Common Ground

 

I’m happy our old radicalized far Right, Trump-supporting friend Darrell is preaching again. I do value his perspective in order to better understand the radical Right Trumpist mentality.

In his post, “The Unbridgeable Divide Between Left and Right”, he reasonably asks, “How does one find common ground when many of the points of contention are diametrically opposed and argued so vehemently?”

I can think of one or two reasons he would not want to consider, so I’d like to address them here.

A good start to finding common ground would be to accept verifiable facts, and not dismiss any journalism as “fake” if it doesn’t conform to, and support, Trump’s “alternative facts”, lies and propaganda.

If one’s grasp of reality relies on the Holy Infallible Word of Donald Trump, common ground is automatically denied. THAT is the primary deal-breaker.

And it also answers these questions:

How is it possible to bridge the divide…

…Between those who BELIEVE every word from Trump as gospel, and those who KNOW he’s a narcissistic, compulsive, serial LIAR?

…Between those who compromise, and those who REFUSE to compromise?

…Between those who were willing to pass border protection that included over a thousand new officers and additional fentanyl detection devices, and those who killed it on orders from ONE man who WANTS a border crisis to base his campaign on so he can be above the law and stay out of prison?

…Between those who would vote for Trump even if he is a convicted criminal and those who support equal justice under law?

…Between those who support an authoritarian who calls his opposition “vermin” and “communists” and those who know the history of the same hate rhetoric from 1930’s Germany?

…Between those who support a man who sent an angry and violent mob to the Capitol, REFUSED to call them off,  and PRAISED his thugs (“hostages”) after watching them desecrate our Capitol, terrorized Congress, and beat cops bloody attempting to steal the election, and those who see this as gross negligence, a crime, and a betrayal of our republic that terminated our history of peaceful transfer of power?

…Between those who want to IMPOSE their religious beliefs against the will of MOST Americans, and those who understand our republic is NOT based on, or favors, any religion?

…Between those who accuse a Democrat of trying to “overthrow the elected prime minister of Israel” (by calling for an election, of all the “tyranny”,) and those who KNOW Israel is sick of their leader who is charged with corruption, having the support of only 19% of the Israeli people?

…Between the intolerant bigots who howl against drag queens and those who know drag is theatre, not indoctrination, and that Reagan and Giuliani have done it, and those who KNOW far more clergy abuse children than drag queens ever did?

…Between those who are intolerant of the LGBTQ community and won’t mind their own business, and people exercising their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

…Between those who think the covid vaccination is more dangerous than covid, and those who KNOW it has SAVED far more lives?   

…Between those who give Trump more credit for lowering Black unemployment than the Black president actually did?

(Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers: Aug. 2011 the Bush Recession produced black unemployment rate 16.7% January 2017, the Black unemployment rate was at 7.8 percent. Under Obama the Black unemployment rate dropped 8.9%. Trump crowed about a record low 5.4% rate, a 2.4% drop from what Obama left him. Trump left Biden a Black unemployment rate of 6.9% rate in January 2021.)

…Between those like Darrell who ignore Trump's racist history and birtherism and say, “the black president did more to destroy race relations and divide the nation than any other politician in recent memory”, and those who KNOW racism has been deeply rooted in American white culture for CENTURIES? They can’t imagine the possibility that hostile reactions to the black president could reveal the racism, so they blame the black guy instead of the real racists.

In a June 2017 poll by the Pew Research Center, nearly 9 in 10 blacks — 88 percent — said the nation needed to continue making changes for blacks to have equal rights with whites. For whites, that number was substantially lower: 53 percent. About 51 percent of blacks said Obama had made progress toward improving race relations, compared with 28 percent of whites. The poll also found 32 percent of whites blamed Obama for making race relations worse, compared with 5 percent for blacks.

Those black voices fall on deaf ears among Trump supporters. Instead, they wrap themselves in a single MLK quote on judging by character, and FALSLEY accuse liberals of disagreeing with the man. What they DON'T want to hear is what happened to the black women election workers Giuliani and Trump LIED about, falsely accusing them of election fraud. Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman were terrorized by DEATH THREATS from Trumpists who BELIEVED the racist LIES Trump and Republicans spread about them. 

