The profound sadness of Trumpism

[kpete]

As I watched the video clip below of Trumpists protesting at Mar-a-Lago in support of golden-spooned Donald J. Trump, the usual bemusement gave way to profound sadness. Like Confederate soldiers before them, elite and non-elite conservatives have given over their lives to another Lost Cause. They are lost in a miasma of propaganda, misinformation, myths, and near-worship of a corrupt, emotionally damaged man for whom truth is a stranger and lies his only friends.

Why? Because Trump and his Republican allies promise to make their social safety net great again. Not the one built with tax dollars, but the social one that preserves their “right” to political dominance. Trump promises that even as a minority his believers will have a floor below which no matter their economic status they will not fall. Others who once knew their places will know them again. Believe him.

https://digbysblog.net/2022/08/14/the-new-lost-cause/

[Kid Berwyn]

1. Dead-Enders. Sad.

From Digby:

Dave Neiwert profiles one of the newest would-be martyrs in the 21st-century Lost Cause:

Ricky Shiffer was like a lot of MAGA “patriots,” often proclaiming his willingness to die for Donald Trump. Like seemingly all Trump fans, he was outraged that the FBI served a search warrant on the ex-president’s Florida estate, eager to declare “civil war” on “the Deep State.” Shiffer was such a True Believer that on Thursday, he tried to attack the FBI office in Cincinnati, Ohio, and ended up dying next to a cornfield a few miles away.

Shiffer believed he was dying a martyr to the cause. But his only reward was for the community of terminally online Trumpists with whom he spent his time to immediately denounce him as a “crisis actor” who had performed a “false flag” operation with the sole purpose of smearing MAGA people by association.

Inflation is killing them, Republican leaders insist, and gas prices, even as they fall precipitously. But gas is not so expensive that it keeps true believers from parading in gas-guzzling trucks festooned with Trump and American flags. Inflation does not keep them from buying more tee shirts, hats, and other Trump merch. Trump will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no Trump, to borrow from the Freak Brothers.

“He has never lied about anything!” a Lost Causer insisted to CNN last week outside Mar-a-Lago.

Continues…

https://digbysblog.net/2022/08/14/the-new-lost-cause/

[SergeStorms]

38. "He has never lied about anything".

Allow that statement to sink in for a few undisturbed moments.

This is not a cult, they insist.

The incomprehensible fantasy of that single statement, "He has never lied about anything", demonstrates the alternate reality these people share.

It's mass mental illness, with Donald Trump as cult leader and main patient. One wonders, and hopes, that this incredibly dangerous and insipid cult meets the exact same end as The People's Temple cult in Jonestown. It would be the only fitting end to this extremely sad chapter in American history.

However, these crazies are heavily armed and won't go as quietly as those in Jonestown. There were only a few vicious shootings of innocents before the final curtain fell in Jonestown. These psychotic loons will undoubtedly take scores of lives, at best, before their final minutes on the stage.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

2. Trump was their imaginary savior

[Aristus]

10. That pic is the answer to the riddle:

“What has sixty legs but only twelve teeth?”

“The front row at a Trump rally.”

Have you ever noticed that Trumpers never look happy? Those faces reflect the soul-crushing emptiness that results from placing one’s confidence in a confidence man, hoping he is the key to solving all one’s troubles.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

23. Yes, and that photo was taken in 2016,

but the same exact photo could be taken today. Trump did nothing to help them.

[Samrob]

3. Folks with too much time and money. nt

[SergeStorms]

40. But most of these sick souls....

don't have the money. They're maxing out credit cards to donate to the Grifter in Chief and to buy his tacky merchandise.

Many have no more to give, and their lives are in much worse financial condition than at the start of this mass mental illness exercise. They are at the end of their ropes, and going out in a romanticized "blaze of glory" is the only end they see for themselves. Dog help us.

[Goodheart]

4. "Like Confederate soldiers before them"

I think it all boils down to white supremacy.

I wrote this on another board dominated by trumpians:

"About the Civil War:

A bunch of miserable white boys, who themselves are being held down financially and socially by aristocrats, and who are actually despised as lowlifes by those aristocrats, nevertheless volunteer to defend those aristocrats because, after all, they're still a rung on the race class ladder above the minorities. That point of stupid pride is exploited into warfare.

Amazing how difficult it is to distinguish the Confederate soldier from today's trumpian."

[Ocelot II]

6. As LBJ once said:

“If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”

[fightforfreedom]

11. Exactly, I posted something similar in the past.

The Trump voters are like the poor white southern dirt farmers who never owned a slave in their lives, decided to commit treason and fight for rich peoples currency, slaves and cotton. DUH!

[hibbing]

19. Only a Pawn in their Game B. Dylan

A South politician preaches to the poor white man
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain
You're better than them, you been born with white skin, "

Peace

[uponit7771]

27. +1, a bunch of mostly working wage people doing the bidding of a so call billionaire and grifters

[Evolve Dammit]

39. Interestingly is that after the war, the same elites were terrified of the poor whites uniting with

freed slaves as it would have been a formidable army that could have easily toppled them. Had to get the racism stirred up immediately and keep it cranked up. Same as it is today really.

[jaysunb]

5. Excellent analysis 👏 nt

[gab13by13]

7. Religion plays a role.

They are a religious cult. We just got a new priest, only been here 3 weeks. I got to talk with him a bit. His family is law enforcement. I pegged him as a Republican. He gave a sermon today, talked about the journalist who was captured by al-Qaeda during the Iraq war. They gave the journalist an ultimatum, accept Islam or die. The priest came pretty close to bashing the guy for choosing to accept Islam on TV to save his life. The priest then said he would hope that he would have chosen to die for his religion. The priest's sermon made me wonder, is this how Magats feel about Trump? I mean they believe he was sent by God to purge Democrats.

