Red Sky at Morning

If you happened to catch the tail end of the Republican National Convention this week, perhaps you will understand when I tell you I'm feeling doubtful about November.  I am not the target audience for either the RNC Convention or the Democratic counterpart the week before, but I watched the conclusion of both and I have no memory of Biden's speech or the aftermath, whereas I can't unremember Trump's largely teleprompted uberramble and the spectacle that followed it-- the most amazing fireworks display I've ever seen (probably Chinese fireworks as a guest on Bill Maher pointed out the next day) over the Washington Monument, a fantastic mystery tenor crushing patriotic songs, opera and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, draped flags stirring majestically in the breeze, unmasked crowds cheering shoulder to shoulder (including an epically sweaty Rudy Giuliani) on the artistically lit South Lawn of the white house.  Ethically squishy (as usual for this bunch) but, so what? For political visuals it would be tough to beat.  Joe Biden was reportedly not the beneficiary of a post-convention bounce from his speech and convention -- to the contrary, his double digit lead had eroded before things had even gotten underway for the republicans-- but if Trump doesn't get a bump from his, he's in deeper shit than we thought..

Michael Moore was moved to tweet the bad news to Twitter that the history of 2016 might be repeating itself, urging those within hearing distance who'd like to avoid that outcome to "ACT NOW.:  As in 2016, his warning to Dems was met by a predictable chorus of boos from the Blue No Matter Whos who seem to prefer to conflate pessimism about Biden's chances with a desire for Trump to win, preferring to believe once again, perhaps more so, that Donald Trump's self-evident unfitness for office dooms his project of reelection to failure. Any expression of doubt in the ranks about Joe Biden's preeminent fitness for office translating to victory over Trump will be blamed if anything goes wrong in November.  From which I conclude that the stakes are actually higher for Michael Moore and those sympathetic to his panic than they are for the democratic party faithful, their ostentatious Trump derangement notwithstanding.

Inspired by a genuine fear of the horrors that would be in store if a lame-duck second term for Trump is enabled, I am feeling stirrings of involvement rising within my bosom which I feel would have to take the form of engagement with on the fence voters--with a very real understanding of their hesitation-- to enjoin them if they're able, to resist inertia and do what they can to help keep a Trump re-election from happening, but they are being fought against by a very real uncertainty about how to marshal the requisite enthusiasm to sustain me through even one pitch on Biden's behalf.  What could I say?    Sure Biden is worthless.  He has been a senator since he was 30 years old.  Believe him when he tells you that he has no imagination, no empathy for the average voter.  He proved again and again in his long monotonous career that he is all about primping and preening, willing to be rhought courageous enough to threaten your security and your well-being in order to demonstrate his seriousness to his class.  He stands for nothing except for when his donors enter the room. His working class stiff routine is an act. 

Sure, Biden has no principles.  Trump is a menace.

I don't know if it will work but it has me convinced.