Election 2024: now it can be told
So now it’s crystal clear that the entire Kamala Harris campaign and the many-years-long anti-Trump legal crusade were exercises in gaslighting. We knew that the entire time, of course, but still it’s so strange to see it played out.
The court cases? It was all a game to keep Trump from being elected. Although Letitia James is still playing.
Trump the fascist Hitler? Hey, let’s have a smooth transition to give power to the fascist Hitler – although of course they are probably cooking up something behind the scenes despite the smiles. I seem to recall a smooth transition in 2016, on the surface, while the knives were being sharpened.
A discussion of what’s been going on this time:
Thing is, a lot of Democrats believed them and have been in a state of panic for quite some time, and are feeling anguish now. These voters might have a cause of action against the media and Harris and should try to sue them for pain and suffering. That’s a joke, of course, but the feelings are not a joke. Political operatives and politicians might be able to turn it on and then off like a switch. But most people aren’t made that way.
Charlemagne is wondering about it all:
Charlamagne: “Don’t y’all find it strange that now that he’s won, they’re not calling him a threat to democracy? They’re not calling him a fascist … I would think that, if you really believe that, then somebody’s speech would be about how America effed up and how things are… pic.twitter.com/q0KJplqZUO
— Jason Cohen ?? (@JasonJournoDC) November 8, 2024
There’s a lot of analysis of the race going on, and I’m participating. But it really all boils down to the fact that the Democrats and the press couldn’t fool enough people into thinking Kamala Harris was a person they wanted to lead the country. This wasn’t because she’s a woman, or black, or Indian. It’s because she was obviously incompetent and astoundingly incoherent – plus phony and grating. The icing on the cake was that she had nothing of substance to say and no record worth defending.
As I’ve noted before, this race should have gone about 20 to 80 Harris to Trump. I’m very happy that Trump won and won handily, but it’s astonishing that Harris reached the numbers she did. It’s a testament to party loyalty and/or ignorance and/or the extent to which people have taken to heart the relentless propaganda that has painted Trump as nearly demonic.
NOTE: You probably haven’t noticed that, when Harris was chosen as the Democrats’ nominee, I created a tag for posts about her – a tag, but not a category. I did the same thing for Biden when he was nominated in 2020. The hope in each case was that I’d never have to switch to making the tag into a category, because the person would lose the election. Biden, of course, ended up as president, and that meant that “Biden” became a category. For Kamala, I’d be happy if she remains a tag indefinitely and never graduates to “category.”
Gotta give Brandon his props now: he pulled it off, he bamboozled them all, he won. Well done Joe! You suckered the suckers.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems to me that Kamala IS a category all on her own. IYKWIMAITYD
😉
We can hope that we’ll never hear of Kamala again outside of leftist websites, and maybe not even there.
Anybody think the 17 states and District of Columbia that joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact will cast their electoral votes accordingly?
https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/11/08/heres-what-would-have-happened-election-day-if-popular-vote-compact-had-been-in-effect/
I think I finally have the template for this crazy affair, remember the producers when max bialystok and company, come up with this fraudulent scheme, ‘spring time for hitler, that was so ludicrous, that it would have to be a flop, but they were too clever by half, the show ended up a hit, and they took a bath,
Crasey, I hope this election will kill the National Popular Vote scheme permanently. Democrats who pushed it assumed that the Democrat would always have the majority of votes.
I would say in the last eight years, the donkeys have done immense damage to the women can be POTUS project. Both Clinton and Harris sending out men to tell the troops they lost, Pelosi acting like a four year old during the SOTU and AOC barely able to choke back the tears while complaining about sexism.
Chases Eagles, if a conservative woman on the lines of Margaret Thatcher were to run, she could win. It’s the character and policy positions, or lack thereof, of Clinton and Harris which are the problem, not their sex.
Kate,
It is also their emotional weakness and frankly their size. There is no crying in baseball.
I like Paula Luna though I don’t follow her that closely. Then she exposes herself in a one piece up the crack bathing suit. How is she supposed to have gravitas when she has literally shown me her bare ass? POTUS is a damn hard job and Thatchers (and Boudicas) seem in short supply.
Chases Eagles:
Agreed. The fact that both Hillary and Kamala couldn’t/wouldn’t come out and face the music in a timely fashion feeds into stereotypes of women being unable to deal, emotionally. It appears very weak.
There are plenty of very strong women. Thatcher and Golda Meir come to mind. Whatever one thinks of Tulsi Gabbard’s politics, she impresses me as being emotionally strong, for example. Hillary is tougher than Kamala, but both seem emotionally brittle. Not good.
There are plenty of very strong women.
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Not plenty. There are women who get through life in disagreeable circumstances.
