What has amazed me all along and what continues to amaze me is how much support Trump does still have. I can't understand how any thinking person could possibly believe America is in good hands with Trump in the White House. America needs a therapist.
What has amazed me all along and what continues to amaze me is how much support Trump does still have. I can't understand how any thinking person could possibly believe America is in good hands with Trump in the White House. America needs a therapist.
Racism and sexism are two of the most persistent afflictions of the American people. Most won't admit they are infected. Those who do admit it and work hard to try to eradicate these diseases have found that it is incredibly difficult to do so: white privilege is such an unspoken norm that even those whose economic status isn't in the upper echelons benefit from it and don't know it. The legacy of the 19th century has never been addressed fully because the white men in charge of the country have persisted in trying to ignore and disparage any admission of culpability and responsibility.
I really wasnтАЩt comfortable with Hillary ClintonтАЩs тАЬbasket of deplorablesтАЭ tag, but it does seem to have some legs. The fact that there is still an immovable double-digit crowd of supporters shouting тАЬMAGA!тАЭ and тАЬтАШMerica!тАЭ after all the тАЬfine people on both sidesтАЭ and тАЬgrab them by the hoo hooтАЭ moments makes me clear about their motivation: roll our society back to some Father-Knows-Best moment where women and POC know their place and it is fundamentally patriotic to go around shouting тАЬGet those ferтАЩners OUT!тАЭ
And notice that the examples I gave are 3-4 years old. This whole thing has been a rolling clusterf%#k of a nightmare for years. Make it stop.
Unfortunately not enough people understood the "basket of deplorables" referred to the white supremacists and nationalists his campaign was flirting with online. I've heard several people upset because they think she was referring to Republicans in general.
The most frustrating thing for me has been seeing people I know posting about the "Russia hoax" when I spent the whole 2016 campaign watching Trump and the extreme right wing online media sharing made up stories from Russia Today and Sputnik and retweeting crap from the "alt-right" ЁЯджЁЯП╗тАНтЩАя╕П
This is something I've said over and over again...as long as whatever they do gets the "libtards" mad, then it's worth whatever the price to be paid. Well, for the past 3 years we've seen just exactly what that price is and what it is costing EVERYBODY. I'd ask them, "Was it really worth destroying a political party and sending the country into anarchy just to try and piss me off???" I think a few of them are realising it maybe wasn't worth the cost.
I am also amazed. Especially each time I speak with a family member whose position is: "Anyone-But-Biden!!" The irrationality and denial is baffling (not to mentioned frustrating...)
I have a close friend who is a Republican who "loathes and disdains trump" but she is voting straight Rep because her parents and grandparents always did. They've also been brainwashed about Dems being socialists and communists. They've drunk the KoolAid. Ugh
When I was around 12 & reading Reader's Digest there was a humorous piece in one of the sharing sections. A young recently married couple were preparing a Sunday dinner (it was the early 60s) & he noticed his wife cutting off the ends of the ham before putting it into the pan for baking. He asked her "why?" and she responds "that's the way my mother does it." Hmm.
So the next time he's at his in-laws, he asks his mother-in-law why she cuts off the ends of the ham before she bakes it. Her response is also "that's the way my mother does it."
At some point, he gets to ask grandma why she cuts off the ends of the ham before baking. Her answer " so it would fit in the pan".
I love repeating this story whenever someone tells me they've always done something a particular way.
I love this story, thanks so much! My husband wants me to challenge my friend on her vote, but I want to retain our friendship. Tough call... What I cannot understand is how someone with so many of my exact standards and values can be so blind to the truth! I watch the Lincoln Project Town Halls and they suggest asking one's friend or family member to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate, "just this once", to save the democracy and the planet. I could try that, in a non-judgemental way...
I have a R friend and in discussing being a loyal Republican, I said to her...you can be a Republican, but why be a Trump Republican? She seemed to be reconsidering her stance.
Thank you Lynell, I appreciate your input. I did carefully compose and send a letter to my friend and I did use the ham story! I also used Carole Wilson's suggestion, and the Lincoln Project's "just this once" idea. It is St. Francis' Day and I led in by saying he's the patron saint of animals and the environment. I asked her to consider the climate crisis for the good of our families and grandchildren. I repeated that her friendship is of great value to me but I wanted her to think about this. Thank you everyone for your great suggestions!
