About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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Re, Snoozefest boycott, I see it as extremely unlikely.
World Cups have been held in worse places, politically speaking, than even El Taco’s America. Namely Mad Vlad’s Russia in 2018, and military Junta Argentina in 1978. No one boycotted either.
I’m sure many fans who’d love to travel to see live games won’t, but more due to the cost of travel and game tickets. Tourism to the US has fallen sharply, but it should see an uptick for the Snoozefest.
There was an idea floating around, too, of removing the US as host. This, too, is not possible. Mexico hosted the 86 cup because Colombia, which had been selected as host, decided in 1982 the country could not afford a 24 team tournament (when it was picked in 1974, the tournament consisted of 16 teams). Mexico had plenty of infrastructure left over from the 1970 Snoozefest, and even so a few new stadiums were built. But this was with 3 years lead time.
So, another fascist country hosts a global sporting competition.
Related to this, ICE agents will be among the security detail of US officials who will attend the Winter Olympics opening festivities in Italy. Many Italians have objected to this.
@Kathy:
I just read about ICE in Italy and man does that sound like an exceptionally stupid idea. Lol, are they gonna wear their little masks?
Anyway, it looks like between now and the World Cup we have (sporting wise) the Winter Olympics, the Super Bowl, and baseball opening day (at least). We will also be in the middle of the Primaries. I suspect we will know how fucked the World Cup will be well before June.
Another thought occurs to me, do the RWNJs still think that soccer is gay/unmanly/boring/unamerican? My gut tells me that soccer is way more popular with normies, enough that people would be pissed if it gets screwed up. I could see the RWNJs assuming that everyone shared their disdain and screwing up.
I’ll admit not knowing much about Argentina’s Junta, other than it was bad. That being said, I suspect both the Argentinians in the 70s and Putin now both crave respectability and are willing to accept reflected glory. Pulling off a World Cup is a big deal, but whoever’s leading the place won’t get any direct adoration because of it. But there’s still a ton of reflected glory and prestige. “Look how powerful and good I am, I hosted the World Cup and it went great.”
Trump, on the other hand, won’t accept reflected glory (and thinks sports/exercise is bad for you). What does he care if it blows up? He can just blame Mexico and Canada and that’s probably “better” for him. The rest of those loons don’t give a shit either. Just gives them a bigger stage to force people to watch them shit their pants and smear it on the walls.
@Beth:
I don’t suppose ICE agents in Italy will wear masks, or round up immigrants at the various consulates in Milan, either. What’s troubling is there is an established security force for high officials and dignitaries travelling abroad, and it’s not ICE. It’s also largely not political.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they rough up locals and visitors who heckle or protest couch boy Vance.
I know little of the Junta period in Argentina. the salient fact is they went after their own citizens on purpose and en masse. Pretty much they massacred large numbers of political opponents and dissidents. Not too different from Pinochet’s Chile.