* The reaction to the lock down indicates that the old science fiction trope of a slow moving generation ship to get to the stars is wildly improbable. If a lot of people can't stand not getting out into the open for a month, how will they go over a lifetime? (Oh, but if they are born into a ship, they'll never know the difference? Well, you got to get the first shipload of adults used to it. I'd guess they'd be killing each other within a year.)
* I cannot imagine the pandemic in the USA not doing Trump serious political harm. Here's why:
1. It looks unlikely that he will be able to hold rallies anytime soon - in fact, anytime before the election. Not that he wouldn't have enough dumb-ass, wingnut cult followers to go to them; but Trump will have enough people around him to tell him that any surge in infections within a few weeks of a rally is going to be a bad look. And Trump himself, as a germophobe, might worry about whether he can avoid catching it in a huge, crowded room of re-circulating air. So no, he is not going to be able to run a campaign like the last time.
2. If Trump can't or won't do his rallies, he has to find other alternatives, and as we
have seen, his rambling on in front of normal people does not work in
the same way as his rambles in front of cheering wingnuts. The more
he tries to talk in response to serious questions, the worse he looks.
3. As I have opined before, I think he will find excuses to avoid appearing at a debate with Biden, too. He now has a record to try run on, and can't just make motherhood statements while roaming around the stage looking like he is menacing a woman (something which played well with the large number of misogynistic followers.)
4. Perhaps most importantly, there is no way the economy is going to be back to
anything like what it was before the pandemic in the space of 6 months. So the old adage that
people won't vote out a sitting President if they have jobs and feel
economically secure and comfortable - nature has taken away that traditional
advantage from him.
5. Turnout against him on the Democrat side is, unless a natural disaster intervenes, surely going to be huge.
* The progression in India seems oddly slow - but numbers are picking up, and it would still be surprising if it does not develop into a very big problem.
Yes its a big blow. He's a crowd-master for sure. But there isn't anyone to run against.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing Trump has going for him is Biden. I don't like Trump and I don't like Biden. The USA is in for a very interesting ride. The polls aren't looking good for Trump but polls are well ... . If the polls really turn sour on him I wouldn't be surprised if chose to not recontest so as to preserve his ego and make the claim he was so good he did everything needed in just four years. Except he didn't build the wall, lock her up, dismantle Obama Care, take care of North Korea, deal with Iran and give China a hiding. He lowered taxes and in 2019 he even managed to lower manufacturing. Hmmm ... So what has he achieved: he's made his tribe richer.
ReplyDeleteyep Trump has done nothing even by the standards of his supporters.
ReplyDeleteand despite what you guys think, come on, Biden is not in good neurological health.
Anyone with common sense would vote for a poodle over Donald Trump, Jason.
ReplyDeleteJason I haven't watched Biden at all but the reports certainly suggest he's losing brain cells fast and furiously.
ReplyDeleteThe November election will be full justification for voluntary voting. 😀
I think I saw someone say that Planet America showed some clips of Biden making verbal slips or gaffes from many years ago, but I didn't see it myself. There are lots of links on the net, though, on the topic.
ReplyDeleteAnyone has to take that into account when considering his brain functioning.
I think I saw someone say that Planet America showed some clips of Biden making verbal slips or gaffes from many years ago, but I didn't see it myself. There are lots of links on the net, though, on the topic.
ReplyDeleteAnyone has to take that into account when considering his brain functioning.
How many years ago? Dementia is a slow burn, it can begin 20 years prior to a formal diagnosis. Mild cognitive impairment is the beginning.
There are also clips around showing how Trump, who can barely read a speech correctly, and when ad libbing talks with an 8 year old's limited vocabulary (not to mention an 8 year old's emotional maturity) used to talk with sharper and smarter sounding language skills when younger.
ReplyDeleteTo me, especially if Biden picks a good VP candidate, his mental acuity would have to fall off a cliff compared to now before I would say he should reconsider running.
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ReplyDeleteThere are also clips around showing how Trump, who can barely read a speech correctly, and when ad libbing talks with an 8 year old's limited vocabulary (not to mention an 8 year old's emotional maturity) used to talk with sharper and smarter sounding language skills when younger.
ReplyDeleteIf people bothered to parse Trump's rally speeches they would realise he was often speaking complete rubbish. Sad fact is many people don't do that. A very stable genius who has his academic records sealed, who is more comfortable at rallies where he can speak nonsense like so many celebrities do. Long ago I learned not to look but to listen to the person's speech very carefully. It is surprising how much nonsense verbiage is presented on screen and by politicians. It is depressing how easily so many are beguiled by the image and ignore the content.
Link for article looking at changes in Trump's linguistic abilities:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.statnews.com/2017/05/23/donald-trump-speaking-style-interviews/
Graeme: too impolite.
ReplyDeleteYou should try to be less of an idiot.
ReplyDelete