‘Praising With the Stars’ gives Perry a win

Welcome to chapter infinity of “This Isn’t Normal,” a daily experiment in reality TV/surreality governance.

Today we’ll take a look at a Texas homeboy’s role in a recent episode.

First, a review of what used to be normal, including when I covered the portion of White House Cabinet meetings when journalists were brought in for photos and video and a question or two prior to the private session. From President George W. Bush’s first Cabinet meeting on Jan. 31, 2001:

“Thank you all for coming. In my first Cabinet meeting, we’re going to discuss a variety of topics today. I’m going to remind all of us it’s an honor to serve the country. I expect only one standard, and that’s the highest of ethical standards.”

He ended with “I’ll be glad to answer a few questions.” And he did before the assembled journalists were ushered out.

That was then. This is now. That was old normal. This is the new abnormal.

On Monday, President Donald Trump held his first full Cabinet meeting. It was Trumpian. Instead of talking about the honor of serving the country, it was more about praising the president, including selfpraise as he told us that “with few exceptions,” we’ve never been blessed to have a president who has accomplished as much as he has in such a short period.

“I think we’ve been about as active as you can possibly be and at a just about record-setting pace,” he said, ignoring the fact that no major legislation has been passed under his leadership. “In just a very short time, we’ve seen amazing results.”

Trump spoke, largely about his wonderfulness, for about 12 minutes as the cameras rolled. And then each Cabinet member made statements, most opting to use their brief time to agree with the boss about how great he is.

Wherever the message came from that this would be appropriate, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, our ex-governor, got it as his turn came in a little play we’ll call, “Hail to the Chief. Really, Really Hail.”

“Mr. President, an honor to be on the team,” Perry told Trump, a man Perry had branded as a “cancer on conservatism” when he ran