The Whole Smorgasbord

Yesterday, a friend said to me adamantly, “Y’know, this is what the Biden campaign should campaign on.  Not that Trump is outlandish and also saying crazy things, because people know all that.  But they should explain how all the crazy things he is pushing impacts people’s lives.  Women understand how cutting abortion impacts them, but things like that.  How cutting taxes for the wealthy affect people’s lives.  How leaving NATO affects national security and affects people’s lives.  Like that.”

He made a very good point, as I told him, but only in part.  Yes, absolutely, without question, the Biden campaign should do exactly that.  And, in fact, I’ve heard some top Democratic operatives that that’s something the Biden campaign should absolutely do.

But --

I've heard a lot of people say bluntly, "This is what the Biden campaign should campaign on.  Not [fill in the blank], but rather..."  And the reality is -- and I think it's a pretty obvious reality, but apparently needs restating sometimes -- that this isn’t a “Chose one option only” concept.  This is a buffet.  There is so much that not only should be campaigned on, but must.  It’s the whole picture, filled with all the stories and details.  Of course, the campaign will campaign on how Trump’s dystopian views impact people’s lives.  And also, on how his actions are fascist and destructive to democracy, that he has said he literally wants to be a dictator and said he wants to throw out parts of the U.S. Constitution, and echoes Adolf Hitler.  And how he is a convicted felon on 34 counts, and has been found liable by a jury for the equivalence of rape, and been found guilty of business fraud.  All of it.

But the thing is, more than just that, no, my friend was very wrong about one thing:  people may know that Trump is outlandish and says crazy things -- but only some people.  A great many people have short memories, perhaps even most people, and almost four years have passed since Trump left the White House.  In fact, eight years have passed since he first entered the political stage, and he said crazy things and made untouched "promises," and they’ve forgotten how crazy and racist and lying so much of what Trump said during that time, almost a decade.  Further, there are new, first-time voters, some who were only 14 years old when Trump left office and 10 years old when he was elected, and likely have little idea about most of the lunatic things Trump has said.  And the campaign should even step aside, of sorts, and “let Trump be Trump,” and use video of Trump himself saying all these crazy things – how he wants to be a dictator, and is responsible for getting rid of Roe v. Wade, and that you can get cancer from windmills, and maybe drinking bleach will cure COVID.  

And they should also keep addressing how many people who served in Trump's cabinet are not supporting him.  Starting with his vice president, Secretary of State, National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  In fact, they should do their best to get all these people to say it on camera for a TV ad.  And if they won't say it for an ad, then use footage of them saying it in public.

But even more than that, the issue today isn’t that Trump says “crazy” things and “outlandish” things – and fascist things – but that he is actually dealing today with early stages of dementia. 

As psychologist Dr. Jack Gartner, former professor at Johns Hopkins Medical School, has said, he tells people to look at Trump now because it is the best you will ever seen him again, because dementia is degenerative, and “he isn’t getting better.”

An article yesterday on Raw Story dealt with this in detail, quoting many psychologists, and had another comment from Dr. Garnter that best summarizes the differences between the cognizes issues both Trump and President Biden are dealing with --

"Biden's brain is aging,” he says. “Trump's brain is dementing."

And Democrats should show that, as well.  The paraphasia, making up fake word and quickly changing the subject.  Going off on rants about getting eaten by sharks or being electrocuted.  Going on tangents in the middle of a political speech to rail about showers not having enough water. Showing his motor coordination issues holding a cup of water, difficulty maneuvering one of his legs, or needing help balancing.  All of these are signs of early dementia.

So, yes, as my friend said, the Biden campaign should, of course, talk about how Trump’s dark and destructive views impact the lives of voters.  But Trump is the full smorgasbord, and there is so much to talk about for everything.  And it all should be addressed.  And I’m sure it will.

Load up your plate.  And keep returning for more.  There's plenty there.