Trump is Lonesome Rhodes [9/14/15]

The Washington Times ^ | 9/14/15 | Cal Thomas

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Rarely and perhaps not in modern times has a presidential campaign more resembled the classic 1957 film, "A Face in the Crowd." Written by Budd Schulberg and starring Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal and Walter Matthau, the storyline follows an Arkansas hayseed named Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes (Griffith), whom Marcia Jeffries (Neal) discovers in a county jail.

Jeffries has a local radio show on which she interviews interesting characters. She finds Rhodes irresistible and puts him on the air. Rhodes becomes a sensation, eventually climbing the ladder to his own network TV show and then, as politicians approach him for endorsements, a self-described kingmaker...

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Cal's right. The parallels are striking.

First Mrs. Rhodes:

So... you're Lonesome's new tootsie, huh? "Lonesome," he's a hot one. I hope you have better luck keeping him Lonesome than I did.

Trump:

"Beautiful, famous, successful, married, I've had them all, secretly, the world's biggest names."

First Mrs. Rhodes:

Larry... he thinks he has to take a bite out of every broad he comes across. Then he calls them a tramp, drops them, and there's all sort of psycho something-or-other, you know.

Trump:

And this [Megyn Kelly] is the bimbo that's asking presidential questions?

"You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever."

"She got schlonged, she lost, I mean she lost."

Lonesome Rhodes:

This whole country's just like my flock of sheep!

Trump:

"I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters,"

Lonesome Rhodes:

Rednecks, crackers, hillbillies, hausfraus, shut-ins, pea-pickers - everybody that's got to jump when somebody else blows the whistle. They don't know it yet, but they're all gonna be 'Fighters for Fuller'. They're mine! I own 'em! They think like I do. Only they're even more stupid than I am, so I gotta think for 'em. Marcia, you just wait and see. I'm gonna be the power behind the president - and you'll be the power behind me!

Lonesome Rhodes:

I'm not just an entertainer. I'm an influence, a wielder of opinion, a force... a force!

Trump:

"Many of those comments are made as an entertainer, because I did 'The Apprentice.' It was one of the top shows on television. I decided not to do it again because I wanted to run for president. But some comments are made as an entertainer. And, as everybody said, as an entertainer [it] is a much different ballgame."

Mel Miller:

[commenting on one of Lonesome Rhodes' on-air tirades after the two have had a falling out] I'll say one thing for him, he's got the courage of his ignorance.

Trump:

"he's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured."

[Chainmail]

You little folks will probably have to stop nipping at Trump’s ankles when he’s the only man between us and “Obama’s legacy”.

[miss marmelstein]

Great script by the great Budd but not one of Griffith’s greatest performances - very over the top. Although I admit I’m in the minority among movie goers. He’s brilliant, though as Andy on his own tv show.

I see nothing comparable between the character and The Donald. Now Cruz, with his fake “ain’ts” and dropped “g”s when talkin’ to people he thinks are rubes (like Hillary does), might be a better fit.

[mac_truck]

Do you have to make an ass of yourself every day?

[Lagmeister]

Saw the movie. Comments are a lie - parallels are not even close as to be compared in the same universe. Ole Lonesome was an uneducated bumpkin with a gift for gab that reached out to the lonely, poor country housewife. That gift for gab was all he had.

You know, each candidate has enough truth about them to be questioned so as not to sink to this level of stupidity.

[libbylu]

Please forgive me -— I posted this about The One a couple of weeks ago, linked to IBD review of movie. Nice to have one’s thoughts confirmed.
Does this mean I really don’t have OCD and am off my meds? I am really not retarded?

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Compare quotes from “Lonesome” Rhodes (Andy Griffith’s character in “A Face in the Crowd”) and The Donald. The parallels are eerie.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I thought Glenn Beck was Lonesome Rhodes.

http://www.thewire.com/national/2012/07/andy-griffiths-most-prescient-role-glenn-beck-circa-1957/54162/

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Does this mean I really don’t have OCD and am off my meds? I am really not retarded?

Depends who you ask ;-) Cal Thomas is with you, and I am too.

[Louis Foxwell]

Our current president hates the USA, is a fagot, loves Islamic terrorism, lies about everything and is a make believe negro.
His successor of choice also hates the USA, is a fagot, loves Islamic terrorism, lies about everything and is a make believe woman.
Trump spits in their eyes.
Works for me.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Ole Lonesome was an uneducated bumpkin with a gift for gab that reached out to the lonely, poor country housewife. That gift for gab was all he had.

Exactly.

[yarddog]

I saw that movie around 20 years ago.

It did make me realize that Griffith was a fine actor and could have been a good Bond villain or a leading man too.

[libbylu]

Do you have to make an...
Exactly the typical response by a drinker of The One’s koolaid.

[samtheman]

And Cruz is:

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

"Do you have to make an ass of yourself every day?"

"I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters" -Donald "Lonesome" Trump

[woofie]

I have often thought there are lots of Lonesome Rhodes inWashington and surely Trump qualifies

[j.argese]

Agreed. And “rube” is the perfect word.

[SampleMan]

You little folks will probably have to stop nipping at Trump’s ankles when he’s the only man between us and “Obama’s legacy”.

[wally_bert]

AG was in parody Spy Hard with Leslie Neilson.

[detective]

This is the stupidest article in a long time.

Lonesome Rhodes was a fictional character in a in a 1957 film “A Face in the Crowd”. Lonesome Rhodes was an uneducated, penniless, homeless Arkansas drifter and con man. When the movie begins he is in jail. A public relations man tells Rhodes what to say and his career is promoted by the media. Rhodes is totally fake and will say whatever he is told. The PR firm and Rhodes make money from the fake image that is created. Rhodes then becomes a political candidate. Rhodes is ignorant of the issues but uses down home Southern charm to become popular.

Trump is an intelligent, well educated, successful businessman. He is worth billions. He is a candidate who is his own man and does not allow PR types or consultants to tell him what to say. He is not politically correct.

Trump is motivated by patriotism not personal gain. He is hated by the establishment because he will speak the truth and not be intimidated.

They are complete opposites.