Don't assume they are "thinking persons." If they were, they would have deserted Trump months, if not years, ago. Ingrained fear that someone who hasn't worked for it is going to take away or even share in what they have blocks all normal thinking processes.
That, and the notion that the economy and stock market are the same thing. I say that because when we press acquaintances as to what exactly is it they like about this unlikeable individual, or name something positive heтАЩs done while in office, and most often we get the general тАЬheтАЩs been good for the economyтАЭ.
Steve, I agree with you 100%...not just because we share the same name (which obviously implies a superior intelligence), but because it has always been a mystery to me that 40% of the American public consistently believes in this man - in spite of all the lies, the scandals, the false denials, the lack of empathy and denigration of anyone who disagrees, the racism, etc.
But....one must remember that 50% of all Americans have below average IQ.
But the sad thing is so many smart, educated people are still on the tRump train. I see it in my FaceBook friendsтАЩ posts and there is no convincing them no matter how many facts I rebut with.
I was talking with a friend yesterday who is an adamant trumpeteer, we have agreed a long time ago to not talk politics, and she is still gung-ho trump. sigh
His cult does not think. Most of them are as racist as he is or they love the class clown or they have some hot button issue like abortion or all of the above.
While he's there, he needs a psychological evaluation. In his second video he casually mentioned "locked in a room upstairs." That didn't sound good to me.
If you are born into privilege in any society in the world, it is nigh impossible to give up what you have. The mind automatically rationalizes why you deserve it. That is what I think is going on.
This country's needed a "damned good whacking" for a long time. it's finally getting it. Maybe perhaps we shall "wake the fck up" finally. And I don't just say that about Trumpers. I just wish it had only involved the idiots when it came to dying of the plague, but that's the way plagues are.
What has amazed me all along and what continues to amaze me is how much support Trump does still have. I can't understand how any thinking person could possibly believe America is in good hands with Trump in the White House. America needs a therapist.
Racism and sexism are two of the most persistent afflictions of the American people. Most won't admit they are infected. Those who do admit it and work hard to try to eradicate these diseases have found that it is incredibly difficult to do so: white privilege is such an unspoken norm that even those whose economic status isn't in the upper echelons benefit from it and don't know it. The legacy of the 19th century has never been addressed fully because the white men in charge of the country have persisted in trying to ignore and disparage any admission of culpability and responsibility.
I do believe it is racism as you describe it, Linda, that keeps people supporting him no matter what.
I really wasnтАЩt comfortable with Hillary ClintonтАЩs тАЬbasket of deplorablesтАЭ tag, but it does seem to have some legs. The fact that there is still an immovable double-digit crowd of supporters shouting тАЬMAGA!тАЭ and тАЬтАШMerica!тАЭ after all the тАЬfine people on both sidesтАЭ and тАЬgrab them by the hoo hooтАЭ moments makes me clear about their motivation: roll our society back to some Father-Knows-Best moment where women and POC know their place and it is fundamentally patriotic to go around shouting тАЬGet those ferтАЩners OUT!тАЭ
And notice that the examples I gave are 3-4 years old. This whole thing has been a rolling clusterf%#k of a nightmare for years. Make it stop.
Unfortunately not enough people understood the "basket of deplorables" referred to the white supremacists and nationalists his campaign was flirting with online. I've heard several people upset because they think she was referring to Republicans in general.
The most frustrating thing for me has been seeing people I know posting about the "Russia hoax" when I spent the whole 2016 campaign watching Trump and the extreme right wing online media sharing made up stories from Russia Today and Sputnik and retweeting crap from the "alt-right" ЁЯджЁЯП╗тАНтЩАя╕П
America needs a therapist.
As long as he makes the тАЬlibsтАЭ mad, his base doesnтАЩt care what else he does, even if it is against their own self-interest.
This is something I've said over and over again...as long as whatever they do gets the "libtards" mad, then it's worth whatever the price to be paid. Well, for the past 3 years we've seen just exactly what that price is and what it is costing EVERYBODY. I'd ask them, "Was it really worth destroying a political party and sending the country into anarchy just to try and piss me off???" I think a few of them are realising it maybe wasn't worth the cost.
IтАЩll start asking exactly that question. Good idea.
Hey, Bruce! Happy to agree with you here.
ЁЯСН
Also, Fox News is telling a completely different story from this, and every other news outlet.
