Tim Dickinson, Tom Joscelyn & Susan Corke offer two takes on the implications of far-right ideology and practices becoming normalized in Trump's regime
75 years ago, a slim book crisply captured and insightfully characterized the folks who now dominate the US givernment. The True Believer by Eric Hoffer deserves to be read and reread if we hope to deal effectively with the challenges created by these new “true believers.”
You and I were lucky. “The True Believer” was dedicated to my Bemus Point NY high school English teacher, Margaret Anderson. I required it in my course “contemporary international politics” in the late 1960s and early 1970s at American University in DC.
I lived in American University Park as a kid in Washington, D.C. While in college in Illinois, I took a couple of courses at AU in the summer when I was home on vacation and working part time.
"The figures who once prowled the fringes of the far right, disregarded by many as being too radical, too extreme, too dangerous for mainstream legitimacy, are now not only accepted and encouraged to espouse their most hateful opinions — they occupy cabinet offices, advise the president, and shape policy."
These people are still A MINORITY albeit a noisy and for the moment, a powerful one. However, all of the protest activities and lawsuits indicate that we, the majority are neither accepting nor legitimizing their influence.
It's sad that these "believers" can't wait to die and be with Jesus; why do they even bother staying healthy and alive? Apparently real life for them is simply a preamble to a hoped-for afterlife.
In a previous political campaign here, one supporter told us she couldn't vote because her pastor told her to focus on the afterlife w/ God, not with politics and actual life now. I remember hearing years ago that Christian evangelical services were mandatory for everyone at the Air Force Academy. Apparently some military leaders view this war on Iran as mandated by God, in the form of Trump.
These zealots display an astonishing contempt for the rest of us. Meanwhile, everyone who cares about democracy needs to get active and support a local democracy group, such as 50501, Indivisible (www.indivisible.org) and join a NO KINGS protest on March 28. Find one near you at www.nokings.org. Together, we can save our democracy - and demonstrate decency and respect for our neighbors.
"It's sad that these "believers" can't wait to die and be with Jesus; why do they even bother staying healthy and alive? Apparently real life for them is simply a preamble to a hoped-for afterlife."
You could say the same thing about an Islamist suicide bomber, except they expect to find 72 virgins. While the Left has no problem criticizing Christians and Jews, nothing bad is ever said about the Muslim faith. That is not by accident.
My impression is that fundamentalists of all religions are very similar to each other: rigid, black and white thinking; men rule over women; expectation of unquestioning obedience and uniformity; hierarchical personal and religious structures; resistant to change; fear-hate-resentment of the Other; and in many cases, a desire for a theocracy.
Thank you for the reply. I understand it if you personally feel that way about religion in general. But it still doesn't change the fact that "the Left", by which I mean the Democratic Party and it's adherents, will not specifically criticize Islam for any reason whatsoever.
We have always had these people. This isn’t new. A look back through our history suggests that they erupt on a periodic basis. It is just that this time they have achieved more power than usual, because COVID disruptions messed our minds up as much as 9/11 did.
Thanks so much for sharing this info .. I keep wondering how many J6ers have been hired (reduced qualifications) by ICE and got the 50,000 bonus .. did they get it all at 1ce or did they have a time period to get it .. a rather large signing bonus OfOUR taxes ..
Friends, I'm urging you to call or write your Republican legislators. Remind them that the insurrection of 1/6/2021 began with the lie that people had voted illegally. The implication that non-citizens must be prevented from voting is the reason given for the Save act. It sets in motion another insurrection if all other rigging fails. We know what they're doing. Let them know we're watching. And, whatever it takes, we're voting.
"American politics have shifted — not gradually, but with a lurch that has left many observers struggling to understand who we are as a people. The figures who once prowled the fringes of the far right, disregarded by many as being too radical, too extreme, too dangerous for mainstream legitimacy, are now not only accepted and encouraged to espouse their most hateful opinions — they occupy cabinet offices, advise the president, and shape policy."
Of course, Domenica - but what of the "far left" Democratic Party? This particular party and its adherents believe there are more than two genders, advocates for gender transition of minors (with or without parental knowledge or consent), believe men can get pregnant and think it's okay for biological males to play in biological female sports, and all without being able to define what a woman is in the first place.
This same party believed it was perfectly acceptable to lie about their President's cognitive decline, while a close group of family and advisors (along with an auto pen) were essentially running the country. This was known to the party leadership in Congress, the Vice President, and more than a few members of the media. Many of us simple folks outside of the bubble also noticed, but we were told that this was untrue and we heard Cabinet officials and the press secretary spin tall tales about the vigor and mental acuity of the President. The lie was so convincing to those inside the bubble that the President ran for re-election. Only after a disastrous debate did the nation see that it had been deliberately lied to. To make matters worse, the Vice President (who knew all along) was anointed as the new standard-bearer, with no regard to the millions of votes cast during its own primary process. And when it came time for the Vice President to explain her positions, she hid from the media for weeks.
