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Sep 10, 2024 By Steve King

What a difference a debate makes. Joe Biden was never the world’s best debater; neither is Donald Trump, but even he looked at the president a couple times in astonishment. Yes, Biden is not the man he used to be. No, Dark Brandon didn’t show up. The whirlwind rise of Vice President Kamala Harris has been genuinely dazzling and decisive, thanks in part to Nancy Pelosi. I’ve always been a big Harris fan. This is everything I’ve ever wanted. I just didn’t want it this way. But the election was looking grim. The vibe shift, baby!

Harris has put together a mean and savage campaign. She literally has all ages of people working for her. Most of the campaign staff have stayed and her nomination has electrified the Democratic base in a way not seen since 2008. Democrats literally have new hope. I’ll admit I have been nervous about this election, because it really felt like we were sleepwalking into a second Trump term. The numbers concerning younger men and the JD Vance VP nomination are troubling, but Harris’ numbers with younger voters seem to have erased that advantage. As soon as Biden stepped aside, that malaise disappeared and turned into outright joy.

Democrats are high on joy right now. High as fuck. Trump was almost assassinated over the summer and we couldn’t care less. The vibes were palpable during the Democratic Convention. People were singing, dancing, and ready to kick some ass. A lot of people got laid in Chicago that week. And that roll call vote! Roll calls at conventions are painfully boring and overly long. Enter Lil Jon!

I thought it was a mistake to have the convention in Chicago and not in a swing state city, but the coolest and Blackest roll call ever quickly disabused me of that notion. If you saw it, you know. They blew the fucking roof. Jon started performing “Turn Down For What” as he made his way to the Georgia delegation and transitioned into “Get Low.” He even made a solid Governor Walz joke. It was the funnest roll call of all time, nevermind that the songs played were 22 and 10 years old. “California Love” came out in 1995, ffs. But it worked! And it’s honestly the best we liberals can do.

Harris’ selection of Governor Tim Walz was an inspired move. Democrats know that the midwest Blue Wall states are on shaky ground and nowhere near as reliable as they once were. And the man doesn’t seem to have a mean bone in his body. He’s so memeable it doesn’t seem real. He is the perfect foil for JD Vance—more on that in a second. And, like Harris, he’s a Gen Xer, so the “too old” attack line that worked so well on Biden has been flipped on Trump.

Trump has spent the time since Biden left the race generally losing what’s left of his mind. He’s been talking about Hannibal Lector, immigrant bum fights, and how he’s going to throw every enemy in jail. That and the military being deployed inside the U.S. and mass deportations. Really positive and forward-thinking stuff.

The RNC was another hate rally, filled with washed up weirdos and the usual sycophants. The selection of JD Vance as the VP nominee has been a disaster. His unfavorables are almost worse than Trump’s. He has negative rizz. He’s as fake as the day is long and an inveterate liar. He just generally sucks. Trump could have made more of a splash with Tulsi Gabbard, but no, he doubled down on the whole fake-alpha-male-bullshit. When you look at JD Vance, you see a bullied kid who wasn’t very successful with the girls. He’s angry and wants to control women. That seems to be the only principle he has: to hate and control women. Even Kristie “Dog Killer” Noem would have been a better alternative. We finally got a Millenial on a presidential ticket and it just so happened to be the kid that ate glue in class. Fuck my life. But now, with the juxtaposition with Governor Walz’s Positive Masculinity, Vance has been rightly neutered. Even the Cheneys have endorsed Harris.

Anyway, the RNC was stupid, listless, boring, and still deeply scary, considering Project 2025 was its whole vibe. They controlled their time better than the DNC, but when your nominee talks for like 10 straight hours or whatever, the thread gets a little lost. Trump is still stuck on stupid and can’t adapt to Harris as the new Democratic nominee. That said, his numbers aren’t as bad they seem. They never are. He may have his more boisterous supporters but the three percent or so who lie to pollsters are the ones I fear. And that’s before we get to Project 2025 and how Trump is leaning on the legal advice of John Yoo. You should be terrified.

The U.S. is still pretty much a 50/50 country, so the election will be close no matter what, but it does seem like a little divine intervention and a little karma that the person who could end Trump’s political career is a Black woman. It’s simply poetic. Roe is on the ballot in a lot of swing states, yet I still feel the need to guard against that 2008 feeling. I remember 2016. So should you. We were wrong and unprepared. And for Trump to win this time, with Harris as our nominee, it might be enough to make me die of a broken heart, renounce my citizenship, move to Vancouver, and never write about politics again.

Never underestimate the power of misogyny and racism, and never underestimate Trump or his army of leering, eager, popcorn bucket supporters. What is needed is a decisive victory that would have no way of being challenged in court. Trump needs to be obliterated. Don’t get high on your own supply, because then, we’re no better than Republicans. But also never underestimate the solidarity of Black women.

Democrats were facing a possible landslide loss and now there’s a possibility that the first Black woman president might win in a landslide. Confident but cautious is our current state. Mail-in ballots will be going out soon and the Trump/Harris debate is upon us tonight. Guard your heart but go for their necks. And get five people registered to vote. See you after the debate. LFG!

The Trump Plague: Viral Politics in the Age of Fuckery

The Trump Depression: Viral Politics in the Age of Fuckery Part II

Carnage and Malarkey: Viral Politics in the Age of Fuckery Part III

Human Sacrifice and the 2024 Election: Viral Politics in the Age of Fuckery Part IV

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