Political knot tying while auditioning for Trump’s VP

I always considered knot tying and auditioning as two separate skills with nothing in common. I learned knot tying from an overly-patient Scoutmaster who scowled but never criticized when knots like the sheepshank, square, clover hitch and bowline were too loose or completely flubbed.

I also had auditions. I auditioned for a music scholarship in college. I didn’t get it. I auditioned for a few plays and scored parts.

Both skills require practice, discipline, and willingness to fail. I never tried both skills at once.

But It’s happening politically now.

Quite a few Republican wannabes are tying themselves in political knots to audition for a spot in a Donald Trump administration. It reeks of desperation.

Trump has made it clear his requirements are twofold. Auditioners must equivocate and refuse to accept the results of the 2024 election while casting doubt on the legitimacy of 2020. That’s when the knot tying gets complicated. Some of the auditioners voted to certify the previous election Trump refuses to concede. Others have grudgingly said Joe Biden won.

For example, on “Meet the Press,” Sen. Tim Scott tied himself in a tight bowline knot trying to answer. Host Kristen Welker asked, “Will you accept the election results no matter who wins?” Scott robotically repeated at least three times, “At the end of the day, the 47th president of the United States will be President Donald Trump.”

But he’s not alone.

Sen. Marco Rubio another wannabe VP, who Trump called “Little Marco” during the 2016 Republican primary, tied himself in knots using deflection and false equivalency. Welker asked the same question, Rubio answered, "If it's unfair, we’re going to do the same thing Democrats do. "We're going to use lawyers to go to court and point out the fact that states are not following their own election laws. Democrats opposed every Republican victory since 2000"

Democrats may have questioned elections, none of them staged an insurrection and none of them attempted to use fake electors to stop the peaceful transition of power.

The other auditioning and knot tying demonstration is outside the Manhattan courtroom where Trump is on criminal trial for falsifying business records so voters wouldn’t learn of a hush money payment to a porn actress to keep her quiet about their relationship.

This audition seems to require matching costumes and the willingness to insult the jury, the judge, and witnesses while condemning the American judicial system.

Do they believe in America’s jury system? Most are lawyers but they’re forced to use words like “sham,” “political witch hunt,” and “two-tiered justice system.”

Presidential candidates have a long history of choosing running mates based on geography, vote getting potential, and voter likability. Trump’s choice will be based only on blind loyalty.

When a job applicant is forced to tie themselves in knots through repeated auditions, the voters need to smell desperation and run from that team.

Bruce Lear lives in Sioux City, taught for 11 years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association Regional Director for 27 years until retiring. BruceLear2419@gmail.com