\n<\/p>\n
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nHave I mentioned that expected this year to be volatile? Here is Kennedy\u2019s speech, live, which is on-going as of this writing [now finished].<\/p>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I <em>was<\/em> going to put on my yellow waders and look at Kamala\u2019s DNC speech \u2014 I had Sarah Palin\u2019s 2008 acceptance speech all lined up for a genre comparison \u2014 but obviously this is more important.<\/p>\n<p>Please consider this a live post as I can put more material together, and talk amongst yourselves.<\/p>\n<p>P.S. Wowers, is Kennedy\u2019s description of the horror that is the modern Democrat party. FAFO, and FO they did, with their ballot manipulation shenanigans.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>I was reluctant to launch this post, because I did not hear \u2014 and there is no Closed Captioning on YouTube, hence no transcript \u2014 sentences as simple as this: \u201cI am suspending my campaign. In Blue or Red States, vote for me. In swing states, I will take myself off the ballot\u201d and \u201cI hereby endorse Donald Trump for President.\u201d The last part I did not hear. However, I just heard:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cJoining the Trump campaign will be a difficult sacrifice for my wife and our chldren.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>So here we are!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Here is the Kennedy clan\u2019s reaction:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I am sharing a personal statement that my family and I have made in response to my brother\u2019s announcement. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/j7vTTabNYZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/j7vTTabNYZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KerryKennedyRFK\/status\/1827061350452887816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I disagree. Kennedy explained quite clearly in the beginning of his speech that today\u2019s Democrat Party is not the Democrat Party of JFK or RFK. Alert reader Martin Oline <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/08\/200pm-water-cooler-8-23-2024.html#comment-4091444\">summarized that portion of his speech<\/a>, right at tbe beginning, as follows:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>He says that Kamala Harris dropped out of the 2020 primary without a single vote and yet has been selected by the party to be the chosen candidate for 2024. By doing so they have abandoned democracy and embraced lawfare and manipulated the primary process, using the media to censor his campaign. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Kennedy also went into considerable detail about his difficulties getting on the ballot, and how the Democrats tried to prevent this at every turn (while praising his volunteers, who did indeed do an extra-ordinary job.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>BBC was first out of the box on my RSS feed, so here they are: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cwy5ekxlwzgo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RFK Jr suspends campaign to \u2018throw support\u2019 behind Trump<\/a>\u201c. A key point:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Before working to elect Trump, Mr Kennedy said he asked to have similar conversations with Ms Harris.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Harris campaign reaction being \u201clol, no.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Then FOX, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/robert-f-kennedy-jr-endorse-trump-president-court-filing-shows\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. suspends campaign, backs Trump for president<\/a>\u201c:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Kennedy said in Phoenix that the Democratic Party of \u201cwaged continual legal warfare [I heard this as \u201clawfare\u201d] against both President Trump and myself,\u201d and \u201cran a sham primary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn an honest system, I believe I would have won the election,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy\u2019s campaign is asking swing states to remove his name from the ballot because he does not want to be a \u201cspoiler,\u201d he said. He will remain on the ballot in states that he considers \u201cred\u201d or \u201cblue,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you live in a blue state, you can vote for me without harming or helping President Trump or or Vice President Harris,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cIn red states, the same will apply.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Interestingly:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>But the relationship between Kennedy and Trump started warming earlier this year, and the two spoke last month after the assassination attempt against Trump and met in person the following day.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Would be a little too much \u201cAll things work together for good\u201d if Thomas Crooks brought Trump and Kennedy together\u2026 And Kennedy then fixed American\u2019s food supply (which needs fixing). Now, Kennedy seemed to believe that Trump made some sort of commitment to him on that topic \u2014 which also means that the extremely attractive framing of \u201csaving America\u2019s children\u201d fell into Trump\u2019s lap, of all people, who knew \u2014 but I am hazy on what the commitment was. No doubt it will come up in coverage (or at the rally in Glendale, AZ later today).