As one Presidential contender sits largely confined to a courtroom during campaign high season, another is on the road literally talking his way out of serious consideration for the nation’s leadership position. Public attention is now focused on a continuing series of misstatements and confused identities that can only cast constituent doubt on his suitability for holding office. This worsening situation is not entirely new but is intensifying, prompting fact-checkers to search their archives. The man who said “We choose truth over facts” back in 2007 and “I made it clear to the Israelis – don’t move on Haifa” last week has plenty of accumulating evidence of cognitive challenges. In a near repeat, he also just urged the audience at a Pennsylvania appearance to “choose freedom over democracy.” Is it possible that his handlers condone these malapropisms to lay the groundwork for an extraordinary candidate substitution at the annual party convention? The normal succession does not poll well and may call for dramatic strategic change. If nothing else, all the background drama makes for rampant speculation and off-beat entertainment. Phil Osifer