June 2, 2016--Unfit to Print

In a story ostensibly about Bernie Sanders supporters, how they are hoping that if Hillary Clinton is indicted it will rescue his candidacy, the New York Times article drifts into a story about Donald Trump and fascism.

As the paper of record that purports to print "all the news that's fit to print," it is disturbing to see the daily barrage of anti-Trump articles that claim to be independent-minded journalism but no equivalent stream of Hillary Clinton articles.

As an example of how far the Times is willing to reach to diminish Trump, I fail to see how a piece a few months ago about the age of Trump's fleet of aircraft is in any way germane. Does it really matter that his planes and helicopters are on average 20 years old? Buried in that article, incidentally, which I suppose was to reveal yet another way to assertion how much he is actually worth in spite of his claims, were quotes from aviation experts who uniformly said that 20 years old is an ideal age for a plane (all the bugs have been eliminated) and it is fiscally smart to buy a previously-owned one rather than a more pretentious and expensive new model.

But enough about that.

In the Sanders' article, a string of supporters talk about their hope that Hillary is indicted. How can you blame them--he is irrevocably losing and a hail Mary of some kind is his and his followers only hope.

Julie Crowell, for example, a stay-at-home mother, is quoted as holding out for "an 11th-hour miracle: divine deliverance at the hands of the FBI."

"If there's any chance of her getting indicted, they shouldn't even consider her for the nomination," said Zachary O'Neill, "We can't have a criminal in the White House."

Though history tells us there is precedent for that too.

Then in the article we get to polls that show that an increasing number of Sanders supporters say they will not vote for Clinton in November. "Bernie or Bust" signs are proliferating.

Finally we get to Victor Vizcarra, 48, of Los Angeles, who said that a Trump presidency would be more exciting than a "boring" Clinton administration.

Though why he would say that with Bill Clinton back in the White House as the First Whatever escapes me.

He goes on--

A dark side of me wants to see what happens if Trump is in. There is going to be some kind of change, and even if it's a Nazi-type change, people are so drama-filled, they want to see stuff like that happen. It's like reality TV. You don't want to just see everybody happy with each other. You want to see somebody fighting somebody. [Italics added]

I suppose just another day in the New York Times newsroom.