— Feature, Musings —07.17.2024 04:59 PM
My latest: too soon.
Too soon?
That was the question being asked, online, 24 hours after the assassination attempt on Donald J. Trump.
People – not always anonymous, and some of them not necessarily Democrats – were posting funny and not-so-funny memes about Trump and the foiled assassination. One showed Trump depicted as artist Vincent van Gogh, who of course famously removed his own ear. Another, a bit later, showed the white rectangular bandage on the former president’s injured ear, with the line: “What happens when you order a pillow from Temu.”
A couple of the memes were funny. Some, not so much.
But in every case, a question arose: is it too soon to be joking about an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate? Shouldn’t attempts at humor wait a bit longer?
In the case of the conspiracy theorists, of course, there was no wait. Minutes after reports about the shooting went out to a shocked world, the word “staged” was trending on X, formerly Twitter. Lots of other conspiracy theories, too, to the effect that what had happened hadn’t really happened.
But that’s the conspiracy nutbars. They’re too stupid to ever believe that reality is, you know, real.
The people who were making fun of Trump’s near-death experience, however, were a different matter. In the past, making jokes about political assassinations, and attempted ones, was unheard of. In the United States, it might get you a visit from the Secret Service. Elsewhere, it was a good way to swiftly lose your job and your reputation.
Not these days. The assassination had become fodder for jokes within hours of it happening. (Not two Canadian university professors, in Ontario and in BC, however – they expressed chagrin that the assassin missed his target. Those fools did not seem to be joking.)
Comedians can get away with joking about taboo subjects because that is their job: to joke about taboo subjects. But making light of an assassination attempt? Why were so many taking the risk?
There are three possible reasons.
One, in the social media age, restraint has gone by the wayside. People can say outrageous things, and do, within seconds on social media platforms. Reflecting on a post before it is posted seems almost quaint and old-fashioned.
There’s a second reason why inappropriate things were being said about Donald Trump online – and even before the dust had even settled at his Pennsylvania rally. It’s Trump himself. If the Republican presidential nominee is known for anything, it is for saying outrageous and offensive things online, 24/7. He’s licensed Internet-based extremes.
That, perhaps, is why Trump and his winged monkeys did not urge restraint: because they never show restraint themselves.
The third reason is the likeliest one.
The cliché used to be that a week was a lifetime in politics. These days, a single day is a lifetime. Events move so quickly, and the news-cycle has become so compressed, that an actual attempt to assassinate an actual former president had lost its shock value – almost immediately. Among Trump’s MAGA core, of course, it was an event with biblical significance.
But for everyone else, it was simply another terrible thing happening in the terrible year that is 2024. In this era, nothing can shock anymore, because all of us – principally because of the devices we all carry in our pockets – have mostly seen it all. Political scandals, natural disasters, pogroms – none of it really registers, anymore, because we’ve seen and heard it all. Too many times.
For the luckless Democrats, this is arguably a good thing. Even after Joe Biden’s disastrous presidential debate performance with Trump, national polls were not showing a dramatic shift. That surprised everybody. And, now, an attempt on his main opponent’s life isn’t yet a big deal, say the national polls. This week, surveys even showed that Biden and Trump are only a point apart.
Whatever the reason, whatever the cause, what once shocked us isn’t so shocking anymore. What was once historic doesn’t feel so very history-making.
I’m no fan of Donald Trump. But I would greatly prefer to see him defeated at the ballot box. Not ever with a bullet.
And, call me old-fashioned, but it still feels a little early to be making jokes about someone – even Donald J. Trump – being assassinated.
Warren,
Biden has COVID-19. First Schiff and now this.
Warren,
If this is your first portrait, it’s damned good. And what a memorable subject! LOL.
Jesus. Did some re-reading. God, I need a long vacation.
Warren,
The assassination attempt shook me up and knocked me off balance for a few minutes. And I’ve always hated Trump.
But like you, it’s bad form to wish him dead. It goes with what goes around, comes around too.
And then there’s this:
“Biden shares conditions for possible withdraw from US presidential elections”
In an interview with CBS News, US President Joe Biden stated that he might withdraw from this year’s presidential election due to health issues.
“The American leader noted that he is ready to withdraw from the presidential race if doctors indicate health problems.”
Ronald,
His departure from the Democrat ticket is imminent.
Who will be Harris’ running mate?
As someone who also briefly attended high school in Montreal, I reluctantly offer myself as a candidate
Warren,
But what about that electoral rule preventing two people who resided/studied in the same city from being on the ticket? LOL.
Oh No, silly me. I mean state.
Agreed – too soon. If there is ever a time when it should be appropriate?
Next up Joe Biden Covid diagnosis. Only took a few minutes for CTV news to find a republican who even questioned why he isn’t just working through it like many Americans do.
Conspiracy theorists will be wondering if this is real or if he is avoiding something.
Can’t they just call a Mulligan and start the whole damn thing over?
is there a time when it should be appropriate?
how about this,
“Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?”
Too soon?
