GYM ELECTIONS: WHY I MISS THE OLD MAN WHISPERING GROUP

Even if there’s no such thing as Gym Elections, you’d never know it.

A focus group used to gather regularly, lean in, and talk the talk. Fun guys, conservative learning republicans, working out their latest take on overnight news.

A retired teacher, a retired doctor, and a current fire breather, were staples, though they had regular contributors stop in while the group blocked exercise machines.

What would they be saying today?

How It Started

One tall drink of water, a man who brought his own kick board to the pool, enjoyed explaining Trump and the positives of the republican platform. The longer he talked, the closer he got, until it was eventually face to face.

It happened once for normal people, but not the group. They were all on board with the lean in, the expressions, the growing urgency, and the closeness, as if proximity was key.

Now, with the covid pandemic that Mr. Trump continues to down play, recently complaining about CNN coverage, breaking out “the dumb bastards” from his communication tools in Prescott, AZ, has their proximity changed.

During his Arizona rally, President Trump says, “They’re getting tired of the pandemic, aren’t we? You turn on CNN. That’s all they cover. Covid, covid, pandemic. Covid, covid, covid. They’re trying to talk people out of voting…People aren’t buying it, CNN, you dumb bastards.”

Where We Are Now

The old guys running their version of Gym Elections have had to evolve a little?

Are they mask doubters, environment deniers, anti-science today, or have they changed their tune? Has anyone you know changed their tune?

One way to tell if change is in the air: If you haven’t heard from from someone in a few years, and they show up spouting old grievances? They haven’t changed much.

When you scroll social media and see people mix their happy times with prayer requests and memes calling on support for misguided political right wingers, nothing has changed.

Folks who love the great outdoors, who celebrate the diversity of nature, and yet line up for Mr. Trump’s pablum to be spooned to them, have a problem that’s coming sooner than later.

The boogieman says all of the beautiful places they enjoy could be sold off for mineral rights and mined, logged, or developed. Mr. Trump’s warning about low income housing in the suburbs lights a fire, but not Mr. Trump’s response to forest fires.

Where It’s Going

Older people are said to be set in their ways. A lifelong republican means just that, all their lives. Today the includes people who voted for Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, Bush I, Bush II, and Trump.

Eisenhower came in as the King of the World after his stint as the most important general in WWII. But he didn’t act like a king in 1952.

Nixon came in in 1968 with bitter leftovers from losing first to JFK in 1960, then the California governor’s race after which he told the media they wouldn’t have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore.

Reagan came in with the promise of Making America Great Again in 1980, and Morning In America in 1984.

His VP came in on his coattails in 1988, with his MBA son riding in for the 2000 elections.

Now Mr. Trump has had his turn. The question is, has he had enough?

How much is enough? Vote accordingly. I think there Gym Elections have been held and we’re waiting for the count.

Who would the whisper crowd choose to lead America?

Mr. Trump once asked, “Vote for me, what have you got to lose?”

He’s answered that question.

The Joe Biden question is, “What have you got to gain.”