ON LOYALTY

Donald Trump admires the loyalty of his followers. He says he could murder some poor bastard in front of thousands of witnesses and lose not one vote come election day.

He's saying, in effect, it doesn't matter what he says or does, his people will stand behind him.

That's loyalty.

He could, for instance, rape a baby in Times Square and folks will say, "Right on, brother! We forgive you!" Or "Wow, that's amazing! Where can I get me one of them slutty babies?"

You name it, Trump's immune from criticism. And the guy likes that about his people.

Other leaders might be appalled. Trump is proud. He crows about it. (Or is he making a threat to the rest of us?)

Trump seems to think loyalty is an absolute good.

Lots of world leaders have admired loyalty. Adolf Hitler comes to mind. Josef Stalin. And so forth. Guys who want to be able to do what they have to do to keep the country together and not catch any flak for it. They need people who will stick by them no matter what. They don't have time to explain the motive behind every little action.

Just trust them to do the right thing, okay?

And people do.

Often Trump's followers say they like the way he speaks his mind. But that's only half a statement.

Are they saying they don't care what he says, as long as it's the sort of things other politicians would be afraid to say?

That would be an amazingly shallow and dangerous position.

I think you have to conclude what these people really mean to say is that they agree with what Trump says—and they admire him for having the guts to say it out loud.

If that's true, does it also mean they're afraid to say the same thing in front of a television camera?

Maybe. Because maybe only Trump can say the stuff he says and get away with it. Other people know they'd be skewered alive by their friends and neighbors for saying that stuff themselves.

But I'm just speculating.

Maybe people like Trump for the same reason Late Night talk show hosts like Trump: He gives them material to work with on the show.

The man's outrageous—and they can make hay out of that.

Until they end up with an audience full of Trump supporters. Then the lynch ropes come out.

Theoretically.

Actually, I've yet to hear an audience groan or boo the host for attacking Trump. Or going after Sarah Palin, for that matter.

(I love the New York Daily News cover—Trump and Palin pointing at each other, headline: I'M WITH STUPID!)

Which makes me wonder how many people show up at Trump rallies just to (silently) laugh at him. And incidentally feed the man's delusion of unconditional love.

Is Trump just a big joke the whole country is in danger of taking too far?