Moral outrage. Righteous indignation. All of a sudden cable news is shocked at Trump’s racist comments. Calling for Republican leadership to denounce him and pull their endorsements. Hypocrisy on steroids. These are the same people who looked the other way when he called for a Muslim ban. Dodged David Duke. While covering every Donald rally 24/7. Trotting over to Trump Tower to kiss his ring. Giving him free time when he called in to every show on a daily basis. Most specious offenders. Mika & Joe. Ratings trumped racism. They still will.
Trump Stumped
Chris Matthews conducted the best interview with El Trumpo. Rapid-fire. Two street fighters sparring tête-à-tête. Chris the only one who’s gotten the best of The Donald. Has El Trumpo finally met his Waterloo? Stumped and trumped too often of late. Winging it. Swinging and missing it. Will he find a way to extricate himself from humiliating defeat. We’ll see.
Does Trump really want to be President? Never his intent.
Linguistic Kill Shots
Dilbert‘s Scott Adams again touts Trump’s linguistic skills. Calls him a Master Persuader. Today on CNN Adams predicted that he will win the Presidency in a landslide by one of the largest margins in history. By lobbing kill shots that stick. Cruz a nasty liar. Jeb low energy. Rubio sweaty. Etc. Donald’s ability to pick battles up front that can go either way yet victory can be claimed. For example, Trump tells Fox that he won’t debate if Megyn Kelly is the moderator. If she is not replaced, he walks and looks strong. If she is removed, he gets his way and looks strong. Same with the Pope. Who backed down? Not Dilbert Trump.
Going to the Dogs
The Big Dog. Donald. As W. and Laura arrive to prop up Jebra’s languishing bid in South Carolina, appearing in the little box, Trump coincidentally holds a news conference on the big screen. Mika & Morning Joe will have El Trumpo at the same time Anderson Cooper hosts a Town Hall with Cruz and Rubio.
The Lap Dog. Marco Play-Doh. Republican Establishment’s favorite puppy.
Best in Show. Hillary. She makes it too easy. How did she not know that the talk shows would play clips of her many prevarications followed by barking dogs.
Westminster’s actual choice will be made tonight.
NYTimes Picks 2015
It’s no secret. I have a lot to say. Back Roads Thoughts on water, guns, Wall Street, politics, ISIS, gender. Sometimes the New York Times likes my comments on its articles and columns. Here are the ones they picked this year:
Michael Buckley. Damming Tibet’s Rivers. 3/30/15
David Brooks. Rubio-Fiorina Option. 9/18/15
Frank Bruni. Hillary Clinton’s Debate Magic. 10/13/15
Frank Bruni. Scary Ted Cruz. 10/21/15
Roger Cohen. To Save Paris, Defeat ISIS. 11/14/21
Frank Bruni. War on ISIS. 11/21/15
News Story. 14 Dead in Mass Shooting. San Bernardino. 12/3/15
Op-Ed by Hillary Clinton. Reining in Wall Street. 12/7/15
Politics. Moms & Daughters Debate Gender Issue. 12/13/15
Nasdaq Closing Bell
Sir Martin Sorrell invited some friends to help him celebrate 30 years of WPP. Can you find mAdBen?
Mad Men Continued
Imagine what happens to our favorite characters post-MadMen7 in the ’70’s:
Don Draper changes his identity again to hide more bad behavior. He moves to San Francisco and becomes ‘Hal Riney’ where he builds the West Coast network of Ogilvy & Mather. Then, he starts his own eponymous agency and launches “You’ve Only Just Begun” campaign with Paul Williams for Crocker Bank.
Sally stays close to her Dad and moves to L.A. to study acting. She is the youngest winner of an Oscar for Paper Something. Her brothers are much happier with a loving aunt and uncle. Creepy Glen forever goes away. Yay.
Pete is recruited as CEO of Procter & Gamble. He hires Salvatore as his CMO. Peggy ditches Stan and rises to Creative Director at McCann. Roger tires of zou bisou Marie and returns to his original wife, also his real life Talia Balsam. Zou bisou Megan back in New York is the “Irish” ingenue star of Ryan’s Hope.
Joan, the smartest best business person of the bunch, my fave, leverages her success in the new entrepreneurial venture to become Managing Editor of Cosmo Magazine in its heyday. Yeah. I know. I can’t let go.
mAd Horizons
Joan continues to be the stalwart survivor. Sizes up the situation, takes her $2.5 mil and splits. Never will she rely on a man to rescue her. Baby Daddy Roger can’t be trusted to step in. He’s making excuses to Peggy as she roller skates into her new career at McCann. Hope the others take my advice.
And then there’s Don. Betty doesn’t even want a back rub from him. At McCann, as he sits in the conference room with a cast of too many around the table and watches some guy give his original best schpiel from five years ago, he bolts. In search of the elusive ideal mommy. Windows loom. He always likes playing the stranger. Lost horizon. Ageless? Or. Still wishing for Shangri-L.A.
Sterling, Draper, Campbell & Holloway
mAd Prey
Who will survive the transition from Sterling Cooper to McCann Erickson? Staff seems smart enough to know their days are numbered. Don may have a role, but he will be a little fish in a big pond. Roger’s corporate power is gone. Pete has always appreciated Joan’s value. Without his nudge, she wouldn’t be a partner. Now, as Joan faces a frat culture, she is rightfully realistic about her future. The consistent pragmatist, will she choose old rich dude or stay the course until she’s sidelined? Peggy will survive as a creative soldier. Her heart-wrenching sacrifice cannot be in vain. Everyone has made trade-offs. Careers over family.
In the end, they are all just prey. I hope there will be a new agency in L.A. Sterling, Draper, Campbell & Holloway. We’ll see. Last three.
Jimmy Kimmel 4/21
Yesterday was 4/20. Hashtag hash day. Jimmy Kimmel’s Pot Quiz. Learned new brands. Purple Haze. Blue Dream. Pineapple Kush.
Today is 4/21. Aetna anti-smoking cigarettes day. mAdBen has been hanging with Jimmy’s sidekick Guillermo in the heart of Hollywood to shoot a spot for Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight. Check it out at 11:35pm ABC
Side Trek . NYC 