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The late Grace Hopper was asked by a journalist ca. 1982 where the country went wrong. She gave an unexpected answer: “the business schools”. Her view was they promoted ‘management’ at the expense of ‘leadership’.
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There are people who occupy particular positions in hierarchies and there are leaders. In our time, the former outnumber the latter by a considerable multiple. Some people thrive as leaders in certain venues or at certain scales, but not in others.
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We suffer a shortage of leaders. There are leaders among women, but human society being the way it is, they will be scarcer than their male counterparts.
Art Deco:
I repeat: there are plenty of strong women.
“Plenty” doesn’t mean “the majority of women are strong.” Nor does it mean “there are as many strong women as strong men.”
And of course, we are talking about “strong” in the sense of leading a country or a state or a city in the political sense. There are other kinds of strength, but that’s the one we’re talking about. How many men or women are strong enough to do that? Let’s say, just for the sake of argument – since we don’t know the actual figures – that it’s 5% of men and 1% of women. 1% of all women is still “plenty” in terms of numbers. But Kamala Harris is definitely not one of those women, as she very amply demonstrated. And that’s hardly her only problem.
Chases Eagles, I would have to agree that H. Clinton and Harris’s short stature had a modest negative effect on their campaigns, although their personalities and presentations were more important. I got a job as a financial and systems analyst in a tech manufacturing company in the mid-1970s, when few women were in those roles. I have to admit that my height, over 6′ in high heels, had an intimidating effect on the men I worked with. I also don’t take much nonsense and don’t break down in tears at work.
miguel @ 5:01pm,
You’re joking, but I imagine that will grow to a strong conspiracy theory as time goes on. Maybe the Dems took a cue from Mel Brooks?
How can the Dems create a Republican candidate that’s guaranteed to flop?
In 2015 have Obama attack Trump at the National Press Club banquet. Trump is a buffoon and could never win the Presidency, but he is a narcissist and will be baited into running if mocked.
Have the media fawn over Trump and give him tons of free air time so he eliminates much better candidates in the Republican primary. Encourage dem voters to vote for Trump in the Republican primary.
Once Trump secures the nomination turn the press on him, out the NBC p*ssy tape, continually mock him… Hillary coasts to an easy victory. If, somehow he gets elected, have Franz Liebkind blow up the theater with some help from Black Lives Matter and the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Kate @ 5:15pm,
It is incredible how often Trump hoists his attackers on their own petards!
So that’s the trick, is it… the Tag is the first step! Illuminating. Neo, do you have as many tags as categories? The blog has the Category list at right, but not a Tags one, apparently.
I continue to be surprised by how smoothly this election has unfolded, relatively speaking. No hanging chads, no sudden spikes in the ballot returns in the middle of the night, no Molotov cocktails being thrown. I continue to be mindful of huxley’s cautions on this point, but I’ve been more relaxed this week than I expected to be at this point.
I wonder if Charlamagne has ever invited Trump or Vance to his show. It could be very interesting to have one of them on there, particularly at this point.
Regarding female and male strength.
I don’t find either sex “stronger” than the other, speaking in general terms. My wife is much more likely to cry or panic or ask for help than I*, so in the early years of our marriage I thought I was “stronger” than her. But as major, difficult life challenges arose; caring for elderly parents, childrens’ illnesses, occasional employment uncertainty, moving away from family… She has been unbelievably strong. Often stronger than me. A few times I’ve been with her in public when someone was abusing a child; she immediately steps into the breach without considering the gender or size of the perpetrators.
I did not understand what parenting children entailed until I lived through it, but I came to understand she comprehended it all, in advance, yet never hesitated to sign up for the role.
Look at Mary in the Pietà. Michalangelo brilliantly, supernaturally, captured the strength of women in his amazing work. I can’t fathom the strength required to bear life and bring it into the world, all the time knowing the struggles of life and the ultimate end we all face.
*And of course I am physically stronger than her, carried her over all 6 thresholds of the homes we have owned and still open pickle jars for her.
I continue to be surprised by how smoothly this election has unfolded, relatively speaking. No hanging chads, no sudden spikes in the ballot returns in the middle of the night, no Molotov cocktails being thrown. I continue to be mindful of huxley’s cautions on this point, but I’ve been more relaxed this week than I expected to be at this point.
Philp Sells:
I’m relieved too. It’s huge IMO that Trump won the popular vote by four million votes. I think that shut down the really outrageous options they might have considered.
It looks like the Deep State and Dems are now looking towards more subtle resistance.
Trump has said that he has “no problem” making Epstein’s “client list” public if re-elected.
https://nypost.com/2024/09/03/us-news/trump-suggests-hell-release-jeffrey-epstein-client-list-if-elected/
Boy, that would set the cat among the pigeons!
I wonder if that’s a backroom bargaining chip Trump has with the Deep State and Oligarchs.
