Go-away pay

Seeing the latest executive, this one with a last name of Falwell, walk away with “go-away” pay totaling $10 million, it reminds me of a broken recording playing the same song over and over again. Mr. Falwell left his leadership position because he embarrassed the reputation of Liberty University with his sexual activities with his wife and another. Could he have survived if the university was not a Christian founded one or his name was anything but Falwell? We will never know.

What further troubles many is Falwell was not fired for “cause” under his employment contract. He was let go with a severance payment. My educated guess is the Board of the university did not want to risk a law suit and fire him over cause. There are a few viable reasons for this conclusion. The directors may have their own employment contracts with their employers and do not want to go on record identifying what they think “cause” is. Another reason is money. The university may spend in legal fees and damaging publicity what they spend to make Falwell go away. It is easier to pay someone to go away. Plus, they have worked with him, so he earned some goodwill with the Board.

Yet, this is not new. It has happened since the invention of executive employment contracts. It is reported, Roger Ailes, the creator and president of Fox News, got $37 million in go-away pay after being credibly accused of multiple cases of sexual misconduct. Further, like other entertainment companies, it is reported Ailes tolerated an old-boys club where other “talents” also were accused of sexual misconduct. It is reported a famous “talent” was also paid go-away money, eg. Ailes could have been charged with “cause,” but refer to the reasons above as to why he was not. I would add a fourth for him as the Board wanted to honor his creation of this news/ entertainment network.

Sadly, it does not stop with sexual misconduct. CEOs can wreck a company’s reputation or financials and still walk away with go-away pay. I know of more than a few situations where this has occurred. And, the severance is usually a 1 to 2.99 times multiple of pay. The reason for the decimals is severance pay above 3 x compensation causes some tax issues. So, companies do what they can to keep the amount below that threshold.

Executive severance pay is a key feature of employment contracts. Most often it is deployed in merger situations where companies sell themselves and the leadership of the selling company walks away with golden parachutes. Having worked in consulting and in large companies, I can assure you that the executive ranks of a selling company spends too much time talking about severance at the expense of making the transition work. What is less an issue is these executives stopped trying to make their old company work and realized it was easier to sell and jump out of the plane with that golden parachute.

The further down the totem pole finds average workers who just get let go if they do wrong. Or, the severance pay may be only a few weeks of pay. So, having a contract means you can usually walk away with money when you make yourself expendable. Only when right-sizings, downsizings or RIFs (Reductions in Force) occur, do the lower paid folks walk away with a little more.

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Bipartisan effort in Kentucky

Courtesy of fellow blogger, Kentucky Angel (see link below) comes the following good news story.

Kentucky Democrat Governor Andy Beshear and Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams jointly developed a plan for the General Election that puts the “health and safety of Kentuckians first,” per Beshear, providing more time and options to vote than ever before.

This bipartisanship is refreshing and much needed on this issue. Rather than malign the voting process, they are taking efforts to make sure it works for their citizens. The folks in the White House and Capitol building could learn from this bipartisan focus to help people understanding the challenges they face.

This post is necessarily brief, as I sent a variation into my newspaper because of its bipartisanship. I hope they print it. This represents the kind of collaboration we need to solve problems. Please feel free to spread the word. Thanks Kentucky Angel.

https://kentuckyangelfliesagain.wordpress.com/2020/08/29/message-from-gov-andy-beshear/

Alternate Republican Convention of anti-Trump Republicans goes on

Per a Wednesday, August 26 article in The Charlotte Observer by Jim Morrill called “From Charlotte, anti-Trump Republicans offer their own message in a counter-convention” , the alternate Republican convention convened online. It was scheduled to be in Charlotte, but COVID-19 caused the social media only session from a Charlotte TV studio.

The convention brought together the efforts of The Lincoln Project, Republicans for the Rule of Law, Republican Voters against Trump and other groups. Below are some excerpts from the article. As context, it is important to note what I heard on NPR today. The RNC did NOT vote on a platform at the national convention. One reporter said the platform is whatever Donald Trump comes up with.

“‘Today’s Republican Party is the Trump party,’ said Mindy Finn, one of the organizers. ‘And they make it very clear in their rhetoric that you either support Trump wholeheartedly or you’re not one of them.’

From its Charlotte studio, the programming features virtual panel discussions and speeches by more than two dozen people. They include former FBI Director Jim Comey, former Republican national Chairman Michael Steele, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci and Evan McMullin, a former CIA officer who ran an independent campaign for president in 2016.

