Saturday’s Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Saturday, January 20, 2024
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37 comments
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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@Flat Earth Luddite:
In rethinking my late comment yesterday (re The potential for a Luddite/Cracker ticket for the Lunatic/ Sociopath Party), I have to admit I’m too old, fat, and lazy to actually campaign, and would make a horrible Fearless Leader.
No need to thank me, I withdraw as a public service.
From the AJC–
Divorce records can be the cause of a local politico’s downfall. It was here in Palm Beach County involving this former Commissioner.
@Flat Earth Luddite:
“and would make a horrible Fearless Leader”.
Funny, I had a mental picture of you looking like this guy.
@Bill Jempty: And this is news why?
News?
I suspect that if the Atlanta Journal-Constitution did not report these events the paper would be accused of a cover up.
@MarkedMan: This is news because I have the same feeling reading this that I did when I heard Comey had re-opened the email inquiry. You can basically feel the air going out of the room. Without regard to the merits of this or the real relationship to the prosecution that case is now done and done. The only question now is how it actually dies.
At a speech last night, Trump appeared to get confused and started talking about how Nikki Haley was in charge of security on January 6th. Previously, and on more than one occasion, he talked about how he beat Obama in the 2016 election. How long is the main stream media going to ignore his obvious cognitive decline?
@MarkedMan:
I think his rabid fans believe it’s all lies about Trump’s mental acuity. He’s really as sharp as a tack.
http://www.rawstory.com/trump-mental-decline-2667012665/
@Moosebreath:
Physically I’m a lot closer to his lacky Boris, but with a goatee. And I’ve never worn a monocle.
And unlike me, Cracker’s a snappy dresser.
@CSK:
“I think his rabid fans believe it’s all lies about Trump’s mental acuity. He’s really as sharp as a tack.”
They also believe Trump has the body of a superhero.
I always love a clear and concise insightful statement of what seems complicated. WAPO this morning has a pretty much bog standard story on why we’re so politically polarized. It’s the usual review of the psychology of tribalism. Very bothsidesy, although pretty much all the bad examples are somehow GOPs. It wouldn’t be worth a link except commenter J-Hook Max has a beautiful explanation of what’s happened to us,
We are divided because, having nothing else to offer, Republicans have worked hard to divide us.
@CSK:
It’s a closed episteme. The cult is true, therefore anything contradicting the cult is, by definition, false.
@MarkedMan: I have seen the Trump speech all over the place today. Seems lots of folks are talking about it. WaPo has an article with over 3000 comments about Trump’s cognitive decline.
Now that it’s becoming clear that Trump will be the GOP nominee, there seems to be some scrambling to change the narrative a bit. No respectable news outlets wants to be blamed for aiding and abetting another Trump presidency. Sure, they liked stirring things up for eyeballs, but this is getting realz.
@CSK:
Sure, but why is the main stream media goring it?
FWIW, I don’t think his rabid fans can ever be reached. Look at our resident trumpers. They have no interest and seemingly no interest in processing reality. They defensively vomit forth bilious non-sequiturs whenever they feel their boy is attacked.
The tide is beginning to turn.
1. The economy is going so well, that even Fox had to admit it’s doing very well.
Fox Anchor, Through Gritted Teeth, Admits Biden’s Economy “Is a Lot Stronger Than Anybody Understands”
2. Trump’s mental decline is accelerating much more than Biden’s. Trump can’t help himself, and has to keep himself front and center, and as the pressure grows, so will his gaffes. He’s not disciplined enough to stick to a teleprompter and focus on the issues that can bring down Biden. He’s too obsessed to his big lie, and he will NOT be able to control himself. Biden’s team understands this. They’re going to focus on the work, and let Trump self-destruct.
3. The effects the the growing economy will percolate through the population over the next year plus, easing some of the economic anxiety on the margins. The American people are odd. ALL the current polling says the same thing.
A. Most people are doing well. They say so.
B. Most people think their local area is doing fine.
C. All these people also think that EVERYWHERE else is struggling.
Majority of Americans say the economy’s bad, but their own finances are good: poll. This poll is from August, and it’s only gotten better since then.
4. I still believe Aboortion and weed will play a large part in 2024. I don’t think the polls are capturing the underlying anger over Dobbs among women. Just a few days ago, in Florida, Dems flipped an R+10 district in a special election, despite being outspent almost 3-1. The winner, Tom Keen, ran on a platform of abortion rights, climate change, property insurance, affordable housing, and fighting DeSantis culture war issues.
@Joe: “Without regard to the merits of this or the real relationship to the prosecution that case is now done and done. The only question now is how it actually dies.”