<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>\u201cDNC unveils billboards dubbing Trump, Vance, RFK Jr. \u2018weird as hell\u2019\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/4844316-democratic-committee-trump-kennedy-billboards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. Well, that\u2019s clarifying. So much for \u201cPresident of all the people\u201d (which anybody over six-years-old knows was West Wing-style boilerplate). \u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s weird about wanting to save children from chronic disease. Kamala, why do you think that\u2019s weird?\u201d The wonderful thing about Kennedy throwing his support to Trump <em>to end childhood suffering<\/em> is that it could give Trump, for once in his life, the moral high ground. It will be interesting to see how Trump handles that, since having the moral high ground will be a very new experience for him.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Pre-speech snark (94.9K followers, looks like a Democrat operative from the timeline):<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In a special ceremony later today, RFK Jr. and Donald Trump will press their ears together for the symbolic passing of the brain worm.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TheRealThelmaJohnson (@TheRealThelmaJ1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheRealThelmaJ1\/status\/1826991925003735073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Thelma: If brain worms mean you don\u2019t commit genocide, I\u2019m all for them (\u201c\\s,\u201d in case any goon actually picks this up).<\/p>\n<p>Working to unify all Americans (401.1K followers, \u201cAuthor, Pastor, Activist, Storyteller\u201d):<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">RFK Jr endorsing Trump is like E. coli endorsing diarrhea.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/johnpavlovitz\/status\/1827059437967667610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Pastor, eh?<\/p>\n<p>Dude needs to get his knee seen to (768K Followers, \u201cPro-democracy conservatives Republicans fighting Trump & Trumpism\u201d):<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING<\/p>\n<p>RFK Jr says that one of the main reasons he\u2019s endorsing Trump is because of the former president’s anti-Ukraine views. <\/p>\n<p>A vote for Trump is a vote for Putin. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6RtEIKJ3s0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/6RtEIKJ3s0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RpsAgainstTrump\/status\/1827060805319471375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Shanahan <em>before<\/em> Kennedy\u2019s announcement:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8 JUST NOW: SHANAHAN SAYS THEY ARE “HESITANT” ABOUT JOINING FORCES WITH TRUMP <\/p>\n<p>“The hesitation we have right now in joining forces with Trump is that he has not apologized or publicly come out and said Operation Warp Speed was his fault.<\/p>\n<p>The vaccinations, the lockdowns letting\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FD9xU8rJ07\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/FD9xU8rJ07<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lauren Lee (@sheislaurenlee) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sheislaurenlee\/status\/1826998234281095356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Set up a truth and reconcilation commission. Not only do you get to punt, it might even be a good idea.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Now CBS, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/rfk-jr-ends-presidential-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RFK Jr. endorses Trump and suspends presidential campaign<\/a>.\u201d Key point:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>And he held out the distant possibility that if neither Trump nor Harris were able to win 270 electoral votes, tying 269 to 269, \u201cI could conceivably still end up in the White House in a contingent election.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Harris campaign emits strategist- and press-friendly boilerplate in reaction:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Jen O\u2019Malley Dillon, the chair of Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019 campaign, appealed to Kennedy\u2019s supporters in a statement after his announcement Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor any American out there who is tired of Donald Trump and looking for a new way forward, ours is a campaign for you,\u201d she said. \u201cIn order to deliver [what?] for working people and those who feel [are] left behind, we need a leader [sigh] who will you, not just for themselves, and bring us together, not tear us apart. Vice President Harris wants to earn your support.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Gonna have to pry \u201cfight for\u201d from their cold dead hands. Anyhow, if you want Kennedy\u2019s voters, steal his issues, the way you stole Trump not taxing tips (not a good idea, but Kamala went ahead and stole it).<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Polling:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump, Harris campaigns weigh in on RFK Jr. suspending bid\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/4844807-trump-harris-campaigns-respond-rfk-jr-suspending-bid-endorsement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The Trump campaign released a memo from its pollster, Tony Fabrizio, positing that Trump would gain the majority of Kennedy\u2019s supporters in a head-to-head race against Harris. <\/p>\n<p>The memo cited campaign polling that found Trump drawing more than half of Kennedy\u2019s supporters in Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin, and a plurality of his supporters in Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, when you hear or see the Harris team and\/or the Democrats try and spin otherwise, now that the data clearly paints a different picture,\u201d Fabrizio wrote in the memo. \u201cThis is good news for President Trump and his campaign \u2013 plain and simple.