Beliefs v Reality

 

By now most rational observers have learned false beliefs and lies can trump reality in the vast radical Right and MAGA propaganda empire. Over the past few decades a lot of their propaganda penetrated throughout mainstream media as well.

The human species’ susceptibility to cults has fascinated me for as many decades. It doesn’t take years of anthropological cult study to see what happened to the Republican Party. As it wraps itself in Christian nationalism it has a cult like hold on millions of Americans. They tend to be conservative to the degree that most authoritarian personalities will be among them.  Authoritarian followers follow their authoritarian leaders. They find a sense of belonging, unity and protection. Trump was their revered charismatic messiah, their noble, honest and infallible dear leader, sent by God to save America. He told them what to believe, and who to hate. And they believed him. And they hated who he hated.

Yeah. That’s a cult. And in a cult, beliefs trump reality. Always.

So my fascination with cults set me on course to examine the American radical Right. It’s made up of millions of evangelicals, Christian nationalists, and practically every racist hate group and neighborhood bigot across the land. And even some regular, misinformed, incurious types too. Some of whom are even decent neighbors or family.

I have to thank fellow blogger Darrell Michaels for encapsulating the radical Right ideology over the years. He was the conservative everyman. We would have lively exchanges through the Bush and Obama years. Our miniature “marketplace of ideas” was actually informative and entertaining, despite his endless stream of casting false accusations without evidence, the standard MO of the Right.

But the radicalization and false beliefs he was pre-conditioned to embrace eventually set in. He was starting to suggest I was a “leftist who hates America”, and accepted without comment an accusation that I was a “racist commie”.

Inevitably he went all in for Trump and his Big Lie about a stolen 2020 election. He would reject all my requests for evidence of massive fraud or that Trump won, and banned me from his blog. I’m sure this is still the case.

Like everyone under the spell of the radical Right MAGA Madness, Darrell’s “standards” are quite flexible when it comes to Trump, his Big Lie, his coup, and his cult.

Here’s what Darrell wrote at my blog on Jan 8, 2021:

“Dave, Trump was wrong to give encouragement and a wink and a nod to the protestors and delaying any attempt to rein them back. He was complicit. Sadly this ego maniacal narcissist tarnished the myriad of good things he has done for our country with this latest escapade.”

I was surprised and impressed by his brief glimpse of reality and sound judgment. Alas, it was not to endure. Beliefs trump reality with the radical Right.

This is what Darrell wrote on May 15, 2021: “Trump instigates a riot according to the left and the media, but then I repeat myself. (He didn’t.)

We last visited our old friend Darrell fresh off his post of Fascist Fantasies.

He shared “the wisdom and wit” of a "poem" by someone he seems to hold in high regard. “I thought was brilliant and perfectly encapsulated the leftist mindset in their "religion”. 

Some samples of “The religion of the Left” as seen through their peculiar “wisdom and wit”:

“Their Sacrament is Abortion

Their Baptism is a sprinkle of mRNA

Their creed is a CRT screed

Their church fathers are Marx, Nietzsche, Sarte, Marcuse, and Foucault.”

Well, no need to add any more of this nonsense.

Darrell is on another tirade. And if it isn’t actually hate speech, it certainly has several elements of it.

With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways his “Thoughts on the Ruinous Mid-Term Elections” are really just his rabid screed of resentments, anger and false accusations.

“...the senile and corrupt Biden and his flying monkeys in congress”

This would be applauded at a Klan meeting, or Trump rally. It seems his values allow him to accuse a victim of dementia of corruption without evidence.

“Anything that the left wants to spend tax payers’ dollars on is covered under the Constitution’s “good and plenty” clause.  Er, I mean under the general welfare clause.  Never mind that this is so much nonsense and that anything not specifically enumerated as a right or duty of the federal government in the constitution is supposed to be reserved to the states or the people.”

Is he deliberately saying “promoting and providing for the general welfare” is nonsense, and denying there is Constitutional authority to do so. Why does he hate America and our Constitution so much? ;-)

Let’s quote some our Constitution for those who would twist its words to demonize fellow Americans, shall we?

Preamble:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

And Article 1, Section 8:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;

Those silly founders! Why did they go do something so stupid as to mention “general welfare” TWICE! This really upsets our radical Right fellow citizens for some reason. (Maybe we should remind him again later.)

Did the founders also “despise America”? It would seem so, in their view.  Or maybe they just didn’t know the true meanings of their words like Darrell does. “Why would the leftists care about governing in a manner faithful to the constitution when they despise America?”

To flatly state without evidence that anyone who disagrees with the radical Right means they “despise America” is hate-fueled demonization out of the fascist playbook. Again, this would elicit cheers and applause at a neo-Nazi rally, or a Trump rally.

My, they seem to have a lot in common, don’t they?

And for the record, Darrell has never offered any evidence to indicate ONE person on “the left” who says he “despises America”. But he’s fine with applying his incredibly broad and baseless accusation. This is how a bigot sees the world, though. Not that Darrell is a bigot. He just regurgitates their hateful rhetoric. It’s easier than examining evidence and facts.

“Even their previous messiah Obama was swept into office on the promise of fundamentally transforming America with “hope and change” for free stuff for everyone that towed the manifesto line.”