Tuesday night’s lineup included former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, a longtime Republican Trump critic, addressing what he called the growing politicization of federal courts. ‘I have no confidence that Donald Trump can move beyond his disregard and disdain for the rule of law and the constitutional underpinnings of our judiciary,’ Orr said.

The Religion News Service ran a story about the convention’s appeal to evangelicals through speakers such as Mark Galli, the former editor-in-chief of Christianity Today. The Washington Post headlined an opinion column, ‘Republicans are putting on two conventions this week. One of them will be sane.’

Organizers say the first night’s livestream reached 23,000 viewers on YouTube and 10,000 on Facebook. Adding all the social media ‘shares,’ they say, makes for a total reach of hundreds of thousands.”

Now, this convention was dwarfed by the national RNC convention viewership, but it is incumbent on its members and people who care about truth, to make sure folks are aware that these voices are active and should be heard.

What has impressed me is the people behind this effort. Several of the groups are running effective ads that speak to the corrupt and deceitful bent of the president. The Republican Voters against Trump is particularly effective as people tell why they can no longer support Trump as they did before. As Joe Biden said in a rebuttal speech to Trump’s, this is happening on your watch.

The entire article is below.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/article245262280.html

Predicted and predictable

Nate Silver is the genius behind 538, one of the most accurate predictors of election results. 538 weights various polls based on their relative veracity. What his polls showed in 2016, after the late Comey announcement, that while the median favored Clinton winning, Trump could win within acceptable standard deviation. People focus too much on the median and not the range.

With this background, Silver said something of import recently, that many of us have said less succinctly. He said the COVID-19 contagions that are cropping in schools and colleges are both “predicted and predictable.”

When people get together without strict adherence to social distancing and mask wearing, exposure to COVID-19 will occur. And, the virus spreads exponentially, not arithmetically. This means when ten people get it, they infect ten more, who infect ten more…This is why the president was forewarned of the pandemic risk in January by US intelligence and why his misinformation and mishandling is so problematic.

Let me go further. If all people don’t wear masks, socially distance, wash hands and act with some common sense, COVID-19 will be with us much longer. I know we want to get back to normal, but managers, owners, deans, school executives, and elected officials must understand that corralling the virus cannot occur unless we all do our part. Even if a vaccine is created, a recent survey said only about 70% of Americans would take it.

This is why telling people the truth is so critical. Only then, will people follow instruction. And, sadly in the absence of truth tellers who must be supported not demeaned, conspiracy sources get listened to. As an example, measles had been eradicated in the US, until the anti-vaxxers spread their conspiracy information and now it is back.

Further, unless we have a president who tells the truth, we will not solve many problems. And, as an epidemiologist and historian said, telling the truth is mission one in dealing with a pandemic.

The biggest lie – “I created this economy”

The incumbent president likes to take credit for all things good and blame others for all things bad. This is true regardless of the extent of his role in the outcome. He boasts that he created this great economy before the pandemic and will help us get back to it. Although the economy continued to do well, to say he created it is not truthful. Given his loud chest beating on this one issue, it qualifies as his biggest lie, although other lies are further afield from the truth.

When he took the oath to his office in January, 2017, the US was on its third longest economic growth period in its history at 91 consecutive months of GDP growth. That translates into just longer than 7 1/2 years. It should also be noted for the six previous years, we had 2 million plus in annual job growth and the stock market more than doubled under his predecessor. To Donald Trump’s credit, the economy continued to grow for 36 more months, the stock market continued to climb and job growth continued until it fell with the pandemic. The recession officially started in February of this year.

Now, I wrote during Barack Obama’s presidency that presidents get too much credit and too much blame for the economy. They can provide headwinds and tailwinds, but that is about it. The “headwinds and tailwinds” remark is courtesy of conservative pundit David Brooks. The same goes with the current president. But, if people want to lay wreaths at Trump’s feet for the economy before the pandemic, they must also do the same for Obama. Obama actually inherited an economy in recession due to the housing crisis in late 2007 through mid 2009. He was sworn in January, 2009.

The incumbent president has provided some headwinds and tailwinds to help keep it going, sometimes at the same time. Here is a look at a few of these wind currents:

Tailwinds

The economy got a temporary boost from the December, 2017 tax cut that increased the debt by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years. At a time when we should have been decreasing the deficit, we increased it. So, in essence, we borrowed from our future to make our economy a little better for a little while. One economist referred to it as a sugar rush. Before the pandemic, we fell back to growth at the same level as before the election. Overall, this growth period has been the longest, but the rate of growth under both presidents has lagged other periods. It has been a slow and steady climb, again before the recession caused by the pandemic.

