Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, click “About the Author” tab. Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500.
BEGIN ENTRY #513: In the late 1960’s/early 1970’s, there was a weekly TV show titled “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In.“ The show featured many tongue-in-cheek skits about a variety of topics.
One segment, a parody of recent news events was called “That Was the Week that Was.” News events this past week, plus a few days, could have qualified unedited for the entire “That Was the Week that Was” segment.
Going into last week Trump had a very comfortable lead over Joe Biden to be president. Then, in the middle of the British Open golf tournament, Biden posts on social media he is withdrawing and, a short time later, endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
Within a couple of days, the energy and momentum shifted to the Democrats and Trump was scrambling to generate any positive momentum. The Republicans were like a football team that in the 3rd quarter loses a 30-point half-time lead.
Why did Trump take such a dump? His worst nightmare became the quarterback of the other team. Biden would have been a pushover, mostly because of age and a poor performance at the first presidential debate. Then, Biden bows out and, voila, the new quarterback is a nemesis to Trump in every respect. A black female, substantially younger, former prosecutor, and married to a Jew. All the categories Trump tries to trash.
The shift in momentum toward Harris and away from Trump has been breathtakingly fast. While some political pundits claim Harris is still on her political honeymoon and the shift in momentum could be temporary like a sugar high, my view is the opposite. Rather than momentum abating, momentum is going to intensify.
The difference between the candidates is startling. Harris is articulate, under 60, and has a stellar record as a prosecutor and a senator. She carries little baggage and can take credit for many of the remarkable string of legislative achievements under the Biden administration, where she was VP.
Trump is now the oldest presidential candidate in history at 78, a convicted felon awaiting sentencing, has a $500 million (with interest) civil judgment outstanding and has been rated by a group of presidential historians as the worst president in US history. Even worse than Andrew Johnson!
And from all indications, Trump is scared. He’s already coming up with lame excuses to avoid debating Harris. To anyone other than hardcore MAGAts, his speeches at rallies have become even more irrational.
At a rally of fundamentalist Christians, he stated that if he were elected, the fundamental Christians would never have to vote again. He even repeated the implied “I’ll be a dictator for life” claim on Fox. Laura Ingram gave him an easy out with a simple question, but Trump refused to back down.
A couple of days ago at a conference of black media personnel, Trump claimed Harris only recently decided she was black. No, Donald. Try another claim. Harris only went to undergrad at Howard University, an HBCU, and pledged a sorority for black women. Donald, how dumb can you get?
Mmm, thinking about this again, maybe Trump is right. All these years Harris has been trying to hide her identity. Her parents really aren’t who she claims. The reality is she was born in Kenya and the secret sister of Barack Obama. (I’m sure a version of that fable will be promoted on right-wing media.)
Trump‘s VP selection, named JD Vance at least for now, is not helping the Trump campaign. Vance’s statements are so outlandish he almost makes Trump look rational.
Where does all this lead? Independents and moderate Republicans now have an out from having to consider Trump. After the Democratic convention, her campaign is likely to be more middle of the road, like Joe Biden. The centrist approach will make it much easier for Independents and frustrated Republicans to at least vote for her in 2024.
My prediction? Trump gets crazier and crazier as the campaign goes on. Finally, a few weeks before the election, he acknowledges to himself that he cannot win. His solution? Step out of the race for “health reasons,” claiming his doctors won’t let him run – probably more than another bone spur. Stepping down avoids the embarrassment of losing the popular vote three times and losing in a landslide to a black woman and former prosecutor. Stay tuned. END ENTRY #513
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