Donald Trump and the runup to the 2024 election

In other news of Trump respecting the military, he held an illegal photo op at Arlington National Cemetery as a way to attack Biden, where his campaign aides shoved and verbally attacked a Cemetery staffer:

“Only the best people”

Has Trump suddenly become a commie/socialist? He’s promising free IVF treatments, either government funded or insurance mandate.

Much more interesting are his comments on the Florida abortion ban – he’s assiduously avoided saying how he (as a Florida resident) will vote on the referendum to repeal the six-week ban. His comments that, “I think the six weeks is too short. It has to be more time,” and, “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks,” come perilously close to saying he will support the repeal. So much so that his campaign almost instantly started walking back his comments.

It’s been fascinating watching Trump flail about trying to find some magic position on reproductive rights. He knows that abortion bans and IVF restrictions are political losers, but he can’t lose the pro-lifers for whom this is the ONLY issue that matters. I’d feel bad for his predicament except he’s Donald Trump.

vance was going on about this this morning on cnn. the same jd vance that voted against it in the senate… because state rights or something.

the gaslight is stong with vance. “we don’t censor, we are big tent”

But here’s his advantage.

The pro-lifers are generally informed voters and they know Trump lies. They assume he doesn’t mean it. The target is a group that don’t pay much attention and with the little attention they give to news now believe that Trump is not so extreme on this issue after all, that he is standing up to the extremists on his side, his “Sistah Soulja” moment …

That’s assualt. Go for it.

This morning my wife said, "I think this is really going to hurt him among the military and veterans, some of his strongest supporters. I responded, “What makes you think THIS event will persuade anyone, when the countless previous ones didn’t?”

Just the boorishness and disrespect. And this Steven Cheung, saying the staffer had a mental breakdown. Just a class act, top to bottom. But you try to mention that, and the (effective) response is, “How dare you criticize my showing respect for our fallen heroes, when Harris/Walz didn’t.”

The assaulted official has declined to press charges (presumably because she doesn’t want the death and rape threats that MAGA would subject her to if her name became public), and the military has said they consider the matter closed.

not presumably, that is the reason. which had me wondering “the army couldn’t protect their staff?”.

‘Unfairly attacked’: Army defends employee involved in Trump campaign incident at Arlington - POLITICO

The unidentified female staff member has declined to press charges due to concern over retaliation, and the Army, which runs national cemeteries, said in a statement Thursday morning that it considers the matter closed.

And, of course, Trump has insinuated that the Arlington controversy was the fault of the Democrats.

Votevets has a new ad up criticizing Trump for the Arlington Cemetery visit. It’s at the beginning of this commentary. Also not sure what is happening with my links. I am putting them on a separate line.

https://youtu.be/Go5DuqP2ohU?si=0wX6nif5d_cFLrB8

Look, Trump didn’t do it for publicity. He even said so! Why won’t people believe him!

It’s so perfectly normal to grin and give a thumbs-up at the grave of a soldier. :face_with_spiral_eyes:

The 2 closest houses to me that previously posted Trump signs and flags (diagonally across an intersection from each other, across from a grade school - so classy!), have not displayed any yet. There are 3 others that I know of that are up in full force, but another one I used to see is “silent.” Not aware of any of the “silent” homes having sold recently.

Not “proof” of anything. Just anecdata.

I can never get images to embed properly, so I’ll just post a link to a screenshot of a Trump tweet that says:

The unspoken part being “If I’d known one of those people was making my food I would’ve gone to Berder King”, because there is no way McDonald’s is going to publicly comment on a presidential candidate who worked for one of their franchises for a few months 40 years ago.

Nor did I include McDonald’s on my professional resume, but I have photos of myself in the dull brown and white uniform of my era.

There’s a meme out already – “I’d never stand on a grave and pose with a big grin and a thumbs up. But if he dies before me, it could happen.”