…Between those who believe Trump is an honest man who lost (by massive fraud that he could NOT prove), and the majority who accept the VERIFIABLE FACT Biden won a fair election according to ALL counts, recounts, certifications, audits, Trump’s AG and DOJ, Trump’s White House Counsel, Trump’s Homeland Security, and 60 courts?

Biden

51.3%

81,283,501 Popular votes

306 Electoral Votes

Trump

46.8%

74,223,975 Popular votes

232 Electoral Votes

Finally, let’s examine one more foul absurdity that Darrell advances.

“Ironically the only thing that remains the same is that it was the Democratic Party that opposed freedom then,(The Civil War) and it is the Democratic Party that opposes freedom today.”

This is what happens when someone ignores the fact that today’s Klan, Neo-Nazis, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and every other racist white nationalist is a Trump supporter.

Since Trump took power, no one lost more freedom than women. Republicans wouldn’t allow a raped ten-year-old to abort a rapist’s fetus. They would FORCE a woman to DIE from an ectopic pregnancy. Republicans DENY women the FREEDOM to NOT FOLLOW REPUBLICANS’ RELIGION. 

Trump’s party is still gerrymandering Blacks out of fair representation, and STILL attempting to empower their legislators to OVERTURN the will of the voters. Arizona Republican state Sen. Anthony Kern was one of the fake electors in 2020. Kern recently proposed legislation that would give the state legislature the authority to override the popular vote.

Trump criminally tried to steal an election and CANCEL the votes of 81 MILLION Americans. The evidence is clearly shown in the indictments, that Trump’s true believers REFUSE to even read.

And ONLY white Trump supporters STILL wave the Confederate flag!

This brings us to the answer to Darrell’s question.

Common ground can only be found when enough Republicans and conservatives acknowledge the FACT that Trump is a grifter, con man, cheater, liar, sociopath, and criminal.

He won’t like it, or even consider it, but this answers Darrell’s question.

Democracy Or Republic?

 

“The US isn’t a democracy. It’s a republic.”

How many times have we heard this from election-denying insurrectionist liars?

Of course, like ALL authoritarians, they claim the right to unilaterally define terms and their own delusional views of reality. 

Orwell noted that the destruction of language is a totalitarian propaganda tactic. In “1984”, the Party’s Thought Police inquisitor O’Brien explains to Winston Smith between torture sessions, “It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words...Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? Orthodoxy means not thinking - not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness."

“Fake news”, “enemy of the people” and “Arbeit macht Frei” (Work sets you free.)

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” – The Party (1984)

“Just remember, what you are seeing and what you are reading is not what's happening.” – Trump

Historian and author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” Ruth Ben-Ghiat writes in “What Happens to Language When Authoritarianism Takes Hold: Resist the Perversion of Language and the Destruction of Meaning”,

So, authoritarians turn language into a weapon, as well as emptying key words in the political life of a nation such as patriotism, honor, and freedom of meaning. We are well on our way in America to what I call the "upside-down world of authoritarianism", where the rule of law gives way to rule by the lawless; where those who take our rights away and jail us pose as protectors of freedom; where the thugs who assaulted the Capitol on Jan. 6 are turned into patriots; and where "leadership means killing people," as Tucker Carlson put it recently, justifying Vladimir Putin's killing of Alexei Navalny.

This is why authoritarians like Trumpists, neo-Nazis, autocrats and tyrants HATE the very word “democracy”. That implies acceptance of election results, even when their Dear Leader loses.

Let’s go back to the “US isn’t a democracy. It’s a republic”, lie spewed by the Trump Cult. Why is it a lie? The definitions of those terms tell us it’s a lie.

American fascists need to REJECT established definitions and replace them with THEIR false meanings.

Any time a Trumpist tries to gaslight us we need to immediately call them out.

“Democracy” comes from Greek for “rule of the people”.  “Republic” comes from Latin for “rule of the people”. They are synonyms.

