BTRTN: On Johnson's Political "Courage", Trump's Pouty Contempt and Biden's Polling Comeback
Born To Run The Numbers questions whether "courage" is really the right word to describe Mike Johnson's embrace of bipartisanship, examines why the Alvin Bragg case may be far more consequential than anyone expected, and how Gaza, the economy, and immigration are impacting the campaign... it is all part of the "Month in Review" for April, 2024:
http://www.borntorunthenumbers.com/2024/05/btrtn-on-johnsons-political-courage.html
Excerpts: "Much has been made of the legislative triumph of the month, the passage of a $95 billion package which in four separate bills provided badly needed and long overdue aid to Ukraine, plus support for Israel and Taiwan, and an anti-TikTok sop to the hard right. There has been strong bipartisan praise for Speaker Mike Johnson for steering the package through the House; much homage has been paid for his political “courage” i... “Courage” is a strong word and, in this case, misplaced. One definition of “courage” is to take, quite consciously, a course of action that benefits the greater good but also results in personal detriment or harm. This does not describe Johnson -- he simply behaved rationally, as politicians are wont to do, given the set of circumstances he faced...
"The Trump “hush money” trial began in New York City, and quickly became a riveting spectacle. Long decried as the weakest of the criminal cases against Trump, it now is viewed in a different light. First, it is the only Trump criminal trial likely to be completed – or perhaps even started – before the election. Second, it is the most lurid of the trials, featuring affairs with porn stars and playmates, hidden hush money payoffs, and sleazy tabloid deals. That makes it, in our sorry society, the most salacious and thus intriguing trial of them all, the one most accessible to the masses...
"The evidence also points to a tightening race in the swing states, where it matters. Biden is just about even with Trump in the Big Three industrial states, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, while lagging in the two western and two southern states (though they are hardly out of reach). Barring any change in Nebraska’s delegate allocation process (which awards delegates at both the statewide and district level), Biden only needs to win the Big Three to win the presidency, albeit by a 270-268 margin."