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Well, the Trump campaign <em>would<\/em> do that; I will wait for the Old Guys to express their views, or for next week\u2019s polling. If Kamala gets a low-to-no convention bounce, Kennedy\u2019s well-timed announcement would be the reason.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRove: RFK Jr. endorsing Trump could have impact in Georgia, Arizona\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/4842104-karl-rove-robert-f-kennedy-jr-donald-trump-endorsement-georgia-arizona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u201cRepublican strategist Karl Rove suggested Wednesday that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsing former President Trump could help the GOP nominee in Georgia and Arizona, two key swing states in November. \u2018My gut tells me it probably helps Donald Trump, because the people who were for him because he was a Kennedy, I think they began leaving after Joe Biden pulled out on the 21st, so a small amount of help,\u2019 Rove told Fox News in an interview. \u2018But as you know, in a race like this, think about it. Did he have 10,000 followers in Georgia? Did he have 11,000 followers in Arizona? And then how did they split? It\u2019s probably not this positive, but it could have an impact,\u2019 he added.\u201d \u2022 If the campaigns are fighting over 100,000 voters (a purely notional figure) then 10,000 would have a material impact.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRFK Jr. endorses Trump as he suspends presidential campaign\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/live-news\/dnc-harris-trump-campaign-news-08-23-24\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. \u201cThere is a presumption among Trump\u2019s team and his allies that , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/politics\/2024\/07\/11\/the-presidential-choice-biden-trump-kennedy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">according to a recent Pew Research Center survey<\/a>, though other polls haven\u2019t shown a meaningful difference.\u201d But\u2013<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRFK Jr.\u2019s supporters could still alter a tight presidential race. Trump is banking on it\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/23\/politics\/robert-kennedy-president-trump\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. \u201cAt the Republican National Convention last month, Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita told a room full of reporters that their internal polling predicted Kennedy siphoned slightly more votes from Democrats in Michigan and Wisconsin but \u2018much more from us\u2019 in , whose 19 Electoral College votes are one of this year\u2019s top prizes and could determine the election. Asked why, LaCivita responded, \u2018I don\u2019t know. I haven\u2019t figured it out yet.’\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Kennedy would be in what role?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump Jr. says it would be good to have RFK Jr. at an agency to \u2018blow it up\u2019\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/4839852-trump-jr-robert-kennedy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>] From August 21 (but <em>after<\/em> Trump and Kennedy had opened discussions, note well). \u201cDonald Trump Jr., former President Trump\u2019s son, told conservative radio host Glenn Beck that he\u2019s in favor of having independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. take a position in a new Trump administration so he can take a government agency and \u2018blow it up.\u2019 \u2018I loved the idea, love the idea of giving him some sort of role in some sort of major three-letter entity or whatever it may be and let him blow it up,\u2019 Trump said Wednesday on \u2018The Glenn Beck Program.’\u201d \u2022 I can think of several TLAs that need blowing up badly \u2014 and have yet to see reporting on Trump\u2019s actual offer to Kennedy. I mean, there <em>was<\/em> a deal, right?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNew in SpyWeek: RFK Jr. as Trump\u2019s CIA Chief?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spytalk.co\/p\/spyweek-rfk-jr-as-trumps-cia-chief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">SpyTalk<\/a>]. \u201cFormer Gen. Michael Flynn, who briefly served as Trump\u2019s national security advisor and became a much-beloved figure in the QAnon conspiracy community, also said he liked the idea. \u2018Make him CIA director, and we can finally learn exactly who killed his uncle, his dad, MLK Jr., Malcolm X, etc.,\u2019 Flynn wrote in a post on X. No word on this from RFK Jr.\u2019s campaign manager (and daughter-in-law), Amaryllis Fox, who did work at the CIA and published a disputed memoir of her time there. Lately, she\u2019s been busy posting the history of CIA covert action on X.\u201d \u2022 I think not, unless Kennedy hires a personal food taster and is very careful about the ventilation in his office. (This also doesn\u2019t jibe with Kennedy\u2019s health\/food\/children agenda.)