Trump: The grift goes on

Calling all MAGA fans! Now, send even MORE of your hard-earned money to convicted felon, twice-impeached, sexual-abusing fraudster Donald J. Trump, with his NEW collection of NFT Trump Trading Cards!

Trump's NFT fantasy...and the reality

Although this sounds as though it's from my satirical "None-yun" page, instead, so pathetically, it's all too real (CollectTrumpCards | Donald Trump Digital Trading Card NFTs). For a mere $99, Trump supporters can own one of about 45,000 "exclusive" images of their hero--and grifter extraordinaire--Donald J. Trump.

It's the fourth series of such NFTs--all featuring a heavily photo-shopped Trump in various Trump-world "manly" poses (think motorcycles, superhero suits, or wielding lightning bolts)--designed to pry yet more funds from his incredibly gullible base of supporters--he's previously fleeced them by selling sneakers and Trump-endorsed Bibles (which have shamelessly netted him more than $300,000).

Superhero Trump: the NFT version and, um, not

And this has nothing to do with his campaign or any of his charitable causes (um, of which I can't think of one anyway). The money, it appears, goes all to him.

His MAGA-faithful must have surprisingly deep pockets, because they do not disappoint. 

For his newest NFTs--although not selling quite as quickly as earlier series--Trump still raked in more than two million dollars of sales the first day.

To sweeten the pot this time, there are what I would term weird incentives for mass purchases--buying 5 (for $495) will secure a pair of Trump's worthless and garish gold Trump sneakers; 75 cards ($7425) will also give you ONE ticket to a Trump gala dinner at Mar-a-Lago, an intimate gathering with Trump and 449 other people that are as stupid as you.

"Hmmm...will my supporters be
stupid enough to buy these?"

Oh, those who purchase lots of his NFTs also get a piece (supposedly) of the suit he was wearing when he debated Biden, what Trump says people term the "Knockout suit" (spoiler alert: no one has ever called it that)--which actually may appeal to non-MAGAites because it was the moment that persuaded Biden to step aside and turn a likely Trump election win to one that will, instead, likely make Kamala Harris the new US President.

So, to all those Trump die-hard supporters with all that extra cash to spare, go ahead and buy all his crap--it will mean less money available for his campaign, and less money with which you can purchase weapons for next January 6th.

 

The curious VP pick of Tim Walz

The results of the Harris Veepstakes are in. The winner? Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

MN Governor Tim Walz--a good man,
a capable leader. and way left-of-center

So, um, huh?

It's possible Harris may have overplayed her hand by choosing a Progressive over a Moderate.

Don't get me wrong, there are some things for Democrats to like about Walz on the ticket: he brings executive experience as Governor, he's a National Guard veteran, and he's enacted all sorts of legislation in his state that polls show are important issues nationally (especially among Dems)--"red flag" gun laws, increasing funding for education and infrastructure, codifying abortion rights. And, I'm not exactly sure how, but he's also managed to cut taxes for most of his constituents.

So, why my confusion about Walz as Harris's running mate?

Well, for starters, Minnesota isn't a swing state (as are the homes of other Harris VP finalists, Arizona's Senator Mark Kelly, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro), so his selection doesn't bring any immediate electoral advantage, in that regard.

Secondly, the above-mentioned accomplishments of Walz's tenure--despite being popular in nationwide polling (and also gibing very well with Harris's beliefs)--are also pretty liberal ideas even for a ticket headed by the left of-center Harris,* one that is ostensibly trying to bring aboard Trump-averse right-of-center moderates (Note: most of Walz's passed legislation came with the help of a completely Democratic state assembly).

And some of Walz's other legislative wins can read as even more so (especially for many moderate voters): increasing payroll tax to fund paid childcare and medical leave, increasing state commitment to clean energy, granting voting rights to convicted felons, legalization of recreational marijuana, making Minnesota a haven for transgender rights and care.

As my wife asked me, "Exactly how does that appeal to moderates, how does that unite the country?"

That's a great question.

It doesn't. It essentially doubles down on a left-of-center agenda. And it doesn't exactly (in my opinion) expand the Harris tent (which would have easily invited in those fence-sitting, Trump-hating moderates with someone such as pro-gun, but anti-gun violence/from-a-border-state/former astronaut Mark Kelly).

Of course, pretty much all Democrats laud Walz's selection. Some, like hard-to-please WV Senator Joe Manchin praise his "normality." Others, like former President Obama cheer his character and his desire to "serve all of the people." Some claim Walz--who coined the GOP moniker "weird"--will serve wonderfully as Harris's "attack dog" on the Trump/Vance ticket.

