The former president, who was the most powerful person on the planet for four years, is to be indicted for and possibly convicted of crimes, however real, that few people will understand. Regardless of how you view Donald Trump, these are sad and difficult times. What will play out tragedy or farce?
There are many points in this article that would benefit from a response. Here are a few:
I highly recommend reading “For Left, Political Ends Justify Violent Means” by Victor Davis Hanson as a companion piece to the above. Violence is up across the board. We would do well as a society to recognize that there has been an "alarming radicalization" on both sides of the aisle. It is getting very tedious to hear each side blaming the other with an outsized portion of blame placed at Trump’s feet.
One thing we can count on is that all politicians will tailor their remarks to tap into the concerns of the electorate. Trump is no different. I disagree that Trump's initial message was an “economic proposition that tapped into racial anxiety”. Perhaps for some but for everyone in my world his economic message tapped into economic anxiety.
It is not racism to want a secure border and it was good politics to tap into the frustrations of the citizenry on this issue. The federal government has failed to secure our southern border for decades with the current administration presiding over the most illegal crossings in history. I suspect the Presidential candidates will once again focus on this. Hopefully something is accomplished in the next administration. It is a serious issue.
Trump connected with voters both in 2016 and 2020 on cultural issues and I agree he has ramped up the rhetoric. While Trump’s current rhetoric is awful, it is important to note the cultural concerns in this country have also ramped up significantly. The Biden administration has given steroids to “social justice” issues such as DEI, CRT and gender ideology. The economy and deficit are huge concerns as are many foreign policy issues. People understand these factors could be very damaging to our country in the short and/or long term. Trump is matching the mood. While I believe Trump’s ego has eaten his brain, he still knows how to read a room.
Yes the economy was in the toilet in 2020 because of Covid and the foolish decision to shut down much of our economy. Trump unbelievably recommended a shut down for 6 weeks. Progressive governors took it to another level entirely. Economic markers before Covid were quite good though. It is no surprise Trump focused on issues that would benefit his reelection such as the economy before covid and cultural issues.
The arrest of a former President is a sad day for America. This article in the WSJ says it well. https://www.wsj.com/articles/pandoras-donald-trump-prosecution-e060ceee?page=1. I agree with the assessment that his indictment has more to do with getting Trump the nomination than barring him from it. Keep Trump front and center in the news and his loyal fans will support him while independents run screaming for the hills. The Dems win when Trump is on the ticket either figuratively as he was in 2022 or literally. Trump has become the Dems greatest weapon to stay in power and Trump with his big mouth is a helpful accomplice. I believe this is behind the campaigns against him, both the real and made-up ones. Notice how nothing ever sticks legally? Much better to only wound him, so he can be trotted out again and again to scare the independents.
Other than the loyalists who believe Trump is anointed, I think the Republicans are tired of this game. At least I hope they are.
They love to talk big, but most of the "patriotic" fury will go out with a whimper as the truth comes out and the lies they've been fed are exposed to the light of day by the courts and the press - even FoxNews. Am I being naively optimistic? We're only in the first inning and *trump's on first base. By the time the bases are loaded - all with *trump avatars - and the last batter, Jack Smith, is at the plate, the crowd will be calling for a grand slam. And many in that crowd will have whipped off their MAGA hats forever. Mark my words.
It's weird how so many of the people who consider themselves such superpatriots have such intense hate for what America is here and now. It deserves our attention.
The former president, who was the most powerful person on the planet for four years, is to be indicted for and possibly convicted of crimes, however real, that few people will understand. Regardless of how you view Donald Trump, these are sad and difficult times. What will play out tragedy or farce?
There are many points in this article that would benefit from a response. Here are a few:
I highly recommend reading “For Left, Political Ends Justify Violent Means” by Victor Davis Hanson as a companion piece to the above. Violence is up across the board. We would do well as a society to recognize that there has been an "alarming radicalization" on both sides of the aisle. It is getting very tedious to hear each side blaming the other with an outsized portion of blame placed at Trump’s feet.
One thing we can count on is that all politicians will tailor their remarks to tap into the concerns of the electorate. Trump is no different. I disagree that Trump's initial message was an “economic proposition that tapped into racial anxiety”. Perhaps for some but for everyone in my world his economic message tapped into economic anxiety.
It is not racism to want a secure border and it was good politics to tap into the frustrations of the citizenry on this issue. The federal government has failed to secure our southern border for decades with the current administration presiding over the most illegal crossings in history. I suspect the Presidential candidates will once again focus on this. Hopefully something is accomplished in the next administration. It is a serious issue.
Trump connected with voters both in 2016 and 2020 on cultural issues and I agree he has ramped up the rhetoric. While Trump’s current rhetoric is awful, it is important to note the cultural concerns in this country have also ramped up significantly. The Biden administration has given steroids to “social justice” issues such as DEI, CRT and gender ideology. The economy and deficit are huge concerns as are many foreign policy issues. People understand these factors could be very damaging to our country in the short and/or long term. Trump is matching the mood. While I believe Trump’s ego has eaten his brain, he still knows how to read a room.
Yes the economy was in the toilet in 2020 because of Covid and the foolish decision to shut down much of our economy. Trump unbelievably recommended a shut down for 6 weeks. Progressive governors took it to another level entirely. Economic markers before Covid were quite good though. It is no surprise Trump focused on issues that would benefit his reelection such as the economy before covid and cultural issues.
The arrest of a former President is a sad day for America. This article in the WSJ says it well. https://www.wsj.com/articles/pandoras-donald-trump-prosecution-e060ceee?page=1. I agree with the assessment that his indictment has more to do with getting Trump the nomination than barring him from it. Keep Trump front and center in the news and his loyal fans will support him while independents run screaming for the hills. The Dems win when Trump is on the ticket either figuratively as he was in 2022 or literally. Trump has become the Dems greatest weapon to stay in power and Trump with his big mouth is a helpful accomplice. I believe this is behind the campaigns against him, both the real and made-up ones. Notice how nothing ever sticks legally? Much better to only wound him, so he can be trotted out again and again to scare the independents.
Other than the loyalists who believe Trump is anointed, I think the Republicans are tired of this game. At least I hope they are.
They love to talk big, but most of the "patriotic" fury will go out with a whimper as the truth comes out and the lies they've been fed are exposed to the light of day by the courts and the press - even FoxNews. Am I being naively optimistic? We're only in the first inning and *trump's on first base. By the time the bases are loaded - all with *trump avatars - and the last batter, Jack Smith, is at the plate, the crowd will be calling for a grand slam. And many in that crowd will have whipped off their MAGA hats forever. Mark my words.
Hell, Trumpism is fascism in practice. "Win or die" political communication is more than only tribalism
It's weird how so many of the people who consider themselves such superpatriots have such intense hate for what America is here and now. It deserves our attention.