Saturday, April 1, 2017

Donald Trump--the reincarnation of P. T. Barnum


Phineas Taylor "P. T.Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was an American politician, showman, and businessman remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Although Barnum was also an author, publisher, philanthropist, and for some time a politician, he said of himself, "I am a showman by profession...and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me", and his personal aim was "to put money in his own coffers".

Barnum wrote several books, including Life of P.T. Barnum (1854), The Humbugs of the World(1865), Struggles and Triumphs (1869), and The Art of Money-Getting (1880).
One of Barnum's more successful methods of self-promotion was mass publication of his autobiography. Barnum eventually gave up his copyright to allow other printers to sell inexpensive editions. At the end of the 19th century the number of copies printed was second only to the New Testament in North America. 
Often referred to as the "Prince of Humbugs," Barnum saw nothing wrong in entertainers or vendors using hype (or "humbug",  as he termed it) in promotional material, as long as the public was getting value for money.

Trump's "The Art of the Deal"
Barnum's "The Art of Money-Getting"

Trump's tweets
Barnum's self promotion

Trump's fake news
Barnum's humbug

Trump's hair
Barnum's ...



not so much

There is a solution: 



In the next election--national, state or local--vote for anyone except a democrat or a republican.

Our nation will be better off if you do.



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