But there are other things going on too. Trump being Trump has no loyalty to the Republican party. Behind the scenes, he is getting calls from high ranked Republicans, who know that rushing through a supreme court justice and yet refusing to sign on Covid-19 relief will practically ensure that the Senate will fall in Democrats' hands.
Here is what I think is happening and/or may happen.
Trump has lost any chance of capitalizing on sympathy for his Covid-19 hospitalization. By leaving early, taking off his mask while contagious, and his outright disregard for the suffering of others, there will be no "sympathy bump" for him. And if one of the people from his staff and/or a Republican Congressman gets severely sick and/or dies (which I hope doesn't happen), then Trump will catch deep contempt from the American public (more so than he already has, anyway).
Trump knows he is losing. He hopes Pence can hurt Harris tomorrow and/or he wins against Biden on the next debate (October 15). This is unlikely to happen. I think Harris will be well prepared for anything Pence throws at her. If he attacks her on the Black Lives Matter movement, he will look racist. Basically, anything he says, all she has to do is to bring up Trump and let the facts speak for themselves.
And you can forget Trump winning the second debate. It is a town-hall format, where voters ask the candidates questions. Trump has already shown he can't do that, whereas Biden excels in that type of debate.
Trump will continue to battle Covid-19 fatigue. He will be denied the ability to have huge rallies over the next week and a half. Any attempts to do so will result in condemnation by the public. He will feel isolated and depressed.
I say keep an eye on the week of October 16-October 23.
If Trump's numbers don't improve dramatically during that time, it is over. Because that is the week that many red states (including my home state of Tennessee) start early voting. If early voting indicates a democratic landslide, Trump will seriously consider quick exit.
Trump's enemies know this, and are prepared with their evidence. Watch for bad stories to come out about Trump in the next two weeks, as Trump no longer has the shield of hospital care (by leaving the hospital early and claiming he is well, he can't turn around and say how horrible Democrats are for picking on a "sick man")
Regarding Allyn's resignation theory-
Jon Cooper, former chair of TheDemCoalition, tweeted this tonight-
GOP source w/ White House ties-"Trump is being advised to resign in honor rather than leave in defeat. He fears prison. He wants to maintain campaign, but without Hicks, Conway and Miller, he's done. He's really alone. He must be speaking with Pence about a pardon."
Resign "in honor." Yeah. Good luck with that.
Now, I had something happen to me that is continuing to bother me, and I wanted to get your input.
I think I may have had a premonition.
Last weekend, when I saw footage of Trump at the now-infamous White House garden party for the Supreme Court Justice candidate, I was naturally angry about the fact that Republicans were holding a social gathering (no masks) and seething at their hypocrisy (confirming a justice a few weeks before the election but not allowing Democrats to do the same.)
And then I have heard this line in my head. Over and over.
"And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all."
I recognize the line, of course. It was the last line of "The Masque of the Red Death." This is an Edgar Allan Poe story about a callous prince and 1000 of his followers who lock themselves in a castle to wait out an outbreak of the "red death." While his people suffer and die on the outside, Prince Prospero and his followers live in luxury. One night, he holds a masque ball, and a guest dressed in red, bloodstained robe similar to a shroud and a mask resembling a corpse is seen. Prospero and the guests eventually unmask the guest only to learn that it was the Red Death itself, and they all died within the hour.
The last week has been ironic in the extreme. Trump and his followers somehow get contact with a disease that they have ignored all this time. While they lived in luxury, ordinary Americans suffer and die.
Do I think Trump or anyone is going to die? No. I don't feel any heaviness in my heart, and we know they have access to the best medical care that is denied to the rest of us. So no, they won't die.
But the Republican Party as we know it certainly will.
If my premonition is correct, the "Red Death" will start with the "unmasking" of Trump and his followers. This is already happening, as they are being revealed for their indifference and cruelty (and that is just the bare minimum of what we know right now.) Trump and his followers will be destroyed in the Blue Wave that is coming, regardless of whether Trump resigns beforehand or if he stays on until the election.
To add to this, I had a dream last night. I saw Trump and his followers in costume, much like the movie "Masque of the Red Death" with Vincent Price. They were falling over one by one, eventually dying.
My feeling again is not that this is a literal death of Trump and his followers, but rather a symbolic death of the current Republican party as we know it. Their extremism, uncaring attitudes, refusal to compromise, and cruelty will spell their demise as a party. Some will live on, of course, but never to the extent it existed in Trump's term. In short, the Republican party will either evolve to be more inclusive or, more likely, become a regional party that will become a minority for decades, looking on helplessly as the Democrats (and eventual third party that will split from the Democratic party) work towards goals that they will oppose but ultimately will have no power to stop.