And therein is the vector of this horrid political disease..
I am also amazed. Especially each time I speak with a family member whose position is: "Anyone-But-Biden!!" The irrationality and denial is baffling (not to mentioned frustrating...)
You answered your own question. Thinking people donтАЩt support Trump. ItтАЩs a problem that there arenтАЩt more thinking people.
I have a close friend who is a Republican who "loathes and disdains trump" but she is voting straight Rep because her parents and grandparents always did. They've also been brainwashed about Dems being socialists and communists. They've drunk the KoolAid. Ugh
When I was around 12 & reading Reader's Digest there was a humorous piece in one of the sharing sections. A young recently married couple were preparing a Sunday dinner (it was the early 60s) & he noticed his wife cutting off the ends of the ham before putting it into the pan for baking. He asked her "why?" and she responds "that's the way my mother does it." Hmm.
So the next time he's at his in-laws, he asks his mother-in-law why she cuts off the ends of the ham before she bakes it. Her response is also "that's the way my mother does it."
At some point, he gets to ask grandma why she cuts off the ends of the ham before baking. Her answer " so it would fit in the pan".
I love repeating this story whenever someone tells me they've always done something a particular way.
I love this story, thanks so much! My husband wants me to challenge my friend on her vote, but I want to retain our friendship. Tough call... What I cannot understand is how someone with so many of my exact standards and values can be so blind to the truth! I watch the Lincoln Project Town Halls and they suggest asking one's friend or family member to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate, "just this once", to save the democracy and the planet. I could try that, in a non-judgemental way...
I have a R friend and in discussing being a loyal Republican, I said to her...you can be a Republican, but why be a Trump Republican? She seemed to be reconsidering her stance.
Thanks, that's a great idea! I must try one more time.
Ooh, I like your idea, Carole, better than mine!
Let me butt in and suggest you tell BetsyC's ham story right after some light talk you may be having with your friend about the election.
Thank you Lynell, I appreciate your input. I did carefully compose and send a letter to my friend and I did use the ham story! I also used Carole Wilson's suggestion, and the Lincoln Project's "just this once" idea. It is St. Francis' Day and I led in by saying he's the patron saint of animals and the environment. I asked her to consider the climate crisis for the good of our families and grandchildren. I repeated that her friendship is of great value to me but I wanted her to think about this. Thank you everyone for your great suggestions!
So glad to hear, and thank you for taking the time to respond. I hope it works out for you!
I remember that story!
Don't assume they are "thinking persons." If they were, they would have deserted Trump months, if not years, ago. Ingrained fear that someone who hasn't worked for it is going to take away or even share in what they have blocks all normal thinking processes.
That, and the notion that the economy and stock market are the same thing. I say that because when we press acquaintances as to what exactly is it they like about this unlikeable individual, or name something positive heтАЩs done while in office, and most often we get the general тАЬheтАЩs been good for the economyтАЭ.
I believe this to be the root of our problem.
Which is the strategy all along. And the more fear they can spread, the higher chance others will join them.
Steve, I agree with you 100%...not just because we share the same name (which obviously implies a superior intelligence), but because it has always been a mystery to me that 40% of the American public consistently believes in this man - in spite of all the lies, the scandals, the false denials, the lack of empathy and denigration of anyone who disagrees, the racism, etc.
But....one must remember that 50% of all Americans have below average IQ.
But the sad thing is so many smart, educated people are still on the tRump train. I see it in my FaceBook friendsтАЩ posts and there is no convincing them no matter how many facts I rebut with.
I was talking with a friend yesterday who is an adamant trumpeteer, we have agreed a long time ago to not talk politics, and she is still gung-ho trump. sigh
His cult does not think. Most of them are as racist as he is or they love the class clown or they have some hot button issue like abortion or all of the above.
While he's there, he needs a psychological evaluation. In his second video he casually mentioned "locked in a room upstairs." That didn't sound good to me.
If you are born into privilege in any society in the world, it is nigh impossible to give up what you have. The mind automatically rationalizes why you deserve it. That is what I think is going on.
This country's needed a "damned good whacking" for a long time. it's finally getting it. Maybe perhaps we shall "wake the fck up" finally. And I don't just say that about Trumpers. I just wish it had only involved the idiots when it came to dying of the plague, but that's the way plagues are.