Cutting through some regulations also provided some stimulus for businesses, but as noted below, these will cause future headwinds. People often mix bureaucracy with regulations. We need to constantly review regulations to see if they are working and how they can be improved or rescinded, if need be. So, regulations are not necessarily bad. Bloating bureaucracy is what we must guard against. I recall a story of Erskine Bowles, who eventually became Bill Clinton’s Chief of Staff. When Bowles headed the Small Business Administration, he reduced the application from 42 pages to one.

Headwinds

We must guard against debt. Dipping into debt to stimulate the economy dragging from COVID-19 is one thing, but the 2017 tax cut needed not be so severe that it increased debt. Note, many said this before it was passed, not just now. By the end of this decade, we should be beyond $40 trillion in debt on an annual revenue budget (during 10/18 – 9/19 FY) that is currently just less than $3.5 trillion, with expenses around $4.5 trillion. With the pandemic stimulus, the annual 2019-20 deficit will be around $3.7 trillion. Eventually, interest cost will rival the biggest budget items if we do not remedy this growing problem. Some poor president and congress will have to make some hard decisions as revenue is too low and costs are too high.

Letting polluting industries skate on fewer regulations will come back to haunt us. Chemical spills, polluted water and nuclear waste causes major environment concerns to people, animals, carbon eating trees/ plants and food crops. Even the best of developers and manufacturers would like someone else to pay for their shortcuts. Industries go to great pains to hide their dirty laundry. The laundry is there, it just needs to be more cleaned up. Relying on a company’s altruism is not an effective means of controlling pollution.

Tariffs on all partners cause echo tariffs from our trading partners. And, no one wins a tariff war, regardless of what the president might say. As we have become harder to deal with, buyers and sellers find other markets. The increase in farmer bankruptcies has been significant since the tariff wars started, increasing dramatically over previous levels. One farmer said, other countries sought out other sources of farm goods, so we lost a future pipeline for sales. And, just today, I read in conservative George Will’s editorial that trust in America to do the right thing has fallen to 24% and preference to America as a trading partner has fallen.

One of the business lessons I learned over the years, is if you become difficult to work with, your customers and clients will be forced to find other providers of services and products. It does not get any plainer than that. One of the best things a president can do is create new markets – Reagan, Clinton, Nixon, and Obama all were good at creating new avenues for trade. It is not surprising that Clinton had the most jobs created on his watch, with Reagan having the most jobs as a Republican president. And, Nixon for all his corruption, should be remembered well for opening up relationships with China. Trump should get credit for renewing a refined NAFTA agreement, but he hindered his efforts to compete with China when he pulled the US out of the Trans Pacific Partnership which went on without us and backtracking on deals with Cuba, Iran and the Paris Climate Change Accord, has placed the US at odds with others.

Global trade builds revenue. A country cannot shrink to greatness. And, what we are seeing today is other countries not wanting the hassles of dealing with the US as much as before. And, this is before the mishandling of the pandemic that has left the world aghast.

Freedom Summer Project – a needed revisit with a voter suppression and racism afoot

With a president who attacks the voting process (without dearly protecting it) and does not speak out against racism in our country, this past post on a terrible time in history is relevant of what we must not become again. The only change is adding six years to the time elapsed.

Fifty-six years ago this summer, over 700 students from across the country, joined in the Civil Rights battle in Mississippi, where African-Americans had been demonstratively and, at times, violently denied their basic civil rights, especially the right to vote. These students joined together with the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee (SNNC) under the guidance of Bob Moses, who had been slowly organizing SNNC since 1960. These students, were predominantly white, but included all races and ethnic groups.

The fact that many were white helped bring further attention to the ongoing tragedy going on Mississippi, perpetuated by those in power as the young students lived within the African-American community, taught through Freedom Schools young students about African-American history, literature and rights, items that had been absent from their curriculum. The Freedom Summer project can be viewed up close with an excellent documentary shown on the PBS American Experience. A link is provided below.* I would encourage you to watch the two-hour film as it can tell a story that requires footages of violence, overt racism, and brave people who spoke up, like Moses, Fannie Lou Hamer, Rita Schwerner and countless others.