But some, such as former Obama political strategist/CNN commentator David Axelrod (and, again, my wife) compare such a leftist choice to that of Trump's ultra-right wing pick of JD Vance (although Walz currently polls higher in favorability)--neither of which seems to attempt to appeal to moderates in that "big tent."

But it's the hand that Democrats now hold.

And Harris and the Dems (and democracy-loving citizens everywhere) have got to hope that the moderates they could have so much better courted find the Trump/Vance conservative ticket distasteful enough to cast their ballot for a pair of left-of-center liberals* 

*Signifies correction of mischaracterization of Harris as a Progressive in original post. Hat tip to capper.

Um, so VP DOESN'T matter now...?

What JD Vance says about his importance as Trump's pick for VP is, well, kind of a disturbing statement, really.

"My attitude is, it doesn't really matter."

But what does Donald think
 about JD? Turns out, not much...

Um, it doesn't matter to voters who the person is that is a heartbeat away from the Presidency?

Guess not, because, fortunately, Vance's opinion of his insignificance dovetails nicely with his boss's views (from Trump's amazingly inflammatory appearance at Wednesday's NABJ conference):

"...the Vice President, in terms of the election, does not have any impact. No impact."

Well, to a VP-pick, that's certainly got to be a resoundingly reassuring kick in the crotch, huh? And, to a nation weighing the competency of the person who is next on the US chain of command, hearing both ends of the ticket say it doesn't really matter who it is, really isn't that comforting, is it? 

For some reason, Trump
admires fictional murderer and
cannibal Hannibal Lecter

(Perhaps Trump thinks he could even win with 'the late, great Hannibal Lecter?")

Nine times in the history of our country, a Vice President has had to step into the Presidency (eight were for President deaths, but the most recent, Gerald Ford, became President with the resignation of Richard Nixon, 50 years ago this week).

Trump and Vance apparently think voters don't seem to care who that "number two" (no pun intended) person is. That's a problem when "number one" is an overweight, far from beloved, fearmongering felon that is the oldest nominated Presidential candidate in the history of our country. Not exactly the poster child for a four-year term in what is ostensibly the most stressful job in the world.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, just one year ago, Republicans sang a very different tune. The GOP, in fact, was saying the exact opposite--how important Biden's second-in-command was because he was an older President. As former rival (and now-Trump-suck-up) Nikki Haley said at the time, "A vote for President Biden is a vote for Kamala Harris."

Fortunately for our democracy, Pence
 wasn't the VP Trump thought he was

To be honest, if Trump had cared enough and had vetted his 2016 Vice President to be as unprincipled as he was--and now, presumably, as JD Vance is-- Biden's victory would have likely been overturned.
Thankfully for the country, despite tremendous pressure from Trump and the Trump supporters chanting, "Hang Mike Pence!" outside the Senate chambers, Pence did not bend to Trump's twisted will, but, instead, followed the directive of the US Constitution and ratified Biden's electoral vote victory. 

So, the VP turned out to be very important to this country.

And Harris's pick may help to shore up regional outreach or offer strength regarding Harris's perceived weaknesses (I'm looking at you and immigration, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly).

But, to Trump and his pick, it doesn't matter.

I guess that really says a lot, doesn't it? 

And that is, perhaps, the most disturbing statement of all.

Quick take: Trump wouldn't REALLY ditch Vance, would he?

Donald Trump wouldn't be thinking of replacing his VP pick JD Vance, would he?

Despite all the GOP lawmakers who privately say that Vance is a train wreck, Trump still backs him (well, other than publicly refusing to say if Vance would be ready to become President "on day one," and remarking that "the choice of Vice-President makes no difference").

Donald wouldn't throw JD
 under the bus, would he?

I mean, Trump wouldn't be the kind of man who would disregard his principles and his loyalties and his word to throw someone under the bus just because they make him look bad, would he?

And Trump really doesn't care that if he isn't elected, he will very likely still be facing a host of criminal indictments (which, if elected, he could order the DOJ to make them disappear), does he?

After all, JD Vance obviously checks all the boxes.

Alienating women and gays with offensive comments that the women running the country-- like (stepmother and Vice-President) Kamala Harris or even (gay dad) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg--are "childless cat ladies."  

Check.

Alienate what polls show are a majority of women voters by saying there should be a "no-exceptions" abortion ban.

Check.

Emerge from the RNC convention with a virtually unheard of negative popularity rating for a VP candidate.

Check.

Write a forward for the ultra-conservative/radical Project 2025--which despite mentioning Trump or his administration a couple hundred times--is a plan supposedly disavowed by your boss.

Check.

Once have called your boss "an idiot," a "cynical a**hole," and compared him to Hitler.

Check.

