By Jesse Jose

A Cup O' Kapeng Barako

P resident Barack Obama had called him a silly "carnival barker."  

And that's because Mr. Trump had raised the question of BHO's "well-kept secret" birth certificate.  That finally, the top-secret certificate, in a long-form format, came out.  Whether it's fake or not, we'll still have to find out.  Because it raises more questions than answers.

Questions like: Why did it take so long to produce?  Why keep it a secret in the first place, anyway?  And, why doesn't the "scanned documents" have multiple layers?  It's all very fishy, I think.   

I am no "birther" though.  Just in case y'all don't know yet, "birther" is a newly-coined word that describes someone who harps on President Obama's place of birth. And out of this word, another word has also been coined: "hairther." 

A "hairther" naman is someone who wonders about how Donald Trump combs his hair in the morning. I am no hairther either, but may I also ask, how does Barack Obama comb his hair first thing in the morning? 

But seriously now ... to me, Barack Hussein Obama, is as American as apple pie.  Who cares where he was born?  His walk, his talk, his moves, his education, his aura, especially his cool, tells me he's an All-American dude.  And the coolest thing of all is that he's the President of the United States of America!  Overwhelmingly elected by the majority of Americans.  So, how much more American can Mr. Obama be? 

Sure, his middle name is HUSSEIN. And his last name is OBAMA, a name that sounds like OSAMA, the recently killed leader of Al Qaeda. But so what? 

As the Rev. Jesse Jackson said, it's a way for birthers to "stir up racial fears ... a coded and covert rhetoric" as a way to delegitimize (sic) Mr. Obama.

"It's a code word. He's not one of us," Rev. Jackson said.  "He wasn't born here.  He's not Christian. He's a Muslim. We don't worship the same God. It’s a very coded designation."

OK, Reverend, depending on one's point of view, hallelujah!  (I confess, I read that schmuck remark somewhere, too).

So okay, it's a "coded designation." Let's assume that it's an obnoxious attempt for Mr. Trump to harp on Mr. Obama's origin of birth. Let's say it's really silly and offensive, even clownish for Donald Trump to raise that question.

But check this out, Dear Readers, what David Brooks, a popular syndicated columnist for The New York Times said this in his recent column titled, "The Lure of Donald Trump." Can't help but to agree, really. Brooks hit it right on the head. 

"Very few people have the luxury of being freely obnoxious," he said. "Most people have to watch what they say for fear of offending their bosses and colleagues. Others resist saying anything that might make them unpopular...."

That's very true.  Not to ask "off limits" OBNOXIOUS questions is an act of cowardice, and unfortunately, that kind of cowardice is so common, I think.

"But, in every society, there are few rare souls who rise above subservience, insecurity and concern," Brooks said. "They are so impressed by their own achievements, so often reminded of their own obvious rightness, that every stray thought and synaptic ripple comes bursting out of their mouths fortified by impregnable certitude.  When they have achieved this status they have entered the realm of Upper Blowhardia."

I wish I could write like that. So simple, yet so elegant.

"These supremely accomplished blowhards offend some," Brooks continued, "but also arouse intense loyalty in others.  Their followers enjoy the brassiness of it all....  They delight in hearing those obnoxious things that others are only permitted to think."

Hmmmm.  I liked that part.  And what follows: "There has always been a large clump of voters who believe that America could reverse its decline if only a straight-talking, obnoxious blowhard would take control. 

"And today, apparently, Donald Trump is that man ..."  Right on, Mr. Brooks!

And because of that obnoxious brassiness, Brooks said that Trump has surged toward the top of the presidential primary polls, and that in one opinion poll, he was in a striking distance in a "head-to-head" against President Obama.

"Many people regard Trump as a joke and his popularity a disgrace," Brooks said, "but he is actually riding a deep public fantasy." 

GOSPEL OF SUCCESS: And what fantasy is that?  "The hunger for the ultimate blowhard who can lead us through dark times," said Brooks, adding that Trump is also riding on something else: "the strongest and most subversive ideology in America today."  And that is: "Donald Trump is the living, walking personification of the Gospel of Success." 

"When it comes to success, as in so many other things he is the perpetual boy.  He is the the enthusiastic adventurer thrilled to have acquired a gleaming new bike, and doubly thrilled to be showing it off," Brooks pointed out..

"He labors under the belief -- unacceptable in polite society -- that two is better than one and that four is better than two. If he can afford a car, a flashy one is better than a boring one. In private jets, lavish is better than dull. In skyscrapers, brass is better than brick, and gold is better than brass."

"And this boyish enthusiasm for glory has propelled him to enormous accomplishments," said Brooks. "He has literally changed the landscape of New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas and many places in between. He has survived a ruinous crash and come back stronger than ever...."

Yes!  Amen to that.

And that Trump said Brooks shares this Gospel of Success with millions of people around the country through his Trump University, his motivational speeches, his TV shows and books.

A CAPITALIST BUT ANTI-ELITIST: The best quote, I think, is this: "A child of wealth, he is more at home with the immigrants and the lower middle-class strivers, who share his straightforward belief in the Gospel of Success than he is among members of the haute bourgeoisie, who are above it ...

"Like many swashbuckler capitalists, he is essentially anti-elitist." 

In 2009, Mr. Trump wrote a book, titled "Think Like a Champion." And in that book, Trump praised President Obama's "amazing and phenomenal" accomplishments and "intelligence in making things happen, in an exceptional way."

"Now Trump spouts 'birther' nonsense and calls Obama 'the worst President in American history," said Brooks. 

Why?  Brooks didn't clearly say. It could be Trump's "hyper-hyperbolism."  Whatever that means, I have no idea. But Brooks said this: "But I do insist that Trump is no joke.  He emerges from deep currents in our culture, and he is tapping into powerful sections of the the national fantasy life. I would NEVER vote for him, but I would NEVER want to live in a country without people like him."

Me?  I would vote for Donald Trump. It's worth a try. America needs a blowhard "carnival barker" to turn this great country's economy around. That's the number one priority. Not wars! Not health care! Not politics! Not rhetoric! 

We need someone like Donald Trump, who would bark: "you're fired" and who would change the landscape of America and reverse its decline. He's got what it takes. Smooth-talking, politically-correct politicians don't cut it.

"I am not that nice a person," Trump vows, "but if I run and if I win, this country will be great again, rich again, and most importantly this country will be respected again. We are beyond compromise."

Bark, Mr. Trump, bark. Please run, and bark, BHO, away.  JJ