Hamer is the face of the effort as evidenced by her speaking passionately in front of the 1964 Democratic Convention committee about how she was arrested, beaten, and tormented when she and others tried to register vote. Schwerner is the widow of one the three Civil Rights workers, Michael Schwerner, who along with James Chaney and Andrew Goodman, were abducted and killed by the KKK who came to abet the efforts of those in power in Mississippi. The widow rightfully pointed out the fact that two of the abducted (at the time) were white, was the only reason people in America started paying attention. She noted it is a shame that many African-Americans had died or were injured merely trying to exercise their right as citizens. Before the 1965 Voting Rights Act, less than 7% of African-Americans in Mississippi were allowed to register due to ostracization, intimidation, and complex constitutional literacy tests.

Since I cannot begin to do justice to this subject, I encourage you to watch the documentary. It will make you ashamed that this could happen in America, while at the same time making you applaud the magnificent courage of all involved, especially those African-Americans who had lived and would continue to live in this Apartheid like state once the freedom summer students went home. Yet, it took the deaths of these three young folks to galvanize and empower people.

It also took the organization of a more representative Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party of whites and blacks that went to the national convention to unseat the representatives sent by the state party, who were all white. Since morality was on their side, they almost succeeded, but they ran into the politics of Lyndon B. Johnson, who used his power to squelch the effort for a greater good – he could not help in matters if he did not get elected and he saw this as a means to interfere with that mission, no matter how noble the cause. LBJ accomplished great things for African-Americans, but politics is an ugly thing to watch up close and he looks manipulative in the process.

While their efforts fell short at the convention, their efforts were huge contributors to the passage of the Voting Rights Act the next year. But, one of the young folks who went to the Freedom Schools and is now a PhD., noted that learning about their African-American culture and civil rights that had been denied them, may have been the greatest achievement. I applaud their efforts and bravery. We still have a way to go and are seeing some battles having to be refought with several states passing restrictive Voter ID Laws. Three states have had their new laws ruled unconstitutional, while others are in court now. Yet, just because our President is multi-racial does not mean we are there yet. So, let’s keep in mind the battles these brave folks fought and not let their civil rights be stepped on again, no matter how cleverly masked those efforts.

* http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/freedomsummer/

The president has said “without proof”

Seemingly, a phrase frequently being used by more legitimate news sources is the modifier “without proof.” Without proof is being added to news coverage of the latest assertion made by the president.

It may become the successor to “fake news” as it accompanies reporting of the many untruthful statements or conspiracy theories said or tweeted by the president. Using a mathematical expression, it is “causally related” to the frequency of the president’s blathering, not just correlated.

Without proof. The Washington Post has tracked over 20,000 lies by the president in about three and a half years. That is staggering. Plus, from biographers to reputable authors to attorneys to staff to military leaders to relatives, including his sister the judge, there are many sources who note the president’s untruthful nature. His sister the judge says her brother “lacks credibility.”

So, do yourself a favor and do what I do. Do not believe a word Donald Trump says. The odds are well in your favor. But, if you feel I am all wet, let me share as Examples A and B, two recurring lies the president has used. These are not one time lies – he has uttered or tweeted these two lies multiple times.

Example A – China is paying for the tariffs on US goods. This is simply untrue and each time he says it, economists point out the importers pay the tariiffs and usually pass along the cost to consumers. This means we shoppers pay the tariffs.

Example B – Trump passed the VA Health Care Choice bill to help veterans. He has said this multiple times, but the bill was passed in 2014. He was not inaugurated until 2017. This is the issue Paula Reid, a CBS reporter raised the other day when Trump again said it in a press conference.

I can share top of mind lies the president has uttered or throw in a few unproven conspiracy theories he has espoused. But, these two examples are recurring lies that he will likely use again. Right now, he is on a warpath to convince Americans mail-in voting is subject to significant fraud, again “without proof.” What should be more known is fellow Republicans are advocating mail-in voting as it used exclusively in five states and consequentially in thirty five more. Why would they be doing that if fraud was a concern.

As for fraud, it should be noted, last week. the Republican led Senate Intelligence Committee confirmed the overall veracity of the Mueller report, saying the Russian involvement in the Trump campaign was even more intrusive. So, this confirms, with proof, the president’s campaign was guilty of fraud.

The beat goes on…more GOP names for Biden

In an article by Zack Budryk yesterday called “Jeff Flake, dozens of former GOP congressman joining ‘Republicans for Biden,'” he speaksto the growing list of Republican legislators who have openly stated their support for Joe Biden.

“Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a frequent critic of President Trump, is endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden along with several other former Republican lawmakers.