So, will Trump replace Vance? As Melania famously said in announcing her increased campaign participation (um, which hasn't yet happened), "Stay tuned."

Read a pair of insightful, longer takes on the topic:

The Independent's Can Trump replace JD Vance as his running mate? (msn.com)

Polls Show Vance Is Deeply Unpopular — Could the RNC Remove Him From the Ticket? | Truthout

I'm sick of the deplorable GOP

 A couple elections ago, the Democratic candidate for President termed some of Trump's supporters a "basket of deplorables."

Now, in 2024, it has encompassed the entire party.

And I'm sick of them.

Back during Covid, when science said to wear masks (which, research shows, works to inhibit virus dispersal--despite what your MAGA uncle says), GOP supporters in my community chose not to. They didn't care about possibly infecting the elderly or the immunocompromised. They didn't care about stopping Covid completely by reducing the possibility of variants created as it spread.

They just didn't want to wear a mask. So, they didn't.

As the GOP President spread lies and misinformation about an election that was "stollen" (as Trump spelled it), his gullible believers--despite copious mountains of debunking evidence and testimony from his own administration and daughter, Ivanka--continued to push the lie. Many shameless GOP officials suggested the election was not legitimate. Only a handful of principled GOP members called out Trump and his baseless accusations.

Trump and the GOP now celebrate
those that attacked police and tried
 to thwart the Constitution

And when Trump's supporters, on January 6, 2021, attacked and injured Capitol police, ransacked the US Capitol, and chanted to hang the GOP Vice-President because of Trump's GOP-backed lies, the GOP President watched it unfold on television for 187 minutes, before he finally told these violent domestic terrorists that he agreed with them and that he loved them.

Many GOP members blamed Trump directly for, what some principled GOP leaders termed, the insurrection. Senator Mitch McConnell had a particularly powerful such opinion here.

But within months, when it became apparent that Trump still had his rabid, gullible base, the GOP tried to rewrite history, whitewash the day's violence and intent, and now GOP members call these perpetrators of horrendous violence (designed to thwart the Constitution) "patriots" and "political prisoners." 

The GOP chose the criminal
over the people

And when juries of citizens--selected, in part, by Trump's own lawyers, for goodness sakes--heard evidence, and in the face of possible retaliation from Trump's basket of deplorables (as many had previously threatened judges, court officials, their families, and witnesses), rendered guilty verdicts on 34 (THIRTY-FOUR!) felony counts, and also civil liabilities in the hundreds of millions of dollars, GOP leaders took the side of the duly-found criminal, and called these proceedings a sham.

Amazingly, the GOP then made this deplorable man their candidate for President. All of the sudden, the few, remaining, principled GOP backers, it seems, have turned their backs on morality, and decency, and what is right, just to kowtow to Donald Trump--to get his tax breaks, or to confirm they can vilify and call other people names, or whatever they--and his supporters--get from this deplorable act of hypocrisy and cowardice.

And now, GOP members use racist tactics to attack Trump's opponent, the Vice-President of the United States--by Trump purposely mispronouncing her name, or others shouting "She's a DEI hire!" or claiming Democrats back Harris because of "her ethnic background."

They call migrants "trash," "rapists," "convicts." 

They demonize gays and Muslims, and call cities run by Democrats "horrible."

And I'm just sick of them.

Let me say that a little louder:

I'M SICK OF THEM!

It's time to vote them out for the good of our country--

the whole deplorable basketful of them.

.

Remembering the GOP demonization of Joe Biden

Now that Joe Biden's out of the Presidential race, the GOP will have to start its work on demonizing Harris.

But before we let Biden go, let's take a moment to review the disgusting lies told about him by Trump and his GOP.

The GOP certainly gives Pinocchio
a run for his money

Pre-MAGA GOP colleagues universally found Joe Biden to be a decent and honorable man. For decades. Decent and honorable.

That all changed when the GOP needed to create distractions in order to defend their indefensible President Trump who had had a dalliance with Russia, worked to overturn the election, hoarded and hid classified documents, did nothing for 187 minutes while the US Capitol was being overrun, was found to be a sexual abuser and a business fraud, and was convicted of 34 felonies.

Yikes! That’s a lot of distractions to create.

So, they did.

Biden rigged the election.

Biden accepted bribes.

Biden weaponized the Department of Justice.

And none of it was true.

Not one court found that the election had been rigged. Trump's administration (even his daughter, Ivanka) attested to its legitimacy. The right's baseless claims about Dominion vote-switching or Trump's felonious lies about Georgia's dead voters have all been debunked.

And the sheer scope of rigging an election would include law enforcement, poll workers, political individuals and organizations (both Democrats AND Republicans), and the judiciary. AND NO ONE EVER SPILLED THE TEA?!

