As the tumultuous events in real-world America have been unfolding over the past few days, I’ve been avidly reading a political thriller published in 1997. The book’s scenario involves a presidential election stolen by a small group of insiders who manipulate the votes in just three states — California, New York and Michigan.
They also stack the Supreme Court with corrupt judges. And there’s an assassination attempt that kills a bystander.
Hmmm.
Meanwhile, the real world political landscape is being dominated by a reality-TV star orchestrating his own coronation as a 21st century king who survived an assassination attempt with the help, apparently, of the same God who’s in charge of his rating in the polls.
This man is a demagogue, the likes of which we’ve not seen since the 1930s who projects onto others his darkest fears while inspiring loyalty from millions of people based on lies, hate and conspiracy theories.
His entire rise to power has been based on tactics that appeal to the worst instincts of that portion of the citizenry that feels confused and resentful of a fast-moving culture that seems to have left them behind.
He repackages the past, gives it a nostalgic twist, and sells it with his brand-name slogan: Make America Great Again.
The reality is many of the things that made this country great are the very ones — diversity, tolerance, progressive thinking — that he rails against. Then again, he’s not one to let the facts get in his way.
Nevertheless, now he’s that great American archetype — a “new man” given his close brush with death —the odds are that he’s going to win in November. Surviving an assassination attempt pretty much sealed that deal.
But hey, it’s all just a TV show anyway. Why worry about it? Just turn it off and return to the novel, where at least there’s the consolation that the threat to democracy is only a figment of somebody’s imagination.
HEADLINES:
The Gunman and the Would-Be Dictator (Atlantic)
Bandaged Trump receives raucous welcome after announcing JD Vance as VP pick on day one (Independent)
Trump selects Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate (CNN)
An Assassination Attempt That Seems Likely to Tear America Further Apart (NYT)
Alleged Trump shooter spotted by law enforcement nearly 30 minutes before shots fired, sources say (WPXI)
In the wake of Trump’s attempted assassination, investigators search for clues around the motive (AP)
Spray of bullets shatters nation's illusion of security (BBC)
Rooftop where gunman shot at Trump was identified as a security vulnerability before rally: sources (NBC)
In a country already on edge, the shooting has raised fears of further political violence. (Reuters)
Shooting at Trump Rally Comes at Volatile Time in American History (NYT)
Biden bristles at continued questions about his age and abilities in NBC interview (NPR)
This is how you get escalation (Vox)
How to avoid falling for misinformation and conspiracy theories (WP)
Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country (ProPublica)
Climate change is upending NATO's operations (Axios)
One-third of US military could be robotic by 2039: Milley (Military Times)
Robots are helping build new apartments in Seattle (NPR)
“Superhuman” Go AIs still have trouble defending against these simple exploits (ArsTechnica)
Prompts and the art of earning in times of AI (Economic Times)
Pete Buttigieg Trapped Beneath Derailed Model Train (The Onion)
No comments:
Post a Comment