The Biden campaign announced the endorsements, first reported by Fox News, Monday morning. The list includes other former members of Congress who had previously announced their support for Biden, including former Sens. John Warner (R-Va.) and Gordon Humphrey (R-N.H.), who is now an independent, and Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.).

Other former lawmakers on the list include former Reps. Steve Bartlett (R-Texas), Tom Coleman (R-Mo.), Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), Chris Shays (R-Ct.), Alan Steelman (R-Texas) and Jim Walsh (R-Texas).

‘These former members of Congress cited Trump’s corruption, destruction of democracy, blatant disregard for moral decency, and urgent need to get the country back on course as a reason why they support Biden,’ an official with the Biden campaign told Fox News. ‘These former Members of Congress are supporting Joe Biden because they know what’s at stake in this election and that Trump’s failures as President have superseded partisanship.'”

Reviewing the list, in addition to Senator Jeff Flake former Congressman Bob Inglis’ names jumps out. Inglis was voted out several years ago when the fossil fuel industry funded his opponent in a primary in South Carolina. Why? He traveled to Antarctica with scientists to see the data and tests on what climate change was doing. He came away convinced and openly said so. Not so fast, said the fossil fuel industry.

He then filmed a documentary of what he had found and set out to identify the amount of money backing the hoaxers. He was booed at various conventions when he raised his evidence, but it did not stop him. That takes courage.

The list keeps growing. The question we must ask Trump supporters is why are they doing this? And, dig deeper on the answer. A supporter echoing the president’s name calling or denigration is not an acceptable reason. If they do not respond, ask why there is an alternate convention of Republicans against Trump going on in Charlotte this week?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/jeff-flake-dozens-of-former-gop-congressman-joining-republicans-for-biden/ar-BB18jibV

Two years ago, these Republicans condemned Trump for siding with Putin over US intelligence people

Ted Miller wrote “After Putin Summit, It’s Time We Start Seriously Calling Trump A Traitor,” that was written on July 16, 2018 following the Helsinki summit between the US president and Vladimir Putin. Our Australian friend David, who lives in Tasmania inspired this piece after sending me the picture of the US president hugging the American flag with a “look at me, I’m hugging the flag expression” on his face.

Here are some excerpts. The entire article can be linked to below.

“At an over two-hour joint press conference with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump criticized the American intelligence community that overwhelming confirms Russian interference to get him elected.

Trump said:

‘They [American intelligence] said they think it’s Russia; I have President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be. I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.’

Predictably, Trump then meandered into a red-herring deflection about Hillary Clinton’s emails and the Democratic National Committee’s email server.

No one other than Trump’s most stubborn supporters are buying it anymore.

Former CIA director, John Brennan, tweeted:

‘Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of ‘high crimes & misdemeanors.’ It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin.’

Calling out fellow Republicans, Brennan added:

‘Republican Patriots: Where are you???’

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stated:

‘Today’s press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naivety, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake.

Not only did President Trump fail to speak the truth about an adversary; but speaking for America to the world, our president failed to defend all that makes us who we are – a republic of free people dedicated to the cause of liberty at home and abroad.’

Even House Speaker Paul Ryan, not known to openly condemn the president as often as he should, said:

‘The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.’

Senate Minority Leader, Charles Schmer (D-NY), concurred:

‘In the entire history of our country, Americans have never seen a president of the United States support an American adversary the way President Trump has supported President Putin. For the president of the United States to side with President Putin against American law enforcement, American defense officials, and American intelligence agencies is thoughtless, dangerous, and weak. The president is putting himself over our country.’

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) echoed his colleagues’ sentiments, tweeting:

‘I never thought I would see the day when our American President would stand on the stage with the Russian President and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression. This is shameful.’

And from Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.):

‘This is bizarre and flat-out wrong. The United States is not to blame. America wants a good relationship with the Russian people but Vladimir Putin and his thugs are responsible for Soviet-style aggression. When the President plays these moral equivalence games, he gives Putin a propaganda win he desperately needs.’

But lawmakers and intelligence officials are not the only ones accusing Trump of being weak in front of Vladimir Putin. Even members of Trump’s own staff thought that as well.

The Daily Beast quotes a Trump political appointee:

‘I honestly had little to no good expectations for this. [The event] went about as well as I expected. Trump looked incredibly weak up there. Putin looks like a champion. I’d like to say I’m shocked but this is the world in which we live now.’

Yes, even Fox News turned on the president.