Here are the accepted Merriam-Webster definitions that fascists don’t want you to know:

Democracy:

1a: government by the people especially: rule of the majority

b: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

2: a political unit that has a democratic government

3 capitalized : the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the U.S. from emancipation Republicanism to New Deal Democracy— C. M. Roberts

4: the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority

5: the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges 

Republic:

1a(1): a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president

(2): a political unit (such as a nation) having such a form of government

b(1): a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law

(2): a political unit (such as a nation) having such a form of government

 

While we’re at it, here are a few other handy definitions to counter the radical Right lies and gaslighting:

Merriam-Webster- Coup d'état: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics, especially the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group.

Merriam Webster- Terrorism: the unlawful use or threat of violence especially against the state or the public as a politically motivated means of attack or coercion

(FBI) Domestic terrorism: Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.

Definitions matter. The essential meanings of words are on the front line in our resistance to tyranny. Don't let them weaponize language by destroying it.

Why No Answers?

 

My experiment in eliciting honest answers from the Trump Cult has shown us what we’ve known all along.

I fully understood no Trumpist would answer any questions or fill in my convenient forms to show their evidence that would “set me straight”. Hell, none of them could let me know when America was great before 2016!

This confirms they cannot answer questions...unless their cult tells them the answer. An anonymous Trumpist sent a link to the radical Right Federalist expressing their OPINION that Biden lied 30 times in his State of the Union Speech.

So, I checked it out. I’m never going to say Biden, or any politician, always tells the truth or gets his facts straight. But the propagandists at the Federalist go to absurd extremes, AKA their opinions and deceit, to falsely spin Biden as a liar.

One “lie” is Biden’s mispronunciation of a woman named Laken Riley as “Lincoln”. It wasn’t part of his speech, but a response to the disrespectful heckler Margie Greene. Biden offered his condolences to her family as any decent person would.

This is their “standard”.

And: Biden ludicrously contended that America has “never fully lived up to” the idea that “we are all created equal.

Tell that to Geoge Floyd’s family or any of the MILLIONS of drivers stopped by police for “driving while black”, and thousands of others beaten while in custody. Tell that to Black Americans who live in GOP gerrymandered districts that deprive them of a fair vote for representation. Tell that to Ruby Freeman and niece, bullied by Trump and Giuliani’s hateful racist LIES about them interfering in the election.

More examples:

1. Sending Money To Ukraine

Biden claimed that Republicans who oppose sending additional U.S. taxpayer dollars to Ukraine are doing so because they want America to “walk away from our leadership in the world.” That is false. Opponents of endlessly funding Ukraine’s war with Russia have regularly stated that American interests must come before those of other nations.

Only Trump and his MAGAts would think Putin and his war promotes American interests. Trump envies and reveres Putin. This is their ONLY reason for many Republicans to reverse their support for Ukraine.

2. Trump’s NATO Remarks

Biden claimed former President Trump told Vladimir Putin, “Do whatever the hell you want,” regarding Russia’s invasion of Eastern Europe. But that’s not accurate.

The former president’s remarks came during a recent South Carolina rally, during which Trump recounted a story from when he was president and speaking with a NATO member. Trump purportedly told this state that he would withhold U.S. support if they didn’t pay their minimum defense spending obligations.

“‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recalled telling the unidentified NATO member. “‘No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’”

In other words, Trump SAID IT. 

3. World Security And Ukraine

Biden claimed “the free world is at risk” if the U.S. doesn’t ship more American taxpayer dollars to Ukraine. There is literally no evidence to support this assertion.

Ukraine’s fledging democracy is at the front line of the free world. Putin is a war criminal and tyrant who has THREATENED to use nuclear weapons.

4. Jan. 6 Demonstrations

The president claimed that the Jan.6, 2021, demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol and concerns and lawsuits regarding the integrity of the 2020 election “posed the gravest threat to [American] democracy since the Civil War.”

How the hell is lying about winning and attempting to criminally STEAL the election by mob FORCE, in addition to orchestrating FRAUDULENT electors and bullying the DOJ and state officials to interfere on his behalf NOT a threat to democracy?

6. Kate Cox

Biden claimed the life of Kate Cox, a Texas woman who left the Lonestar State to obtain an abortion, was “at risk” during her pregnancy.

As Susan Bane wrote in these pages, Cox’s now-deceased unborn baby was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, “a condition associated with severe developmental delays.” These children “can sometimes thrive into their early twenties.” Cox was not at risk of dying from the diagnosis, however.

