JL, for those who believe the myth of his power, their foolishness can be attributed to the fact that they are easily led, compounded by their ignorance, and they will be among the first to suffer the consequences. From what I've read in the past, Trump's idolization of Roy Cohn had much to do with Cohn's mob connections, and Kellyanne C…
JL, for those who believe the myth of his power, their foolishness can be attributed to the fact that they are easily led, compounded by their ignorance, and they will be among the first to suffer the consequences. From what I've read in the past, Trump's idolization of Roy Cohn had much to do with Cohn's mob connections, and Kellyanne Conway's grandfather was mob associate Jimmy "the Brute" DiNatale, so Trump clearly wants to curry favor with that ilk. There is probably more dirt if we'd bother to investigate. Because of his unrelenting threats of retaliation, he has managed to evade the consequences. Among other things, like this country becoming authoritarian and our democracy falling, the stakes for his not facing prosecution are much more consequential than his followers comprehend. I just hope I live long enough to see him held to account and this country's escape from his grip and that of his handlers.
D4N, thanks for the complement, and be my guest, with the caveat that you do not forward it to DJT or his cronies. At 5' tall, I could probably take Trump down, but not sure about the mob.
Of the Trump supporters I have encountered, I think most are not inherently predatory people (though, yeah, there are those as well). I think some have someone accepted the metal malware that the Party manufactures. I suspect that many if not most were exposed from birth to a prohibition against questioning authority, most likely, their father. My parents taught me the value of asking why, and the teachers I encountered in the 1950s/'60s were sharply divided as to whether that was to be re-enforced or hated. I know for sure at least two in the latter category were right wing.
This gem from the 2012 official platform of the Republican Party of Texas:
"We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority. "
Note the focus on NOT challenging "fixed beliefs" (and the quiet part of severely punishing such questioning). We are free to believe what we want; yet with a duty of due diligence and accountability for our actions. Some who invaded the Capitol building on Jan 6th no doubt considered themselves heroes (as I am sure the cruel 9/11 terrorists did). Whatever, they broke the democratic social contract. You can't, in your imagined superiority, take the rights that protect you away from others.
That is not at all to say we must not challenge fixed ideas. Tom Paine did, Abe Lincoln did, and Susan B Anthony did, among others. It's the human capacity that led us out of the caves.
JL, I have a long-time friend who managed to admit that Trump "could be more polite," when I responded to an earlier comment she'd made that caused me to think that she didn't like him. From past experience, I knew politics was a hot-button issue that we couldn't discuss. She is not a racist, not homophobic, or any of the other labels usually associated with current-day Republicans, and I was puzzled about her allegiance to today's cult. Finally, I realized that her loyalty to her father and the rest of her strongly Republican family made it impossible to consider the alternatives. As you've described the credo of the Republican platform in 2012 in Texas, my friend is apparently incapable of freeing herself to consider challenges to her family-instilled fixed beliefs. Over the last almost 10 years with Trump-the-Moron at the helm, I have deliberately distanced myself from this onetime friend. I know she doesn't approve of his outlandish behavior, but apparently doesn't feel she can challenge any of it "for the greater good." My fixed beliefs are vulnerable to challenge, especially if they prove to be used by cruel, despicable people to injure others or our democracy.
Thanks for your insight, and I continue to be terribly worried by the right wing's attempt at mind control with their flock.
JL, for those who believe the myth of his power, their foolishness can be attributed to the fact that they are easily led, compounded by their ignorance, and they will be among the first to suffer the consequences. From what I've read in the past, Trump's idolization of Roy Cohn had much to do with Cohn's mob connections, and Kellyanne Conway's grandfather was mob associate Jimmy "the Brute" DiNatale, so Trump clearly wants to curry favor with that ilk. There is probably more dirt if we'd bother to investigate. Because of his unrelenting threats of retaliation, he has managed to evade the consequences. Among other things, like this country becoming authoritarian and our democracy falling, the stakes for his not facing prosecution are much more consequential than his followers comprehend. I just hope I live long enough to see him held to account and this country's escape from his grip and that of his handlers.
THIS ^^^
Wow Nancy; That's perhaps one of the best, most concise synopsis of tfg's psychopathy that I've ever witnessed. I would love to borrow that !
D4N, thanks for the complement, and be my guest, with the caveat that you do not forward it to DJT or his cronies. At 5' tall, I could probably take Trump down, but not sure about the mob.
Agreed... lol
Of the Trump supporters I have encountered, I think most are not inherently predatory people (though, yeah, there are those as well). I think some have someone accepted the metal malware that the Party manufactures. I suspect that many if not most were exposed from birth to a prohibition against questioning authority, most likely, their father. My parents taught me the value of asking why, and the teachers I encountered in the 1950s/'60s were sharply divided as to whether that was to be re-enforced or hated. I know for sure at least two in the latter category were right wing.
This gem from the 2012 official platform of the Republican Party of Texas:
"We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority. "
Note the focus on NOT challenging "fixed beliefs" (and the quiet part of severely punishing such questioning). We are free to believe what we want; yet with a duty of due diligence and accountability for our actions. Some who invaded the Capitol building on Jan 6th no doubt considered themselves heroes (as I am sure the cruel 9/11 terrorists did). Whatever, they broke the democratic social contract. You can't, in your imagined superiority, take the rights that protect you away from others.
That is not at all to say we must not challenge fixed ideas. Tom Paine did, Abe Lincoln did, and Susan B Anthony did, among others. It's the human capacity that led us out of the caves.
JL, I have a long-time friend who managed to admit that Trump "could be more polite," when I responded to an earlier comment she'd made that caused me to think that she didn't like him. From past experience, I knew politics was a hot-button issue that we couldn't discuss. She is not a racist, not homophobic, or any of the other labels usually associated with current-day Republicans, and I was puzzled about her allegiance to today's cult. Finally, I realized that her loyalty to her father and the rest of her strongly Republican family made it impossible to consider the alternatives. As you've described the credo of the Republican platform in 2012 in Texas, my friend is apparently incapable of freeing herself to consider challenges to her family-instilled fixed beliefs. Over the last almost 10 years with Trump-the-Moron at the helm, I have deliberately distanced myself from this onetime friend. I know she doesn't approve of his outlandish behavior, but apparently doesn't feel she can challenge any of it "for the greater good." My fixed beliefs are vulnerable to challenge, especially if they prove to be used by cruel, despicable people to injure others or our democracy.
Thanks for your insight, and I continue to be terribly worried by the right wing's attempt at mind control with their flock.