By Sid Schwab / Herald Columnist
One takeaway from the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump is the annoyance of articles that promise “(insert number) takeaways from (insert event).”
Here are three of mine: 1) fact-checking is a waste of time, 2) fewer people are paying attention than one would hope, and 3) focus groups confirm 1 and 2.
A worthwhile online destination is “The Bulwark,” consisting of current and former Republicans, traditional conservatives, always brilliant and, therefore, never-Trumpers. All have impressive résumés, as advisers to past Republican candidates, campaign managers, commentators, writers. Founder of The Weekly Standard, Bill Kristol is one. Former RNC Chair Michael Steele is another. Unlike MAGA Republicans, they also have a sense of humor. For those seeking current information and thoughtful opinion, there’s a YouTube channel (youtube.com/@bulwarkmedia) and a website (thebulwark.com/). Its publisher, Sarah Longwell, is a cogent political analyst and leader of focus groups. Her post-debate sessions have been somewhere between reassuring and disconcerting.
One “undecided” voter said she hadn’t known that Trump pressured congressional Republicans to block the tough, problem-solving, bipartisan border bill so he could continue to use immigration as his central campaign issue. That act of seditious skullduggery is perfectly revelatory of what he is (deplorable) and who he is not (a patriot).
At this late date, remaining unaware must be due to derelict disinterest in politics or getting one’s news only from Foxish sources. Which suggests, given how closely divided our country is, that November’s election could be decided by people who know approximately nothing about the candidates or what’s at stake. Whether Trump wins may depend on people who believe his lie that he’s unaware of Project 2025, for one example (New York Times: tinyurl.com/heknows2025), or who are unfamiliar with it. For the latter, here’s a helpful primer: (X: tinyurl.com/what2025)
Most of the participants in Longwell’s focus groups agreed Harris prevailed in the debate and were put off by Trump’s claim about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio eating neighborhood pets. How many of the estimated 67 million viewers of the debate believed it, though? Enough that there’ve been dozens of bomb threats to Springfield’s government offices and schools. True to form, Trump refused to condemn those threats. Vance let slip that they know the claims are groundless, but push them for political advantage (Independent: tinyurl.com/2makeup4u). MAGA.
Denying, but knowing he got trounced in the debate, Trump now claims that Harris was given questions in advance. Trumpists are sure she received coaching through her earrings. Perennially incapable of actual governance, House Republicans plan to investigate. But the explanation is obvious: diligent preparation for anticipated questions on predictable topics. Purposeful — let’s call it presidential — preparation. Something with which Trump, who famously refused to read his daily briefings as “president” and didn’t bother to prepare for foreign visits, is wholly unfamiliar.
Since the debate, we’ve seen other examples of who Trump is. He’s been traveling with and pawing (Times of India: tinyurl.com/handsonLaura) the most deplorable of MAGA women (there’s plenty of competition, with one of whom she shares a first name): Laura Loomer. A Holocaust denier and 9/11 conspiracist, she’s a racist xenophobe whose vile rhetoric makes Ann Coulter seem like Emily Dickinson (BBC: tinyurl.com/whoislaura). She claims the Ohio Haitians aren’t just pet-eaters, but cannibals. Not unlike a local Republican candidate, reportedly (The Herald: tinyurl.com/2whidbey), she calls for Democrats to be executed. Even nasty Marjorie Taylor Greene finds Ms. Loomer offensive (jealous, Marge?), saying the lady isn’t what MAGA stands for. But MAGA is Trump and Trump loves Loomer, so it most definitely is.
Also included in his current coterie is Pizzagate conspirator Jack Posobiec. Trump pushed Loomer- and Posobiec-level conspiracies long before he inner-circled them. (Bulwark: tinyurl.com/2nuts4u). The man MAGAs trust with America’s future is showing us the kind of people with whom he’d surround himself if elected.
After Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump posted on Truthless Sociopath, colloquially known as “Truth Social,” “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” That’s the entire post, fourth-grader level from the man who would be president; so easily triggered by Taylor Swift and Harris that he descends into madness. Like his recent promise to deport those Ohio Haitians to — wait for it — Venezuela. But they’re here legally on Temporary Protected Status, making deportation illegal. Not that legality matters to a convicted felon, sex predator and fraudster. Or his besotted believers.
Corollary to Trump’s psychic fragility is the ease with which he succumbs to flattery. If Trumpists don’t see it, the world does. Here’s a link to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull describing Trump’s puppy-dog behavior around Putin and other dictators: (X; tinyurl.com/Putinlapdog). All Americans should be appalled, because appalling is what it is. For America, Trump needs to lose. By a lot.
Underscoring the need, a letter has just been published by more than 100 Republicans, former members of the Reagan, Bush I, Bush II and Trump administrations and Congress, stating Trump’s absolute unfitness to be president (New York Times: tinyurl.com/100forher). They expect, they wrote, to disagree with Harris on many issues, but gave full-throated support to her integrity and qualities befitting a president. If Taylor Swift’s endorsement won’t affect conservatives, maybe this will.
Email Sid Schwab at columnsid@gmail.com.
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