The beginning of the end?

[aka Contrarian]

The commentary quoted below  is circulating around META. It expresses a popular point of view, but its message doesn't uplift me. It disturbs me.

America is what it is, and the Trump trend shows no sign of  abating. 

 

                ********

 

"I’ve been watching an absolutely heroic amount of pearl-clutching lately from people who insist that J.D. Vance would somehow be “worse” than Trump once Trump’s inevitable political and biological expiration arrives.

Let’s get something straight: it has never been about Trump, not for one second.

Trump is just the mascot. The real story is the people who finally saw themselves in him and felt validated by what they saw.

I actually believe most of them will drift away when the cult collapses, like embarrassed fans of a one-hit wonder. Many of them will swear they were never really into him at all. The MAGA amnesia is going to be epic.

I used to wonder how it was possible that Trump could have won in 2016 and then again in 2024, given how emotionally toxic, morally vacant, and psychologically mangled he is.

I don’t wonder anymore.

I think he won for that exact reason.

He wasn’t a candidate. He was a mirror.

If you were a racist, you found your guy.
If you were a misogynist, you found your guy.
If money was your only religion, you found your guy.
If your heart was armored shut, you found your guy.
If you mocked disabled people, you found your guy.
If you hated intelligent people, you found your guy.
If you were a rapist, you found your guy.
If you enjoyed golden showers with Russian sex workers, you found your guy.
If you’d done absolutely nothing to confront your emotional wreckage, you found your guy.
If you were a serial cheater, you found your guy.
If you were a perpetual bankrupt, you found your guy.
If you stiffed honest workers, you found your guy.
If you were a conman, you found your guy.
If you mocked people’s appearances, you found your guy.
If you longed for a toxic Daddy, you found your guy.
If you were dissociated and disembodied, you found your guy.
If you were unconscionable in every economic dealing, you found your guy.
If you lied as naturally as breathing, you found your guy.
If you’d never eaten a green vegetable, you found your guy.
If you were a white supremacist, you found your guy.
If your ego contained a hole so large not even the presidency could fill it, you found your guy.
If you were a sociopath who cared not one molecule about other humans, you found your guy.

If he had only two of these traits, he never would have won. He won because he had hundreds of them, and millions of people recognized themselves in at least one.

This has never been about Trump. It has always been about the people who finally had their worst instincts validated.

Trump didn’t create the cruelty, he licensed it. He handed out permission slips for hate.

He is merely a symptom of a far deeper disease: collective toxicity.

If there is one sentence that explains Trump’s power, it is this: “He says the things I’m thinking.”

That’s the part that should chill the spine.

Who knew that tens of millions of Americans were thinking such unconscionable things about their fellow citizens? Who knew how many white men felt so threatened by women and challenged by minorities that they were ready to torch democracy to feel big again? Who knew that after decades of apparent progress on race and gender, so many people were living in seething resentment, waiting for a demagogue to legitimize their worst selves and convert their bitterness into political power?

Perhaps we were living in a fool’s paradise.

We aren't now."

              Michael Jochum

 

So, presumably, all of those who don't fit the descriptions above would be people who are genuininely appalled and disgusted by Trumpism. In other words, bleeding heart Democrats and compassionate Independents.

Unfortunately, these 2 groups are no big threat to the stronghold the present Retrumpican regime has on the government, aided and abetted by the American Heritage Foundation Project 2025.  This formidable alliance does not  bode well for reversing America's current course.

And therein lies the crisis, because it's not a given that winning an election will oust the losers, -  no guarantee that Retrumpicans will concede defeat and allow the Democrats to take over if they prevail at the polls. Under Trump, the rule of law wasn't a priority; no reason to believe the incumbant administration would suddenly start adhering to the Constitution.

Michael Jochum, is much too optimistic when it comes to the Trump cult disbanding and the MAGA crowd drifting away! 

Even as we editorialize, America is turning into a rogue nation, throwing its weight around, dismantling the status quo. The  population may be divided when it comes to supporting Trump's  "my way or the highway" policy but those who oppose it have no muscle because Commander and Chief Trump holds all the high cards.

 Democracy is on its last legs, while fascism gains momentum. As the USA, with Trump at the helm, shows its true colors, can the right wing bulldozer be stopped? 

Violence is imminent.

[ProfD]

Excellent post.

 

A long time ago, I recognized POTUS OJ as the personification of racism white supremacy and the worst of humanity.

 

This guy represents millions of white men and a few wannabes among non-white men too.

 

Many women are dealing with it as they have been conditioned to do by culture.

 

Demagogues do not come a dime a dozen. There will be no MAGA torch-bearer when this clown expires.

 

Thankfully, POTUS OJ is too old to wield power more than a few years. The main thing is how much damage he'll do in the process.

 

Hang on to your seats. The ride could get bumpy.

 

In my eternal optimism, I believe this too shall pass.

[Delano]

I am not certain it will improve. Since he has kaid the blueprint down. We are taking their oil and taking over.

[Troy]

Yeah I could see this type of thing circulating in the feed of both Trumper haters a loyalists.  If AKA had not posted it here I would not have read it on any social platform (I try not read anything on social that is not from a source I recognize).

 

I reject the premise.  I don't think Trump is a mirror of the people -- that is hyperbolic. Trump won the presidential election through a wide variety to strategies and luck. Trump is a reflection of a failed system that benefits from men with money and the willingness to disseminate false propaganda (lies).  

 

To say Trump is a reflection of the people is simply wrong, we are better than that.

[ProfD]

3 hours ago, Troy said:

I reject the premise.  I don't think Trump is a mirror of the people -- that is hyperbolic. Trump won the presidential election through a wide variety to strategies and luck. Trump is a reflection of a failed system that benefits from men with money and the willingness to disseminate false propaganda (lies).  

 

To say Trump is a reflection of the people is simply wrong, we are better than that.

POTUS OJ is not a reflection of ALL people.  But, there are millions of people who can relate to and/or admire him in one or another.

[aka Contrarian]

I agree with Prof D. Trump isn't a reflection of all Americans but something about him appeals to millions of them. 

I am not convinced that a divided Democratic party can oust his party in the next election.

The Retrumpicans are not of a mind to give up power, and they have control of the Supreme Court and the Military. Not to mention how apathetic the younger generations are when it comes to politics.

All you starry-eyed optimists  may be in for a rude awakening.

[Delano]

The President is symbolic if the country's Zeitgeist.