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElection Live Updates: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Suspends Campaign and Endorses Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2024\/08\/23\/us\/harris-dnc-trump-election\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. One hour ago: \u201cTrump, taking questions from reporters at a restaurant in Las Vegas, . He called Kennedy \u2018beloved.’\u201d Interesting, assuming the Times is reporting accurately. But two hours ago: \u2018\u201dWith President Trump\u2019s backing,\u2019 Kennedy said, \u2018I\u2019m going to staff these agencies with honest scientists.\u2019 He is implying that Trump would have him in such a role if Trump wins the White House. \u2018We\u2019re going to reform the entire food system,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 \u201cStaff\u201d in what role? This seems like an awfully important detail to leave so fuzzy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRFK Jr. says he is suspending presidential campaign to help Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/08\/23\/trump-robert-f-kennedy-jr-endorsement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u201cTrump, who Kennedy said Friday has asked him to in his administration, is hosting a rally later in Arizona. He has teased that there will be a \u2018special guest\u2019 at the rally.\u201d \u2022 \u201cEnlist\u201d? What does that mean? Will the campaigns be integrated? Offices within the Executive Branch are within Trump\u2019s gift. So which office? What is the <em>deal<\/em>?<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Our democracy:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocratic dynasty heir RFK endorses Republican Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/08\/23\/us-news\/rfk-jr-drops-out-of-2024-race-for-white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Post<\/a>].\u201d\u2018When a predictably bungled debate performance precipitated the palace coup against President Biden, the same shadowy DNC operatives appointed his successor, also without an election, they installed a candidate who was so unpopular with voters that she dropped out in 2020 without winning a single delegate,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 And he was right.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>\u201cRFK Jr. endorses Trump ahead of announcement dropping out of presidential election\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/23\/rfk-jr-drops-out-of-2024-race-endorses-trump-for-president\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Federalist<\/a>]. \u201c\u201dI want to thank Bobby, that was very nice,\u2019 Trump said. \u2018That\u2019s big. He\u2019s a great guy, respected by everybody.’\u201d \u2022 Queens boy makes good!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Time for me to sign off. Some quick reactions\u2013<\/p>\n<p>1) I don\u2019t think Kennedy\u2019s \u201cenlistment\u201d will swing <em>many<\/em> of voters, but it wouldn\u2019t take many, were they located in the right swing states (\u201cthe future is not here, and it is not evenly distributed.\u201d That\u2019s why elections are so fascinating).<\/p>\n<p>2) I do think that Kennedy\u2019s wish to solve America\u2019s child health crisis by fixing food has many advantages. First, it makes all of Kamala\u2019s proposals look like smallball: focus-grouped, tired, and weak (as they indeed are). Second, for once in his life, Trump would have the moral ascendancy (\u201cthe <em>chil<\/em>dren!\u201d). Useful in debate! Third, the proposal needs to be fleshed out and made concrete but with a small-ish attack surface (but no woo woo, although if Big Ag fights it, so much the better). Finally, if Trump really puts his weight behind this big policy idea, it changes the complexion of the race completely, not least because it could give his messaging the focus it has hitherto lacked.<\/p>\n<p>3) For Trump\u2019s sake, I sure hope the campaign staff was on-board with this from the beginning, and that this didn\u2019t come as a shock to them. That they had polling figures to hand argues that they were not surprised.<\/p>\n<p>4) The issue of Kennedy\u2019s position in the executive branch is fuzzy and it should be fixed. I suppose if Kennedy says \u201cDonald and I have a deal, and I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll stick to it\u201d that might be enough. But maybe not. Depends on what Kennedy is in Trump\u2019s mind: Casino to be raped and pillage, or fine old building to be quietly upgraded and maintained\u2026 <\/p>\n<p>5) Perhaps I\u2019m not being cynical enough \u2014 happens all the time, sigh \u2014 but to me Kennedy\u2019s sincerity was evident (although, like courage, the virtue of sincerity is only virtuous depending on the use to which it is put). That is a major asset for the Trump campaign, Trump not being known for his sincerity.<\/p>\n<p>Have I mentioned that this year was going to be volatile?<\/p>\n<div class=\"printfriendly pf-alignleft\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow:none; padding:0; margin:0\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/08\/kennedy-suspends-campaign-endorses-trump.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Have I mentioned that expected this year to be volatile? Here is Kennedy\u2019s speech, live, which is on-going as of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":83663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,183],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-spotlight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83662\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Have I mentioned that expected this year to be volatile? Here is Kennedy\u2019s speech, live, which is on-going as of this writing [now finished].<\/p>\n
