Perhaps there are a few people who see Donald Trump as a newly sympathetic figure because of Saturday’s unsuccessful assassination attempt, but I’ll bet the vast majority have their preconceived notions confirmed. Either they are impressed anew at his pugnaciousness and fearlessness in the face of unrelenting attacks, or they see him as a self-promoting blowhard who took advantage (or created) of an almost unique situation.
Neither one of these groups will change their opinions. What I think will happen is that the latter group will be disheartened by his survival, disappointed by his ability to rise to the occasion, and will continue their fight against him, but in a halfhearted and perfunctory manner. The first group will be heartened by his fight, will be angered by the vile and disgusting vitriol emanating from the dark (and not so dark) corners of the left, and will be energized to support Donald Trump….and to vote for him on November 5th.
Will this be enough of a damper on leftist zeal to ruin their effort to get rid of what they hilariously claim as a threat to “democracy?” Will this injection of electoral zeal be enough to make the margin too big for the steal that is undoubtedly being organized?
I think it will be. Much of America will not be pleased by the undercurrent of nastiness about the attempt on Donald Trump’s life. Some of them might be lifelong Democrats who wouldn’t dream of voting for a Republican, but they also don’t like when their side cheerleads for murder. And they certainly will be pleased…secretly or otherwise…by Donald Trump’s toughness and unrelenting optimism in the face of a brush with death. They might vote for Joe Biden, but they will have a grudging respect for Trump, and that will work to defuse some of the over-the-top election tactics by the Democrat machine.
And what about Donald Trump’s supporters! They will double down on their support for him, and will see the assassination as a cold and calculated culmination of years of dehumanization of Trump and his supporters by the progressive machine. It will push more of them to the polls, because the violence has made it even more clear what the left is willing to do!
Am I romanticizing my view of an America that might very well no longer exist?
Probably.
But I could have concluded the same thing with a much more Machiavellian take on the events and the responses from the two sides.
It is however not debatable that there is a huge enthusiasm gap that has just widened. Take a walk this afternoon and ask around. How much excitement will you detect among Democrats? In fact, aside from the drooling idiots on the internet, can you find anyone who is enthusiastic about a Biden election victory?
And perhaps most important, the contrast between the two candidates has been illuminated. Joe Biden is decrepit, feeble, stumbles over words, does not (and perhaps never could) handle challenge without anger, and exudes weakness. Donald Trump exudes strength, power, and vitality in a way that communicates his resolve.
The end result will be an improvement in Donald Trump’s chances for return to the White House, and frankly, I don’t care why it happens.
Good Rant, CBD
I’m worried this marvelous nation has literally and figuratively been, or is very close to being, sold out from under us, citizens & legal immigrants alike; maybe at least since 9/11 but probably longer.
I’m scared BAMN is real. I’m worried our current existence is well along a path of “go along to get along’ for proportional rewards of housing, medical care, education, insurance, access to our earnings, etc. (skipping those deemed as elite for each situation, of course). And with that, we’ll lose our individualism & drive, only to become governed, herded by appropriate, local loyalists.
I understand some people vehemently dislike PDT. I vehemently dislike what’s his name. But I try to weigh out politics, never just for my own interests. I truly do believe there are opportunities for success before us under PDT & that we may come easier to honoring one another as human beings & equals.
If only…
(Old & silly, sorry).
I try to be optimistic, but what you suggest is observationally accurate.
As for PDT? I don’t know him, I will undoubtedly never meet him, so whether I like or dislike him is immaterial. The same goes for Biden. In fact, I find both of them to be sort of irritating when I listen to them speak, albeit for different reasons, so I rarely listen!
What I do is judge them by their actions, and it is clear that PDT is a much better choice for America and for me.
Don’t discount self-interest as a motivator. If the rank-and-file Democrats voted selfishly instead of along party lines, we would be in a much better place in America right now!