His lack of response in the early days of the Covid pandemic has led to the US being one of the worst places in the world for disease spread, number of cases including (as I write this) over 200,000 deaths. So many people see it as fitting that Trump become part of those statistics.
There’s a certain schadenfreude in seeing someone who acted as if Covid wasn’t dangerous and downplayed basic precautions like masks getting really sick and possibly even dying from it.
There’s also a belief that this would be a suitable end for someone who has a long history of other immense cruelties – towards women, towards minorities, towards migrant children, towards tenants in his buildings – on and on and on.
There’s a hope that the death of a cult-like leader like Trump might be one of the few things to reach many of his supporters who have truly drank the “MAGA Koolaid” and think Trump is infallible and worship his every word.
They may not all be full-on MAGA hat wearing zealots but older white voters are one of Trump’s most reliable voting blocks (and one of the most reliable voting blocks in general) so if someone who has similar demographics – age, race, maybe weight? – gets sick and/or dies, that might make them more likely to vote for, uhm, another septuagenarian white male who at least shows more respect for his own health and the health of those around him than Trump has.
Some who are nervous about going so far as to hope for death will couch their opinion – “I don’t hope he dies but I hope he recovers to live long enough to lose the election and/or be persecuted for his crimes.” but that inevitably leads to a response that he’s clearly trying to cheat to win the election (up to and including promoting violence at the polls) and his death might tamp that risk down. There’s also the fact that rich and powerful, especially former Presidents, are *very* unlikely to face normal justice, no matter how serious their crimes.
Joe Biden has opened up a double-digit lead on Trump but Trump remaining sick would likely prevent him from campaigning and making up ground. And, if he were to die, it’s all but guaranteed that Biden would win the election.
This isn’t directly about Trump but Twitter has announced they will ban people who wish Trump death (will this post slip through if I’m just capturing the reasons I’m hearing *other* people say they hope Trump dies?) but they’ve been very hypocritical about letting death threats go for others in the past.
It may open some people’s eyes to inequity in the American healthcare system if Trump gets the absolute best medical care and still dies, what hope did any “regular” people have?
Trump dying and being completely removed from the equation might be the single best opportunity for the US to return to “normal” whatever that is because, even if he loses the election and even if he’s removed without a long legal battle (or worse), he’d still be around, bleating and negatively impacting the nation.
Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, Pulp and a bunch of other bands were a huge part of what suddenly made England cool again and though they all staked claims to being the “best” band because one was more innovative and another got more critical acclaim and another challenged Oasis directly, Oasis would go on to blow them all away in terms of sheer popularity.
And that one-hit wonder – “Wonderwall” – has become almost a cliche, a modern “Stairway To Heaven” or “Freebird”. But when it was first released, it’s hard to believe how powerful and influential it was – blasting from dorm rooms, powering pub singalongs, omnipresent on radio and television.
I admit I even find it overplayed now and don’t seek it out the same way I did twenty or twenty-five years ago. But sometimes I hear it and it transports me back to one of the most magical times of my life…
We’re enjoying it but it doesn’t quite reach the level of some of the best shows of all-time – “Breaking Bad”, “The Wire”, “Game of Thrones” – which have similar characteristics (dark, complicated storylines and characters, shocking twists, unexpected deaths, etc.)
By far, the relationship between Jax and Tara is unrealistic to me. Sure, they were high school sweethearts but she leaves, becomes a highly qualified surgeon but still comes back and ends up being the in-house doctor for a bunch of petty criminals and even a participant in the violence at times?
Jax insistence on wearing white running shoes while riding his motorbike, while cool looking, didn’t feel realistic to me as what a biker would wear. (Okay, maybe there is a move away from protective leather biker boots in the new generation of bikers. But what about the fact that they stay so white the whole show then?)
*So* many fortunate coincidences to help move the plot along – Gemma, in particular, seems to always bump into people at just the right time to learn something that allows for the maximum amount of conflict and chaos. (Further reading indicates that “real” biker gangs would never let a woman have as much profile and power as Gemma has in the show. Even some SAMCRO members admit they’re scared and deferential to her!)
No one ever seems overly sad when a close friend or family member dies.
The death count in general. I know the US has more of a gun culture and therefore a culture of violence. But there are multiple murders and even massacres every episode and no one is ever arrested (or stays in jail very long if they are).
‘Tis the time of year when lawn signs spring from the ground for the provincial, municipal and school board elections (why are school boards elected but not library boards? Topic for a different post I think!)
Anyhew, had a chuckle when a neighbour noticed our signs – one clearly for the NDP but the municipal candidate we’re supporting happens to have signs in the colours of the ruling conservative Sask Party – so he asked if we were a “divided political family?”
I said “Only when it’s time to decide who’s turn it is to pay the credit card bill!” and didn’t bother to mention that the city council candidate we’re supporting, in addition to being someone I know through a work colleague and even played softball with long ago, also happens to have a coveted endorsement from the Regina and District Labour Council. 🙂
Okay, now that the Stanley Cup’s been awarded and we don’t know if/when NHL hockey will be back, can I, as a Flames fan, admit that I *really* enjoy watching Connor McDavid?
I mean, his defense sucks and I hope the Oilers continue to miss the playoffs every year for the next decade. But man, this is why he’s so fun to watch…
The most unique, memorable NHL playoffs in history are down to the last few game(s) as the Dallas Stars and Tampa Lightning battle it out for the Stanley Cup.