Ah, the less-than-subtle-red-baiting-card and dog whistles. “Free stuff“ = “Socialism”. Manifesto” = “Marxist”. We get it. Obama is a Marxist Kenyan who hates America.

“Question this and one is labelled a fascist, racist, sexist, homophobe, transphobe, xenophobe, authoritarian, blah blah blah.”

Of course, but question Trump, his Big Lie, and his cartel, or even Darrell, and one is labeled a “Leftist/Marxist/Socialist/Communist/Antifa thug who despises America.

“...doing whatever is necessary to ensure that they hold on to their power, elections be damned.  (There are ways to make sure elections always tilt to blue rather than red if the outcome is in doubt.  Just ask Kari Lake in Arizona.)”

Or ask Al Gore. We could remind him again of who perpetually whines, “Rigged! Massive voter fraud!”, and lies about winning when he lost, emboldening his radical followers like Kari Lake to deny any election they lose. Elections are only “fair” when Republicans win. Is THAT in the Constitution?

As the same whiner Trump recently wrote: “Do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION? A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!”

Oh, oh. Who dares ask if Darrell would side with Trump over the Constitution? I dare say Darrell would STILL vote for him. Only a truly authoritarian follower personality would support such a megalomaniacal narcissistic authoritarian leader.

“...I will simply go on about my life and try to associate with good like-minded people who appreciate what REAL old-fashioned Americans are: Those that love liberty, the constitution, and a government that protects those rights and nothing more.”

As a very “REAL old fashioned American”, albeit perhaps not a “good like-minded” one, I take this as directed at me, as he’s done so before. “Nothing more”? Someone hasn’t read, or ignores the preamble to the Constitution, and suggests the founders didn’t know the meanings of their written words. Did he just skip down to the Second Amendment and ignored the rest? Maybe all that text about GOVERNING and other powers was too boring for him?

No wonder he would prefer to ignore what was written into the dreaded Article 1, Section 8:

As mentioned earlier, let’s remind him again.

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

There’s much more, but let’s stop right there. These two clauses are enough for far Right extremists to lose their minds and bury their heads in the sand.

TAXES!  Provide for the GENERAL WELFARE..TWICE! REGULATE commerce!

Their worst nightmares are right there in Article 1, Section 8. Funny how he mentions the Constitution seven times, but never cites it’s words. Hmm. He must know something we don’t.

“In the meantime, I will trust in God and keep my powder dry.”

Trusting God is one thing, but he sounds like a Proud Boy, following Trump’s command to “Stand back and stand by”. If Trump ordered him to shoot all those “leftists who hate America”, would he do it? He seems quite prepared for just that. Such is the power of the manufactured hate in his indoctrinated belief system.

“I think perhaps not focusing on worldly things right now may be the only way we have left of saving our once great nation.”

Good idea. Let’s not focus on tax cuts for the rich, deregulating polluters and Wall Street, demonizing and punishing the “others”, and overturning elections. Or is this what really makes America great?

All I know is Darrell is very clear about hating those of us who try to listen to the message of his Savior.

Not his Republican branded Jesus, but Classic Jesus.

You can’t serve mammon and God. Render unto Caesar his taxes, Love your neighbor and your enemies. Heal the sick and feed the poor, and all those other radical socialist ideas shared by good like-minded Americans.

Isn’t it sad that, according to Darrell’s political beliefs, Jesus “hates America”?

~~~~~~~

Comments on Darrell’s “Thoughts on the Ruinous Mid-Term Elections”:

JTF: GOP needs to learn how to "ballot harvest" like the Democrats do.

Darrell M: No sir, they don't. They need to learn how to make sure that the law is followed and investigate and severely punish those found guilty of rigging the system unjustly and illegally.

Dave Dubya (Banned) to DM: Yes sir, I couldn't agree  more. They need to learn how to make sure that the law is followed, and to especially learn when their leader is breaking multiple laws, and rigging the system unjustly and illegally, like:

PAYING OFF a porn star for silence.

LYING about a stolen election.

DEMANDING GA Sec. of State: "So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes.”

DEMANDING the DOJ: “Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the Republican congressmen.”

INCITING an armed mob to march to the Capitol to overturn the election.

PRAISING his mob of thugs after they stormed the Capitol, beat cops, terrorized Congress, and threatened to hang Mike Pence: “You’re very special. We love you.”

And:

STEALING secret govt. documents, FAILING to secure them, and LYING about returning them.

18 U.S. Code § 1924 - Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material

18 U.S. Code § 1505 - Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees

923. 18 U.S.C. § 371 - Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

DM: I am tired of his infantile ego needing to be stroked and the sometimes stupid things he says or does. That said, he did a LOT of good for the country and we would be far better off today had he remained president. 

Jerry: Trump will probably be in jail by 2024.

DM: If Trump is guilty of crimes, I am okay with that. Biden should be in prison right now for his high crimes and misdemeanors.

Despite all the evidence of Trump’s criminal acts, Darrell will give him the benefit of the doubt, and condemn Biden despite the lack of evidence. The same lack of evidence that the election was stolen from Trump and “the left hates America”.

Beliefs trump reality.