Thursday, May 9, 2019

"Trump Derangement Syndrome"


Authoritarian MAGAts have been passing a “Trump Derangement Syndrome” meme that they think teaches us libs a lesson. There’s even an element of truth to it, as in a half-truth.

I’m sure they get quite a rush of malevolent delight from their two-sentence meme lifted from a Psychology Today article on Trump Derangement Syndrome. There is no such diagnosis, of course. The author confirms,  “TDS is not a real, diagnosable or treatable mental disorder... There is no shared lay understanding of TDS, mainly because it is a folk category rather than a professional category.”

Despite the claim it is “all you need to know about Trump Derangement Syndrome”, the article is grossly un-scientific. It is filled with such vacuous “evidence” in the forms of “many have been questioning”, “more people are suggesting”, “Some have even suggested”, “much armchair speculation”, “Several commentators have run with this”, and “Many have argued”.

We can’t question those clear-eyed experts and their un-educated, biased opinions, can we?

And of course the authoritarian MAGAts never actually read the article, or obviously ignored the opening paragraph.

"Indeed, over 70,000 people self-identifying as "mental health professionals" have signed a petition declaring that "Trump is mentally ill and must be removed." In sociological terms, the ‘medical gaze’ has been hitherto focused on President Trump, and to a lesser extent his ardent supporters."

Look no further than a Trump rally to see him spew lies and delusions for his indoctrinated cult. Here him amp up anger, and agitate his enraged crowd to chant for imprisoning his political opponents, and to harass and assault journalists and protesters. Naturally this objective and observable case study isn’t the point of the article.

Then the pivot.

However, in recent months many have been questioning the direction of this ‘medical gaze.' In fact, more and more people are suggesting that this ‘medical gaze’ should be reversed and refocused on President Trump’s most embittered and partisan opponents. Some have even suggested that these opponents are experiencing a specific mental condition, which has been labeled ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome' (TDS).

The sources quoted are pro-Trump, right wing hacks “well-known writer” Bernard Goldberg and “political commentator” Justin Raimondo.

Shared amongst these (commentators) is a notion that the everyday activities of President Trump trigger some people into distorted opinions, extreme emotions and hysterical behaviors. 

(Note to Psychology Today: This is an example of what projection looks like.)

Two other non-clinical opinions are offered for “balance”.

Contrariwise, many others ridicule the notion that TDS is anything but a malicious slur term used to discredit and delegitimize criticism of President Trump. For example, CNN’s Chris Cillizza speaks for many when he states that "the truth is that TDS is just the preferred nomenclature of Trump defenders who view those who oppose him and his policies as nothing more than blind hatred." Likewise, Adam Gopnik writes that "our problem is not TDS, our problem is Deranged Trump Self-Delusion."

In other words, there are polarized opinions about the nature, reality and existence of TDS.

All right, then. Pop psychology and “bothsiderism”, with a clear slant to the right.

Obviously none of this is in the MAGAt meme. Here’s their “money shot” that they think will own the libs:

Many have argued that some people have been seriously disturbed and distressed by the policies, speech, behavior and tweets of President Trump, so much so that it has affected their cognitive, affective and behavioral functioning. Such people may need mental health support. 

While I’m not a psychiatrist, I do have decades of experience working in community mental health. And since I am also a political commentator, that should qualify me more than the article’s sources to arrive at a real world conclusion. Yes, Trump really does “trigger some people into distorted opinions, extreme emotions and hysterical behaviors.” 

But it sure ain’t the liberals.

This is the reality. As any Trump rally abundantly demonstrates, MAGAts are filled with indoctrinated fear, anger, hate and delusions. The Tangerine Tyrant feeds their paranoia. They see enemies in not only liberals, but everyone not in their cult. They berate the press as the “enemy of the people”. The most deranged have attacked and even killed without warning. In any world, white nationalist terrorists like the MAGA bomber are severely deranged.

As for Trump’s effect on those outside the cult, this is their reality.

It’s no surprise that some people have been seriously disturbed and distressed by Trump’s unending stream of ignorance, indecency, and lies.

It’s no surprise that some people have been seriously disturbed and distressed by the rampant dishonesty and corruption of the Party of Trump and his Administration

It’s no surprise that some people have been seriously disturbed and distressed by Trump siding with Putin and betraying our country in Helsinki.

It’s no surprise that some people have been seriously disturbed and distressed by Trump’s hateful racist rhetoric emboldening white nationalists to acts of murder and terrorism.

It’s no surprise that some people have been seriously disturbed and distressed by Trump’s cruel child abuse, ordering children to be stripped from their mothers arms and locking them in pens, until some even died.

These are natural and sane reactions to evil.

Trump has indeed left millions of people disturbed and distressed, but only his corrupt party of authoritarians and frothing MAGAts are truly deranged by their evil leader.

