A photographer is there to take this photo.
His fist is high. He is defiant. He rose from the stage chanting "fight," "fight", "fight." Trump is an action hero. It forms a contrast to slow, geriatric, stumbling, tongue-tied "Mr. Magoo" Biden.
It isn't fair. It was just luck. The shot nearly killed him. It didn't. The wound was just enough to make a little blood, the American flag was just behind Trump, and Trump was injured just enough to be angry, not incapacitated.
The event confirms the archetypes that provide a template for how voters make a shortcut decision about the presidential contenders. One's own candidate is the Hero, if possible. One's opponent is either a Knave (strong but evil) or a Fool (weak and incompetent.) This assassination event created indelible images of Trump as the wronged-but-unbowed Hero. It is right there in the photo. Trump was lucky and strong. The contrast highlights the ambiguity voters feel about Biden's fitness and capacity.
Biden did the right thing, immediately: he said that he disapproved of the violence and said he prayed for Trump.
Donald Trump Junior, did the cynical thing, also immediately, by issuing a statement implying that Democratic enemies are responsible for the attack:
I just spoke to my father on the phone and he is in great spirits. He will never stop fighting to save America, no matter what the radical left throws at him.
Democrats hoped to make the election a referendum on Trump, not Biden. As Democrats would have it, Biden would be the experienced and respected Hero; Trump would be the election-overthrowing, lying, con-man, woman-abusing felon and therefore Knave. Forget that now.
Now it is the battered but defiant Hero upon whom fortune shines, versus the old man who could not have gotten up from the stage. Again, it isn't fair. It is circumstance. But Democrats must face that.
If Democrats don't change the script with something dramatic I expect a landslide win for Trump in November. But Democrats could change the script. Trump is still a Knave. The question is whether and how Democrats push reset.
[Note: To get daily delivery of this blog to your emai go to: https://petersage.substack.com. Subscribe. Don't pay. The blog is free and always will be.]
That was my second thought after I thought - what an intemperate fool- making himself a target again for the sake of a photo op. All brand, no wisdom. There’s no way he could have known if the shooter was still there, or if there were multiple shooters.
ReplyDeletecan’t help but wonder if his followers might awaken to the fact that they are putting ALL of their hopes in a mere mortal. If the would-be assassin had been successful, they would have no bench. Just a bunch of spineless sycophants.
I was already of the strong opinion that unless Democrats changed from Biden to a different nominee they were definitely going to lose. I assumed that new nominee would be Kamala. After yesterday's shocking events, unless the Democrats make a completely clean break with the current ticket and select someone like Josh Shapiro, then I fully agree with Peter that Republicans will win in a crushing landslide. And be ready to enact vengeance on a level that they weren't before.
ReplyDeleteThe potential for reprisal violence is unbelievably high right now. This is a terrifying time to be an American right now. And considering the likelihood of Trump winning and Project 2025 happening full-bore, it's no exaggeration to say that it's time to start making plans for leaving the country if we start careening down a mid 30s Germany path. Which unfortunately seems way more likely today than it did yesterday.
Context is everything.
ReplyDeleteTake a breath and understand the moments before the shooting, when he was shot, and the moments afterwards.
The pic was chosen from the hundreds made available.
The coverage has been nonstop. The videos played over and over.
The cable stations putting illustrations up that are both accurate and inaccurate of the stage location, Trump's location, and the shooters location.
All interpretations of what they saw or didn't see.
In one broadcast, I saw the photographer taking that picture that likely is the one Peter posted. He was stopped below the stage in front of the podium. Secret Service helped Trump up and within a few seconds, Trump raised his arm and fist. The flag was flying higher above the people.
An iconic shot that wasn't staged.
All that said doesn't matter.
It was President Biden who used the words that it was time to put Trump on the bullseye a few days ago. I'm pretty sure he did not mean that literally.
The rhetoric on both sides needs to stop.
There is no bothsides to this.
DeleteHang Mike Pence, remember?
Which party opposes gun control?
All we know so far about the perp is that he was a registered Republican, but that hasn’t stopped the conspiracy theories from flying. We also know the Republican Party has done its damnedest to ensure the country is flooded with lethal firepower that any idiot can obtain and openly carry. As the Mayor of Savannah said after a recent mass shooting there, “When you allow weapons to be everywhere, you can’t be surprised when they show up.”
ReplyDeleteWhen you use violent rhetoric you invite violence.
ReplyDeleteIf Republicans use this as an excuse to continue the intimidating talk I think most people will recoil. It would be smarter for them to back off.
I watched the video...It looked to me like the audience acted like they were watching a performance. They were just standing there. It was almost like they weren't surprised. Weird.
Anyway, the TV is off for a week or so, again.
For allowing that rooftop to be unguarded, the head of the Secret Service and everyone in the chain of command below her who failed to guard that roof should be fired immediately. It was a mere 130 yards from the podium, an easy shot for anyone with at least some level of marksmanship. Fortunately, the shooter apparently did not have that level of skill.
ReplyDeleteThere is too little accountability for incompetence in this country.
Black Power salute from TFG.
ReplyDeleteI have the same sinking feeling I had in 2016 when Anthony Weiners files turned up in Huma Abedins laptop computer. At that moment I knew the fascist would likely win the election. For some reason, while watching TV yesterday, the first thought that popped into my head was the reichtag fire incident in 1936 in Berlin Germany. Coincidence and controversy, conspiracy and uncertainty, never what I thought my life experience would be in the good ole USA…
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Trump realizes he is mortal and will die someday having lived what I view as a sinful, mean spirited life? I’m guessing he lacks that insight and will view this as being God like. Don’t underestimate his level of hubris or his followers somehow believing the same.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, things are getting too bizarre. Trump pledged to Republicans that he will “root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.” But Republicans are blaming the assassination attempt against him on Democrats’ “inflammatory rhetoric.” Their offense? Pointing out the obvious – Trump’s lies, criminality and autocratic ambitions. Unfortunately, they’re too clueless to hear themselves.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteBlessed are you Lord our God King of the universe ...for nudging Donald Trump just a hair's breath ...to the left.
Job, 41
11 Out of his mouth go forth torches;
sparks of fire leap forth.
12 From his nostrils comes smoke
as from a seething pot or bowl.
13 His breath sets coals afire;
a flame comes from his mouth.
14 Strength abides in his neck,
and power leaps before him.
15 The folds of his flesh stick together,
it is cast over him and immovable.
16 His heart is cast as hard as stone;
cast as the lower millstone.
17 When he rises up, the gods are afraid;
when he crashes down, they fall back.
18 Should a sword reach him, it will not avail;
nor will spear, dart, or javelin.
19 He regards iron as chaff,
and bronze as rotten wood.
20 No arrow will put him to flight;
slingstones used against him are but straw.
21 Clubs he regards as straw;
he laughs at the crash of the spear.
22 Under him are sharp pottery fragments,
spreading a threshing sledge upon the mire.
23 He makes the depths boil like a pot;
he makes the sea like a perfume bottle.
24 Behind him he leaves a shining path;
you would think the deep had white hair.
25 Upon the earth there is none like him,
he was made fearless.
26 He looks over all who are haughty,
he is king over all proud beasts.
Blessed are you Lord our God King of the universe ...for nudging Donald Trump just a hair's breath ...to the left.
ReplyDelete😀‼️
God spared us from some really bad times by doing that.
Journalists and photographers cover these rallies hoping (or at least wondering) something like this happens. It can accelerate a career.
ReplyDeleteOf course, they are also subject to violence from TFG supporters so there is an occupational hazard.