Polling numbers consistently reveal not only how polarized the nation is over a presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, but how entrenched each side is.
A Morning Consult Pro poll from this week shows Biden and Trump virtually tied among decided voters, which turns out to be about 43% to 43% of those polled.
Because the United States elects a president using the Electoral College, and not popular vote, predicting a winner now, and especially seven months from now, is especially complicated.
It’s equally complicated in understanding how Trump even became the solid choice for almost half of the nation’s voters. Americans can justify but they cannot disregard Trump’s prolific and pervasive lies, his bombastic and threatening rhetoric and his mistaken insistence that even the most complicated problem is only a simplistic answer away.
Few people would argue that the world’s oldest and tried democracy regularly produces disappointingly marginal final candidates for its nation’s president. It seems, however, not just unlikely but surreal that someone like Trump would rise as a finalist for the job not just once, but twice, given his propensity for lies, fraud and graft.
For those who believe that someday in the near future, Trump proponents will have an epiphany, human history is unequivocal, and it most certainly could repeat itself.
There will be no widespread realization among Trump supporters that, despite Biden’s age, policy shortfalls and political platform differences, voters cannot logically and in good faith elect someone as criminal, corrupt and mentally unstable as Trump.
Staunch support of Trump has nothing to do with being rational or righteous. Trump supporters are motivated by fear or resentment. Trump’s supporters share a deep seated fear of losing some sense of political power or influence they feel, rationally or not, is diminishing. History in Germany, Italy and South America makes it clear that these voters will not be motivated to abandon their support of Trump by making arguments based on pragmatism, data and facts.
It is the small and critical 15% of voters still apathetic or outright exhausted by all this political melodrama who must be swayed to make a rational choice and motivated to vote that way.
That can come from “undecided” voters clearly hearing and understanding the facts about the election and what Trump regularly says.
In less than a week or so, Trump has repeated promises and guarantees that are solid arguments against his candidacy.
It is immoral, irrational and antithetical to the very foundation of the U.S. Constitution for Trump to argue, as he has for months and this week, that he, as president, should be immune from prosecution for his crimes and corruption after the November 2020 presidential election. The convention that “no one is above the law” — including the president — is inarguable and must be pointed out to uncommitted voters.
Trump is also committed to using his re-election campaign to rewrite the proven and documented history of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
At a Saturday rally in Ohio ”Trump stood onstage, his hand raised in salute to the brim of his red MAGA hat, as a recorded chorus of prisoners in jail for their roles in the Jan. 6 attack sang the national anthem,” the Associated Press reported. “An announcer asked the crowd to please rise ‘for the horribly and unfairly treated January 6th hostages.’”
Trump then said, which he has repeated, “They were unbelievable patriots.”
They, like Trump, raided the Capitol, were intent on overthrowing the U.S. government and altering the results of the election, all based on a repeatedly exposed and debunked stream of lies by Trump and his allies. Republicans and Democrats alike do not dispute those facts.
That factual account of history will appeal to voters not looking to rationalize their support of Trump. This growing and historic deceit cannot be overstated or ignored.
Just this week, Trump reached beyond the boundaries of coherence by insisting that American Jews who do not support him and instead support or vote for Democrats, “hate Israel” and “hate their religion.”
His unhinged and irresponsible response came during a press interview question about rising discontent with Israeli leadership’s inability to end or even stem the ghastly deaths and atrocities inflicted on innocent residents of Gaza as the Israeli-Gaza war continues.
“Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed.”
The vast majority of Jewish Americans have and do identify as liberals or Democrats. Trump’s absurd rhetoric has often been called out as the antisemitic trope that it is.
Jonathan Greenblatt, who heads the Anti-Defamation League, said in a social media post, “Accusing Jews of hating their religion because they might vote for a particular party is defamatory and patently false.”
But the most worrisome threats lobbed by Trump this week came among his regular slurs against immigrants.
Speaking at a Dayton airport Saturday to fans, he lashed out at the thousands of recent immigrants.
While castigating Biden for his handling of a seemingly endless wave of immigrants trying to get into the United States across the Mexico border, Trump made some of his most startling and chilling comments of the week.
He said the thousands of families and children who have literally walked thousands of miles as refugees from Venezuela and other South American turmoil are “less than human,” the Associated Press wrote.
“In some cases, they’re not people, in my opinion,” Trump said.
They are people. And history has shown repeatedly and consistently, that strategically “dehumanizing” races, cultures or groups of people, have led only to criminal catastrophes like internment camps, genocide and the Holocaust.
While Trump’s entrenched supporters will be swayed by none of this, those who clearly see it and understand it now have a duty to push back against rampant and growing propaganda and disinformation. Clear thinking Americans must work to allow those few American voters not yet persuaded by the facts about Trump, to get a solid dose of reality.
Nothing else at this point will keep history from repeating itself right here.
Thank you for clearly stating the truth about how unfit Trump is for office. I don’t understand what motivates people to vote for an amoral narcissist, but it has consumed a large swath of voters. My hope is that articles like these reveal the threat of leaders like Trump!