8 comments:

Just the Facts! said...

Mueller found no evidence of collusion, or conspiracy, between President Trump’s campaign and the Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election–and did not find evidence of obstruction of justice, effectively clearing the president on all counts.

If there had been evidence of collusion, or conspiracy, then Mueller would have stated same. After all he had close two years and millions of dollars to find "evidence".

There is nothing to see here.

BUT there was an attempt by the Russians to influence our elections that President Obama knew about at least as far back as 2014 and he either didn't do enough to stop or he did nothing. That is something that needs to be investigated. The failure of the Obama administration to prevent/stop Russian meddling in our elections is what the Mueller investigation has exposed.

dave, you expect to be taken seriously when you quote CNN? Desperate times for leftist.

Dave Dubya said...

Hey, kids.

Welcome to Dave Dubya’s ongoing Symposium On Malevolence And Derangement: (S.O.M.A.D.) Right Wing Authoritarians.

We have Just The Facts as a special guest, presenting an object lesson for our discussion.

Since he is utterly incapable of good faith discussion, Vern kindly offered us a case study in Trump Derangement Syndrome. Who can better demonstrate TDS than our very own authoritarian troll?

We can find both entertainment and enlightenment in dissecting his derangement, as we break down his deflections, ignorance, delusions, falsehoods, dishonesty, and outright lies. We are free to decide how much of his deflections, ignorance, delusions, falsehoods, dishonesty, and outright lies derive from malevolent intent or cult indoctrination. Both generously apply to the authoritarian disordered belief system currently manifested in TDS.

First thing first. Definitions of terms. (Vern will have no input in this because he has no moral grounding or intellectual prowess to define anything. Authoritarians must never be allowed to define any terms, especially about non-authoritarians.)

From Merriam-Webster:

Collusion: secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or deceitful purpose.

Derange: to make mentally unsound or insane.

What is mentally unsound or insane? Denial of reality, embrace of delusions, and rejection of observable facts are all features of being mentally unsound and insane. They are also all features of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

From Oxford English Dictionary:

Syndrome: a characteristic combination of opinions, emotions, or behavior.

TDS Opinions over facts: (Dishonesty, distortions, deflections and lies as “alternative facts.”)

TDS Emotions over reason: (Resentment, fear, anger and hate.)

TDS Behavior: (Ranging from indecency, rudeness, personal smears, threats, and ultimately to violence.)

Stay tuned and have fun!

Dave Dubya said...

Here we go, into the darkness of derangement and dishonesty. How deranged is his opening sentence?

Mueller found no evidence of collusion, or conspiracy, between President Trump’s campaign and the Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election–and did not find evidence of obstruction of justice, effectively clearing the president on all counts.

The fact is Mueller found so much evidence of collusion and obstruction that he made it clear the report “DOES NOT EXONERATE HIM”.

This reality proves Vern’s claim “clearing the president on all counts” is a lie, or a delusion if it is believed true. This is dishonesty or outright derangement, folks. JTF is welcome to inform us which of the two applies.

Collusion didn't apply to the investigation:

“Collusion is not a specific offense or theory of liability found in the United States Code, nor is it a term of art in federal criminal law. For those reasons, the Office’s focus in analyzing questions of joint criminal liability was on conspiracy as defined in federal law.”

The Trump Tower meeting with Russian agents was collusion, but Mueller didn’t find sufficient evidence to convict for specific conditions of conspiracy.

There was collusion: secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or deceitful purpose.

The truth is Mueller recounts numerous contacts between Trump’s people and Russians, and they LIED under oath about those contacts. Flynn and Manifort and Cohen are just three of the convicted criminals.

Mueller continues: .... the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the Campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts... The Russian contacts consisted of business connections, offers of assistance to the Campaign, invitations for candidate Trump and Putin to meet in person, invitations for Campaign officials and representatives of the Russian government to meet, and policy positions seeking improved U.S.-Russian relations.

That’s a lot of “secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or deceitful purpose”, aka collusion.

JTF’s claim that Mueller “did not find evidence of obstruction of justice” is another lie or delusion. This is derangement.

Mueller provides this evidence of obstruction and witness intimidation:

"The President launched public attacks on the investigation and individuals involved in it who could possess evidence adverse to the President, while in private, the President engaged in a series of targeted efforts to control the investigation. For instance, the President attempted to remove the Special Counsel; he sought to have Attorney General Sessions unrecuse himself and limit the investigation; he sought to prevent public disclosure of information about the June 9, 2016 meeting between Russians and campaign officials; and he used public forums to attack potential witnesses who might offer adverse information and to praise witnesses who declined to cooperate with the government. Judgments about the nature of the President's motives during each phase would be informed by the totality of the evidence.