Bane is a “pro-life” activist who wants a young human to suffer a short life with terrible financial and emotional burdens on parents. She LIED about the child’s ability to “thrive into their early twenties”.

From the Cleveland Clinic:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22172-edwards-syndrome

What can I expect if I have a child with trisomy 18?

There’s no cure for Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18). Almost all pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth. Of those pregnancies surviving into the third trimester, nearly 40% of babies diagnosed with Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) don’t survive during labor, and nearly one-third of the surviving babies deliver preterm.

The survival rate varies for babies born with Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18):

Between 60% and 75% survive to their first week.

Between 20% and 40% survive to their first month.

No more than 10% survive past their first year.

Children born with Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) will need specialized care to address their unique symptoms immediately after they are born. The survival rate is low, especially if your child has delayed organ development or a congenital heart condition. Out of the 10% who survive past their first birthday, children go on to live fulfilling lives with significant support from their family and caretakers, as most never learn to walk or talk.

7. Covid Shots And Cancer

Biden falsely claimed the Covid jabs are “now being used to help beat cancer.”

From the National Cancer Institute:

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2022/mrna-vaccines-to-treat-cancer

In fact, scientists at both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna drew on their experience developing mRNA cancer vaccines to create their coronavirus vaccines. Now, some investigators believe the success of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines could help accelerate clinical research on mRNA vaccines to treat cancer.

And on and on…

There are a number of more objective and far less partisan sources for fact-checking:

https://www.politifact.com/article/2024/mar/08/biden-2024-state-of-the-union-address/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/08/fact-check-state-of-the-union/

https://www.factcheck.org/2024/03/factchecking-bidens-state-of-the-union/

The point is what they are TOLD and BELIEVE matter far more than facts. The FACTS are Trump lost and lied in 2020. And when facts are too complicated or unwelcome, they are not accepted. Myths, fantasies, conspiracies and lies are what offer them BELIEFS, meaning, comfort, and security.

Our radical right Trumpist commenters and all their fellow authoritarian-following personalities will always believe their authoritarian leaders. Their authoritarian nature allows, and welcomes, their brain circuits to be re-routed by the constant barrage of lies their leaders feed them.

All that matters to their Leader and his sycophantic media and mouthpieces is to inculcate a willingness in their targeted dupes to BELIEVE only what THEY and their propagandists tell them.

They tell them who to blame and hate, because they have been threatened by or deeply wronged by those others. And it FEELS good be identified with a group that is like-minded in paranoid beliefs of "persecution" and "victimhood".

They are bound in identity and purpose, in a struggle against those who they BELIEVE are a threat or danger to their Leader, themselves, and the BELIEFS they embrace as absolute truth. Their BELIEFS do not require facts or examination.

It FEELS like truth because they emotionally FEEL it. If a lie from the Leader makes them FEEL angry, they will BELIEVE it. No facts or reasoning are required. Emotional reactions from their authoritarian, over-active, and enlarged amygdala are easily triggered, and a vast industry exists to trigger these FEELINGS to deeply implant BELIEFS their leaders use as leverage for power.

The BELEIFS reinforced by FEELINGS have taken hold. Every word from their Leader is gospel, never to be questioned. 

Trump becomes their quasi-religious leader in their sacred cause to eliminate the "evil that threatens them" (the political opposition and anyone with religious/social/racial/cultural differences) and their leader, who they actually see as ONE of them. For that they love and practically worship him. HE alone stands between them and the darkness and evil that surrounds them.

The authoritarian-following personalities who have had their brain circuits re-routed by the constant barrage of lies their leaders feed them will not be able to process what I'm saying.

ONLY Trump and Republicans tell the truth. They FEEL it. They BELIEVE it.

They will regularly regurgitate their BELIEFS, but NEVER show verifiable information to support them. So, all they can do is lie, accuse, demean, deflect and project. "YOU'RE the liars!"

They FEEL they don’t owe us any answers. And why should they be answerable to “communist Trump-hating vermin”?  It would be like the Inquisition being obliged to answer Galileo , or an SS Officer being obligated to answer a Jew.