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I <em>was<\/em> going to put on my yellow waders and look at Kamala\u2019s DNC speech \u2014 I had Sarah Palin\u2019s 2008 acceptance speech all lined up for a genre comparison \u2014 but obviously this is more important.<\/p>\n<p>Please consider this a live post as I can put more material together, and talk amongst yourselves.<\/p>\n<p>P.S. Wowers, is Kennedy\u2019s description of the horror that is the modern Democrat party. FAFO, and FO they did, with their ballot manipulation shenanigans.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>I was reluctant to launch this post, because I did not hear \u2014 and there is no Closed Captioning on YouTube, hence no transcript \u2014 sentences as simple as this: \u201cI am suspending my campaign. In Blue or Red States, vote for me. In swing states, I will take myself off the ballot\u201d and \u201cI hereby endorse Donald Trump for President.\u201d The last part I did not hear. However, I just heard:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cJoining the Trump campaign will be a difficult sacrifice for my wife and our chldren.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>So here we are!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Here is the Kennedy clan\u2019s reaction:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I am sharing a personal statement that my family and I have made in response to my brother\u2019s announcement. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/j7vTTabNYZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/j7vTTabNYZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KerryKennedyRFK\/status\/1827061350452887816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I disagree. Kennedy explained quite clearly in the beginning of his speech that today\u2019s Democrat Party is not the Democrat Party of JFK or RFK. Alert reader Martin Oline <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/08\/200pm-water-cooler-8-23-2024.html#comment-4091444\">summarized that portion of his speech<\/a>, right at tbe beginning, as follows:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>He says that Kamala Harris dropped out of the 2020 primary without a single vote and yet has been selected by the party to be the chosen candidate for 2024. By doing so they have abandoned democracy and embraced lawfare and manipulated the primary process, using the media to censor his campaign. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Kennedy also went into considerable detail about his difficulties getting on the ballot, and how the Democrats tried to prevent this at every turn (while praising his volunteers, who did indeed do an extra-ordinary job.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>BBC was first out of the box on my RSS feed, so here they are: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cwy5ekxlwzgo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RFK Jr suspends campaign to \u2018throw support\u2019 behind Trump<\/a>\u201c. A key point:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Before working to elect Trump, Mr Kennedy said he asked to have similar conversations with Ms Harris.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Harris campaign reaction being \u201clol, no.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Then FOX, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/robert-f-kennedy-jr-endorse-trump-president-court-filing-shows\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. suspends campaign, backs Trump for president<\/a>\u201c:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Kennedy said in Phoenix that the Democratic Party of \u201cwaged continual legal warfare [I heard this as \u201clawfare\u201d] against both President Trump and myself,\u201d and \u201cran a sham primary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn an honest system, I believe I would have won the election,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy\u2019s campaign is asking swing states to remove his name from the ballot because he does not want to be a \u201cspoiler,\u201d he said. He will remain on the ballot in states that he considers \u201cred\u201d or \u201cblue,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you live in a blue state, you can vote for me without harming or helping President Trump or or Vice President Harris,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cIn red states, the same will apply.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Interestingly:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>But the relationship between Kennedy and Trump started warming earlier this year, and the two spoke last month after the assassination attempt against Trump and met in person the following day.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Would be a little too much \u201cAll things work together for good\u201d if Thomas Crooks brought Trump and Kennedy together\u2026 And Kennedy then fixed American\u2019s food supply (which needs fixing). Now, Kennedy seemed to believe that Trump made some sort of commitment to him on that topic \u2014 which also means that the extremely attractive framing of \u201csaving America\u2019s children\u201d fell into Trump\u2019s lap, of all people, who knew \u2014 but I am hazy on what the commitment was. No doubt it will come up in coverage (or at the rally in Glendale, AZ later today).