Merv's Politically Incorrect Audio Blog

Stop reading dumb news not worthy of the WSJ.

Trump has been cock-blocked in every direction. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is a good man and won't be bamboozled by Trump (for anyone following quality news, this was obvious even before the recent tweets). Even the hardcore Trump supporters of Texas have taken their Trump-Pence signs and bumper stickers down. The California Trump guys in their 4x4s and Trump flags already made their last pass down The 101 - a month ago. The People have already accepted the outcome. This is the most important thing in any election.

Why is Trump even a headline? He is no longer relevant. Why is CNN is still obsessed with him? Why aren't we talking about Biden foreign policy or US government debt or Georgia US Senator results instead?

 

No. The reason is that there is no need. Congress will be certifying the election results, Biden's victory, on Wednesday. There is going to be some noise from within the GOP, but this is business as usual.

Trump's been an odd one. I think the nation will be relieved once he's gone.

I am an American. As such I took American history and civics classes in high school and thus understand and believe in the nation's institutions. Call these classes a form of propaganda or brainwashing or what you will, but I do believe. Evidence that our system works are as follows: Trump was removed from office by the nation's voters - in the end, it wasn't that close; attempts by Trump to massage the votes in this favor were cock-blocked - by the states and and even the Supreme Court where Trump picked three of the Justices*!

All politicians crave power. American politicians are no different than despotic ones from other countries. From a paper point of view, even China has a well written Constitution and supposed rule of law. The major differences are the traditions, the institutions, and the mindset of the people. People having guns helps too.

I'm sure Giuliani in his mind thinks he may have a shot one day, but I am sure Trump will have convinced most voters to avoid NYC bosses.

If you are concerned about concentration of power, I would look toward term limits on Congress. There's a history of senile congress members from both parties, desperately clinging on to power.

*It would seem that CNN's fears of the Justices having to return the favor to the Godfather were vastly exaggerated. This came up before. All I have to say is that I told you so and neener, neener, neener.

 

Hahaha. Lots of Asians were secret Trump voters in SoCal. Quite a few I knew were from China. Chinese who come here want to stay and be American. Even more now with Xi in power.

 

This is something I didn't want to bring up in the past because it's more divisive than I would like, but you mentioned it.

CORRECTION: Trump gives zero fucks about your wishes.

Time and time again, it's always this way.

Trump's mannerisms and platform were obvious from the start. I said way in advance that it's going to be The Apprentice - Presidential Cabinet Edition, with random people in his administration being fired every week. (I told ya so!) I mean the creepy stalking over Hillary during the debates, who would have missed that? And even early on when Megyn Kelly called him on his behavior toward women, and Trump went off on her "bleeding" from whatever. And who could forget "grab 'em by the pussy"?

But the fact remains, Trump ran on a platform, a populist one, and largely stuck to that platform. Whether he was successful or not in achieving these goals is debatable, but he stuck to it! And really, It looked more like Bannon's platform than Trump's.

Let's look on what he ran on in 2016 - I will list what I can remember:

• Anti-climate change, pro coal, anti international accords
• Energy independence, pro fracking, pro pipelines
• Pro law and order and pro death penalty
• Kill / neuter ACA
• Anti-illegal immigration, build wall
• Bring back manufacturing jobs
• Tariffs on China and Mexico, kill / redo NAFTA
• Kill Iran nuke deal
• Cut taxes
  
• Leave social security alone
• Avoid military interventions in foreign lands

I would argue that Trump gave a f**k (or let's call it shameless opportunism) about a lot of American's wishes. Some of which had been ignored by both parties. Wow, what a concept. Candidate says he is going to do something, and then tries to do it, instead of flip-flopping. There is a reason he won in 2016. Well, going against Hillary who many women didn't like helped too. I would also argue that he actually accomplished much of what he set out to do.

The problem with a democracy is that the guy you happen to like isn't always going to win.

I understand this full well as I am 2 for 7 in presidential elections going back to Reagan. I've gotten used to it.

 

Depends upon circumstance.

A friend of mine in SoCal. Former student from China. He's so shamelessly aggressive in achieving the American dream. Wakes up early at 5am for local bank, completes work early. For rest of the day, operates Tesla rental business. He has a fleet of Teslas. He drives a tricked out Model Y with an amazing patterned carbon wrap. He's got Trump written all over him. Works his ass off, hences hates taxes and regulation. He does not want to go back to China and lose freedom - access to capital.

My parents hate China and are pro Taiwan independence. Democracy in Taiwan was their most important life's work. Any politician who tries to f**k with China gets their vote. Seriously. They are single-issue voters. They also hate Newsom and by extension Biden. Think Newsom is worthless and that the Democrats in California do "chaos-procurement" (literal Taiwanese translation), that is waste taxpayer dollars. Funny thing is that they tended Democrat before. They voted for Gray Davis. But also voted to get rid of him.

I forgot: Asian small-bankers. Part of the niche west coast community banking industry that I used to work in, now decimated by Dodd-Frank. In 2014, Dodd, upon realizing my situation, told me that they were trying to fix things, but the damage had been done - it was too late. Asian bankers see the D party as bad for business. By extension, their customers: Asian landlords and small business people - they hate Newsom for obvious reasons and by extension Biden.

 

History is exactly what I'm looking at. You think Trump was the first to act like this? Politics is always ugly, some times uglier, some times less so. Nixon arguably pulled off shittier stuff. Oh, and let's not even talk about how Kennedy may have stolen the election with the help of the Chicago mob. And then after being POTUS, fricking appointed this brother to be the top-cop of the USA. Stuff gets ugly, people move on.

You may want to read up on Tippecanoe and Tyler Too. (I think this is important in understanding American mindset during election times).

If Trump making calls to the election guy in Georgia scares you, then why aren't you getting the hell outta dodge? Personally, I think deep down inside you trust the institutions of the USA - but that you've read too much CNN or The Guardian and are being a little dramatic about it.

What do you not understand? Trump is toast. He is gone.

 

They probably did and they all do. Just not in the same very obvious old school New York City brutish way that Trump does it. It's a game with a big prize, the biggest one on the planet if your aim is power.

Of course not. It's human to repeat mistakes. It's 2021 now. Looking back, I scratch my head at how Afghanistan has become Vietnam Part Deux. I thought Vietnam was a "never-again" thing?

 

From a psychological POV, particularly if you were / are a progressive angry at Trump:

Trump is gone.
You were angry before.
Now there is nothing to be angry with - oh the discomfort of the emptiness!
Do not revert to being angry - these are merely trained habits.
Grasping on irrelevant things which no longer matter.
Rest in the emptiness and await the new possibilities.
As Trump is gone.
​

Please think of the above as a supplement to this uplifting and inclusive poem: https://joebiden.com/presidency-for-all-americans/

P.S.

If the above poems, including one from the Biden site don't work, I highly recommend a vision quest with hallucinogens. Not my problem if you suffer perma-brain damage though.

 

Think of this like closing on a house. Need to get over multiple contingencies. Some escrows are more difficult than others. In the end, if the cash is there (and it is), it will happen.

Trump will never concede. The only reason he will leave willingly on the last day is because he won't want to be dragged out of the White House by the secret service - too embarrassing for him. He'll be there until the very last day, quietly pack his bags and go. I'm calling it.