If it dies, it will be the way these things always die — Democrats will run away, terrified of being accused of partisanship or hypocrisy or not caring about proper email management as the Republicans continue to press their bad-faith case.
Doesn’t happen on the other side. When one of theirs is under attack, it’s rally around the flag time. But we Democrats have to destroy our own at the slightest hint of trouble.
@becca: If this is the article you are referring to (no subscription needed) I think it demonstrates my point. Rather than focus on his cognitive decline it instead is exclusively about the lies he tells about the cognitive test he took six years ago. It does mention the Haley incident in passing, deep down in the article, but quickly skips over it other than to provide an explanation for what the confusion is about, one he hasn’t offered on his own.
If you like Rube Goldberg, and very cartoonish, contraptions, you’ll like this.
@EddieInCA:
I think there is a very real chance that SCOTUS is going to use the Mifepristone case to overrule Griswald and declare that the Comstock act must be enforced and therefore all birth control can be made illegal. I don’t think they can stop themselves. Hell Robert’s might trade a vote that allows a weaker overruling of Chevron for another Alito abortion screed.
If that happens Red State Republicans won’t be able to resist making birth control illegal. If that happens I’ll be willing to bet on a massive blue landslide. People who aren’t political junkies won’t understand if Chevron is overruled, they will understand if Birth control is illegal.
I think things are going to get really really bad this summer.
@Moosebreath:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WTwNqVL8FEUfyqJH8
Character credit to First Dog on the Mood, editorial cartoonist in the Oz edition of The Guardian
…all birth control can be made illegal.
So do these Republicans think that they can make me reverse my vasectomy? Do they think that I should be held in jail until I do?
I believe that Republicans are dumb enough to try it.
@Mister Bluster: “So do these Republicans think that they can make me reverse my vasectomy?”
Don’t get so distraught! Of course they’re not going to do anything to you — you’re a man!
@wr:..stupid…distraught…
I gave you the thumbs up before the edit. But thank’s anyway.
@MarkedMan:
I think the media’s paying more attention now since the Haley/Pelosi debacle, and whatever it was he babbled about “de-banking.”
@MarkedMan: Of course it is news. This very topic has been the subject of two blog posts here.
What is it about the words open forum that you don’t understand?
@Flat Earth Luddite: I didn’t get to your comment yesterday, so I’ll take this opportunity to note that I was never going to run as your veep, the honor involved with the choice notwithstanding. Thank you for your confidence in me as a sociopath all the same. 😀
@Bill Jempty:
I’ve only followed this issue to the extent that it has been covered here, but to the best of my recollection, the affair is not being denied, so I’m not sure where you’re going here. Help me out. What’s your point?
@Moosebreath: TBH, the likeness is amazing. Luddite is a touch heavier (well, maybe more than a touch) and doesn’t wear a monocle or SS uniform, but otherwise, spot on!
@Joe: Larger question, are you implying that the person posting the item is a MAGAt? I see your point, I’m just not sure whether it’s a “because” or an “additionally.”
@Just nutha ignint cracker:There doesn’t have to be a point. What is it about the words open forum that you don’t understand?
@Flat Earth Luddite: Well, I was a snappy dresser in a past life and became one again to a lesser degree while I was at Woosong after the administration complained about the apparel choices of the male foreign faculty and adopted a dress code.
@Bill Jempty: Thank you for the clarification that you’re just ranting then. Everything helps. Now I that I know that you post just to do so, I’ll be able to process your content, or lack thereof, better.
It’s always good to know whether a person has an agenda or is just “shouting at the clouds”/kids on their lawn.
@Just nutha ignint cracker: I don’t see this as ranting. I am praying that Trump gets convicted on this charge (and all others) but it is not a good look for the prosecutor to have an affair with the lead investigator on the case.
@SenyorDave: I’ll agree with you but note that his own words were:
His own statement seems to indicate that he had no particular reason for offering his citation. That combined with his seeming (to me at least) petulant comment wondering about what I don’t understand about the meaning of the term “open forum” led me to conclude that his comment was just random blather. Context matters.
ETA: And frankly, I’m fine knowing that his comments have no agenda or purpose. I can add his comments to the ones I skip over. (A bad look for someone trying to be a professional writer?)
@Mister Bluster: “I gave you the thumbs up before the edit”
Wow, you’re fast!
And thanks. When I re-read my comment it felt like it might have been easy to mistake for a real attack…
@Just nutha ignint cracker: I’m ranting. You definitely don’t the definition of the word just as you don’t understand the words open forum.
@Just nutha ignint cracker: Petulant. You definitely don’t the definition of the word just as you don’t understand the words open forum.