An unpromising start

In addition to being denied his debt ceiling extension, Trump was also repudiated when his daughter-in-law “withdrew” from consideration as Senator from Florida. Trump was pushing Lara Trump to fill the seat that will be vacated when Marco Rubio is approved as Secretary of State. Lara Trump’s appointment was intended as Trump domination: domination of “little Marco” by showing that an utterly unqualified person could fill his Senate role and domination of his primary opponent Gov. DeSantis by forcing him to appoint an unqualified Trump family member. It was a fail.

This is after Matt Gaetz was forced to withdraw as Trump’s nominee for Attorney General.

We’re still a month out, and already Trump is showing the same skills that made him such a failure in business. “The Apprentice” TV show was meant to use media to create a faux image of Trump as a business success. It worked. People fell for it.

But here we are, a month out from inauguration and Trump’s incompetence is already starting to assert itself again. We’re not out of the woods by any means, but at least some Congressional Republicans seem to have grown a microspine. And it appears that Elon Musk is now his self-appointed co-president. In the latest no cost extension debate, Musk got what he wanted; Trump didn’t get what he wanted.

From his years promoting pro wrestling, Trump has learned the art of the kayfabe. For years, he’s duped his supporters and cowed his opponents. Has he already lost the magic?