And how about Joe's bribes (as part of a GOP impeachment fishing expedition)? Records showed that about $5000 pertained to his son's truck payments, and the $200,000 from his brother James was clearly shown as a loan repayment (by the way, head of the Biden impeachment committee James Comer also loaned his OWN brother about $200,000).

Well, still, Biden certainly weaponized the DOJ, right? Similar to the election-rigging lies, such an operation would have been massive. Joe would have not only had to strongarm the DOJ, but local District Attorneys and their staffs, FBI investigators, judges throughout the country, citizens on several Grand Juries, witnesses, the lawyers (including Trump's) who selected the jurors to hear and decide his case, as well as the jurors themselves.

For good measure (to evidently throw people off the scent of his insidious weaponization plot) Biden retained the Special Prosecutor investigating HIS OWN SON! And then he let the court proceedings run their course of convicting him. I'm curious, was Joe willing to also throw Jill under the bus, if it had come to that?

As Joe Biden would say, "C'mon, man!"

And now that Biden is gone, it's Harris's turn to take the slings and arrows launched by the lying, desperate, and morally-bereft GOP.

How long, for instance, before Trump amplifies another birther accusation against an opponent (especially one born of two immigrants)? Or creates dishonest narratives about her record? Or maybe the porn-star-hush-money-payer will salaciously question Harris's past? 

After the demonization of Joe Biden--a decent and honorable man--nothing is beneath Trump and the GOP.

Harris, I think, is more than ready to take them on.

 

Can Kamala Harris win?

Now that Democrats are coming to grips with Biden's much-needed departure from the presidential race, it's time to choose the successor.

Being this late in the game, the logical choice is Biden's VP Kamala Harris.

But can Harris win?

She has a lot of things going for her.

Harris can beat Trump in November

She's got the name recognition, her policies have been out there since her run for the Democratic nomination in 2020, she was elected Vice President in 2020 and is on the Biden/Harris ticket that resoundingly swept the primaries in 2024.

Harris is a known commodity that could hit the campaign trail running.

And, perhaps the biggest reason of all, because Harris and Biden share a campaign committee, all $91 million on hand of the campaign's war chest would come Harris's way (which wouldn't likewise transfer to any other Democrat).

Note: Although, amazingly, that massive amount still trails Trump's $116 million, it towers above the available funds any other potential Democratic hopefuls might have.

Harris's polling tends to run a bit better than Biden's in a match-up with Trump. Her numbers are generally better, as well, with two demographics that are well-positioned to make a difference in the upcoming election: Blacks and women.

She has also gained renown as a champion for abortion and women's reproductive rights, an issue that has mobilized voters even in red states to support laws protecting a woman's right to choose. Ostensibly, Harris would bring those voters out in November, as well.

There are the Biden/Harris administration successes she could point to--bipartisan bills regarding infrastructure and semi-conductor production, for example--and what, by then, should be a much more positive picture regarding issues such as inflation and the border (especially with Biden's recent executive action).

And her experience as a California prosecutor would eviscerate Trump's positions and record--the exact opposite of what Biden should have done (and was unable to do) in his catastrophic June debate.

Some down sides: She's connected to the perceived failures of the Biden administration, i.e., inflation and immigration (the latter of which she was tasked with improving, pretty much to no avail); her disapproval rating runs higher than her approval (although she still fares better than both Biden and Trump); she fostered some policy and performance criticism during her time as San Francisco DA and California Attorney General; and the above-mentioned Biden/Harris administration successes appear to have been pretty much all Joe, no Kamala.

But there are two ENORMOUSLY important points that would help Kamala Harris win in November:

1) She's not Biden

2) She's not Trump

So, Democrats, let's get on with it.

It's Harris's time.

Bring on November.

Here's a great take about why Harris may NOT win (from Politico)

Trump's pathetic band of GOP hypocrites

GOP "leaders" crawled out from the cesspool that is their party last night at the RNC Convention in Milwaukee to lavish praise upon GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The evening featured fellow Republicans (who have said some much-less-than-complimentary things in the past about Trump's character and abilities) now fawning over their fearless leader. Perhaps they're angling for Cabinet posts in a Trump administration. Perhaps they justifiably fear retribution from Trump and his worshipping minions for any dissent. Or maybe--and this seems the most reasonable explanation--these GOP politicians really are that spineless and unprincipled.

So, sit back and enjoy a trip down memory lane as we compare what Trump's GOP hypocrites said about him--then and now. By the way, Trump's clever nicknames (um, sarcasm intended) for his now-staunch allies are referenced after their quote from last night's RNC Convention.