<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>\u201cDNC unveils billboards dubbing Trump, Vance, RFK Jr. \u2018weird as hell\u2019\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/4844316-democratic-committee-trump-kennedy-billboards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. Well, that\u2019s clarifying. So much for \u201cPresident of all the people\u201d (which anybody over six-years-old knows was West Wing-style boilerplate). \u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s weird about wanting to save children from chronic disease. Kamala, why do you think that\u2019s weird?\u201d The wonderful thing about Kennedy throwing his support to Trump <em>to end childhood suffering<\/em> is that it could give Trump, for once in his life, the moral high ground. It will be interesting to see how Trump handles that, since having the moral high ground will be a very new experience for him.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Pre-speech snark (94.9K followers, looks like a Democrat operative from the timeline):<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In a special ceremony later today, RFK Jr. and Donald Trump will press their ears together for the symbolic passing of the brain worm.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TheRealThelmaJohnson (@TheRealThelmaJ1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheRealThelmaJ1\/status\/1826991925003735073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Thelma: If brain worms mean you don\u2019t commit genocide, I\u2019m all for them (\u201c\\s,\u201d in case any goon actually picks this up).<\/p>\n<p>Working to unify all Americans (401.1K followers, \u201cAuthor, Pastor, Activist, Storyteller\u201d):<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">RFK Jr endorsing Trump is like E. coli endorsing diarrhea.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/johnpavlovitz\/status\/1827059437967667610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Pastor, eh?<\/p>\n<p>Dude needs to get his knee seen to (768K Followers, \u201cPro-democracy conservatives Republicans fighting Trump & Trumpism\u201d):<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING<\/p>\n<p>RFK Jr says that one of the main reasons he\u2019s endorsing Trump is because of the former president’s anti-Ukraine views. <\/p>\n<p>A vote for Trump is a vote for Putin. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6RtEIKJ3s0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/6RtEIKJ3s0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RpsAgainstTrump\/status\/1827060805319471375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><br \/>\n<center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Shanahan <em>before<\/em> Kennedy\u2019s announcement:<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8 JUST NOW: SHANAHAN SAYS THEY ARE “HESITANT” ABOUT JOINING FORCES WITH TRUMP <\/p>\n<p>“The hesitation we have right now in joining forces with Trump is that he has not apologized or publicly come out and said Operation Warp Speed was his fault.<\/p>\n<p>The vaccinations, the lockdowns letting\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FD9xU8rJ07\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/FD9xU8rJ07<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lauren Lee (@sheislaurenlee) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sheislaurenlee\/status\/1826998234281095356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Set up a truth and reconcilation commission. Not only do you get to punt, it might even be a good idea.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Now CBS, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/rfk-jr-ends-presidential-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RFK Jr. endorses Trump and suspends presidential campaign<\/a>.\u201d Key point:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>And he held out the distant possibility that if neither Trump nor Harris were able to win 270 electoral votes, tying 269 to 269, \u201cI could conceivably still end up in the White House in a contingent election.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Harris campaign emits strategist- and press-friendly boilerplate in reaction:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Jen O\u2019Malley Dillon, the chair of Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019 campaign, appealed to Kennedy\u2019s supporters in a statement after his announcement Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor any American out there who is tired of Donald Trump and looking for a new way forward, ours is a campaign for you,\u201d she said. \u201cIn order to deliver [what?] for working people and those who feel [are] left behind, we need a leader [sigh] who will you, not just for themselves, and bring us together, not tear us apart. Vice President Harris wants to earn your support.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Gonna have to pry \u201cfight for\u201d from their cold dead hands. Anyhow, if you want Kennedy\u2019s voters, steal his issues, the way you stole Trump not taxing tips (not a good idea, but Kamala went ahead and stole it).<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Polling:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump, Harris campaigns weigh in on RFK Jr. suspending bid\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/4844807-trump-harris-campaigns-respond-rfk-jr-suspending-bid-endorsement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The Trump campaign released a memo from its pollster, Tony Fabrizio, positing that Trump would gain the majority of Kennedy\u2019s supporters in a head-to-head race against Harris. <\/p>\n<p>The memo cited campaign polling that found Trump drawing more than half of Kennedy\u2019s supporters in Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin, and a plurality of his supporters in Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, when you hear or see the Harris team and\/or the Democrats try and spin otherwise, now that the data clearly paints a different picture,\u201d Fabrizio wrote in the memo. \u201cThis is good news for President Trump and his campaign \u2013 plain and simple.