During an interview, with host Neil Cavuto, Former Dep. Asst. Attorney General Tom Dupree, said on Fox Business:

‘All well and good for the president to talk about the Strzok and server and Hillary Clinton and all of that. But this wasn’t the time and the place this is the time and place for the president to look Putin squarely in the eye and said you will be punished for what you did in 2016, don’t ever think about doing that again.’

Cavuto said:

‘But he didn’t. That made it disgusting. That made his performance disgusting. Only way I feel. Not a right or left thing to me. It is wrong. U.S. President foreign soil talking to our biggest enemy or adversary or competitor, I don’t know how we define them away, essentially letting the guy get away with this, not even, offering a mild, a mild criticism. That sets us back a lot.’

Fox and Friends Weekend host Abby Huntsman tweeted:

‘No negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus. For Trump, apparently it’s Russia first.'”

It should be noted, just last week, the Senate Intelligence Committee not only confirmed the findings in the Mueller report, they said there was a formal tie between the Trump campaign and Russia. Paul Manafort, Trump campaign manager for over four months had communications with a Russian agent. It should be noted Manafort was indicted for fraud and lying and went to jail for other actions, uncovered by the Mueller report. Note, during Manafort’s time, the Republican platform softened some wording toward Russia. Why?

Also, last Friday over 70 former intelligence officials who worked for Republican presidents have cited the security risk which is Donald Trump in a full page piece in the Wall Street Journal. They are supporting Joe Biden. And, last week, Miles Taylor, a former Dept. of Homeland Security Chief of Staff under Trump noted the same conclusion and support of Biden, adding we are less secure under Trump because our allied relationships are weaker and our enemies are stronger.

I want Trump supporters to tell me why this is not a concern to them and not just cite the president’s wont to name call critics. When people say Trump is dangerous, it is people in the know who are saying it. It is not fake news. These are real people with real concerns.

Here is the link: https://liberalamerica.life/2018/07/16/tm-after-putin-summit-its-time-we-start-seriously-calling-trump-a-traitor/

Who do people believe is the most mentally sound per a Fox poll?

The incumbent US president wants to make this election about mental acuity, a fight he believes he can win. Not so fast, per a poll in July by Fox News, the conservative news outlet Breitbart reports in the article, most of which is repeated below:

“A majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump neither has ‘the intelligence’ nor ‘the mental soundness’ to ‘serve effectively as president,’ according to a Fox News poll released on Sunday.

The national poll, conducted July 12-15 with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points, found that 52 percent do not think Trump has the intelligence to serve as president while 51 percent do not believe Trump has the ‘mental soundness’ to be in the White House. Just 42 percent think Trump has the intelligence to be president while 43 believe has the mental soundness to be president.

Despite Trump’s attempts to make the election about former Vice President Joe Biden’s mental acuity, 51 percent still believe Biden has the ‘intelligence’ to be president while 36 percent believe he does not. The poll found that 47 percent believe Biden has the “mental soundness” to be president compared to 39 percent who think he lacks the the mental soundness to be in the White House.

A majority also believe Biden has the judgment to serve effectively as president while a majority think Trump does not.

Trump’s poll numbers–and his standing in the most critical swing states–have plummeted as his approval rating on his handling of the Coronavirus pandemic has cratered since he began rambling at the coronavirus press conferences in March.

His re-election chances are increasingly tied to his Coronavirus approval rating, which has hit an all-time low. The Fox News poll found that Americans trust Biden by a 17-point margin to better deal with the Coronavirus pandemic.

Trump’s low Coronavirus approval rating has put Biden in a position to win record-levels of support in the suburbs for a Democrat, and it has also cut into the president’s support with one of the most important swing constituencies—white Catholics.

A Washington Post-ABC poll released over the weekend found that Trump has been losing support with white Catholics since March, when Trump led Biden by 13 points among this critical group. That lead is now down to just four points (51 percent to 47 percent). As ABC noted, ‘Trump won white Catholics by 61-37% in 2016.'”

Note, this poll was done before the acceptance speech by Joe Biden at the DNC Convention, which even Fox news and opinion people gave high marks. But, what the poll above does not measure is common decency and empathy. The most profound speech delivered at the convention was done by Brayden Harrington, a thirteen year old boy who stutters. He noted Biden has gone out of his way to share his history of stuttering with the boy, even offering tips that helped him.

For the life of me, I simply cannot envision the current president taking the time to do that.

A link to the article is below
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/07/20/poll-majority-believe-trump-lacks-intelligence-mental-soundness-to-be-potus/