Blog Credo

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

H.L. Mencken

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Money

Trump has spent almost a billion dollars since 2017 to get re-elected.  He has an average Job Approval rating of -13.8 (42.1% approve, 55.9% disapprove) and RCP has the polling average for the horserace at Biden 49.3% and Trump 40.7%, whereas 538 has the average at Biden 50.4% and Trump at 41.6%.

In other words, Trump has spent close to a billion dollars to be in the worst polling position of any incumbent president.

I would guess much of that money has been spent on his rallies and padding accounts at Trump properties. Trump has routinely used campaign funds in illegal ways, such as his inauguration slush fund. We shouldn't be surprised that he would funnel money to himself.  Similarly, Trump is surrounded by people who are as morally compromised as he is. There is little doubt that they are lining their pockets, too.  Witness Brad Parscale's demotion after the Lincoln Project drew attention to how he has enriched himself at the Trump campaign's expense.

Let's refresh the facts: Donald Trump was given millions of dollars by his father (much of it illegally). He managed to lose money in America on gambling, football and steaks. He created a reality TV personality that was entirely fictional. He has never been a good businessman and is likely up to his eyes in foreign debt obligations. He managed to win in 2016 by running an inside straight with foreign interference and benefitting from misogyny. Seven high ranking members of that campaign have been found guilty in a court of law. He has alienated a majority of Americans.

As things stand now, he will lose decisively in November. 

Money can't buy everything.

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