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Well, the Trump campaign <em>would<\/em> do that; I will wait for the Old Guys to express their views, or for next week\u2019s polling. If Kamala gets a low-to-no convention bounce, Kennedy\u2019s well-timed announcement would be the reason.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRove: RFK Jr. endorsing Trump could have impact in Georgia, Arizona\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/4842104-karl-rove-robert-f-kennedy-jr-donald-trump-endorsement-georgia-arizona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>]. \u201cRepublican strategist Karl Rove suggested Wednesday that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsing former President Trump could help the GOP nominee in Georgia and Arizona, two key swing states in November. \u2018My gut tells me it probably helps Donald Trump, because the people who were for him because he was a Kennedy, I think they began leaving after Joe Biden pulled out on the 21st, so a small amount of help,\u2019 Rove told Fox News in an interview. \u2018But as you know, in a race like this, think about it. Did he have 10,000 followers in Georgia? Did he have 11,000 followers in Arizona? And then how did they split? It\u2019s probably not this positive, but it could have an impact,\u2019 he added.\u201d \u2022 If the campaigns are fighting over 100,000 voters (a purely notional figure) then 10,000 would have a material impact.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRFK Jr. endorses Trump as he suspends presidential campaign\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/live-news\/dnc-harris-trump-campaign-news-08-23-24\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. \u201cThere is a presumption among Trump\u2019s team and his allies that , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/politics\/2024\/07\/11\/the-presidential-choice-biden-trump-kennedy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">according to a recent Pew Research Center survey<\/a>, though other polls haven\u2019t shown a meaningful difference.\u201d But\u2013<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRFK Jr.\u2019s supporters could still alter a tight presidential race. Trump is banking on it\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/23\/politics\/robert-kennedy-president-trump\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN<\/a>]. \u201cAt the Republican National Convention last month, Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita told a room full of reporters that their internal polling predicted Kennedy siphoned slightly more votes from Democrats in Michigan and Wisconsin but \u2018much more from us\u2019 in , whose 19 Electoral College votes are one of this year\u2019s top prizes and could determine the election. Asked why, LaCivita responded, \u2018I don\u2019t know. I haven\u2019t figured it out yet.’\u201d \u2022 Hmm.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Kennedy would be in what role?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrump Jr. says it would be good to have RFK Jr. at an agency to \u2018blow it up\u2019\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/campaign\/4839852-trump-jr-robert-kennedy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hill<\/a>] From August 21 (but <em>after<\/em> Trump and Kennedy had opened discussions, note well). \u201cDonald Trump Jr., former President Trump\u2019s son, told conservative radio host Glenn Beck that he\u2019s in favor of having independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. take a position in a new Trump administration so he can take a government agency and \u2018blow it up.\u2019 \u2018I loved the idea, love the idea of giving him some sort of role in some sort of major three-letter entity or whatever it may be and let him blow it up,\u2019 Trump said Wednesday on \u2018The Glenn Beck Program.’\u201d \u2022 I can think of several TLAs that need blowing up badly \u2014 and have yet to see reporting on Trump\u2019s actual offer to Kennedy. I mean, there <em>was<\/em> a deal, right?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNew in SpyWeek: RFK Jr. as Trump\u2019s CIA Chief?\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spytalk.co\/p\/spyweek-rfk-jr-as-trumps-cia-chief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">SpyTalk<\/a>]. \u201cFormer Gen. Michael Flynn, who briefly served as Trump\u2019s national security advisor and became a much-beloved figure in the QAnon conspiracy community, also said he liked the idea. \u2018Make him CIA director, and we can finally learn exactly who killed his uncle, his dad, MLK Jr., Malcolm X, etc.,\u2019 Flynn wrote in a post on X. No word on this from RFK Jr.\u2019s campaign manager (and daughter-in-law), Amaryllis Fox, who did work at the CIA and published a disputed memoir of her time there. Lately, she\u2019s been busy posting the history of CIA covert action on X.\u201d \u2022 I think not, unless Kennedy hires a personal food taster and is very careful about the ventilation in his office. (This also doesn\u2019t jibe with Kennedy\u2019s health\/food\/children agenda.)