In a way, these polls *do* reflect something normal: Political gravity hasn't disappeared. We have to be cautious, though, for the reasons you suggest. The electoral college gives Trump a starting advantage, and Republicans will wage an all-out disinformation campaign to win.
We should take some heart from these numbers, but we should also take nothing for granted. It will get ugly, no matter who the nominee is.
The polls numbers are, in a sense, the most normal thing about politics right now. It's everything else that has gone -- and will go -- batshit crazy.
I do agree that we are living in abnormal times and that this means we have to look at every marker with at least a slightly different eye than ever before. (But thanks anyway for making my day with the good news from the Q poll.) One thing I'm expecting is that Trump will continue to do outrageous things, but that a "vindicated" Trump won't feel quite the need to cover up. He'll be even more flagrant. For example, am I the only one who's totally outraged at the firing of the Lt Col Yevgeny Vindman? For being the twin brother of someone who testified to the truth? ("I don't want to see your face around here any more, so you're fired and your twin brother too!!") He's now saying the military should investigate them, and he's using the "Justice" Department to lean on others who want to act in good conscience (e.g., prosecutors of Roger Stone). His deeply felt need for vengeance is already fueling more egregious behavior that will be on public display because he "can do no wrong." Surely, this will be his downfall. Still, I agree that we should take absolutely nothing for granted.
In a way, these polls *do* reflect something normal: Political gravity hasn't disappeared. We have to be cautious, though, for the reasons you suggest. The electoral college gives Trump a starting advantage, and Republicans will wage an all-out disinformation campaign to win.
We should take some heart from these numbers, but we should also take nothing for granted. It will get ugly, no matter who the nominee is.
The polls numbers are, in a sense, the most normal thing about politics right now. It's everything else that has gone -- and will go -- batshit crazy.
I do agree that we are living in abnormal times and that this means we have to look at every marker with at least a slightly different eye than ever before. (But thanks anyway for making my day with the good news from the Q poll.) One thing I'm expecting is that Trump will continue to do outrageous things, but that a "vindicated" Trump won't feel quite the need to cover up. He'll be even more flagrant. For example, am I the only one who's totally outraged at the firing of the Lt Col Yevgeny Vindman? For being the twin brother of someone who testified to the truth? ("I don't want to see your face around here any more, so you're fired and your twin brother too!!") He's now saying the military should investigate them, and he's using the "Justice" Department to lean on others who want to act in good conscience (e.g., prosecutors of Roger Stone). His deeply felt need for vengeance is already fueling more egregious behavior that will be on public display because he "can do no wrong." Surely, this will be his downfall. Still, I agree that we should take absolutely nothing for granted.