Trump's Bad Bet on the Politics of Fear

[babylonsister]

https://thebulwark.com/trumps-bad-bet-on-the-politics-of-fear/

Trump’s Bad Bet on the Politics of Fear
He’s scaring America straight into the arms of Democrats.
by Amanda Carpenter
August 24, 2020 5:30 am


Given President Trump’s inability to run a positive campaign based on his record over the last four years, he only has one chance of winning re-election: scaring the ever-living crap out of the Republican base.

Sure, his campaign is signaling for the millionth time that they’ll have a “new tone” and saying they’ll produce an “optimistic, hopeful” convention. And maybe there really will be some attempt, now and then during this week’s RNC, to reach out to undecided voters. Trump’s surrogates have said there will be “surprises,” and positivity would certainly count as an unexpected change. But don’t expect much of it: What Trump is really pitching is a bonanza of political and medical disinformation designed to confirm the fears of his army of internet trolls, who already think he’s some kind of deep-state avenging superhero who is saving the world from a secret cabal of Satan-worshipping, pedophiliacs who drink children’s blood.

snip//


For those of us outside of the Fox News bubble of doom, however, what’s more frightening? Trump—and his utter failure in containing the coronavirus, authoritarian response to summer protests, and continued reign of chaos—or Biden? One guy presided over the deaths of 176,000 Americans, killed the economy, and gassed peaceful protesters. The other guy’s main risk to our national security is that he gives his phone number out to random people too much.

There’s been a lot of talk about hoaxes lately and by now, it’s pretty clear that the person who suggested that ingesting bleach could be a good way to treat coronavirus is helping to perpetuate them. (That is, for those of us who aren’t members of the Bleach Cures and Anti-Vaxxer Facebook communities.)

Trump’s conspiracy-laden, fear-based campaign may very well be successful, just not in the way he expects. If all that voters see in the run-up to the November elections is more American carnage under the Trump presidency, they most likely will be scared right into the arms of Democrats. This time around, it’s Trump who is the boogeyman starring in our national political nightmare.

[Laelth]

1. Let's face it. We chose the perfect nominee this year.

Just about nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is LESS SCARY than Joe Biden.

We are, in essence, immune to Trump’s fearmongering because Joe is our nominee.

-Laelth

[Thomas Hurt]

2. That is what fascist's due, to the American conservative...

you just aren't special unless people are out to get you.

[Mister Ed]

3. It's a much tougher sell for an incumbent than it is for a challenger.

A challenger says, "Look at all the scary things that are happening on my opponent's watch! Elect me and I'll put a stop to it!"

An incumbent like Trump is saying, "Look at all the scary things that are happening on my watch! Elect me to a second term, and this time I'll put a stop to it!"

[ace3csusm]

4. If Democratics just vote together we win...

Its that simple we out number them but we have sections that just sit out once their candidate isnt selected...If Democratic s get behind Biden we win, hopefully they don't pull a 2016

[crickets]

5. Good news. K&R