My sad and fear, about those who can't see it

[Cyrano]

I have some family members, friends and acquaintances who still don't get it. They can't grasp the deadly danger we are all facing. They, somehow, can't understand that Donald Trump, and the Republican Party that has turned a blind eye to him, are a threat to all of us, our democracy, our freedoms, and perhaps the existence of human life on this planet.

Damn! Damn! Damn! Every time some op-ed columnist or some pundit gives us reasons that the creature in the White House must be defeated, they never state the reality. And the reality is that we have a madman, who controls all the levers of power, running amok. He can destroy everything.

And that's not hyperbole. He can destroy everything.

The useless polls keep telling us that his ratings are garbage, but that he can win the electoral college and get another four years.

Four more years?? We'll be fortunate to survive another year and a half of this beast.

So let me wrap up this rant. A madman has all the power he ever dreamed of. And millions of ignorant people, along with every bigoted piece of trash, can't wait to reelect him.

Let's stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and try to imagine who would be hateful/insane/bizarre enough to want to keep Trump in power. How fucking brain dead does someone have to be to want a know-nothing, sadistic, mental basket case as their "great leader?"

I don't know whether the Republican Party and the Russians have the ability to steal the 2020 election for him. But if that happens, no sane human being who cares about their children, their grandchildren, or the rest of the people on this planet, can let that stand.

But let's not let it get that far. We have the power to stop it with a historically massive vote that can't be stolen. Let's all turn our full efforts to making that happen.

[handmade34]

1. read this....

https://www.alternet.org/2019/09/psychologist-whose-work-explored-the-psychology-of-cruelty-america-under-trump-is-a-nightmare-situation/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1443

Almost three years into Trump’s presidency, are things better or worse than you expected?

Things are much worse than I could have imagined — and I began being very pessimistic. Everything I’ve seen and heard about Donald Trump shows that he is an “excessive present hedonist.” That is, he lives in the immediate present. There’s no future. There’s no past. And he lives for pleasure. Trump’s problem there is also combined with him being an extreme narcissist. Everything begins with him. Donald Trump cannot relate to anything which does not have any value to him. Usually money. Also allegiance. People must be loyal to him as if he were a king. The problem with present hedonists like Donald Trump is they make decisions on the spur of the moment, without ever thinking of consequences. This has been happening throughout his entire regime....


How can your landmark Stanford Prison Experiment explain the broader social forces that Donald Trump has summoned and what that reveals about the United States in this moment?

Donald Trump is both the president of the United States and the superintendent of this national prison that he’s created. If he’s the superintendent, there’s nobody above him to tell Trump that what he is doing is wrong, illegal or immoral. It’s like a runaway train. Once you start that engine going, there’s no stopping it. The opposition is not organized well enough yet.

Many of Trump’s followers do not live meaningful lives. They’re living through him vicariously. Trump’s supporters want him to be more extreme. Trump’s supporters do not accept ambiguity. Everything must be simple and extreme.

[ffr]

12. +1 Fixed.

Each and every one of tRump’s followers lives a meaningless short-sighted existence. They’re living through him vicariously AND want him to be more extreme. They do not accept ambiguity. Everything must be simple and extreme.

[RKP5637]

2. tRump supporters are watching it as a reality show, not comprehending they are going to be

run over, somehow separating their knee-slapping enjoyment of tRump as a fun show, not comprehending they are being used and will be in a dystopian society in the future if this continues. It's pathetic to see this playing out knowing we are going over the cliff in the future if this continues to play out.

[Cyrano]

15. My guess is that many of them have a "Mad Max" fantasy

and have some sick vision about living in that kind of world.

If stupid was a product, the first to sell it would be the richest person in history.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. Perfectly, brilliantly stated !

[mountain grammy]

6. Well said, thank you.

[olegramps]

9. Will impeachment gain as much as indept investigations without the possibly of consequences?

I believe that the Republicans unending investigations of Hilary Clinton unfortunately very effective in damaging her. Keeping Trump in the spot light of investigations doesn't pose the possibility of backlash that impeachment could awaken. Impeachment will provide the Republicans with a forum to condemn the investigations as harassment and an unfounded witch hunt 24/7. They will not be forced to address the issues on a daily basis that will be exposed by hearings.