I am going to think of a way to find out if our new priest is a Trumper

[paleotn]

12. The evangelicals think Trump will return them to preeminence.

And was sent by gawd to do just that. They view Biden's election as a momentary setback, kind of like The Empire Strikes Back, but like the Star Wars series, they and their vision of Jebus will be gain dominion over our society, our country and all of its institutions.

https://politicalresearch.org/2016/08/18/dominionism-rising-a-theocratic-movement-hiding-in-plain-sight

[keopeli]

14. That's definitely a red flag. It may be hard to find out, but there will be signs, no doubt.

[uponit7771]

29. +1,

[jmbar2]

8. Needed: Chapters of "Trumpers Anonymous"

While the initial attraction may have been to Trump and his dogwhistle-views, a lot of very marginal folks found instant acceptance in a tribe that has very low acceptance criteria. Their connections to other Trumpers may be the only social connections they have.

It provided them with comradship, camping opportunities, entertainment, and regular ecstatic releases at rallies. If they give it up, what will fill the empty void?

A 12-step program for former Trumpers would at least allow them to transfer their tribal membership away from Donald's Rump to the group itself.

Just a thought...

[packman]

13. I agree 100% - More social than political

Sorta like kids getting some cardboard boxes, scrawling "MY CLUB" in crayon on it and then sitting in it farting and picking their noses all the time thinking , " My friends, my group, my kind of people."

And the other kids just sort of ignoring them and going on with their lives.

I feel churches are like that - a bunch of people feeling comfortable and entertained all at the same time and feeling somehow "special".

[Joinfortmill]

18. Or they could do volunteer work, but that would be helping someone else, so no not for them.

[Paladin]

9. No sadness for trumpists (even those who used to be friends).

Sadness is way too close to sympathy, and I'll be damned if I'll toss something close to sympathy in their direction (even those who used to be friends). We'll never reclaim what remains of our country by being nice. Democrats need to realize that and act accordingly.

[Joinfortmill]

15. Exactly right. Fuck them all.

[paleotn]

16. The cultists need mass deprogramming.

[ashredux]

17. When I looked at the crowd outside Mar-a-Lago, my first thought was, which ones were getting paid

[niyad]

20. An excellent point.

[Iggo]

28. You mean like crisis actors?

Come on, now.

[ashredux]

31. Yep

[Iggo]

32. Okay. Thanks for playing.

[uponit7771]

30. +1,

[gulliver]

21. I like the "social safety net" analogy, but the Trumpies mainly just want what most Dems want

Most of our Dem issues are popular and common sense. The "Inflation Reduction Act" is a brilliant example of that. We're also in the driver's seat when it comes to reproductive freedom, equality, and gay rights. We just need to front and center our commonsense, wise people and dispel the false image of Dems as anything from a "ship of woke fools" to child molesters and commies.

None of that unpopular, crazy crap is Dem. The beliefs of a majority of Dems are Dem in a democracy. The true base is the common sense, majority people, not the loudest, most empathic, most enraged, most frightened, most tweety, or even the most committed people. That's how you show democracy in action. Do that, and we strengthen democracy and get our stuff done.

[William Seger]

22. I feel sorry for someone that stupid and ignorant

... but I don't have anything but contempt for anyone so willing to inflict their stupidity on others. Donald Trump has done a lot of damage, and these assholes are ultimately responsible for it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

26. tRump is a criminal preying on weaker segments of society, especially for grifting (fundraising) .nt

[jcgoldie]

24. WJ Cash Mind of the South

Why do dirt poor white people consistently act in opposition to their mutual economic interests with African Americans? Because race is status. If a black man can be president which seems to have been the match that set off Maga ignorance… then what status do they have? Its all about fear and the loss of privilege.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. Not make THEIR net great. Cons promise to make OTHERS' nets weaker, to hurt them. That's why. nt

[Chainfire]

33. I think that perhaps "sadness" implies some empathy for them.

I have no empathy for them; they do not deserve it. They are the enemies of Democracy and I give no quarter to my enemies.

[vlyons]

34. As a longtime Buddhist, I am taught to have compassion

for all sentient beings -- yes even the stupid MAGATs. Why? Because their stupid delusions about politics and misunderstanding about what Jesus taught keeps them angry and filled with hatred about that over which they have no control. They do not understand that all that anger and blaming others, liberals, gays, blacks, immigrants, abortion seekers, etc, is what keeps them locked in suffering. There is no peace of mind and happiness for them.

I'm 75 and not in good health. There's not much I can do to wake them up, except vote for Dems, who if we have a majority can get stuff done to make everyone's life better. I have given up trying to reason with them. Their minds are closed. But if some good jobs open in their community, and inflation and gas prices go down, the kitchen table issues that affects everyone, then maybe their anger and hatred will lesson.

Call me a silly old woman, if you want. But I really believe that if we are successful in enacting more of our liberal agenda, some of the RWers will get on board with us.

[DENVERPOPS]

35. Beautifully said Kpete

Thank you, I enjoy reading your comments.........

[Midnight Writer]

36. It is sad to drive through the poorest section of my town and see all the Trump flags and signs.

Some of these shacks have a dozen or more Trump yard signs, and their cars are all done up in Trump stickers and decals.

[LudwigPastorius]

37. I know they are fellow Americans, but fuck them.

...because they seek no less than the destruction of our democratic institutions and the installment of a ruling minority party led by an autocrat unbound by our Constitution.