“While it might be possible to mock MAGA assholes for their anger in this moment, take some time to remember that anger comes from a place of weakness, and we should mock them for that too.” (FB post by Julias.Goat)
I read a stunning opinion piece earlier this afternoon that still has me reeling. It addresses the resentment that’s been out there in this country for so long now, noting that while it’s mostly associated with conservatives times are a changing. It’s worth your time to read it (I’ll provide a link) and I mean truly consider what the author says. We have quite the fight on our hands to limit the enormous damage Trump is doing and how to fight that fight has been the subject of much debate. Now there’s an element not many of us have thought about that needs to be taken into account. For all that conservative resentment, there’s resentment rising among those of us who have fought Trump and MAGA all along. But let’s start with something basic.
You’ve seen the news clips, and read articles and social media posts about angry MAGAs. Or just angry conservatives. People in even deep red communities going on record about how they don’t like what they are seeing from the Trump administration. Many say they still support Trump, but THIS, what’s going on with Musk/DOGE and all the other crazy isn’t what they voted for. Really? We got an awful lot of AWFUL from Trump’s first term and back then there were at least some “adults in the room” and in Congress to rein in his worst excess. However during the 2024 campaign it was CLEAR there’s be NONE of that this time. Hell, conservatives published a detailed manifesto we know as Project 2025. Everyone, including MAGAs knew Trump was lying when he said he knew nothing about it and wouldn’t implement it. But MAGAs and (slightly) less crazy conservatives voted for it anyway, even as it was clear Elon Musk would be his co-President!
And NOW these asshats are upset? Conventional thinking from the half of us who knew what was coming is that these idiots at best thought none of the bad stuff would apply to THEM. That it would be “those people” (non-whites, liberals etc.) that would get screwed. That’s probably true in countless cases. It’s also true that in countless cases they CHOSE to go for the cruelty that’s being unleashed. And worse, they were willing to see their communities suffer a little (very little I should add) to marginalize or better still get rid of “those people.” Anyway, some got snookered, duped etc. and those with kinder hearts on our side of the equation are a mix of incredulous ‘What did you think would happen?’ and a dose of sympathy mixed with a “We need to reach out and make friends’ attitude aren’t the only anti-Trump folks out there.
That’s what John Stoehr addresses in his opinion piece titled “Trump voters are pretending like they were duped. Don’t belive it” on Alternet. I realize many will disagree with his blunt take, but for me a lot of it brings into focus a lot of what I’ve been thinking and feeling. I’ve got resentment of my own! Yes, I’ve been harsh towards MAGAs and conservatives, yet often in direct talking with people, both those I’ve know for years (if not most of my life) and strangers (I easily fall into conversations with people) I’ve frequently tried to take an ‘understanding’ tack. I won’t say I’ve never made any progress with them but most of the time I might as well be talking to a brick wall. Human nature is a tough thing to deal with and I’ve never known anyone who likes admitting (if only to themselves) that they’ve made a big mistake. Or worse gotten suckered. That friends is why MAGAs dig in. And, reading Stoehr’s OpEd I realize I’ve got plenty of resentment of my own.
Although not from the south, I grew up admiring legendary Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. He wound up changing a lot of minds including George Wallace’s because he didn’t care if a player was white or black. If they could play and be part of a team, then he by god wanted them to be able to do so. In his autobiography he wrote on the matter ‘when people are ignorant you don’t condemn them – you educate them.’ That always stuck with me, but it doesn’t address a related issue and it’s the one on the table right now. What do you do with the WILFULLY IGNORANT? Those who double and triple down rather than admit Trump played them for suckers and losers? And LOVES (deep down inside many of them know it) that’s he’s done what he’s done to them?
I really urge you to read the linked piece. The author lists the conditions, in particular the economic ones that existed by the time election season, that time after the conventions when political non-junkies start paying real attention takes place. He details a LOT that seems forgotten now and how it’s now all gone. Stoehr lists all that was either going very well or almost there, and then cites what key economists and outlets that report on it are saying about how badly Trump has ruined it all. His judgement is harsh:
This is where we are, but never forget: this was a choice.
It was made by people who were so resentful about something , for now it doesn’t matter what, that they didn’t notice they’re wages were growing, their expenses were falling and they had more power in the workplace than they’d had in their whole lives.
He isn’t done taking the asshats to task over the CHOICE they made:
Everything Trump claims to be doing – bringing jobs back home, supporting domestic industries, revitalizing infrastructure and investing in the future — Biden actually did. Most everyone prospered, including all those resentful people. As the former president was fond of saying, Trump talks a good game, but never built a damn thing.