I respect your opinion and my only hope is the defeat of Trump. I believe that the very nature of the two parties must be seriously considered. Firstly, the Republican constituency is comprised of a majority of people who have been totally convinced that the Democrats are evil, immoral people who are corrupting the nation and who are unpatriotic flag burning turncoats. The evangelical block is especially convinced and vote in blocks without any question. The old adage that herding Democrats is like herding cats is a given. It is the nature of progressives to be open minded and or a thousand opinions and by nature naturally welcoming of change in compared to staunch Republicans. We must also consider what effect it will have on the independent voters. The reality is that the outcome is greatly dependent on winning their support. I would like to see some research conducted before throwing caution to the winds.

[olegramps]

13. I resent your remark: If hurting Rs feeling is against your ethics...

As a veteran who served their country honorably and someone who walked in a number of demonstrations against the Viet Nam and Iraq wars, segregation and worked the registration drives to get minorities registered, I take affront to someone haphazardly questioning my or any fellow American's will to oppose the evil. My question is what is the best why to confront Trump and the lockstep Republican constituency. You say you are not being personal, yet that is exactly what you are doing.

[olegramps]

17. Your response only reveals that you have failed to read my original response.

I can only respond that my post only questioned what is the best way to proceed. I can only suppose from your response that you have reacted negatively to any questioning of your opinion. I would point that Nancy Polosi has been extremely cautious in rushing to impeachment. But I can only conclude that you would find this wanting at best in adequate.

When you attack people without any reflection on their point of view, don't be surprised that they just find your responses to be less than charitable. Yes, I do take offense to someone without a shed of knowledge of a person attacking them for no reason other than suggesting other views to their omnipotent declarations. It seems to me that is a major obstacle with this president in that he can not tolerate any opinion other than his profound grasp of the situation. Well, we have seen where the lack of listening respectfully to an others views can lead to catastrophe. I would conclude that I have Zero idea of your sacrifice. No, I most assuredly don't and you might notice that I would never assume so as you have. Yes, I am proud of my service and as a member of the VFW I support those who have given so much for this nation. You also assume that you have hurt my feeling which only reveals that perhaps you should reconsider that you don't have that capacity. My response was only this; what is the best way to proceed. I have no idea why you are suggesting anything in regard to blocking anyone. Sorry that isn't my style. It has never cross my mind. I would point out that you seem to have disregarded that I said that you have a right to your opinion. Remember, that this it is your opinion and not likely to be written in stone in the near future.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. I think that what hurt her more was the constant

Name calling...crooked...over and over...thousands of times.

[Cyrano]

16. Dear Chin music

The next time you want to hijack a thread, please do your own OP.

I agree with much of what you said, but if I'd had that much to say on any topic, I sure as hell would have started a new thread.

And I'm not some sour prick who is against whatever anyone else has to say. When I have something I feel is important enough to post, I start a new thread on it.

Enough said.

[lunasun]

4. Yes What's up with this crowd ?

Link to tweet

?s=21

Some church affiliations seems part of the diagram Do you see that as part of the lack of reality they are experiencing? Although black churches hardly even measure so.
Are they reasonable people other than trump and being republicans or are they the ones you have always given a side eye to so this trump acceptance was progressive?
I don’t know any and can’t identify but I know what you are saying about fear, and in your case since you know some of them, sadness too.
https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/FT_19.03.13_TrumpReligion_PDF.pdf

[ffr]

10. Don't devote any more energy into convincing them, they're a lost cause

Focus on building a future for your family, getting democrats to turn out on election day, and any other thing that brings you happiness. Fuck them! They're simpletons who find gratification in your misery AND ARE ALL TOO HAPPY to take you down with them, if tRump kills all life on this planet. They could care less, just look at what they've enabled!!

[Cyrano]

18. Nonetheless, a tremendous turnout of the sane on election day

will be sufficient to push the insane back to their caves on the fringe.

But even if we defeat them, they aren't going away. They've always been there and they'll be there until evolution catches up with them. -- Yeah, I know. It's gonna' take a while.

[Demovictory9]

20. kick

[zanana1]

22. We're all on this bus together

And a madman is driving.