Random series of hot (lukewarm) takes as I catch up with the last week of events:
1) I thought the Melania/Michelle incident was super interesting, mainly as an illustration of the downsides to having no functional campaign apparatus whatsoever. They pointlessly spent two days failing at getting the message out. And yet....I almost wonder how much it matters. Trump's signaling displays are so overt and central to his campaign it can't be the case that many people who care about politics haven't gotten the message yet. Especially after day 4.
2) Cruz may have landed the first intra-party blow, but I really can't imagine his will be the last. Bush and Romney's silence through all of this is completely conspicuous. Flake is throwing strangely positive vibes towards team CK, and very obviously hates Trump. It's an interesting scenario because a) The dem ticket is pretty technocratic and liked by the senate, b) Republicans currently in office are absolutely terrified of their base, and c) Scalia's empty seat gives people who may be disposed to oppose Trump on principle serious pause. But at the end of the day, Trump is hated by the hawks, too impure for the true believers, and barely tolerated at best by the mainstream. The situation is so fragile, Gary Johnson is just sitting there, and a bad week of polling will probably be enough to inspire scatter the party in panic.
3) Last week was completely surreal on so many levels. I say this thinking that I had already internalized Trump's incompetence and hatred. Melania and Cruz made it a "bad news week" - but the real stories in my mind were:
Trump does not want to do anything while he is president.
Trump's only interest in his party's platform is making Putin happy.
Trump does not believe in honoring NATO commitments
The republican party believes in ignoring law enforcement in order to incarcerate its political opposition.
Any one of these is absolutely horrifying and really pushes the limit of acceptable behavior in US politics. Taken together? Ryan and McConnell have to know they are supporting a candidate, that, were he to take office, they would almost certainly have to impeach within months.
4) Trump's refusal to follow election law is increasingly transparent. I mean, I imagine he just doesn't bother thinking about loser stuff like "rules", but he has been soliciting international funds, coordinating with his SuperPAC, and using corporate funds for campaign activities. I am surprised we haven't seen more stories about the potential consequences of this.
5) I must already be super desensitized to Trump, because even though I heard the hatred in his voice and the scapegoating in the speech, my initial reaction was to think that it was pretty mild, at least by his standards. It's hard for me to keep in mind how many minimally engaged voters there are that probably got that as their fist major exposure to Trump as Trump.
6) Kaine is like a custom-built VP robot from the year 4960. It's actually possible he was sent back in time from the post-Trump dystopia in order to become the ultimate VP candidate and create a better future for all of us. Deep connections with black communities, able to do real work on spanish media, style, demeanor and values that play in the midwest and southern swing states, soft personality to balance out Hills, well recognized policy chops, able to take office on day one, doesn't represent a serious threat of losing a senate seat. I lived in VA while he was gov, and STILL had no idea he was this tier.
7) Seriously Trump is being pushed by Putin and already showing his commitment to giving him everything he wants. I feel like more republicans should be concerned about this.
8) Not actually that worried about #Bernitdown people at the DNC. There are always weirdos but the speakers will be rock solid, which is more than the RNC can say. And whatever other problems I have with Bernie, the dude GETS the seriousness of Trump. Hoping to see him and Warren light 'em up.
9) I wonder if there's any chance to see Ben Cardin retire in 2018 to open a seat for lil' loco...but I guess he would have to fight Edwards for it anyway.
Should we make it about peanut butter vodka after 6 o'clock on Friday?