Why? Because they lost all purpose and are, for all intents and purposes, "dead" to the American people. Trump supporters tend to be white, elderly, and male. The changing demographics and attitudes of the millennials and post-millennials will ensure that they will win few converts, as Trump has basically "poisoned the well" for them.
Honestly, can any of you consider voting for Republicans again unless they completely change their message and the way they conduct themselves? I can't.
Now, maybe I just have this premonition and dream because it is October, and Halloween is just a few weeks away? Maybe the macabre of the month is already playing on my psyche?
Or maybe it was a message?
I would love to have your opinions. Any thoughts? Any visions or premonitions that echo this upcoming defeat of Trump and his minions? Because I would love confirmation or know if this is mere wishful thinking on my part.
(Note: I have not read "Masque of the Red Death" in years, so why the words would suddenly come to my head makes me wonder. But still, I would love your thoughts).
Maybe it's just me, but Vestralux's comments, and mine, were being made partly in jest, having fun, but also in the context that an osteopath is treating T.'s COVID, not an infectious disease specialist, which, it seems to me, ought to be the physician of choice?
Osteopaths are licensed medical doctors, yes, and that's great, but I don't want a proctologist taking out my kidney any more than I want neurologist giving me a root canal. Specialists are specialists and in the case of COVID, infectious disease specialists are who we need to hear from.
Osteopaths can be trained in every field of medical specialization including infectious disease, though to be fair it seems that Dr Conley is an emergency medicine specialist. I wonder if there is some confusion between osteopathy and orthopedic specialists.
To add to this, I had a dream last night. I saw Trump and his followers in costume, much like the movie "Masque of the Red Death" with Vincent Price. They were falling over one by one, eventually dying.
My feeling again is not that this is a literal death of Trump and his followers, but rather a symbolic death of the current Republican party as we know it. Their extremism, uncaring attitudes, refusal to compromise, and cruelty will spell their demise as a party. Some will live on, of course, but never to the extent it existed in Trump's term. In short, the Republican party will either evolve to be more inclusive or, more likely, become a regional party that will become a minority for decades, looking on helplessly as the Democrats (and eventual third party that will split from the Democratic party) work towards goals that they will oppose but ultimately will have no power to stop.
I read Masque of the Red Death in college, and I think your premonition and dream are on point, such a great analogy. Also, I think the Lincoln Project will split off from the GOP and likely join with the moderate wing of the Democratic Party.
@allyn, interesting that you bring up The Masque of the Red Death because I saw a tweet on my timeline yesterday likening the current situation to that exact story. Confirmation, perhaps, or maybe just coincidence, I don't know.
@allyn your premonition and dream is very fitting to the current situation. The comparison between Prince Próspero and the Orange lump’s actions are similarly selfish and disregard people’s suffering because of their riches and availability to the best healthcare. Your dream perhaps is a sign to hope. With death brings life and hope of renewal. This could mean the Blue Tsunami taking out all the red Maga hats (red plague) and as you mentioned the demographics of the maga hats are older (red plague) which will give more space for the younger and more progressive/compassionate generation.
share the love and light
(Note: I have not read "Masque of the Red Death" in years, so why the words would suddenly come to my head makes me wonder. But still, I would love your thoughts).
@allyn I don’t often post here (I’m a lurker and have difficulty putting my thoughts and feelings into words). I read this and thought I’d chime in. Two days before the debate last Tuesday, I was stressed out about it (and T as usual) and I kept hearing the phrase “hoisted with his own petard” over and over again in my head. I had no idea where it was from or what it meant, so I looked it up and it was from Hamlet and basically means “blowing oneself up with their own grenade.” It was in reference to Hamlet’s uncle, who has killed Hamlet’s father and married his mother and (of course) is guilty and has been lying and taking advantage of everyone/everything. Very interesting! :) I haven’t read Hamlet in god knows how long and that line wasn’t of particular significance to me, but since this has happened more than once I’ve decided to pay attention when weird, random phrases or song verses are playing in my head. Anyway, I read your post and it reminded me- I had thought to post about it before, especially after T’s performance in the debate. I felt reassured after that but I don’t want to get my hopes up these days...
Even Heather Cox Richardson thinks it’s over him
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-6-2020
Possibly. Osteopathy is an approach that focuses on the mind-body connection and is growing in popularity. It is my understanding that it is still considered alternative medicine, and there is nothing wrong with that. The western world has been far too slow to embrace the benefits of alternative medicine, and still is. There is a strong need for Americans in particular to improve their overall health instead of just focusing on a problem area when it flares up.
