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American election 2024, Biden campaign, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, news, Politics, The Lone Gunman, Trump, Trump campaign
It’s the election “they” say no one wants, the media insist every-day no one is wanting a rerun of Biden and Trump, no one wants 2020 again, but yet the people still vote for them – Trump and Biden in each of the Primaries, one after the next after the next, impervious to the entreaties of their betters, and the anger and frustration of the political elites is palpable. They tried to block Trump standing because they claimed, he was an insurrectionist (despite never having being charged with insurrection far less being convicted) so Trump has appealed to the Supreme Court who have rightly stated that States can decide on those who stand in the state, but should keep their noses out of federal matters, not least perhaps for fear of tit for tat attacks. They also tried to sue him into obedience, but still he persists. Biden in turn, is more and more obviously decrepit but remains deaf to entreaties to stand down for someone – anyone else to have a go. He stumbles about looking vaguer and vaguer, but the opium of power is too strong a hold to relinquish, he didn’t struggle for fifty years to give this up now.
Given the feelings of panic in the political elites – (for panic is what it looks like) – for the peasants to vote for one of the correct choices, what might we see next?
Might it be apposite to question if that dark shade of America’s showman politics “The Lone Gunman” might be about to appear from out of the wings, to strut and stride his moment once again onto the centre of the stage? Is America’s political bogyman due a return?
America is a violent society, and always has been, America’s politics have also always been violent. America has a long history of addressing politics with violence. These are febrile times and for some the stakes may be becoming high enough.
Copyright The Oligarch Kings 2024
The Oligarch Kings 
David, some of us may have thought this. However, it is another and far more dangerous thing to come out and say this. Read in a certain light, your comments could be taken as incitement to assassination.
Assassination of either party in the present ‘febrile state’ in the land of 433.9 million guns would almost certainly tip things over into civil war.
Might be better to take this post down before some idiot takes up your suggestion?
Neil
Thank you Neil and I appreciate the comment in the spirit it is given. I hardly though imagine that I have such influence as to encourage anyone, from either side, to effect the actions that you suggest.
Sadly they have no need.
The history of America, even in our lifetimes, has been one where assassination and attempted assassination has been rife. Every single President in recent years Obama, Bush, Regan have had attempts on their lives. MLK, Malcolm X, Harvey Milk et al are simply the most obvious though a great long list of lower rating politicians (Though Senators and House of Representative members, Judges and Mayors are hardly minor players). As a long time and much appreciated reader over the years you will remember I covered the peculiar deaths of members of the establishment in Kings passim. Can I suggest rereading “A pillow over his head” from 2016 might be interesting?
I had considered a nice wee list of those who had died in politically motivated assassinations and those who had survived simply from the mid fifties when we arrived would pad the article. Until I drew it up (and it was only those killed, not others like George Wallace simply crippled). The list was huge. I thought it too long for the post…..but if you think it might alert people to the milieu American politics works in it might be worth “a long read” type piece.
That there are risks in this political cycle are clear and obvious. That we are drifting to a possibly violent time is palpable. I believe by recognising this and being watchful of all parties, might make the process cleaner and less violent. Your suggestion of not discussing, nor drawing peoples attention to the risks inherent in American Political life in the belief that somehow it will just go away, I do not feel is helpful.
So with much respect- my piece stands.
Kind regards
David
purely an historical viewpoint