Trump also insulted Ted's wife and suggested
Cruz's father was in on the JFK assassination

"I'm going to tell you what I really think of Donald Trump. This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies, practically every word that comes out of his mouth...Whatever he does, he accuses everybody else of doing. The man cannot tell the truth, but he combines it with being a narcissist, a narcissist at a level I don't think this country has ever seen...the man is utterly amoral. Morality does not exist for him."

Senator Ted Cruz, 2016

"God bless Donald J. Trump!"

"Lyin' Ted" Cruz, last night

Trump spread "birther" lies about
South Carolina-born Haley

"We need to acknowledge (Trump) let us down. He went down a path he shouldn't have, and we shouldn't have followed him, and we shouldn't have listened to him. And we can't let that ever happen again."

UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, 2021 

"Let me be clear, Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period." 

"Nimbra" "Birdbrain" Haley, last night

Rubio once wondered why the hands of 6'2"
 Trump were the size of someone who is 5'2"

"He runs on this idea that he is fighting for the little guy. But he has spent his entire career, sticking it to the little guy...If you all have friends who are thinking about voting for Donald Trump, friends do not let friends vote for con artists." 

Senator Marco Rubio, 2016

“It is time to put our country and its people first again…Together we will make Donald Trump president again!”  

“Liddle Marco” Rubio, last night

Trump, who once implied DeSantis
was a pedophile, now calls him
"a really terrific person"

"You can be the most worthless Republican in America, but if you kiss the ring, he’ll say you’re wonderful."  

Ron DeSantis, earlier in 2024

“Donald Trump…stands up for America…We cannot let him down.” 

"Meatball Ron" DeSanctimonious, last night

“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office; My God, what an idiot.” 

Trump running mate J.D. Vance, 2016

Check out the whole, pathetic Day 2 of the RNC Convention in Milwaukee Bing Videos

A great take on the current state of the GOP (from Rex Huppke, USA Today): Nikki Haley booed, other sad losers paraded out for Trump's Republican National Convention (msn.com)

Will Trump's shooting change him? I'm guessing, no

Will the assassination attempt be a catalyst for Trump's personal change?

Because of the shooting, Trump has supposedly altered his upcoming convention speech, calling it "a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world together."  Trump claims, instead of attacking Biden, he will focus on unity.

Call me skeptical. 

Wallace and Trump were both shot while campaigning,
and the similarities don't end there

Trump's had plenty of chances to call for unity before and instead has stoked division--from his "American carnage" inauguration remarks (about which Former President George W. Bush commented, "That was some weird sh*t") to his calls to jail opponents to imploring January 6 supporters to "fight like hell." And, unlike Biden's recent national speech to calm the nation after the attempt on Trump's life, Trump never once addressed the country, for example, about the murder of George Floyd. 

But such change has happened before (albeit far too little, and far too late).

Against the backdrop of the 1960's, in a country of southern whites angry and scared about integration and civil rights, George Wallace ran gubernatorial campaign ads shouting, "Wake up Alabama! Blacks vow to take over!" And, yet, in 1968, Wallace garnered an incredible (and terrifying) 13.5% of the popular vote as a third-party presidential candidate (which translated to 46 electoral votes from southern states).

Note: Trump has tapped into that same disgusting (and unwarranted) white rage (for example, through his numerous instances of calling undocumented migrants rapists/animals/convicts that are poisoning the blood of our country).

Wallace--a loathsome man who once vowed "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever"--was shot while campaigning for the primaries in 1972.

The man behind sending state troopers that mercilessly beat Blacks peacefully marching for voting rights (a dark day that's now known as "Bloody Sunday") supposedly reflected on his horrific words and actions regarding civil rights after becoming paralyzed from the shooting. In fact, the man once reviled by Blacks and whites alike publicly changed his views, becoming Alabama governor yet again (amazingly, with 90% of the African-American vote), appointing scores of African-Americans to governmental posts, working to increase Black voter registration, and with continuing admissions of the repugnance of his earlier views.

So, there's precedent for a vile, populist presidential candidate to search his soul and change his views following an attempt on his life.

Will that happen with Donald Trump in Milwaukee this week with his GOP convention speech? Will it be unifying? Will it be soul-searching? Will it be inspiring?

We'll just have to wait and see.

But I wouldn't bet on it.

Trump shooting exposes disingenuous GOP

Well, that didn't take long.

Mere minutes after the horrible assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Georgia's Republican Representative Mike Collins posted this despicable accusation on X: Joe Biden sent the orders.

To recap: an elected government official just accused the President of the United States of ordering the assassination of a political rival.

Agents surround Trump after his being shot

Fortunately, Trump is relatively okay (full disclosure: I am adamant in the belief that Donald Trump has been destructive to this country, but there is NO excuse for this terrible act; political voices should only be silenced via the ballot box).

