By picking Biden the Democrats told me they want me they want me to die young, in massive debt, with no access to healthcare because they they love Wall Street and Billionaires. I hate this worthless country. If I could vote to nuke DC I would, but I'll settle for Trump.
I appreciate this piece, Ross -- there's definitely serious concern for 2024 (and honestly for 2020, though the decision to focus on phone and textbanking versus in-person canvassing is a tough call -- I know personally I'm unwilling to knock on doors due to Covid and that's just in New York).
I do have to take issue, though, with the assertion that "American democracy itself, believe it or not, could withstand another four years of Trump." We've ticked off every box for early warning signs of authoritarianism, and Trump has openly suggested an interest in running for a third term or just plain staying in office (or handing off the presidency to one of his kids). I'm definitely of the school of thought that this could be the last election that has any semblance of being free and fair (and even that's a stretch) and we're on a potential collision course to autocracy here. We've already seen this play out elsewhere and (aside from Trump's age and health and that he currently has someone who isn't a family member next in the line of succession) don't see any reason why we're exceptionally immune to this.
Also have to agree with you on this. Up until a few months ago I believed in the “Trump is too incompetent to be a dictator and not at all interested in staying as president” line. Anyone who thinks that now isn’t paying attention. He is being incredibly focused on staying in power and he seems very interested in never leaving, and all of his actions and statements over the past couple of months have said as much.
And said young (“young” is key here because they will outlive everybody) rabidly conservative judiciary picks rubber stamped by McConnell won’t help us either. They’re not “constitutional originalists,” they are trained by the Federalist Society to twist the constitution and jurisprudence to conform to Republican ideology.
After 2016, there are no NYC-based or DC-based reporters whose word I can take seriously on the state of the race- not even one as insightful as you, Ross. The fact of the matter is that the "national" media still can't see past their own nose and look at the ground in the swing states, where it is looking like a bloodbath. I figured Biden wouldn't be as stupid as Hillary in not running a race in places like Michigan or Wisconsin, but here we are. Don't give me the pandemic as an excuse- those states aren't a death trap like Florida and deserve to have people on the ground, knocking doors, and taking safety precautions.
Polls are voodoo but they do seem to be tightening moderately in the last couple of weeks. And generally, "I am not the other guy" is a losing campaign pillar. I don't believe the hype especially given the parallels of four years ago.
By picking Biden the Democrats told me they want me they want me to die young, in massive debt, with no access to healthcare because they they love Wall Street and Billionaires. I hate this worthless country. If I could vote to nuke DC I would, but I'll settle for Trump.
I appreciate this piece, Ross -- there's definitely serious concern for 2024 (and honestly for 2020, though the decision to focus on phone and textbanking versus in-person canvassing is a tough call -- I know personally I'm unwilling to knock on doors due to Covid and that's just in New York).
I do have to take issue, though, with the assertion that "American democracy itself, believe it or not, could withstand another four years of Trump." We've ticked off every box for early warning signs of authoritarianism, and Trump has openly suggested an interest in running for a third term or just plain staying in office (or handing off the presidency to one of his kids). I'm definitely of the school of thought that this could be the last election that has any semblance of being free and fair (and even that's a stretch) and we're on a potential collision course to autocracy here. We've already seen this play out elsewhere and (aside from Trump's age and health and that he currently has someone who isn't a family member next in the line of succession) don't see any reason why we're exceptionally immune to this.
Also have to agree with you on this. Up until a few months ago I believed in the “Trump is too incompetent to be a dictator and not at all interested in staying as president” line. Anyone who thinks that now isn’t paying attention. He is being incredibly focused on staying in power and he seems very interested in never leaving, and all of his actions and statements over the past couple of months have said as much.
And said young (“young” is key here because they will outlive everybody) rabidly conservative judiciary picks rubber stamped by McConnell won’t help us either. They’re not “constitutional originalists,” they are trained by the Federalist Society to twist the constitution and jurisprudence to conform to Republican ideology.
After 2016, there are no NYC-based or DC-based reporters whose word I can take seriously on the state of the race- not even one as insightful as you, Ross. The fact of the matter is that the "national" media still can't see past their own nose and look at the ground in the swing states, where it is looking like a bloodbath. I figured Biden wouldn't be as stupid as Hillary in not running a race in places like Michigan or Wisconsin, but here we are. Don't give me the pandemic as an excuse- those states aren't a death trap like Florida and deserve to have people on the ground, knocking doors, and taking safety precautions.
Polls are voodoo but they do seem to be tightening moderately in the last couple of weeks. And generally, "I am not the other guy" is a losing campaign pillar. I don't believe the hype especially given the parallels of four years ago.