Sitting in front of the shiny gold filigree on the White House wall, having a rough week after the election, Trump growled Democrats are ‘absolutely crazed.’ Insulting Democrats surprised no one. But it wasn’t the side of Trump folks like either.

Setting his jaw, Trump warned Democrats were going to end the filibuster – so Republicans should beat them to it and end it themselves first. He never explained whether ending the filibuster’s good or bad, right or wrong. That left folks puzzled.

Still you have to give Trump credit – he’s a fighter: In a post, dangling a temptation, he told Republicans if they ended the filibuster they’d never lose another election. Even Republicans doubted that one.

Mood shifting, face relaxing, Trump purred Walmart’s Thanksgiving Meal this year costs 25% less than it did last year, said that proved he’d brought down prices. A reporter told Trump there was less food in this year’s meal – puzzled Trump said he hadn’t heard that – then staring straight back at the reporter snapped, ‘You’re fake news.’

A year ago, out to beat Harris, Trump boasted, spun tales, hurled insults – in the past people saw vices like that as character flaws to avoid. But last year it looked like hardly a soul minded. That left me wondering if America had changed. But last week trooping to the polls folks turned thumbs down on that kind of politics. So it turns out people haven’t really changed much at all. Old virtues are still there.