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElection Live Updates: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Suspends Campaign and Endorses Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2024\/08\/23\/us\/harris-dnc-trump-election\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Times<\/a>]. One hour ago: \u201cTrump, taking questions from reporters at a restaurant in Las Vegas, . He called Kennedy \u2018beloved.’\u201d Interesting, assuming the Times is reporting accurately. But two hours ago: \u2018\u201dWith President Trump\u2019s backing,\u2019 Kennedy said, \u2018I\u2019m going to staff these agencies with honest scientists.\u2019 He is implying that Trump would have him in such a role if Trump wins the White House. \u2018We\u2019re going to reform the entire food system,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 \u201cStaff\u201d in what role? This seems like an awfully important detail to leave so fuzzy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRFK Jr. says he is suspending presidential campaign to help Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/08\/23\/trump-robert-f-kennedy-jr-endorsement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Axios<\/a>]. \u201cTrump, who Kennedy said Friday has asked him to in his administration, is hosting a rally later in Arizona. He has teased that there will be a \u2018special guest\u2019 at the rally.\u201d \u2022 \u201cEnlist\u201d? What does that mean? Will the campaigns be integrated? Offices within the Executive Branch are within Trump\u2019s gift. So which office? What is the <em>deal<\/em>?<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Our democracy:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemocratic dynasty heir RFK endorses Republican Trump\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/08\/23\/us-news\/rfk-jr-drops-out-of-2024-race-for-white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Post<\/a>].\u201d\u2018When a predictably bungled debate performance precipitated the palace coup against President Biden, the same shadowy DNC operatives appointed his successor, also without an election, they installed a candidate who was so unpopular with voters that she dropped out in 2020 without winning a single delegate,\u2019 he said.\u201d \u2022 And he was right.<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>\u201cRFK Jr. endorses Trump ahead of announcement dropping out of presidential election\u201d [<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/23\/rfk-jr-drops-out-of-2024-race-endorses-trump-for-president\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Federalist<\/a>]. \u201c\u201dI want to thank Bobby, that was very nice,\u2019 Trump said. \u2018That\u2019s big. He\u2019s a great guy, respected by everybody.’\u201d \u2022 Queens boy makes good!<\/p>\n<p><center>* * *<\/center><\/p>\n<p>Time for me to sign off. Some quick reactions\u2013<\/p>\n<p>1) I don\u2019t think Kennedy\u2019s \u201cenlistment\u201d will swing <em>many<\/em> of voters, but it wouldn\u2019t take many, were they located in the right swing states (\u201cthe future is not here, and it is not evenly distributed.\u201d That\u2019s why elections are so fascinating).<\/p>\n<p>2) I do think that Kennedy\u2019s wish to solve America\u2019s child health crisis by fixing food has many advantages. First, it makes all of Kamala\u2019s proposals look like smallball: focus-grouped, tired, and weak (as they indeed are). Second, for once in his life, Trump would have the moral ascendancy (\u201cthe <em>chil<\/em>dren!\u201d). Useful in debate! Third, the proposal needs to be fleshed out and made concrete but with a small-ish attack surface (but no woo woo, although if Big Ag fights it, so much the better). Finally, if Trump really puts his weight behind this big policy idea, it changes the complexion of the race completely, not least because it could give his messaging the focus it has hitherto lacked.<\/p>\n<p>3) For Trump\u2019s sake, I sure hope the campaign staff was on-board with this from the beginning, and that this didn\u2019t come as a shock to them. That they had polling figures to hand argues that they were not surprised.<\/p>\n<p>4) The issue of Kennedy\u2019s position in the executive branch is fuzzy and it should be fixed. I suppose if Kennedy says \u201cDonald and I have a deal, and I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll stick to it\u201d that might be enough. But maybe not. Depends on what Kennedy is in Trump\u2019s mind: Casino to be raped and pillage, or fine old building to be quietly upgraded and maintained\u2026 <\/p>\n<p>5) Perhaps I\u2019m not being cynical enough \u2014 happens all the time, sigh \u2014 but to me Kennedy\u2019s sincerity was evident (although, like courage, the virtue of sincerity is only virtuous depending on the use to which it is put). That is a major asset for the Trump campaign, Trump not being known for his sincerity.<\/p>\n<p>Have I mentioned that this year was going to be volatile?<\/p>\n<div class=\"printfriendly pf-alignleft\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow:none; padding:0; margin:0\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/2024\/08\/kennedy-suspends-campaign-endorses-trump.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Have I mentioned that expected this year to be volatile? Here is Kennedy\u2019s speech, live, which is on-going as of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":83663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,183],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-spotlight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83662\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}