Biden had carelessly stated, to be sure, after his debate debacle, that he needed to focus on Trump, to, metaphorically, "put Trump in a bullseye."

But Biden did not order such a despicable act (nor did Biden ever specify to "fight like hell" after telling his supporters to come to a specific time or place because it "will be wild").

Interestingly enough, however, ordering the assassination of a political rival, was EXACTLY what Trump's legal team argued a President would have the right to do under the broad umbrella of presidential immunity.

The GOP has rightly decried this political violence and called for "unity." 

This is the same political party that celebrates the January 6 carnage in which Trump's GOP supporters--whom they now call patriots--stormed the US Capitol, injured Capitol police and chanted to hang Trump's own GOP Vice President.

By the way, not only DIDN'T Trump denounce the violence (in his name) against Capitol police and the ransacking of our country's Capitol (nor did he once call to check on his VP Pence), Trump, instead, told these political thugs he "loved" them and that these perpetrators of grotesque political violence were "very special."

And Trump was the same guy who spread rumors and mocked the vicious, politically-motivated attack on the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (who yesterday tweeted about the Trump shooting: "...political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe"). 

Come to think of it, Trump was the same guy (along with his political party) who defended a "Trump train" of Texas supporters in pick-up trucks who surrounded a Biden campaign bus, ostensibly trying to force it off the road.

So, yeah, you can--and SHOULD--decry political violence and call for unity. 

And you can do that with certainty and with clarity. And without the slightest sense of irony.

Unless you're Trump's GOP.

Oops! Trump gets his wish

Back when the 2020 presidential campaign started, Donald Trump needed a strategy to beat Joe Biden. 

Trump didn't have any real policies. He couldn't speak knowledgably about the issues. His own track record included botching the Covid response, crashing the economy, and disparaging institutions such as the judiciary and the FBI. 

So, Trump defaulted to bully mode: relentlessly attack an opponent with personal insults and baseless allegations. This one was that Biden was feeble--physically and mentally. 

And as he entered 2024, in the wake of impeachments, indictments, convictions, civil judgments, and lying to overturn an election, Trump continued the attacks with the wish that enough people would believe his lies and accusations to swing the election.

Sure, there have been Biden gaffes over the years--although Trump had his share, too. But as Biden bested Trump in the 2020 debate, or was elected President, or even delivered a rousing State of the Union speech earlier this year, Biden's cognitive decline wasn't really a salient issue for anyone outside of Trump's MAGA sphere as they tried to distract voters from their own candidate's court proceeding after court proceeding (they also ceaselessly touted Hunter's "nothing-burger" laptop, or empty impeachments against members of Biden's administration, or non-existent bribes supposedly coming Joe's way). 

Primarily because of Biden's shortcomings being exposed during the debate (and since), it now appears that Biden has slowed. 

Trump has been granted his wish.

As a result, Trump now leads Biden in most polls. The Democrats are sniping and in seeming disarray. And Trump's Republicans are united behind him as he heads into Milwaukee to accept the GOP nomination.

But now that Trump's gotten his wish, is it a case of "be careful what you wish for?"

After all, there remains a real possibility that Biden--a struggling incumbent who Trump had at least a 50/50 chance to defeat--will be replaced.

By someone younger than Trump.

By someone smarter than him.

By someone less controversial than him.

Which could significantly change the calculus regarding the election.

And that wouldn't be good news for Trump.

But it just could be the very thing America has been wishing for. 

Biden goes off the rails

Biden's campaign is in serious trouble.

His poll numbers are dropping, allies are leaving, voters are questioning his cognitive abilities.

And that is readily apparent to anyone.

Unless your name is Biden.

It's time to go, Joe.

And that denial of reality is serious trouble for Democrats--and for this country.

For some reason, Joe (and Jill) seems to think that Biden can turn his candidacy around based on his past accomplishments rather than the reality of the present--or the doubt of a coherent Biden future.

His debate should have sealed his fate. His answers were rambling, mumbling, and, at times, downright incoherent.

If that wasn't the final nail, his "redemption" interview with George Stephanopolous--an interview, again, with his ramblings, a reluctance to answer questions about his mental acuity, and his refusal to submit to cognitive testing--surely was. 

But, inexplicably, it wasn't.

Today, Biden wrote a letter to Democratic legislators telling them he would not step aside.

He denies cratering polling numbers. He dismisses abysmal approval ratings. He defies those allies that suggest that it's time to go.

He clings to the (incredibly misguided) belief that his accomplishments are enough, that the despicable character of his opponent is disqualifying, that HE alone can beat Trump. 

