Trump took the podium and immediately expressed his sorrow and thoughts to the Cain family. Herman Cain was a pizza CEO and failed political candidate. That’s it. Trump then said that the “China Virus” has killed 150,000 and that’s too bad. Trump didn’t say anything about American saint, the conscience of the Congress, and three decade congressman, John Lewis.
Nor did Trump say that Herman Cain died likely because of the Tulsa rally.
Trump on Herman Cain: "Unfortunately, he passed away from a thing called the China virus." pic.twitter.com/W3Px3FwL1R [1]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 30, 2020 [2]
Trump slammed the blue states, California, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, “that were doing well, are not doing so well now.” He didn’t talk about Florida or Texas.
Then Trump stuttered and nearly lost it, he paused for an awkward period and seemed to be searching for a word.
“Remdesovar”
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 30, 2020 [3]
I see we’re back to plahhsma
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 30, 2020 [4]
He sounds drugged.
— Pam Carlson (@PamCarlson3) July 30, 2020 [5]
He continued to act as though the disease doesn’t kill people younger than 70 – which is ridiculous, it just killed his friend who was a spry 74. Chuck Todd said that while talking about the virus “Trump sounded defeated today.”
Then he just went on a rundown in figures that he believes helps him, talking about economic figures that he construed as good. He isn’t going to even address the fact that we had the worst economic quarter ever last quarter – nothing on that. He wants you to know that the disease only kills people that don’t count:
Trump makes sure to highlight that the coronavirus mainly kills elderly people, as if that’s reassuring pic.twitter.com/VE8556ZciS [6]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 30, 2020 [7]
It is impossible to follow the stuff he reads because it has no bearing on reality but it’s not even put together correctly. It is impossible to follow what he’s saying:
Serious question: Is anyone really listening to him or taking him seriously anymore? Are these briefings having any impact?
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) July 30, 2020 [8]
Trump again went through his voucher commercial, sending money to parents to give to whatever school they want. Trump wants to move the election back but he expects schools to open.
Trump took a question on moving the election, and he suddenly got energized and immediately went into a rant about vote by mail and articles in newspapers regarding vote by mail. Trump does seem sincere about trying to move the election date. Trump says that he wants the election decided on election night – then talks about hundreds of millions foreign ballots will come in. We didn’t have hundreds of millions of ballots in total in the last election total – the winner had less than 65 million. There will not be “hundreds of millions of fake ballots.” There will not be “hundreds” of fake ballots.
First question is about delaying the election. Trump answers by waving around printouts of articles about mail ballots. Meaning he was ready for this question, at least by having those papers on him. He then moves to implying that he will litigate the election into the ground.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 30, 2020 [9]
Trump then blessed on “absentee ballots,” but the process is identical for mail-in ballots, exactly the same. He is normalizing insanity. He then told us that there was near no way that the country could have an election on November 3rd and not have it be rigged. He is essentially saying that it WILL BE RIGGED.
Republicans would have impeached any other president who said this and removed him from office by 6:30
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 30, 2020 [10]
And he’s doing it all while looking Adderalled-up and also more dazed than usual:
trump is drugged out of his mind #TrumpPresser [11]
— muse👑 (@msue1000) July 30, 2020 [12]
Because he’s stealing legitimacy of democracy right out from under us. Democracy relies upon people agreeing on something and we’ve agreed on legitimate elections before. He just killed democracy. He just killed the election. He told us it “would be” rigged – as if he cannot do anything about it, and he won’t do anything about it, beyond wanting to move it back.
Trump basically declaring war on the November election. Says it will be rigged. Real results will never be known. pic.twitter.com/mVFjoUC0CU [13]
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 30, 2020 [14]
Trump doesn't exactly disavow trying to delay the election despite strong blowback from fellow Republicans who dismissed it as a non-starter.
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) July 30, 2020 [15]
Trump suggests delay necessary, claims election will be illegitimate: "No, do I want to see a date change, no. But I don't want to see a crooked election. This will be the most rigged election in history if that happens. " pic.twitter.com/fgABsBL0Gq [16]
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 30, 2020 [17]
Unbelievable. This nation is in real trouble. He isn’t right, and our democracy is about to “die” due to the Trump virus and we’re not talking about a biological death but a political death.
****
Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom