Animus on the left; Trump fatigue on the right
One thing today’s Democrats are best at is truly vicious hatred. And many are not the least bit reluctant to express it while simultaneously cloaking themselves in the idea that theirs is a righteous anger.
To take one rather odd example, we have Dolly Parton’s sister wishing death to Elon Musk.
The PJ article just linked also contains this observation, which I think is correct:
A big victory won’t make the Democrats even a little bit happier. They have a sick gift for finding reasons to be aggrieved under any circumstances. Republicans will always top that list of reasons.
A deeper analysis of the mindset of so many of today’s Democrats can be found here, by Lionel Shriver. It’s long, but worth reading. An excerpt:
Progressives require an enemy (and, to an extent, maybe most of us do; witness this lecture). No word features more prominently in today’s left-wing lexicon than “hate.” The villains of the blm era—racists, climate deniers, and trans-homo-xeno-Islamo-phobes—have lately given way to a single be-all Beelzebub, Israel. To which nearly all these people have never been and about whose history nearly all these people know nothing, ignorance being a plus. Facts are thorny and obstinate; uninformed passion is infinitely adaptable, impervious to reason, and unfalsifiable.
But what of the following? I think it might be the case with some Democrat voters, but I do not think it describes the true believers or those who run for office on the Democrat ticket. I think they very much want to attain power, and when they attain it they will not hesitate to use it if they can. They feel that they themselves are isolated and protected from the effects of their policies – or they actually believe their policies will usher in something good:
So here, finally, is my thesis: I believe that what progressives want most of all is to fail. They are most comfortable being against things. They are most comfortable campaigning for purposes that will never come to fruition. They are so dependent on the perpetuation of social ills like racism that in a pinch they will invent “microaggressions” undetectable to the naked eye; starved of racism, they will make the racism up. For progressives, a proper utopia, with nothing and no one left to denounce, would be hell.
More, the last thing they want is to be put in positions of authority that test the viability of their dumb ideas. They can most persuasively promote these dumb ideas in opposition. Once in charge, they’re obliged to put their inane policies into practice.
As for the right, why does it appear that a great many people are turning on Trump? After all, much of what he’s done in his second term has been effective, and the Democrats seem so very very much worse.
Some of it is objection to certain policies like the Iran war (in which very very few Americans have been killed or hurt), and of course the problem with “affordability.” But I believe a fair amount of it is from what I’ll call Trump fatigue. What was once fresh and new is neither anymore.
Think about it – Trump first was elected ten years ago, and if all goes well there are two more years to go. That’s twelve years. Yes, Biden was president for four years in between. But Trump was nevertheless a huge presence and even an obsession during those four years. The pause has actually lengthened the amount of time Trump has dominated the scene. People are fickle.
Hard to be more “fickle” or flip-floppish than President Trump. Anyway, his grudge against Zelensky and Ukraine drove him into Russia’s arms, Once again (?), and I don’t like our longtime enemy Russia…
“More, the last thing they want is to be put in positions of authority that test the viability of their dumb ideas. ”
Au contraire mon frere !!
Attaining total and absolute power would be nirvana for the demonkrats, socialists and communists (but I repeat myself) .
How do we know this?
Well, just look at those nations in which the left – Cuba, USSR, China, all of Eastern Europe from 1946 to about 1990, etc etc. achieved total power. They implemented their stupid and dumb policies, destroyed the economies of their nations, destroyed all individual rights etc etc.
And guess what ??
The leftists in charge did not care one iota that their policies destroyed their nation.
And why should they have cared; for those running the show lived like Royalty of Olde.
The goals of the left are all about controlling the masses; their goals have absolutely nothing to do with improving the lot of the unwashed masses. They must provide lip service at least initially to help attain power, but it’s just lies, deceit. They will say anything if it helps them attain power.
And once in power, those at the top live high on the hog and the citizens all can go to hell.
One could say that leftists must be driven by hatred and contempt of the citizenry, because when they achieve power they implement policies that destroy. Leftist policies never change irrespective of the destruction they cause. They just double down on failed policies.
Why?
Because leftists cannot and will not ever confess they screwed up. For them, this would constitute a form of suicide, a punch in the face to their very belief system.
There must be some deep seated psychological disorder that motivates leftists because their entire ideology is driven by hatred, violence, anger and the pursuit of absolute power.
The ONLY way to deal with leftists is to kill them.
Some will say the truth and justice will prevail in the end; maybe so. But the “end” appears after hundreds of millions have been killed and after 75 years of being forced to endure a tyranny.
And when their policies inevitably fail, they have a long list of scapegoats to blame; the rich kulaks, the hoarders, the wreckers, the far right, and, of course, the Jews.
And they will go down their list, dealing with one group after the other in the usual manner (exile, jails, camps, elimination/mass murder), but amazingly elimination of one group never makes the number of groups smaller; there is always someone else to blame (and “deal with”).
I don’t care about Russia. I care about America. Stop the commies here. A vote for a demon is a vote for communists. They are anti-American, anti-liberty, anti-human, anti-gun, anti-private property. They must be stopped no matter what. No matter what! The EU can deal with Russia, Russia, Russia.
Democrats want to lose?? Poppycock!!
”I believe that what progressives want most of all is to fail…More, the last thing they want is to be put in positions of authority that test the viability of their dumb ideas.”
As the old saying goes, “There are some things so stupid only an intellectual can believe them.” Here is yet another case.
Maybe those not tuned in are buying the Marxists propaganga and sure the Marxists are going to get the lead.
The Marxists seem to fighting tooth and nail to count their fake mail votes for the Congressman and Senate.
“To take one rather odd example, we have Dolly Parton’s sister wishing death to Elon Musk.”
So another boob in the Parton family.
I have trouble with progressives wanting to fail as well.
They seemed pretty happy with Biden in power. Nancy Pelosi said she wanted to put him on Mt. Rushmore.
They were ready to put him in as is for another four years until he became too obviously senile in a national debate with Trump.
They didn’t want that failure.
If the Dems win the House and Senate, it will be a nightmare.
The Senate will abolish the filibuster. Packing the Supreme Court will be on the agenda. I heard Hillary say there used to be one S. Ct. Justice for every circuit and there are now 13 circuits.
True, but the year was 1893.
Trump will be impeached. Gas prices will go down because the war with Iran will be over, but the Dems will claim credit.
It will be investigate 24/7/365.
As a Californian, I’m accustomed to the foolishness of the voters. By and large, the double weapon of hate and fear centered on how Trump is presented and perceived has delivered powerfully. That is in combination of an already existing circumstance, the Left believing what they wish was true, is reality itself. A dangerous and destructive position. The other truth about the Left that I have observed, they apply in the macro (to their many preferred “victims”) what should be done in the micro–forgiveness and mercy. Sadly, I have observed these same people in the micro exercise lovelessness, and judgement and contempt. What a sorry inverse.
I agree they do not want to fail. As I wrote in the post:
Sharon W.,
Everyone wants to change the world, it’s changing individuals that’s hard. I think a lot of Liberals don’t think things through to that realism.
We all have people in our lives who make harmful mistakes and are difficult to help. We all know how hard it is to change a person’s behavior.
Yet Liberals believe one new policy, one new tax, one new program can perfect humanity.
I care about America too. I don’t want communists, socialists, the DSA, or Abrahamic Religions controlling the federal government or the Rule of Law.
Trump and the GOP downplayed Project 2025, but stopping abortion and writing conservative Christian values into public policy were central to it. I won’t totally trust them again.
Texas shows how this plays out. Muslim groups are working to establish themselves there, and the state is pushing back hard: the EPIC City fight, a new law banning Sharia compounds, and the governor labeling CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organizations. Both sides are using the law as a weapon, and that’s what happens when parties compete for control of it. The Constitution already sets the rules:
Those protections apply to everyone, and the government can’t favor a faith or single one out.
I don’t want Russia or China helping the communists here, and I don’t want Iran helping extremists here.
I just want a party that wants to govern the country, not control the Rule of Law.
The explanation I hear from those with Trump fatigue is the belief that his Trumpiness and policy changes brings out the worst in the Dems and crazy street people. They want to go back to kinder, gentler days and believe that’s possible somehow if the un-Presidential tweets and ad-libbed pronouncements went away.
As far as the latest demand for 4 more justices on the Supreme Court, maybe Trump and Thune should get right on that and get it done in the waning days of this Congress but that’s probably not what the Dems have in mind (sarc).
This will go a.long way in showing who is a true Trump supporter.
Oh noes another day and the dreaded duo:
The Abrahamic Religions
and wait for it
The Rule of Law!
It could have been worse though, no one expects The Spanish Inquisition perpetrated by all men are criminals.
But of course this country would be a far better place if it had been founded by people following the principles of say Budda (just to pick a non Judeau-Christian belief system), or of someone of no principles. (sarc x 11)
Well I trust a pagan about a far as I can throw one.
You can have Budda [sic] as far as can be thrown. Revolting.
”…the governor labeling CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organizations.”
First of all, the Muslim Brotherhood *is* a terrorist organization responsible for a great deal of violence in the Middle East, and CAIR has been found to be funding them.
• The Establishment Clause: Prohibits the government from establishing a…religion…or coercing religious participation.
You correctly state that the first amendment prohibits the federal government from establishing a religion. However you omit in your analysis that the 14th amendment “incorporates” the first amendment, meaning that said amendment also applies to all state and local governments under the jurisdiction of the United States, so…
”Muslim groups are working to establish themselves there, and the state is pushing back hard: the EPIC City fight, a new law banning Sharia compounds…”
…Muslims establishing a local government based on Muslim religious law is in violation of the first amendment. The state governments *should* be pushing back hard. They are doing their Constitutional duty in doing so.
Well, having served with some of them up close and personal, I’ll give you a top 10 list, in no particular order.
1) The Connected (union/government job). For many of them, being a legislator is the best job they will ever have in their life. Think about it – you are some random SEIU nurse’s aide cleaning bedpans, or an IEA member who has been a mediocre 4th grade teacher, or the guy with nothing to do at the union hall, but you do the political work, you get tapped to run for office when a space opens up. Now, you have a real salary, gold plated health care, office expenses, someone to drive you around, people kiss your proverbial behind, and all you have to do is yap your mouth in a decent suit in exchange for fawning accolades. You will do or say anything and be the sumbitch your leadership and power base wants to not get primaried and stay in office. Never rely on them for a vote unless you have a commitment from their power center in favor of the legislation.
2) The Cause. Gun control, planned parenthood, tenant’s rights, Sierra Club, a disability rights group, whatever is an NGO with money (usually in some way government/foundation funded). Maybe at the lower level, you were someone who started speaking up at school board issues and someone noticed, ran you for school board, and then you got a taste for the work and experience campaigning, and moved up. Whatever. You are encouraged to run because of your network and/or someone in power wants to do something to show “we care” to your organization in exchange for campaign work/funds. These types tend to make horrible legislators, because they are single-issue types who cannot compromise. But boy, can they get out signs/organize walks/call centers/fundraise/do social media to raise their name. Natural campaigners.
3) Family bidness. Your mom/dad/uncle/cousin/wife’s grandpa got involved in politics somehow, legislator, judge, mayor, county council, etc., and you’re following in their footsteps, piggybacking on their organization. You can occasionally make deals with them from the other side of the aisle on non-hot button topics if they get a what’s in it for me benefit for their districts.
4) The Grifters. A lot of Dem lawyers/professionals who run for office use it to drum up business. That’s the most low level benign. The more psychopathic use their position to develop power and happily wield it. They angle for appropriations committees. Some will get dinged by the feds. (See, Madigan and Burke in IL, Louise whatshername who just got indicted in Virginia).
5) The Victims. They relish in the damaged (abusive father, mother who was a narcissist or addicted to drugs, were homeless for a time, family member died in a drive by shooting), and you think everyone else who is damaged, deserves to get theirs, and screw the normies. This is where you get the odds (hair, orientation, no-one should be in prison, etc.). They literally cannot fathom that other people do not share their depth of trauma, and view it as a failure of yours, not theirs. If you have a normal existence, you need to PAY. Trust me, you do not want a woman with daddy issues touting how the state paid for her second abortion while on her third divorce (the first two men, the last a woman) setting marriage and child custody policy. Most of the AWFLs live here.
6) The Mandarins. Ungrateful snot nosed twits with useless poli sci degrees (and yes, I have one too, so I can say that) who believe they deserve to be in the ruling class but lack the skills to get there on merit. Usually come from rich parents, and represent wealthy urban enclaves, and like to talk about how they are helping the Oppressed, usually by spending government funds to create programs to hire people who are Just. Like. Them to ostensibly Make A Difference. You can explain for the thousandth time why drug and rent price controls do not lead to abundance. They don’t care.
7) The Ethnics. Elected because there are a lot of people like them in their community (e.g., Irish, black, Latino, Jewish, Muslims, LGBTQ, a particular church). Also types who you can sometimes make deals with across the aisle, if they can be persuaded it works for “their people.” They understand power structures and how to work them.
8) The Communists. You know those types. Different from the Ideologues. They are more into tearing down/the revolution vs. getting a dopamine hit from virtue signaling how moral they are.
9) The Satanists. That is what I call the people from any walk of life who lust for power, and want to see the world (or at least Western Civ, or White Christian Males) burn. Lots of short soy boys in this category, unfortunately.
10) The Unicorns. The little people who decide to run because they want to Make a Difference, and are actually honest. Maybe the incumbent just got indicted, or some such, so they squeak in as a reformer, and leadership doesn’t want to lose the seat. They rarely last 2-3 cycles, because their leadership HATES them and finds a way to get them primaried. They can’t be bought, and want explanations about WHY certain things take priority. In my last legislative session with a chamber of over 100, there were maybe 2 like this on the other side of the aisle.
“Facts are thorny and obstinate; uninformed passion is infinitely adaptable, impervious to reason, and unfalsifiable.”
Sounds like a religion to me … and Democrats certainly seem to act like the fanatically converted.
Trump may not be perfect – name a President who has been – but given his opponents, past, present, and future, he was and is by far the better choice. He at least favors America over others. His opponents take the opposite view.
And I personally favor taking the “boogyman” label off Russia; I think America (and the world) would benefit more from a “friendly” Russia than say, any of the muslim countries which we (the State Dept) claim to be friends.
I have seen a lot of people on x who were purportedly on the right in babboonery as if the consequences of a progressive dsa win are anything but catastrophic. In ways we cant even imagine in 08 did we think the banks would crack that auto companies would be taken over that islamic state would come to this country in san bernardino and orlando now imagine if they pack the court and abolish the bill of rights
Imagine if the iranian can dig out pick axe and put that uranium on a missile
If our strategic reserve goes down to zero and they take out the saudi oil fields
We thought october 7th was impossible how about a similar attack in thos country
DT unfortunately Roosia currently isn’t friendly to America or America’s allies. “America’s allies” are not to be confused with many current western European nations or our immediate neighbors. Socialism/one worldism currently is an internal rot afflicting these countries. Is it the USAID global NGO mind virus that makes them hostile?
In any event Roosia, China, and the Islamists all seek to bring down America and our former allies don’t see that as a problem.
Time to blow out sprinklers, something necessary and useful.
Heres one example of someone who has thrown all his beliefs out of window because possible animus
https://x.com/vasantbhatt14/status/2113688672981696959
And there are many many others who are entertaining ridiculous notions some on what one might call ‘woke right’ but many others i used to think sensible make the perfect the enemy of the good
How about this: the American left is motivated by spite, period end of story. They’re not about doing anything positive, they just want to cut people who they consider their rivals down to size.
OMG. The long comment by Former Legislator is amazing. I copied it for future reference.
________
Neo says:
I agree they do not want to fail. As I wrote in the post:
I think it might be the case with some Democrat voters, but I do not think it describes the true believers or those who run for office on the Democrat ticket. I think they very much want to attain power, and when they attain it they will not hesitate to use it if they can. They feel that they themselves are isolated and protected from the effects of their policies …
Those in or aspiring to the Dem leadership love power and wielding it. Power and money is what they worship. Their policies and leadership don’t work?? Who cares? It’s not like they actually care about people. They have at least three (4 😉 ) tactics they use when their actions and policies begin their downward trajectory.
1) Delay or obscure the dysfunction and especially any consequential “reckonings.” If you are only in office for another couple or few years, maybe it will all land on the other guy’s desk.
2) Road Warrior got this near the top:
And when their policies inevitably fail, they have a long list of scapegoats to blame; the rich kulaks, the hoarders, the wreckers, the far right, and, of course, the Jews.
Or pass the buck. Not quite the same as scapegoating. There is an interesting Wiki on this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_passing
For at least 25 years I have been moderately shocked at this trait among most of our leadership, and virtually all Dem leaders. Never take responsibility. Oh, you can say you are taking responsibility, as long as you don’t actually do it. I’ve always considered this to be an acid test or indicator of low character in a person.
And yet, on the public stage, taking responsibility is almost always a loser. So one could chalk this up to just being savvy. I hate it in our major leaders, nonetheless.
3) Deny the dysfunction. VP Kamala Harris, our border Czar, did an excellent job. The border under Biden was secure. (Just spin the shit out of it! Your base is a bunch of nitwits anyway. Very Soviet!)
4) Come up with a new plan. Especially one that sounds new-age or avant guard. Only admit that the old plan needs a substantial overhaul. Lie about it being partially successful. Even if the new plan is shit, it will run the clock out another 2 or 3 years at least.
More, the last thing [progressives] want is to be put in positions of authority that test the viability of their dumb ideas.
I don’t think this is true either. If we are talking about dumbness, this strikes me as a dumb idea some conservatives believe.
They put Obama, then Biden, almost twice, into power and they were quite happy as Obama/Biden put their dumb ideas into law.
True, they didn’t stop complaining.
“Packing the Supreme Court will be on the agenda.”
Wouldn’t that require legislation, meaning a presidential signature or a supermajority to override a veto? And in any case, the President still gets to nominate potential justices. So I don’t see that happening until (God forbid) there’s a Democrat in the Oval Office and Democrats controlling Congress.
Hell hath no fury like a Democrat seeing a MAGA hat.
Voters are fickle and, apparently, have a very, very short memory. Everyone not a Democrat dodged many dangerous legislative/autopen disasters just a few short years ago.
Trump stood in the breech and turned back utter disaster that would have ensued under Democrats, who have now gone even further insane.
I can’t even believe that people would opt for more of that.
If they gain control it will be oppression by many different names.
I know now how the “average” French man felt around 1790.
Were I a leader of a dictatorship like Russia,North Korea,China etc. I would be very fearful of President Donald Trump praising me.
I was predicting the GOP would hold both chambers, but I’m changing that. I now think Democrats take the House and the Senate is close to a coin flip. Trump fatigue is part of it, as Neo says, but I think the bigger problem is that dislike of the Democrats isn’t turning into Republican votes. Pew found that about 5% of Biden’s 2020 voters switched to Trump in 2024, while about 15% stayed home. Many of those who switched did it over prices, and some are now wavering. Most young people call themselves independents, and they’re leaning Democratic again. A Fox poll in September had Democrats ahead 63 to 34 among under-30s. Prediction markets gave Democrats about 90% for the House and 63% for the Senate as of October 16. The president’s party usually loses ground in a midterm, and Trump’s approval is around 38 to 40%. I’m holding this loosely, but I don’t see the GOP holding everything.
I’ve been trying to figure out why the GOP can’t break the 50-50 tie with the Democrats, and the best answer I’ve found is the economy. Voters who switch sides mostly do it over prices and jobs, and they switch back when things don’t improve. That keeps both parties stuck near even. Age may be the next factor. The GOP leads among older voters, and right now Democrats lead among younger ones, but most young people call themselves independents, so neither party owns them. Maybe it takes the younger generation to break the tie once us old codgers are gone, and whoever wins them over on prices will probably be the one to do it.
BTW, as I have said before — I am not a religious man, but a Spiritual one…
People can be very shallow, shortsighted, superficial, and even vote sometimes.
I find one of the biggest problems with leftist and democrats, is that everything is politics. Everything.
Post a picture on facebook or some funny insight and get back trump is evil. Really makes being friends harder.
I would suspect that the fatigue is not of Trump, rather, it’s the constant shitshow his manner and stated objectives (and thus his existence) invites from the unhinged. Trump does not turn otherwise reasonable folks into rabid partisans at the very mention of him. My aluminum hat tells me that the CIA would know a bit about what causes this, as well as to why it’s so appallingly effective.
Yep, it’s HATE, HATE, HATE—24/7–all the way down the line.
And—BONUS—they can hate whether they win or lose…BUT sorry bud, they REALLY, REALLY don’t want to lose and they have absolutely no intention of doing so.
– – – – – – –
“…make the perfect the enemy of the good…”
Yes, one must beware the perfectionists, especially in politics.
@ Sharon W > “The other truth about the Left that I have observed, they apply in the macro (to their many preferred “victims”) what should be done in the micro–forgiveness and mercy. Sadly, I have observed these same people in the micro exercise lovelessness, and judgement and contempt. What a sorry inverse.”
In one of the Screwtape Letters, the Senior Demon Screwtape advises the sub-tempter, his nephew Wormwood, to convince the human he is assigned to corrupt to do exactly what you describe.
Or as Linus put it, “I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand.”
TommyJay: “For at least 25 years I have been moderately shocked at this trait among most of our leadership, and virtually all Dem leaders. Never take responsibility.”
Yes I noted that too when I finally confirmed my move to the right and quit voting for Democrats (also about 25 years ago). It occurred to me that one of the differences between left and right was that those on the left do not believe in taking responsibility for one’s actions. Everyone from drug addicts to criminals to terrorists gets off the hook, somebody “made them do it”. The only exception of course are the political enemies of the left (us).
Well, liberals are assholes.
I am surprised that anyone believes the left want to lose.
Along with all the reasons discussed above, they fight tremendously hard against election integrity.
Can’t clean up voter rolls, can’t require voter ID, etc.
We’re all racist for wanting secure, citizen-only elections!
Oh and if they lose, there will be lawsuits and recounts until it turns out they won.
It’s the Strategy of Democrat Demonization: demonize Trump, or Bush, or Palin, Kavanaugh, Reagan, and then act like the demonized lies are true, which justifies hate.
Hate is fun — and cathartic. But it needs a target, and feels best when the target is eeeeevil. Those who succumb to this Dem Demonization become … Deranged. It’s Dem Derangement Syndrome, and GOP folk should be calling out Dems who suffer from it.
“I think you’re suffering from Dem Derangement Syndrome” — hating a target based on lies and half-truths is what makes somebody deranged.
It’s DDS against a target. For 12 years, mostly Trump; but now also Israel, & ICE & for a while C. Kirk until he was assassinated.
The killers are suffering from Derangement, big time — but all whose lives had too much hate are a bit deranged.
I don’t hate them as much as pity them; but there’s also a lot of fear of them.
@ Tom Grey > “Deranged. It’s Dem Derangement Syndrome, and GOP folk should be calling out Dems who suffer from it.”
I agree. When we keep calling them out for having “Bush Derangement Syndrome” or “Trump Derangement Syndrome” we are accepting their formulation of the situation: “if only Bush or Trump went away, we would like you Republicans more.”
Well, Bush and his family DID go away (see who they have been supporting since 2016), and the Democrats still don’t like Republicans. There may be individuals who continue relationships across the aisle, but under the onslaught of DDS*, they are becoming fewer and fewer.
No matter which Republican is President, the Democrats are going to complain, lie, rage, and commit violence.
Keep the current president or candidate out of the equation; they are just excuses.
*It occurred to me that this acronym has another meaning which is congruent with the political one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial-of-service_attack
Related topic that showed up as a disambiguation link at Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_Denial_of_Secrets