Touche
At the risk of sounding PIC – I will carefully say that I don’t give a damn how Trumpism ends. As long as it ends.
Sean,
And now the debate moves on to: has he really changed after this near-death experience? Won’t take that bet either way.
Picasso’s original of this actually gets mentioned early in Daniel Silva’s latest which was written too late to bring up the war but I am sure it will be front and center in his next one.
Millions of Democrats voted for Joe Biden in the primaries. Now some Democrat politicians are trying to convince Joe Biden to step aside. Why?
Is Biden not fit to lead? His administration says he’s sharp as a tack. Shouldn’t Democrats respect democracy? Just because a few polls say Biden might lose is no reason to dump Joe Biden. Biden says the polls he’s seen favour him.
Or is some Democrat cabal trying to seize power?
Wow, straight from the Trump Campaign.
Meanwhile Trump, is developing a Messiah Complex. If you think it is bad now, just wait! It usually results in some sort of catastrophic ending.
Those magabillies wearing the fake ear bandages at the Republican Convention — that may be the douchiest thing I’ve ever seen.
They are fucking sociopaths.
Pipes,
TheMAGAMessiahTM had hoped to have Jesus on The Apprentice. He planned to demote him to second place, in a New York minute…
I feel like a voice in the wilderness on this one.
I think, in my opinion as a simpleton, they have invoked the Political God Particle- union of political and religious mass and energy. Now we can enjoy their predisposition to the apocalypse.
The Dooms Day Clock is about to cuckoo.
I don’t think it’s acceptable to mock attempted murder victims.
But after the last decade of watching what the acolytes and associates of Fox News think is acceptable to wish upon and/or threaten anyone they have decided is a liberal? It’s difficult to care anymore.
In theatre, when the main character dies at the end, it’s a tragedy. In farce, the main character brings difficult situations upon himself by trying to cover something up, is nearly caught many times, goes to greater lengths to cover up even more misdeeds and while he may be injured, he survives, having learned his lesson. I would posit that the situation with Trump resembles a farce, except possibly for the part that he has learned his lesson. That’s why people are free to make jokes about it — pretty much textbook farce.
Agreed…. to change the subject, what is up with the Chinese water torture that Trudeau is putting Freeland through, by not confirming whether or not she has his confidence, or not making a change? Adding thus to his past treatment of female cabinet members, it is a reminder of what a low class POS Justin really is.
From The Independent:
Oh boy, looks like the fix is in now.
“Obama wants Biden to ‘seriously’ reconsider campaign as Dem leaders say he could drop out by ‘this weekend’”
“Former president Barack Obama reportedly believes Joe Biden should seriously reconsider the viability of his campaign against Donald Trump, as polling repeatedly shows the president’s diminishing election chances.”
Warren,
Well, it’s a great Trump snow job. As soon as he slipped up and said “Crazy Nancy Pelosi,” you knew it was a one-time effort.
The latest polling says a younger Democrat nominee will take Trump to the cleaners. Good.
And the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will overturn his not legally qualified bench warmer. Trump can count on that. Too fucking funny. Jack Smith will nail his sorry hide to the wall.
As for Cannon, a complaint must be filed before their version of the Judicial Council. She needs to be reprimanded, or better yet, impeached by the next Congress.
Warren,
From The Independent:
“Biden chews over mounting calls for him to quit 2024 race as Pelosi said to be seeking to avoid Harris coronation”
“As President Joe Biden faces mounting pressure to drop out of the 2024 presidential race while isolating in Delaware with COVID-19, Nancy Pelosi is reportedly looking to prevent the vice president from automatically taking the nomination.
The California representative hopes to avoid Kamala Harris automatically becoming the Democratic candidate if Biden drops out, Politico and The New York Times report. Earlier this week, reports emerged that the influential Democrat told Biden privately he can’t beat Donald Trump in November.”
Warren,
But look at Florida. It’s only two polls. But.
From: Alternet
“Trump now bleeding support in GOP-dominated state as more women voters gravitate to Biden”
“Former President Donald Trump’s political hopes may be in danger in a solidly Republican state with a significant haul of Electoral College votes if current polling trends stay consistent.
Newsweek recently reported that in Florida, the election may start to shift in President Joe Biden’s favor, who now enjoys a plurality of women voters’ support in the Sunshine State. A FOX 13/Insider Advantage poll of 800 Floridians between July 15 and July 16 found that 47% of female respondents preferred Biden, while 44% preferred Trump.
The poll of Florida voters also found that Biden is the strongest candidate to face Trump in November. While some Democrats are pushing him to pull out of the race, the likeliest option to replace him at the top of the ticket is Vice President Kamala Harris.
That poll found that Trump’s slight lead over Biden with Florida voters grows to double digits if Harris is instead the nominee. Trump also regains the lead with women voters if Harris is on the ballot instead of Biden.”
Warren,
That’s the problem for female politicians: women can be your best friend electorally, while at the same time also be your most genuine enemy. You know, in the latter case, those extremely jealous types…