This party also believes that borders mean nothing and willingly allowed millions of unvetted migrants to come into this country, all while telling us on multiple occasions that the border was secure, and we had to address "root causes". They would not admit to opening the border was for the 2030 Census and congressional seats. Only later did the President say that only Congress could make our border secure. The party ignored names like Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray and Rachel Morin. It championed sanctuary cities and states and the multiple releases of illegals from jail instead of honoring detainers for deportation. It also downplayed the possibility of terrorist groups taking advantage of the porous border.
The party also managed to persecute the opposing party's eventual nominee with a series of criminal and civil lawsuits at the federal and state level almost simultaneously during an election cycle (like, figure the odds...). This tactic, however, backfired and only boosted the opponent's poll numbers and turned many independents to abandon the party persecuting him.
These and other reasons resulted in defeat of that party in 2024 for the White House and loss of the Senate. To this day the party considers all of those positions and policies as "normal" and in no way "extreme". Instead of trying to read the room and adjust these beliefs, the party continues to promote them. And the best way to keep the party from scrutiny is to constantly point the finger at someone else, 24/7, 365 days a year. The person who beat them, even in the popular vote. Someone they consider Public Enemy #1, no matter the topic.
So sure, Domenica, keep up the narrative of "American Extremism" while refusing to look at the Democratic Party's shortcomings. If you are unable or unwilling to take a critical look at your own side, you're just another partisan political hack.
75 years ago, a slim book crisply captured and insightfully characterized the folks who now dominate the US givernment. The True Believer by Eric Hoffer deserves to be read and reread if we hope to deal effectively with the challenges created by these new “true believers.”
It was required reading in our Civics & Government class in high school.
You and I were lucky. “The True Believer” was dedicated to my Bemus Point NY high school English teacher, Margaret Anderson. I required it in my course “contemporary international politics” in the late 1960s and early 1970s at American University in DC.
I lived in American University Park as a kid in Washington, D.C. While in college in Illinois, I took a couple of courses at AU in the summer when I was home on vacation and working part time.
Bill, Yes, Eric Hoffer (our local SF longshoreman and so much much more) was on to something we as a nation have lost touch with.
"The figures who once prowled the fringes of the far right, disregarded by many as being too radical, too extreme, too dangerous for mainstream legitimacy, are now not only accepted and encouraged to espouse their most hateful opinions — they occupy cabinet offices, advise the president, and shape policy."
These people are still A MINORITY albeit a noisy and for the moment, a powerful one. However, all of the protest activities and lawsuits indicate that we, the majority are neither accepting nor legitimizing their influence.
As James Fallows wrote last fall: How much damage will they do before the rest of us can stop them? We have to keep the pressure on!
Absolutely! Continue to protest and to vote.
It's sad that these "believers" can't wait to die and be with Jesus; why do they even bother staying healthy and alive? Apparently real life for them is simply a preamble to a hoped-for afterlife.
In a previous political campaign here, one supporter told us she couldn't vote because her pastor told her to focus on the afterlife w/ God, not with politics and actual life now. I remember hearing years ago that Christian evangelical services were mandatory for everyone at the Air Force Academy. Apparently some military leaders view this war on Iran as mandated by God, in the form of Trump.
These zealots display an astonishing contempt for the rest of us. Meanwhile, everyone who cares about democracy needs to get active and support a local democracy group, such as 50501, Indivisible (www.indivisible.org) and join a NO KINGS protest on March 28. Find one near you at www.nokings.org. Together, we can save our democracy - and demonstrate decency and respect for our neighbors.
If religions insist upon invading the political stage, it's time to start taxing the churches.
I agree that The March 28 NoKingsDay must be massive and oeaceful.
I again quote James Fallows: How much damage will they do before the fest of us can stop them? Sadly, we are finding out…hourly…daily…weekly…monthly….
"It's sad that these "believers" can't wait to die and be with Jesus; why do they even bother staying healthy and alive? Apparently real life for them is simply a preamble to a hoped-for afterlife."
You could say the same thing about an Islamist suicide bomber, except they expect to find 72 virgins. While the Left has no problem criticizing Christians and Jews, nothing bad is ever said about the Muslim faith. That is not by accident.
