“I hold that this elevation of politics to the plane of undiluted comedy is peculiarly American, that no-where else on this disreputable ball has the art of the sham-battle been developed to such fineness.”
The big day has finally arrived – Nov. 5, 2024 – Election Day.
Looking back on this election season, I can’t help but marvel at yet another peculiarly American spectacle.
What a production! What a show!
Just think of all the drama and hype that brought us here, all the bawdy promises and lies, all the preposterous publicity stunts and sordid Machiavellian schemes, not to mention all the money spent – nearly $16 billion dollars! – all to bring us to this great and glorious day.
So, before the final results are revealed tonight or tomorrow or next year (maybe we’ll never know!), let us remember the moments that made the 2024 Election.
1. The Mug Shot
One of the more absurd aspects of the 2024 election cycle was how the criminal indictments of Donald Trump only seemed to make him more popular.
As Trump would say, “I’ve been indicted more than Alphonse Capone!”
This dynamic of more criminal charges translating into more popularity reached its pinnacle when Trump was arraigned and processed on Aug. 24, 2023, at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Ga., on racketeering charges.
The usual purpose of a mugshot is to identify the person accused of the crime. Given that Trump is probably the most photographed and easily identifiable person on the planet, there was no need to snap a mugshot.
Yet they did take a mug shot, subsequently providing one of the most iconic photos in American history.
2. The First Debate
Many speculate the first presidential debate of the 2024 election was scheduled so early in the cycle (June 2024) to serve as a stress test for Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States, a test that Biden undoubtedly failed.
Some speculate it wasn’t just a test; that Biden was actually set up to fail by his own people. Setup or not, when Biden asserted with a strange confidence only senility can bring, “We finally beat Medicare!” his candidacy was dead.
However, stubborn old Joe wouldn’t admit defeat for several weeks, fighting back calls to quit the race. One can only imagine the sense of whiplash and betrayal this produced, not just for Biden personally, but for Americans who had bought into the coverup about Biden’s health.
Indeed, the very same corporate journalists and Democrat politicians who called Biden “sharp as a tack” leading up to the debate were now ferociously attacking the old man to step aside. No surprise that Joe remained defiant.
However, fate would eventually bring about events no one could have expected.
3. The Butler, Pa., Assassination Attempt on Trump
When a friend texted me that someone “Just Tried to take out Trump” early Saturday evening, I immediately feared the worst. That fear only grew as I found the video clip circulating on X, captured live only minutes before.
The clip showed Trump speaking at yet another rally only to be interrupted by the sound of gunfire. I watched Trump twitch his head to his right, grab his ear, peer at his hand, and then fall to the ground as more gunshots popped off, competing with the rising screams from the crowd.
That’s where the video ended, so I watched it again and again for the next several minutes. I kept checking my feed, but there was still nothing new. Those few minutes felt like an eternity. Then, more footage finally appeared.
The Secret Service agents surrounding Trump were beginning to stand up with the 45th president. I still couldn’t tell what damage had been done. Neither could the crowd there assembled, as screams and shouts were followed by a drone of worried murmuring. The murmuring then began to rise to an electric hum as the mass of agents rose from the ground.
That’s when I heard that unmistakable voice say, “Wait, wait, wait, wait,” as Trump pushed his head up through his human shield. His face was covered in streaks of blood.
Pumping his fist in the air three times, he shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” with each thrust, as the crowd began to roar in recognition of what they were witnessing.
4. Biden Removal and Kamala Coronation
Very early in the 2024 election cycle, many GOP commentators predicted Biden would be forced out of the race. Most prominently, Vivek Ramaswamy made the case live on the Republican primary debate stage.
Yet not even Ramaswamy predicted Kamala Harris would eventually be the Democrat’s nominee.
Following the dramatic assassination attempt on Trump as well as a joyous Republican convention celebrating Trump, Biden was still beating back calls to get out of the race.
Yet after the GOP convention, Biden unceremoniously stepped down with a weekend tweet.
Nearly overnight, the entire Democrat machine got behind Harris, nominating her at their own star-studded convention.
5. They’re Eating the Dogs, They’re Eating the Cats
When Trump and Harris met for the very first time in their only presidential debate, Harris exceeded the low expectations, getting under Trump’s skin on several occasions.
Unlike the first debate with Biden, the second seemed like a trap for Trump, with the ABC moderators debating Trump as though they were on team Harris.
Yet, despite the odds, Trump's supposedly biggest gaffe of the night — “They’re eating the dogs … they’re eating the cats” — became an online sensation.
TikTok and X were set ablaze with hilarious meme magic as parody songs and dance crazes made the moment the most memorable of the debate.
6. Trump Works at McDonald’s
The meme magic wouldn’t end with eating cats and dogs.
Indeed, Trump would go on to seemingly seize the momentum in the race through a series of fun photo ops from working at McDonald’s to holding a press conference from the passenger seat of a garbage truck, safety vest and all.
7. The RFK Jr. Speech
The best political speech of the 2024 cycle arguably goes to Robert Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy, who suspended his campaign to announce something of a populist unity party with Trump, used the moment to call out the Democratic Party, but especially corrupt corporate press, saying in part:
It’s the duty of a free press to safeguard democracy and to challenge always the party in power. Instead of maintaining that posture, of fierce skepticism toward authority, your institutions and media made themselves government mouthpieces and stenographers for the organs of power. You didn’t alone cause the devolution of American democracy, but you could have prevented it.
…
The mainstream media was once the guardian of the First Amendment and democratic principles, but has since joined this systemic attack on democracy. Also, the media justifies their censorship on the grounds of combating misinformation, but governments and oppressors don’t censor lies, they don’t fear lies. They fear the truth, and that’s what they censor.
8. Trump on The Joe Rogan Experience
No matter the outcome of the 2024 election, history will probably note this electoral cycle as the beginning of a new era of independent media in American politics.
Long-form podcasts seem to be the next generation’s preferred medium for sharing information and getting a sense of political candidates on a human level.
Most notably, Trump’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience will go down as the stuff of media legend. As of this writing, the interview has 44 million views on YouTube alone.
If Trump wins this election, it will be a victory for his voters and a triumph for the future of independent media.
Joey Clark is a native Alabamian and is currently the host of the radio program News and Views on News Talk 93.1 FM WACV out of Montgomery, AL M-F 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. His column appears every Tuesday in 1819 News. To contact Joey for media or speaking appearances as well as any feedback, please email joeyclarklive@gmail.com. Follow him on X @TheJoeyClark or watch the radio show livestream.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819news.com.
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