Let's get ready to MAGA rally: As Trump's approval rating sinks, his need for cheerleading grows

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Trump clearly believes his main job is to hold court with his faithful followers — even if it ends up killing them

Heather Digby Parton
June 10, 2020

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He's right to be nervous. Things are not going well. This week showed some very substantial erosion in his polling numbers. According to Nate Silver at 538, his approval rating is sinking among registered or likely voters — 54.9% disapprove of his performance now, compared to 50.3% on April 1. And the head to head match-up with Biden now has him at least ten points behind, as Nate Cohn reports for the New York Times:



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The problem, of course, is that Trump's numbers aren't a result of bad "messaging" or collusion by pollsters. The problem is that the trifecta of the pandemic, economic collapse and national social upheaval are challenges he is completely unable to meet. It is simply beyond his ability and skill to handle a real crisis, and his character and personality will not allow him to delegate or even accept advice from people who do know what to do. For the first time in his presidency, Trump is facing problems that aren't purely political problems of his own making. These crises require him to actually be the president, not just play one on TV.

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Streets overflowing with protesters have given Trump the excuse he has been looking for to restart his campaign rallies. It was announced on Tuesday that they may begin again as early as next week. Some people suggested they could be held outdoors and that masks could be handed out to the attendees, but Trump has made it clear that he wants "real rallies," and we all know that he doesn't like the look of masks, and neither do his followers. So, I would expect that unlike the protests, where exposure may be mitigated by the fact they are outdoors and most are wearing masks (as well as the relative youth of the participants), Trump's new rallies with his older fans, yelling and screaming in close quarters, may be a lot riskier for the spread of coronavirus.

He does not care. After Trump had a temper tantrum over the North Carolina government's insistence that they simply could not guarantee that the RNC Convention scheduled for August would not require social distancing, the RNC has decided that while the business of the convention would still be in Charlotte, Trump will "accept the party's nomination during a celebration in another city." He simply has to have his big night with all his worshipful supporters — even if it kills them.

https://www.salon.com/2020/06/10/lets-get-ready-to-maga-rally-as-trumps-approval-rating-sinks-his-need-for-cheerleading-grows/

[Thomas Hurt]

1. Donnie will be jonesing for an ego boost.

[procon]

2. Expect him to pull out all the stops and act like

a crazy madman. He's been out of action for months and rearing to disembowel his enemies, and the list has grown long since he last stood on a stage.

Every appalling thought he's been harboring, every crackpot idea, all the baseless, absurd conspiracy theories and convoluted explanations and outrageous lies will tantalize the slobbering crowd. The only thing missing is the canned laugh track.

The press will publish every nonsensical, ridiculous and freaky thing he says, giving cable news fresh topics to distract our attention from what's really important. Well, the hiatus was nice while it lasted.

[kacekwl]

3. I'm more than ready. Drumph will do all the damage to himself

between his gruesome rallies and the race relations speech he's bound to sink the ship even further.