My impression is that fundamentalists of all religions are very similar to each other: rigid, black and white thinking; men rule over women; expectation of unquestioning obedience and uniformity; hierarchical personal and religious structures; resistant to change; fear-hate-resentment of the Other; and in many cases, a desire for a theocracy.
Thank you for the reply. I understand it if you personally feel that way about religion in general. But it still doesn't change the fact that "the Left", by which I mean the Democratic Party and it's adherents, will not specifically criticize Islam for any reason whatsoever.
The roaches are slowly becoming used to the light of day. Or maybe not so slowly.
Change the color of the light from red to blue and they won't like it.
It is an oxymoron to be a Christian and a supporter of Donald Trump. Donald Trump is as evil as one can be.
Christian Nationalists are absolutely bonkers and need to be stopped. There is nothing Christ-like about them. Makes me sick.
A Petition by MoveOn
CHARGE EVERY CO-CONSPIRATOR NAMED IN THE EPSTEIN FILES.
I signed. Here is the link.
https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/charge-epstein-s-co-conspirators?source=web_share_api&utm_source=web_share_api&share=0ca0d4af-a4dc-49ca-880e-57179612ecb6
We have always had these people. This isn’t new. A look back through our history suggests that they erupt on a periodic basis. It is just that this time they have achieved more power than usual, because COVID disruptions messed our minds up as much as 9/11 did.
Thanks so much for sharing this info .. I keep wondering how many J6ers have been hired (reduced qualifications) by ICE and got the 50,000 bonus .. did they get it all at 1ce or did they have a time period to get it .. a rather large signing bonus OfOUR taxes ..
is that info possible to get hold of ..
Friends, I'm urging you to call or write your Republican legislators. Remind them that the insurrection of 1/6/2021 began with the lie that people had voted illegally. The implication that non-citizens must be prevented from voting is the reason given for the Save act. It sets in motion another insurrection if all other rigging fails. We know what they're doing. Let them know we're watching. And, whatever it takes, we're voting.
"American politics have shifted — not gradually, but with a lurch that has left many observers struggling to understand who we are as a people. The figures who once prowled the fringes of the far right, disregarded by many as being too radical, too extreme, too dangerous for mainstream legitimacy, are now not only accepted and encouraged to espouse their most hateful opinions — they occupy cabinet offices, advise the president, and shape policy."
Of course, Domenica - but what of the "far left" Democratic Party? This particular party and its adherents believe there are more than two genders, advocates for gender transition of minors (with or without parental knowledge or consent), believe men can get pregnant and think it's okay for biological males to play in biological female sports, and all without being able to define what a woman is in the first place.
This same party believed it was perfectly acceptable to lie about their President's cognitive decline, while a close group of family and advisors (along with an auto pen) were essentially running the country. This was known to the party leadership in Congress, the Vice President, and more than a few members of the media. Many of us simple folks outside of the bubble also noticed, but we were told that this was untrue and we heard Cabinet officials and the press secretary spin tall tales about the vigor and mental acuity of the President. The lie was so convincing to those inside the bubble that the President ran for re-election. Only after a disastrous debate did the nation see that it had been deliberately lied to. To make matters worse, the Vice President (who knew all along) was anointed as the new standard-bearer, with no regard to the millions of votes cast during its own primary process. And when it came time for the Vice President to explain her positions, she hid from the media for weeks.
This party also believes that borders mean nothing and willingly allowed millions of unvetted migrants to come into this country, all while telling us on multiple occasions that the border was secure, and we had to address "root causes". They would not admit to opening the border was for the 2030 Census and congressional seats. Only later did the President say that only Congress could make our border secure. The party ignored names like Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray and Rachel Morin. It championed sanctuary cities and states and the multiple releases of illegals from jail instead of honoring detainers for deportation. It also downplayed the possibility of terrorist groups taking advantage of the porous border.
The party also managed to persecute the opposing party's eventual nominee with a series of criminal and civil lawsuits at the federal and state level almost simultaneously during an election cycle (like, figure the odds...). This tactic, however, backfired and only boosted the opponent's poll numbers and turned many independents to abandon the party persecuting him.
These and other reasons resulted in defeat of that party in 2024 for the White House and loss of the Senate. To this day the party considers all of those positions and policies as "normal" and in no way "extreme". Instead of trying to read the room and adjust these beliefs, the party continues to promote them. And the best way to keep the party from scrutiny is to constantly point the finger at someone else, 24/7, 365 days a year. The person who beat them, even in the popular vote. Someone they consider Public Enemy #1, no matter the topic.
So sure, Domenica, keep up the narrative of "American Extremism" while refusing to look at the Democratic Party's shortcomings. If you are unable or unwilling to take a critical look at your own side, you're just another partisan political hack.