love the “they don’t know it yet”. This is such a con job. “Oh yeah, I pulled the wool over their eyes today folks. They are suckers– but you’re not, are you folks? Of course not. That’s why you trust me.”
2. The list of adjectives is how a dumb person talks to people he thinks are dumber than him.
3. “Physical”? That’s how you know he’s full of it. “I’m just going to keep saying words that sound good in my head.” I’m glad that we now know his wall is physical. I hope there was someone in the crowd who really started going nuts with applause at that part. “Yes! I was thinking the wall was a metaphorical one in our hearts, hardened against the swarm, but this is much better!”

This is a little more substantive.

Countless Americans, who have died in recent years, would be alive today if not for the open-border policies of this administration, and the administration that causes this horrible, horrible thought process. It’s called Hillary Clinton. This includes incredibly Americans like 21-year-old Sarah Root.

1. This is part of his raw demagoguery. Bringing up these people– and actually bringing up their families– is a horrible vengeance-soaked way to draw out the worst in a crowd.
2. It is made worse by “countless”. That’s just a goddamn lie. He repeated “countless” a few times. It’s smart, in its cruel fashion. It implies thousands, not “I don’t feel like checking.” It implies a massacre. It implies hordes, ravaging like the Mongols, clawing at our decent citizens who have to barricade themselves against the night.
3. This “horrible, horrible thought process” that is caused by the administration is “called Hillary Clinton.”  On paper this sounds idiotic, and in the speech it did as well. It’s how a child talks. But there is a certain cadence to it, a certain whispered conspiracy, where if you are already angry and suspicious, it all makes sense. Countless Americans are dying, and it’s called Hillary Clinton.

I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a combination of genuine stupidity and genuine danger in a single person.

Anyway, I promise* that the rest of the week will be more fun stuff like ISIS.

*promise not binding