My problem with Conley is not his chosen profession, but his lying and gaslighting, his sunny whitewashing of T.'s condition, and the crap-on-a-platter he's attempting to serve up about how T. is recovering from COVID better and faster than anyone ever. He backtracks, he won't answer questions. We have a guy masquerading as president (speaking of masques) who is more than likely completely off his rocker with who knows what drugs.
"He's back!", as he smiles big and points at the crowd. Really? What's the good doctor doing, auditioning for The Apprentice?
Rick Wilson tweeted "Masque of the Red-Hatted Death" on June 13, in response to Parscale's bragging about the number of people supposedly attending T.'s Tulsa rally. Lawrence Tribe described the story in a tweet on Oct 3rd as well. I've seen other references to it because it's frighteningly fitting.
So glad to see you! I get so much comfort and resonance from your visions.
I wanted to add to the thought about all the wounded boys who have been leading the country/world. I don't ever watch drumpf because even seeing a picture of him makes my energy drain. But I ended up watching his walk up the stairs when he got back from the hospital, and his very obvious trouble breathing. (In fact, I wonder if actually he took off the mask because he was having so much trouble breathing, and it just happens that he also made it a political statement). To my surprise, in that moment, I felt overwhelming compassion. I saw only a sad, lonely child who has only ever wanted to be loved, and who has never been. He is so alone. Everyone in his life loves him transactionally. I think maybe Ivanka loves him, but more like he was her child, and not him as a person. This happens to me at times, I see people (usually powerful angry men)'s souls and it is just a child. I wonder if this also means they are young souls.
Don't get me wrong, the compassion was momentary and generally eclipsed the second he started tweeting about the flu etc., but wanted to confirm that, in the end, all this evil comes from hurt.
Don't misread: He's going to get as crazy as we've seen him before he's gone. And his Base will match or surpass him. But w h a t e v e r happens, do NOT lose heart! Do not give up. Do not allow yourself to believe they've won.
We must stand as tall as we can in our spirits and steady ourselves totally. Imagine that, as a nation, we're in labor. Something beautiful is trying to be born that MUST be born for humanity to continue. For the planet to begin to heal. The contractions are hell but we have to keep breathing deeply, staying very very present with ourselves and one another—even those whose ideas we oppose. There's no other option.
What a beautiful way of looking at the pain in the midst of our transition away from this corrupt GOP government and T! So glad to see you back again Vestrulux! Have missed you. ❤️ ?
When I look within T. I see a a toddler who was abandoned, dismissed and not nurtured. I see his young self screaming when he doesn’t get his way. A part fearful of being a loser or ridiculed. I see a man using cruelty to feed his sense of aliveness and being the killer he was taught to be. I see a man who cannot empathize except in a manipulative way. I see a man who is beginning to doubt his instinct. He is a man desperate to get more not lose and willing to do anything. He underestimated the illnesses he has, they will make his usual navigations more difficult.
All beings deserve grace. I hold that grace for him should he accept it. Others who have been triggered or harmed by his policies and cruelty also have access to grace should they accept it.
Trump lost another appeal to block his tax records.
When this nightmare is over, you need to come to the States!
We could pig out on snert and poffertjes, pizza and cronuts.
He is one of my favorite writers also, and one of the few good things to emerge from the rather creepy Victorian era. I used to torture my kids by reciting The Raven and The Bells and The Sleeper and Annabelle Lee out loud. When my daughter realized what Annabelle Lee was about, she was so grossed out. lol
We have borne the thousand injuries of Twitler as best we could.
Laura F., hope all is well with you.
I posted a few days ago that I feel Trump is no longer useful to Russia because they know how this will end and that it will come soon.
I think he has received the 2020 version of a self-destruct order. He is going to tear down as much as he can and hurt as many people as he can before it all ends for him. He isn't worth the Russian investment because he will only be useful for a few more weeks. Your Hitler analogy is perfect-destroy what he can while he still has time since the plan didn't work out fully.
The Masque of the Red Death analogy is quite interesting. The fact that the plaque is inside the "house" leads me to believe that instead of watching the outside world suffer, he is locking government in with the plague and destroying it from the inside out, both literally(covid) and figuratively. I read this morning that he wanted to work in the Oval and I wouldnt be surprised to hear that he is infecting the WH in hopes that it lasts and infects the new administration from inside as well.
@mas1581 I think you're thinking of the Hitler/Nero Order comparison, that was actually me. It was called the Nero decree, and what is interesting is that in Germany, the Minister in charge of enacting asked for total power to carry it out. Hitler granted it. The Minister turned around and told everyone to disregard it. How sad that the GOP cares less about the country being destroyed than the frigging Third Reich.