The president's efforts to influence the investigation were mostly unsuccessful, but that is largely because the persons who surrounded the president declined to carry out orders or accede to his requests."


Clearly Trump sought to control, influence, interfere, and shut down the investigation. This is obstruction of justice.

Only the fanatic and deranged MAGAts disagree. This denial of reality is part of their Trump Derangement Syndrome.

TB3 said...

Just like with all other efforts to provide information, context, and explain nuance to the JTF's of the world, they will simply disregard what you say, change the subject, bury their head in the sand, or simply ignore what you say.

And honestly... you're engaging them? The chances of JTF having read any of report independent of any analysis from the blatherers and spin doctors of what we're calling "The Right" is miniscule. Had they done even a cursory read through they would recognize how stupid they sound regurgitating the "Right" talking points. If, by chance, they have read the report independent of the spin they're upchucking... than they're just being an outright liar and disrespecting everyone's time. Of the two options, I really hope JTF is just a lazy idiot and not an outright liar. I have more empathy for the stupid... intentional or otherwise.

Jefferson's Guardian said...

"[The Verns of the world] will simply disregard what you say, change the subject, bury their head in the sand, or simply ignore what you say." ~~ TB3

and...

"Of the two options, I really hope JTF is just a lazy idiot and not an outright liar. I have more empathy for the stupid... intentional or otherwise." ~~ TB3

TB3, it's evident you're still trying to "convert" and reform the Verns of the world -- or, at least, in the nation. As the sayin' goes, "it ain't gonna happen".

Vern is an avowed and unapologetic racist. His family history of KKK membership goes back generations. With another racist in the White House, he's enamored and finally feeling vindication after America's audacity of electing, twice, a black man to the highest office in the land.

Trump will not, more exactly, cannot, do anything to lose his support and trust. Nothing. Trump could shit on the Constitution, which we're currently seeing him do, and Vern and the others like him will simply cheer him on.

Their racism and hate for all people of color supersedes and overrides any possible love or respect for the United States, and certainly for the supreme law of the land and the rule-of-law.

TB3, once you accept and understand this, you'll find you're not banging your head against the wall any longer trying to find the perfect antidote; the perfect mixture of logic and empathy to start a fruitful and meaningful dialog.

The only defense is a better offense. Throwing his lies back in his face, and forcing him to eat his own crap, is the best one can do.

Most simply choose to throw up their hands and walk away. That's not my style. I'll fight the lies, one by one, and expose him and his deplorable lot for the sub-human beings that they are.

As earlier mentioned, it's impossible to convert a racist. Some do find conversion, but it was found within themselves. Most however, like Vern, are wasted and will never find redemption.

Which reminds me...Vern, if you're listening (and I know you are), there's going to be a special just about you on MSNBC tomorrow (Sunday) night. It's scheduled for broadcast at 9:00 p.m. EDT (that's 8:00 p.m., Fort Worth time). I hope it doesn't interfere with your weekly KKK meeting at the ol' White Settlement, so don't miss it. Maybe you could host a group viewing! ;-)

TB3, and Dave, have a good weekend...

Dave Dubya said...

JG,
While the Trump's cult supporters are authoritarian racists, bigots, sociopaths, con-men, greedheads, and other deranged and deplorable frothing MAGAts, I can't call them sub-human.

Genetically they are human, they just happen to be among the worst of us.

Sub-human reeks of Hitler and his Nazi regime's use of "untermensch" for other human beings. And it is still a term favored by racist MAGAts like Ted Nugent when he called Obama a "sub-human mongrel".

I respect, admire, or prefer all sub-human creatures over Nazis and other white nationalist MAGAts.

Wouldn't you also prefer more cockroaches in our country over more MAGAts? The same would be true with more immigrants and less Republicans.

Let's not be "specie-ist". Homo Sapiens are a race imbued with the nature of both angels and demons. We can be the most noble and loving of all creatures, but the MAGAts among us can be the most vile and hateful beings on the planet.

Unknown said...

Conservatives always argue in bad faith. IT doesn't matter if they know Trump is a Traitor or a money launderer or a tax cheat or a disgusting philander or if they go bankrupt or lose their medicare or lose the farm all that matters PERIOD is to #OwntheLibs

Jefferson's Guardian said...

"It is absolutely willful ignorance and contempt for basic human decency. Their bottomless greed and authoritarian lust for power have made the Party of Trump the most corrupt and lawless party in the history of the republic." ~~ Dave Dubya

Taking it a step farther, the Party of Trump's adherents are nothing less than anarchists. Their complicity, by not speaking out, makes the former Party of Lincoln partners in collusion with the most corrupt executive branch in the history of the Republic.

We're seeing, for the first time, organized crime taking hold of the Republican Party -- and the Republican Party embracing it.