But it's just not reality. It's not. And I'm not sure why he (or his advisors--I'm looking at you, Jill) can't see that.

And, regarding his mental acuity, that incredibly absurd belief and lack of judgment is more than enough to prove that Biden should no longer be running the country.

It's time to go, Joe.

Joe, it's time to bow out

As if Biden's stumbling, fumbling, mumbling debate performance wasn't bad enough to doom his reelection chances, last night's "redemption" interview with ABC's George Stephanopolous should be the end of his presidential campaign.

Biden's interview--just another "bad night?"

This was an interview for which Biden should have been prepared, focused, and convincing. 

But he wasn't.

Instead, Biden rambled. He deflected when asked questions about his cognitive capabilities. He was disingenuous (or clueless) when talking about falling numbers in the polls or the maelstrom in Democratic circles resulting from his alarming debate earlier in the week. And when asked if he had since watched the debate (which he optimistically termed  simply "a bad night"), Biden inexplicably claimed, "I don't think so."

I don't think so? How would he not know if he watched it or not?

But perhaps the biggest drop of all: Biden said he wouldn't take a cognitive exam.

"I have a cognitive test every single day."

No, you don't, Joe.

And this would be THE easiest thing to do to bring your campaign back, putting all the questions and concerns to rest. Just take an evaluative test.

But he won't do it.

Because, I think--and I'm guessing as does every other American think likewise (including Jill Biden)--he isn't sure he would pass one.

And that's sad.

But it happens. And when it gets to that point, even though a person is still capable of doing lots of things, running the world's most powerful country is no longer on that list.

So, it's time to bow out, Joe Biden. Thank you for your decades of public service, your accomplishments as President, your decency as a person.

It's time to move on.

For you, and for the country.

Here's a complete transcript of the interview from ABC News

Biden: Not dead yet?

Following Biden's debate debacle last night, many people (me included) determined his election chances were dead in the water.

Not so fast.

Today, in Raleigh, NC, Biden pulled a Mark Twain--he delivered an incredibly coherent and powerful speech.

Biden's NC speech today shows he's
still in this thing

Unbelievable, in fact. 

I mean, WHERE WAS THIS GUY LAST NIGHT?! 

Biden said the things he should have said in a way that would have made him the frontrunner. 

Hands down.

Unbelievable.

If he can be more like today and less like he was last night, 

Biden's campaign is not dead yet.

Here's a short clip

ADDENDUM: However, that being said, I still believe that Biden should bow out. And the sooner, the better.

For 187 minutes, Trump did nothing

Just a reminder: For 187 minutes on January 6, 2021, Trump supporters pummeled police officers, and

Trump did nothing.

As Trump's supporters hunted down his Vice-President amid chants of "Hang Mike Pence!"

Trump did nothing.

While our country's elected Congressional representatives frantically hastened to take shelter from a violent, advancing mob,

Trump did nothing.

And when Trump supporters marched through the US Capitol carrying flags supporting Trump and the Confederacy--on their way to ransack Congressional offices and occupy the Senate chambers--

Trump did nothing.

Even when Trump's own staff and family implored him to stop the carnage--because they obviously believed (correctly) these were Trump supporters who would stop with his order to do so--

Trump did nothing.

Well, that's not entirely accurate.

Trump sat in the White House.

He watched it all unfold on Fox News.

He told his staff he wished not to be bothered.

He called Congressional members hiding in the Senate chambers, attempting to solicit support to delay
certification of the election results.

He created a video that told this violent mob that he agreed with them and that they were very special.

That's what Trump did during the 187 minutes that the US Capitol--our Capitol--was under siege.

That's not a leader. 

That's a selfish, cowardly, disgusting excuse for a human being.

And the GOP thinks such a piece of garbage should be President again?

Unlike Trump, you can do something.

Vote Biden.

GUILTY!

 A jury of Donald Trump's peers has found the former President of the United States GUILTY OF 34 FELONY COUNTS.

This is a jury that had been selected with Trump's attorneys through jury selection. This is a jury that faced down the fear of possible retaliation by a vengeful criminal and his rabid and misguided minions. This is a jury that listened to all the evidence and decided that Trump did, indeed, have a hand in falsifying business records in an effort to influence the 2016 election.

Not a witch hunt.

Not a political persecution.

Only accountability for criminal actions committed by Donald Trump.

It's justice.

Finally.

Hallelujah.

Unbelievable stats about Trump

Some stunning numbers from the GOP presidential frontrunner:

The GOP's not the only one pulling for a Trump victory

0 popular vote wins

1 liability for sexual assault

2 impeachments

4 indictments

91 criminal charges

187 minutes of silence while Capitol stormed

11,780 votes demanded of Georgia

130K $ in hush money to porn star

430M+ $ owed in court judgments

Wow.

