Caesar in September

I can’t think of any month in recent U.S. history with such breadth and depth of bad news.  But, even with astronomically low odds that a hurricane will eat a major city next month, September could yield a political storm that could make Harvey look like a summer shower.

Trump has said the right things, even seemed to comprehend some of them as he read them off.  But in his quixotic quest to be emperor, he put his taint even on that effort.  At one stop in Texas, he described the mammoth swath and cost of Harvey with spooky puffery, as if it was one of his Best Productions Ever.

Of course, he promised the storm survivors all the help they’ll need and SOON!  His pledge had the same tinny tone as his “health care for everyone at prices you won’t believe”.  And it contradicts his pre-Harvey proposal to cut $600 million from the FEMA budget.

Throw into the mix his ambitious plans to tackle tax reform, maybe another attack on Obamacare, and countless other unknown knowns, and September could eclipse August, even without an eclipse.

Look for a change of tone when Congress reconvenes.  For me, September 1st has long felt more like the first day of the new year than January 1st.  School starts.  Weather cools.  And there are footballs and parking lot BBQ smells in the air everywhere.  This year, too, politicians are going back to D.C. a mere 14 months before the mid-term elections.  I expect the cracks in Trump’s base to multiply and widen.

Hoo boy!  Buckle up, get some rest and drink plenty of fluids.