New Trump, Same As The Old Trump

After his hastily- arranged photo op yesterday with Mexican sucker President Enrique Peña Nieto, neo- fascist deporter Donald "Rump" Trump (or our "Mexican" appellation for him, "Pauncho") made a long- awaited speech in Phoenix that was intended to clarify his and his campaign's contradictory and floundering immigration "policy."  For those in the media desperate for a "pivot" and a horserace, and those "independents" and Republicans who are looking for "cover" to support "Pauncho," we have a bulletin for you:  New Trump, Same As The Old Trump.

“Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation,” Trump said during what he billed as a major policy speech in Phoenix. “That is what it means to have laws and to have a country. Otherwise we don’t have a country.”  [snip] 

“The truth is, the central issue is not the needs of the 11 million illegal immigrants, or however many it may be.”  (our emphasis)

And "the wall?"

Also promised on the border: an “impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful southern border wall,” bolstered by technology and paid for by Mexico.

He talked about the wall hours after meeting with with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico City. Trump said in a joint press conference afterward the meeting that the two men hadn’t discussed payment for the wall. Peña Nieto later said he told Trump that Mexico refuses pay.

Trump apparently wasn’t convinced.

“Mexico will pay for the wall,” he said during his speech. “100 percent. They don’t know it yet, but they’re going to pay for the wall.”  (our emphasis)

In short, you could replay yesterday's shouty, hateful Phoenix speech and it would be the same as any speech on immigration Rump's given in the past year, and as the late, great Molly Ivins would have said, "probably sounded better in the original German."

We could go on about what audience Rump is attempting to con at this particular moment, but Norman Ornstein sussed it out perfectly for us:

Most effusive praise for Trump speech? David Duke and Ann Coulter. What more do you need to know?

— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) September 1, 2016

BONUS:  Charles Pierce has a great piece on the sniveling media and Rump.

(Photo:  President Pena Nieto and Pauncho yesterday.)