Trump's Spell?

I don't Buy It

Former President Donald trump seems to be defying all reality, proving popular despite the evidence he’s a chaotic, unprincipled, lying scoundrel, who has no respect for democracy or international norms.

Trump is in court facing 4 criminal cases that he unleashed the violence on the Capitol, denied the election results when he knew he had lost and is currently facing serious criminal charges on keeping State secrets in his home, and another of over valuing his companies. He’s a fraudster according to a criminal conviction in New York.

And yet we all hear how Republican voters still support him with around 50% of the country saying they will vote for him in the 2024 election.

The polling ignores the fact 1/3 of those voters also say they would support another Republican candidate if there was one. Which tells you the polling reflects huge disdain for Democratic leader President Joe Biden rather than love for Trump.

And the former President of chaos aka Trump, may not be able to count on many of the voters who want to vote Republican, but swallow hard at the thought of another round of you know who. (Swallow like the worst case of strep they ever had and don’t want to catch again).

TV pundits and print columnists all point out that getting the Republican nomination is a far cry from actually beating Joe Biden, and once more convictions are registered against Trump, many will turn their backs on Trump.

What is it that attracts Americans, to what most of us living abroad is some kind of madness for even considering Trump for a second term for President?

This, as we hear former President Trump told top European officials while he was in office that the United States would never help Europe if it came under attack.

Thierry Breton, a French commissioner who is responsible for the EU’s internal market, said Trump made the remarks to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Layen in Davos in January 2020.

Remarkable and ridiculous views from a man who flirts with Russian leader Putin like a school child hoping to allowed into a kids club, and holds N Korean leader Kim Jong Un in high regard.

Well of course there is a right wing media madness that feeds conspiracy theories, pumping oxygen into the idea Trump is somehow a victim. And how the deep state was really behind the Capitol insurrection, not poor Donald even though his pre riot rally called on American’s “to fight like hell”. (Approx 25 per cent of Trump hard core fans believe that lunacy).

So yes there is disinfo-misinfo fuelling some of the Trump vote. But it seems to me a lot of it are people saying one thing and possibly contemplating another.

They say they support Trump, but they contemplate not voting at all or switching at the last minute when faced with the hard choice between Biden and that orange haired havoc.

I have covered several elections in countries where pre election polls were vastly unreliable because prospective voters lied to the pollsters. (Israel is one where the result was entirely different than expressed voting intention)

I think some of the polling reflects alarm at Biden’s age, and the fact there are many who look at his physical condition, and slurred speech as an indication he could simply drop dead if he wins another term.

Biden is the oldest American President at 81 and many think he is a walking model for a maximum age for Commander’s in Chief. 85? 75? 65? There is no consensus but wide agreement Biden is just too old.

Why the heck didn’t the Dems choose another leader? And why didn’t Biden call it a day? Shame because that would have made it easier to defeat Trump with practically any new Democrat leader and Presidential hopeful.

Anyway here we are watching Trump endlessly chewing on Republican competition candidates DeSantis and Haley, holding news conferences outside court houses claiming he’s a victim of a witch hunt, and generally promoting the circus that will be his signature Presidency past and maybe future? Naaah.

Like I said at the beginning, I don’t think smart people in the U.S. will in the end endorse Trump to be their President again.

There is no real spell, and it’s a question of when, not if, American’s snap out of it!

DL