Target Fixatiion

(Target Fixation)

It can be a common occurrence when one gets focused on something so intently that the outside world ceases to exist. Before the advent of social media, or for that matter, cable, people would occupy themselves what used to be called soap operas. Bold & the Beautiful, General Hospital, and The Young & the Restless, still air, Days of Our Lives went to Peacock. In any event, fans of these daytime dramas could get so "fixated" with this or that relationship or who killed whom to the point that no one heats the phone ring.


The Republican candidates convening in Milwaukee in a few days can be seen as rabid fans of one of these old soap operas, but whom will they be focusing their attention, former President Donald Trump or current President Joe Biden ? If the discussions get geared to the former, the first Republican Debate will devolve into a circular firing squad that would do nothing to convince voters to vote GOP this time.


From the beginning, the Republican Party has never known how to handle Trump. Republicans lost the House in 2018 because so many Republican members retired, thinking the then President Trump would be a catastrophe. Many Democrats filled those open seats and proceeded to impeach Trump, twice. Like those who left Congress in 2018, the running assumption among GOP "elites" now is that as Trump really has no chance next year, best to discard him now. There will be those in that first debate that will try to make that point, Governors Christie and DeSantis chief among them.


What about President Biden ? People who would want to replace him will be making a debut of sorts on that stage, collectively what they would do to reverse Biden's disastrous policies. They will need to sketch out specific policy positions on taxes, the broader economy, energy, foreign policy including Russia and Ukraine, how to manage China and so on. Whatever viewers tune in to Fox News on the 23rd, they will need solutions discussed and less a rant against Biden, or even more against Trump.


President Biden could be facing impeachment inquiries and former President Trump is under four indictments. Those Republican need to not only be anti-Biden but how will it come off to be anti-Trump as well ? If there is to be target fixation next Wednesday, best it be directed against the President. As for Trump, as he navigates the next year, it will be seen if the government's efforts against him cause damage, or re-elect him President of the United States.

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