AI Nails Trump

So I asked my Windows AI feature this question:

What are the reviews of Trump’s recent speeches at campaign rallies”

Got quite a hefty response:

Answer

Recent discussions, as reflected in various news analyses and expert opinions up to October 6, 2024, have increasingly focused on former President Donald Trump’s speech patterns during his public appearances and rallies. Here’s a summary based on the latest insights:

  • Nature of Speeches: Trump’s speeches have been described as longer, more rambling, angrier, and less focused compared to his earlier public addresses. Observers and analysts have noted an increase in profanity, a fixation on the past, and moments of apparent confusion or tangential thoughts, where he shifts abruptly between unrelated topics.
  • Cognitive Concerns: Several experts in psychology, neurology, and linguistics have commented on these changes. There’s a suggestion that these could be indicative of cognitive decline, with observations including increased tangentiality*, simple sentence structures, and a significant focus on past events rather than future plans. However, these are speculative and based on public behavior rather than clinical diagnosis.
  • Public and Expert Reaction: Posts on X and various articles highlight a growing concern or at least a discussion about Trump’s age and mental acuity. Some former allies and supporters have expressed worries about his coherence and mental state, comparing his current speech patterns to earlier years.
  • Political Implications: The debate over Trump’s mental fitness has political ramifications, especially as he remains a central figure in American politics. Critics argue that his speech patterns might affect voter perception regarding his capability to hold office again, while supporters often interpret his style as a sign of his unfiltered, authentic communication, dismissing claims of decline as politically motivated attacks.
  • Age and Health Perception: Polls and public sentiment, as captured in various reports, show that a significant percentage of voters consider Trump’s age to be a concern, paralleling similar worries about other aging politicians. This concern has become more pronounced as Trump has aged, with some polls indicating a shift in perception after debates or public speaking events.
  • Contextual Considerations: It’s worth mentioning that Trump’s speaking style has always been unconventional, which might complicate assessments of his cognitive state based solely on his public speeches. Additionally, while some see his behavior as evidence of decline, others view it within the spectrum of his long-standing persona as a public figure known for breaking conventional political norms.

Given these points, the discussion around Trump’s rambling speeches intertwines with broader conversations about age, mental fitness, and political viability in high office, reflecting both genuine concern and strategic political discourse. However, without a formal medical evaluation, these observations remain in the realm of public and expert speculation.

*Tangentiality: A disturbance in the thought process that causes the individual to relate excessive or irrelevant detail that never reaches the essential point of a conversation or the desired answer to a question.

For a spot-on detailing of Trump’s cognitive decline, read and share this exceptional New York Times article:
Trump’s Speeches, Increasingly Angry and Rambling, Reignite the Question of Age. With the passage of time, the 78-year-old former president’s speeches have grown darker, harsher, longer, angrier, less focused, more profane and increasingly fixated on the past, according to a review of his public appearances over the years. — FREE LINK

It’s A Wash

Each side got what they needed to say their guy won and stay enthused, what matters most at this point. Undecideds probably still confused, might not even vote.

Instant Polls Debate Watchers.

Who won?

CNN:

51% Vance

49% Walz

———–

CBS:

42% Vance

41% Walz

17% Tie

This seems to be the leading clip so far:

WALZ: Did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?

VANCE: Tim, I’m focused on the future

WALZ: That’s a damning non-answer.

Video.. https://x.com/atrupar/status/1841306806347350107?t=jCXW_2AMdGePKzwH-Noz2Q&s=19

Stealing The Border

It’s not just that Kamala’s speech on immigration turns the campaign tables on Trump, robbing him of his best issue. It also made a lot of sense.

Like the economic speech on Wednesday her policy addresses are turning out to be an interesting blend of thematic and granular.

“He prefers to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem”

And let’s hear it for nuance.

“I reject the false choice that we must decide between securing our border and creating a system of immigration that is safe, orderly, and humane. We can and we must do both. As President, I will put politics aside to modernize our immigration system and find solutions to problems which have persisted for far too long” – Vice President Kamala Harris

It’s Industrial Policy, Stupid

Kamala Harris’s economic address yesterday in Pittsburgh settled a question among the experts: Will she continue President Biden’s affinity for industrial policy?

If anything, it sounded like she will double down on government efforts to shape the economy by targeting assistance to specific industries, companies, or economic activities. The Biden-Harris version of industrial policy has led to more manufacturing of products such as computer chips, batteries and green technology.

“I’m a capitalist,” Harris said. “I believe in free and fair markets. I believe that most companies are working hard to do the right thing, and we must work with them to grow our economy.”

The Wall Street Journal took her seriously (will they sit out an endorsement, snubbing Donald Trump again?): “Wednesday’s speech signaled that Harris, if elected, would embrace industrial policy in a bid to use the tools of government to boost key sectors of the American economy.”

Yesterday morning the Journal’s Editorial Board trashed Trump’s obsession with protectionist economics: “These days he’s making tariffs his highest priority, and that won’t help the economy if he wins.”

Industrial Policy is not the stuff of snazzy TV ads, but I suspect a reason Harris is holding her ground in the Midwest is because that is where its benefits are widely felt. Harris opened her speech today citing many jobs and businesses helped by the administration.

“One of the recurring themes in American history is that when we make an intentional effort to invest in our industrial strength, it leads to extraordinary prosperity and security,” Harris said. She cited President Abraham Lincoln’s support for the transcontinental railroad and President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s support for the interstate highway system.

“From our earliest days, America’s economic strength has been tied to our industrial strength,” the vice president said. “I will recommit the nation to global leadership in the sectors that will define the next century.”