Full House

Full House

By Charles E. Kraus

Two days have gone by since Trump's Tulsa Rally.  Actually, let's not call it a rally, let's call it what it was, a focus group.  You know focus groups.  Marketers bringing together a collection of very specific individuals.  Of course, these sessions are usually held in an office or conference room, not an event venue. It's a good thing Trumps' rally wasn't catered.  Lot of baloney would have gone to waste.

Personally, I'm surprised that Trump hasn't sent Kayleigh off to a press conference claiming his Tulsa numbers were misrepresented by the despicable traitorous liberal fake press, such as the Wall Street Journal ("Trump’s Tulsa Rally Draws Smaller-Than-Expected Crowd") and the Washington Examiner ("Trump rally in Tulsa failed to fill half the arena.")  

"The largest crowd ever assembled in Oklahoma," McEnany might tell us.  Except for the mob that stormed Tulsa's Black Wall Street during the massacre.

Actually, I've seen larger gatherings at bar mitzvahs.

Trump gave what he called an ok speech.  He was nervous.  Upset.   I'm sure he was worried about the health of his six campaign staffers who'd tested positive for Coved 19.

Besides, he was facing history.  History, in his case, did not have to do with speeches by Churchill, or Roosevelt, not by Kennedy or even Obama.  Our President comes from a line of work other than that of statesman.  From the land of televised entertainment.  Possibly, he could not help marveling at the fact that he was appearing in the very same hall that had featured Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Elton John, U2, Justin Timberlake, Garth Brooks, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses, Kenny Chesney, Bruce Springsteen, and many other big name draws.  Would he attract bigger numbers than Barry Manilow?   Such questions must have been on his mind.

Look at photographs and videos of the folks who showed up.  They seem baffled by the empty seats.  What happened to their missing friends?  Did they have the right date?  The right address?

The place was so empty people could scan the crowd in search of missing buddies, a process made easier by the fact that almost no one was wearing one of those stupid masks.   Republicans have been saying right along, no masks,  no hijabs -- on Muslims, or on God fearing Americans.  None of our founding fathers wore masks.  Well, maybe the Lone Ranger.

This whole thing was a Tik Tok ambush.  Just think of Tik Tok spelled backward and you'll understand.  Tok Tik.  Exactly.  A broken clock.  Time standing still.  Simply not the Trump way.  Trump wants us to return to our golden past, to go backwards.  Standing still is not an option.

In my opinion, the specific reason for low turnout is that people were scared off by the deep medical state in cahoots with John Bolton.  Bolton, one of those self centered loud mouths, out to make a buck.  Obviously folks who showed up for the Tulsa rally are immune to such hucksters.  According to their immunization records, that may be the only thing they're immune to.

The Floyd Effect - a voter algorithm

The Floyd Effect - a voter algorithm
By Charles E. Kraus

I am white.  Middle class.  And old enough to have reduced my civic/political activities to sending off emails, postcards and an occasional check.  Sitting home, sheltering in place as the past two months have required, has given me an opportunity to be in virtual touch with a lot of people.  And during this recent period of civil unrest and racial tension communicating with friends has me thinking that the explosive energy set off by the hideous murder of George Floyd is about to set off another, even broader, even more massive response.

The working theory of my virtual companions is that a combination of outrage about systemic racism, financial anxiety and pandemic isolation, along with the catalyst — torturing George Floyd to death, set in motion an ongoing series of protests across the country and around the world that has legs.

Outrage?  Financial anxiety?  Pandemic insecurity.? Civic concern?  George Floyd was one too many.  According to everyone I speak with, vote by mail or not, voting in the presidential election is going to be the next expression of outrage.   It will reach historic numbers. 

You get people angry enough and they become pigheaded.  Pandemic or not, long lines, bad weather, rightwing intimidation.  Bring 'em on.  Trump's actions, basically anything he does, are now part of the voter algorithm.  Every time the President opens his mouth, he creates another opposition vote.

Part of what I hear from my friends has to do with correcting course, and with acting in time to save democracy -- before Trump and his greedy cohorts sink the country.  But there is more.  One thing that comes up again and again is that once the guy is removed from office, he's going to jail.  A lot of people I know think that is sweet.   I'll bet prison is on his mind, too.

Yes, he may -- having witnessed Trump in action, I don't doubt this -- he may attempt to pardon himself. But so what?  The State of New York will act on the Country's behalf.  Mr. Trump can not dismiss those charges. Every time he blunders his way into a new corner, I'm wondering if he is simply running scared.  Twisting and turning like a criminal on the run.

Amazingly, none of my friends are cautious about their predictions.  They don't hope Trump will lose the election.  Nor are they concerned as to whether or not the Democrats will be able to find some way to keep it together, to turn out the vote, to win a particular state, to send extra poll watchers.  They know the Republicans will be swept out of office. 

Sadly, it's taken a pandemic and significant reaction to yet another act of racism and police brutality to bring voters to their senses and their feet.  Perhaps spending far too much time indoors in front of their computers and televisions has given people time and opportunity to pay attention to something other than their own locked in, insulated, bubbles.