Excellent Rufus.
The Charlamagne video was made much of by most of the punditry yesterday.
Here are a few more tell-alls from both the Trump and Harris camps.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14059585/Trump-election-podcast-rogan-musk-theo-von-free-speech.html
“Insiders reveal how they made Trump ‘cool’ again – winning the election and reshaping media forever”
In fact, what they did very cleverly (and the credit goes mostly to Susie Wiles for hiring a 27-year-old media whiz) was to use Obama’s own playbook of appearing on any and all popular venues rather than depending on the MSM to reach younger “hipper” voters. And in 2024 not a few older ones as well.
Obama has forgotten that he is too old now to be “one of them” and they didn’t like his grumpy old man schtick. Trump is never anything but what he is.
The Harris campaign, at least in one instance, ran the playbook I associate more with pre-Trump GOP offices: take party-line voters for granted, don’t try to persuade independents or the other side, and enjoy the perks of position.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14061285/Harris-campaign-inside-disaster.html
“I worked on Kamala Harris’s campaign – and this is why it turned out to be an utter shambles”
That resulted in the same outcome as in 2008: the alternate-media-friendly candidate won, and the privileged lay-abouts lost.
It really is that simple.
And then Trump did something Obama would never have done: go for the laughs.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14063067/Trump-brutally-trolls-Democrats-burning-1-BILLION-election-campaign-issuing-surprise-rallying-call.html
Based on past form, I think he is sincere, not because it benefits Kamala or the Democrats, but because bailing out the vendors (middle-class for the most part I suspect) would buy immeasurable good will in mostly Democrat cities.
BTW, the “Democrats left unpaid bills” seemed familiar to me.
It’s a bipartisan failing; however, the pundits don’t always update their posts when the candidates finally settle the accounts, which may be years later.
A lot of that is for police, fire, public works and traffic services.
If Trump makes those good, he will break the Democrat lock forever.
Still, I would draw the line against recompensing consultants, media figures, and campaign workers stiffed by the Democrats.
https://www.politico.com/story/2008/03/cash-strapped-clinton-fails-to-pay-bills-009259
The higher bills were for the political operatives, “high-priced consultants who typically let bills slide as part of the cost of doing business with powerful clientele whose success is linked to their own,” but she also owes plenty to small businesses for various types of “event expenses,” who can’t afford to be shafted.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/helenwhalencohen/2012/07/14/obama_campaign_still_paying_the_bills_from_2008-n709915
“The campaign has ignored several requests for reimbursement in different cities, and even flat out refused requests.”
Obama’s people told Durham NH that they should apply to the Secret Service for reimbursement.
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/why-do-presidential-campaigns-often-skip-out-on-paying-cities-for-rally-bills/
(posted 2019) This one starts with Trump and gives him the most coverage, but also mentions Harris and Sanders.
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/02/green-bay-seeks-64000-from-trump-biden-clinton-sanders-campaigns/74282583007/
Bills date back to 2016.
Politico: We should honor strong women….. but not yours.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/rebeccadowns/2024/11/09/why-did-politico-put-this-post-out-about-susie-wiles-n2647546
Obama has forgotten that he is too old now to be “one of them” and they didn’t like his grumpy old man schtick. Trump is never anything but what he is.
AesopFan:
Ain’t both the truth!
I was shocked at how tone deaf Obama was with the young black guys. Once upon a time he had charisma and savvy to burn.
Trump these days is weirdly cool. I’ve mentioned this cover, but damn, it is badass as a 78 year-old gets.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/09/atlantic-accidentally-created-powerful-pro-trump-visual-trying/
There they go…again…
Haters protesting against HATE!!
“Radical Left Activates Anti-Trump Protests In Midtown Manhattan“—
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/radical-left-activates-anti-trump-protests-midtown-manhattan
Speaking of weirdly cool …
In the microcosm of my café life … the teen son of a conservative friend is wearing his MAGA cap to school. He gets away with it.
Then yesterday my friend visited the progressive coffee klatsch at the other end of the café with his son cum MAGA cap.
The progs froze … but what could they say?
I’ll bet Gerard would get it. Conservatives are now the insurgent cool class. Or could be if they had a clue.
Ben Shapiro and the Critical Drinker get it.
huxley,
Conservatism is counter culture. It’s punk rock.
Daily Mail this am has an interesting article on how young Gen Z women broke 40% for Trump. Shocking for the Ds. The Gen Zs i taught were generally more socially liberal but practical in terms of other aspects. Same with my 2 millennial daughters. Younger daughter has a good job, works for Lockheed Martin, and is pissed she can’t afford a house. Shapes her political view.
We must all be very wary. They are not going to walk away quietly to “wait and see” how this presidency turns out! I am sure they have a backup plan. Look to the financial sector as their most effective weapon.
