The left LOVES Saul Alinsky — except when his tactics are turned on them. Trump’s especially fond of Rule Five.
“Rule 5: Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage”
When Trump wants to cut the knees out of an opponent, you don’t see him citing a white paper full of dry stats, like so many failed Republicans before him. He doesn’t (usually) demonize his or he character in any sense beyond bumper-sticker sloganeering. (Another strategy with, at best, mixed results.)
It’s far easier, and more effective, to simply zero in on detail that makes it easy to turn them into a laughingstock.
With James Talarico hoping to be the next Senator of Texas, the jokes practically write themselves. Especially when part of the schtick involved literally quoting the man verbatim, and putting that ridiculousness in the context of the Texas electorate, which happens to be where the convention is being held.
When he comes to Talarico’s vegetarian inclinations, attentive listeners might even pick up a subtle(?) bit of double ententre in his mockery.
🚨 WATCH: President @realDonaldTrump RIPS James Talarico for 3 minutes straight.
"He ran a campaign to beat meat — he called it 'beat meat.' I don't know what the hell he meant by that." pic.twitter.com/CBwdE3Rw2l
— Republicans (@Republicans) September 10, 2026
It’s effective mostly because it’s funny.
In fact, Texas campaigns could almost clip some of this schtick and drop it into an ad, because the delivery and comedic timing really is on point.