I mean, just, wow.

Today's observation: Which genes are which?

Trump continues to defend his mental acuity by invoking his genetic connection to his MIT professor uncle:

"You know, I had an uncle. He's the longest serving professor, Doctor John Trump, in the history of MIT, with same genes, we have genes, we're smart people, we're smart people."

And, yet, he never mentions his genetic connection to his father that died from Alzheimer's.

An example of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment about which Trump references to brag about his mental competency. And what it really means.

The Inevitability of Trump

Well, here we are.

With DeSantis's departure, the GOP nomination field for President has whittled from fourteen to two.

And, hey, Nikki Haley, who are we kidding? 

It's coming into focus--the GOP nominee will be Trump

The GOP nominee will be Trump.

Polls show Trump with an average margin over Haley of fourteen points in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. And, for the following week, Trump's up an astounding 36% in SC over South Carolina's favorite daughter. So, even if somehow, some way, Nikki Haley were to garner more New Hampshire votes than Trump, it would just delay the inevitable: Donald Trump, the twice-impeached, four-time indicted, 91-felony-count-facing, sexual-assault-liable, business-fraud, former US President--despite facing charges of hoarding classified US documents and promoting conspiracy theories to overturn an election--will be anointed the GOP's nominee to run for president.

Unbelievably, you read that right. 

As it stands right now, even more than half the US GOP Senators--some of whom have called Trump a "con artist," a "pathological liar," or a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot"--have now endorsed his candidacy. The same party with lawmakers who claimed Trump's rhetoric was responsible for January 6 are now embracing the candidate who, as President, disregarded the US Constitution and attempted to thwart democracy. And, in the very near future, it will be official.

The Republicans want this despicable, bullying, narcissist as their president--this man who lost the 2020 White House, House, and Senate, and brought embarrassing numbers to the GOP in 2022, as well. 

Fortunately, it isn't exclusively up to the spineless/gullible morons who have cast their lot with Trump.

Despite most polls calling a Biden/Trump rematch in a dead heat (i.e., most are within the margin of error), polls also show that Trump's support would drop double digits if he were convicted.

Well, that's assuming that the voters they polled follow through on their morals and convictions more than most in the GOP have done.

If so, then, despite Trump's inevitable nomination, his ascendency to the presidency will be anything but.

Just like Ron DeSantis, Trump will not spend the next four years in the White House.

It's inevitable.

ADDENDUM: Politico just published (1/22) a thorough analysis of Trump's court cases and electability: Will Trump’s Jan. 6 Trial Take Place Before the Election? - POLITICO

Racism: Today's "Trump Daily Despicability" Entry

Today's entry into the Trump Despicability Index is no secret: Trump is racist.

And he knows how to play his racist audience for support.

Trump's racist assertions about Haley are lies

He's previously done so quite obviously: promoting Confederate "values" with his "Fine people, on both sides" comment about Charlottesville, or his inspiring of the ultra-racist and Trump-supporting Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by" during a Presidential debate when asked to condemn their repulsive tenets of white supremacy.

Now, just as he did for Barack Obama, Ted Cruz, and Kamala Harris, Trump has added Nikki Haley to his resume of racism by promoting the baseless and disgusting conspiracy lie that she, too, is ineligible for the presidency because she is--wait for it--not a US-born citizen.

Um, except she is (as are Obama, Cruz, and Harris).

Haley was born, indisputably, in the US--in Bamberg, South Carolina.

And, according to the US Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment (which also talks about disqualification for insurrection, btw), "All persons born...in the United States...are citizens of the United States..."

So, why does Trump do this?

Because he wants the racism daily double--he thinks his doing so will "delegitimize" a political opponent (who is not "white" like him and his followers) AND he gets to rally and infuriate his gullible and angry base of deplorable voters that are still burning from the "indignity" of a Black man being elected US President in 2008.

And, in this heavily MAGA anti-immigrant climate (well, non-European immigrant, anyway), it's just a bonus for Trump's rabid base that Haley's parents were both immigrants (who, btw, Trump says are "poisoning the blood of our country").

Hmm, also immigrants were Harris's parents and Cruz's father (Obama's Kenyan dad had been studying in the US with his Kansas-born wife when Barack was born). (Parenthetically, Melania's an immigrant, too, albeit of white, European heritage).

This isn't a coincidence.

And this isn't a mistake.

This is a former president and current candidate for that office purposely playing the racist card to pull the cockroaches from the dark recesses of our society out into the light so they will cast their votes for him.

THAT'S Trump's strategy.

If that's not despicable, nothing is.