The problem for me is that, while I agree that Trump is unfit and should be unelectable for POTUS, an equally strong case can be made that Biden is unfit for the office and that his record in this current term should clearly mark him as unelectable. His issues differ from Trump’s certainly. But if one argues Biden has an upside, one has to admit as does Trump… and frankly… though the man in the office would/should be despised, our nation was better off and would be better off with Trump in office. That said, as an independent and part of that undecided (apparently to pollsters who who insist this election as others must be B vs T and D vs R) percentage, my vote will be for neither of them. Maybe that won’t make a difference… but my vote is before God and conscious, a personal, private, closet choice that cannot tolerate a vote for either of these absolute failures as demonstrated by their terms in office.
Memories are so short and skewed. Remember the chaos, drama and dread of 4 years ago? Trump crime family profiting from jacked up hotel rates (especially for Secret Service details) and Ivanka’s China trademarks and Trump branded merchandise? Jared solving the mideast turmoil? Blackmailing Ukraine? $3 trillion increase in debt increase mostly due to tax breaks for the 1%? Two impeachments? Bleach injections? ‘Fine people’ on both sides of deadly white supremacy demonstration? Over a million Covid deaths? Revolving door Cabinet members? Wanting to buy Greenland? Golfing instead of governing? Rudi as a trusted advisor?
Since then, manufacturing jobs have spiked, infrastructure projects are finally underway, an economy in shambles has been rebuilt, without a recession. Unemployment is at record lows, while stock market is at record heights and inflation – a worldwide issue- is being brought under control. We are respected internationally and our allies believe that they can trust us again. Our long nightmarish tragedy in Afghanistan is over.
Lots still needing correction and attention, but I do not want to go back to the existential horror that was the Trump administration. Those who do not remember the past are bound to repeat it.
What a shame that the items you mention are all that you took away from the Donald’s four years. Very childlike but then I’ve noticed your past comments.
“Those who do not remember the past are bound to repeat it.”
A fatuous, self-indulgent phrase that most actual historians despise.
Yet it remains true.
Now do Biden. If you do a fair take on him the options are clear, vote for a third party. Enough of the lesser of two evils which only guarantees evil.
Oh, heck, just admit you’re a Trumpalo. You’re fooling no one.
Of course, voting third party is the subversive path to another Trump term.
Here’s the problem. The left has over compensated, and overplayed their hand. Open borders have left cities bankrupt. PR Bonds and liberally appointed judges handing out ridiculously light sentences have resulted in soaring crime rates. American elected leadership has been weak at home, and weak overseas. It’s time to restore order.
This is idiotic. Crime rates, including those for homicide, have been falling since the 1990s. Bankruptcies now are not even close to the number they were in 2010. Just about every statement in your post is untrue. Do your homework.
Personally, I don’t understand how we can vote for either of the candidates, considering the constant lies, distortions, and self serving actions. Neither of them really serve the American people. It shows the problem with a two party system that just allows them to fight each other for power while disregarding the wishes of the people. It is now only about power and control, not service.
Seems to me, that a not for profit owned/led public newspaper like the Sentinel Blog should be more careful about what they print about politics and support of political entities. Some lawyer with an attitude and time on his/her hands might want to make a statement in a formal court.
Some of us understand beyond a doubt why so many people overlook the Donald’s outspoken methods and strong ego. It’s called four years of growth, nationally and externally, during his tour of duty.
Supporting data, please for your positive report on the previous administration. And your thuggish comment about the need of a newspaper needing to be careful of what it prints is a real reflection of Trump’s behavior and that of his followers in threatening Zelensky, several attorneys general, poll watchers, state secretaries of state, and reporters.
I’ve never been called “thuggish” before. You need to read comments more carefully, GeneD. Key words are not for profit and lawyers. Even if you think about it for awhile, I doubt seriously if you will understand my point.
I understand your point and, generally, your world view. It runs along the lines of: ‘Nice little place you have here. Be a shame if something happened to it.’
If outspoken methods and strong egos that include race-baiting, pressuring elected officials, using the Presidency as a personal family business, attempting to blackmail heads of state, belittling handicapped folk, calling media ‘enemies of the state,’ plotting a coup and unleashing an insurrection are what you’re looking for in a leader, you’ve found your man.
But don’t try to rewrite history by claiming that his blessedly brief administration was anything but a disaster that will take us years to recover from. Facts matter.
“I understand your point and, generally, your world view. It runs along the lines of: ‘Nice little place you have here. Be a shame if something happened to it.’”
Yes, leftists like Gene hate it when their ideology is resisted.
Your side bombed the Capitol twice, Gene. You’re hardly one to ride that high horse.
But that’s not really true. Real GDP growth under Biden is currently higher than it ever was under Trump. Unemployment is roughly the same. And the stock market average has grown much, much higher than Trump’s peak. https://www.vox.com/politics/24094752/biden-trump-strong-economy-2024-inflation
As for the boondoggle that is Photo Radar; gee if only somebody had told the Police Department and City Hall it was a bad idea when the platform was developed. Oh wait… somebody did about 44 years ago! The Traffic Bureau Commander, me, did everything I could to stop a poorly devised concept as doing nothing but make money for the company. It never ever did anything to increase safety of the motoring public. It never did raise any money for the City General Fund. I told you then it was a bad idea and it’s still a bad idea today. It will be a bad idea in the future. Maybe it would be nice if somebody would have faith in those who job it is to deal with traffic issues day in and day out. They painted a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end and the City interested in nothing but having more money to spend on pet projects chased the end of the rainbow to discover a sewer.