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...