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.
—Ronald Reagan
I’d never heard that Reagan quote. Or at least, don’t remember it.
This article is amazing (or not?) stating that some or many of the celebs endorsing Kamala were paid handsomely for their endorsement and time. In our modern age of influencers making big bucks, it’s not much of a surprise, I suppose.
The article also mentions that many transactions records have been deleted, or something similar, so no doubt folks on the left will say, “Prove it happened.”
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/11/did_celebrities_have_to_be_paid_to_endorse_kamala.html
On a different but related topic, I’ve begun to appreciate or strongly suspect, that all those fraudulent votes we here worry about, cost money. In some cases, voters are directly paid cash for mail-in ballots (presumably pre-signed). A judge, who was also an election judge in Philly, was charged and convicted of election rigging using mechanical voting machines. I was surprised that his cash take was only in the range of 20 or $30K. There are many many other ways to convert cash into votes in our system.
Remember the stupid lawfare against Trump and the immoral, unprofessional, tho maybe not illegal, $450 million?
(Maybe Neo covered it last month while I was busy with sad family issues as well as happy plan for a big 30th Anniversary)
https://thewholetruthpublications.substack.com/p/the-ny-court-of-appeals-just-tore
Unfair lawfare was a reason many didn’t like the Dems, like Turley, tho not liking Trump.
The hypocrisy of claiming Trump is sexist while bad-mouthing the First Female Chief of Staff is a different issue but related to double standards.
Most Americans don’t like them.
“…paid handsomely…”
…which might explain the Harris campaign’s budget word?
Wait! Didn’t Harris get all of Biden’s Big Bucks?? And then some??
Oops. “…budget word” should be “…budget woes”.
@Barry Meislin:Didn’t Harris get all of Biden’s Big Bucks?? And then some??
All spent on consultants and other grifters, as intended. Even Oprah got $1 million for interviewing Harris.
Even Oprah got $1 million for interviewing Harris.
–NIketas Choniates
Word is most of the last-minute celebrity endorsements were paid as well.
FU, Harrison Ford.
What’s the bet JD Vance, running in 2028 after a very successful Trump term, and without having to worry about TDS, gets elected with a better margin, and with a female VP running mate. The timing feels right, and JD strikes me as the right person to make it work despite the massive Democrat backlash against a female Republican VP. From what I have seen of him, I’d also have confidence he would make a good VP pick.
We shall see!
@Les:What’s the bet JD Vance, running in 2028 after a very successful Trump term, and without having to worry about TDS, gets elected with a better margin…
Probably too early to plan what to do with the permanent Republican majority… the real challenge is to govern without becoming Clinton Democrats. May be already too late.
If the new Trump administration actually ends up solving problems, especially the fiscal one, there’s going to be a lot of the electorate pretty cranky by the time we get done. Too many people count on government money, and not the people we think of counting on it–there’s lots of businesses, and big ones, who got used to the firehoses of cash.
Add to that, Trump has made some pretty big promises about improving people’s lives, i.e. wage growth. The no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, no taxes on SS will add some to the paycheck, which should help in the short term.
But part of this illegal migrant surge was designed to suppress wage “inflation” at entry level jobs.
Trump isn’t starting at ground zero, but pretty close to that and it takes time for decreased energy prices to have an effect throughout the economy, for a reduced corporate tax for companies locating to the US to actually produce jobs.
And as Niketas points out, the trough at the federal government has gotten substantially bigger the last few years. Making serious dents in the federal government largess will be painful.
What’s the bet JD Vance, running in 2028 after a very successful Trump term, and without having to worry about TDS, gets elected with a better margin, and with a female VP running mate. The timing feels right, and JD strikes me as the right person to make it work despite the massive Democrat backlash against a female Republican VP.
?? I am against choosing a female VP running mate on the basis of her genitalia. DEI and Affirmative Action delenda est!
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Someone (R2L?) complained about missing spell checker for comments. I noticed for me it appears if I edit my post and stretch the edit window.
Whoa! That’s a lotta moolah for word salad…. (Should one blame inflation? Oops, sorry… what inflation…?)
On the plus side, I guess the donors sure are glad to finally find out where their money went…you know, TRANSPARENCY and all that jazz….
Indiana Jones found where the real treasure was hidden, gullible Democrat donors. And wound up making pitches for the party of the actual fascists (Antifa and Hamashites).
“The hope in each case was that I’d never have to switch to making the tag into a category, because the person would lose the election.“
I did something similar. My opposition election clip files were both labelled with Veep — “Veep Kamala” and “Veep Walz”, respectively, in the hope that Democrats would fail the vote test this election.
SO MUCH WINNING!
And I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for those meddling voters.