But that wasn’t enough because seeing other people doing well, that is, Black and brown people doing well, hurt their feelings, like something was being taken away from them, which added to the resentment they felt about a government trying to serve everyone and not just them.
Think about that last paragraph, then think about this. From where I sit it’s time to think of people in two groups. On one side you have people who look at a family member, friend or some group they know that’s done well and both feel and say “Good for them.” Then there’s the other group who look at others who’ve had something good happen or earned some good in their lives and are pissed off about it. Especially if they have made poor choices or not worked as hard as they could. And, if the target(s) of their resentment happens to be ‘one of THOSE’ people, as in guys resenting successful women, or white people not liking black or brown people doing ok they go batshit insane! For such people it seems like they can’t be satisfied unless they have someone and/or some group to look down on! To be able to run around announcing they’re superior to. It reminds me of one of my favorite Lewis Black routines:
I don’t think I’m “superior” to MAGAs and conservatives. I DO believe I’m a better person than a lot of them because of believing things I was taught growing up. Things like everyone deserves a fair chance. No matter how they started out in life (even dirt poor), or the color of their skin or their gender. No one promised me life would be easy but that if I or anyone studied (in school), and then worked hard we’d have a real, fair shot at having a nice life. Not necessarily become rich, but at least be comfortable and be able to retire that way. While there was one particular ugly and dark influence growing up for the most part I was taught that being white (and male) didn’t make me any more special than anyone else.
I’ve like seeing others who have worked at it do well. To have good things happen to them. Or to finally get a break, some type of help that had this country been fair to them from the start they wouldn’t have needed in the first place. I’ve even enjoyed seeing people who started out with WAY more than I did realize they had a head start. And because of it tried to help others who didn’t start out with the advantages they grew up with. I’ve also felt resentment, and even anger at those who started out with great advantage, sometimes just being WHITE who REFUSE to admit said advantage. Or worse, those who like me didn’t start out with all that much but made it big do their damndest to pull the f**king ladder up behind them!
I get where Stoehr is coming from. When he writes about these Trump voters who are expressing anger now that what so many (from Kamala Harris on down) warned would happen is happening but CHOSE to ignore it for “reasons.”
Oh, you’re angry, huh?
Imagine the anger of those who didn’t choose this but are now living with it – the jobs gone, the savings gone, the future prospects gone.
Imagine the anger of those who voted in your interest in the hope of saving democracy, and protecting you from your worst self, and then hearing you moan and groan about how you’ve been done wrong.
Imagine the anger of those who tried to tell you, to reason with you, as if you were a child who doesn’t understand a goddamn thing but who might snap out of it and finally act like a responsible grown up.
Just imagine
I think Stoerh is on to something with his saying resentment is no longer going to be pretty much a trait of conservatives. WE have to live with what they’ve created and will continue to enable too! And worst of all when we finally get back some power WE will do what THEY won’t. We will wrestle with our conscience, and when fixing things allow the fixes to benefit everyone. Even the most hateful and ignorant MAGAs and conservatives. All the while knowing it wouldn’t even occur to most of them to do the same for us, much less make an effort to include us in the benefits of the now gone American Dream!
I don’t know how to factor all this in to political strategy and messaging going forward. However I DO believe it’s a bigger thing that those who will have to figure it out realize. It’s a crucial thing in fact. I got up off the mat and started fighting back quite a while ago but there’s still an awful lot of despair out there in our ranks. People in large numbers are discouraged after what happened in November. RESENTFUL even. I’d say our leaders better recognize that there’s millions of us who are PISSED OFF at trying to make nice with the other side. Who think it’s time to start knocking down some bodies. Keep in mind that Democratic politicians are catching heat at town halls, and I don’t think the fury with Chuck Schumer is going away either.
Well, that’s what’s on my mind today. And it will be on my mind for a very long time to come. BT (Before Trump) I was known and talked about as being an easygoing, genial guy. “Gentle Giant” (I’m 6’4′ tall and broad shouldered – and being honest also now fat) was said both to me and about me regularly. That guy is gone. I can only hope that I have lots of years left, and that someday parts of that guy will re-emerge. I don’t like the fact that anger is what fuels me now. But it does, and I’m thinking I’m far from the only progressive who feels as I do.
*****Â Zoomers, if you can spare a bit of green energy to help us on our endless mission through cyberspace, reporting on all this madness, we would be grateful. All proceeds go to pay overhead, so we can stay in the game. And thank you most of all for coming here to read. You are the wind beneath our wings. Ursula *****
That hair color is big among Southern evangelical women. It’s a two step process, and as soon as you hit a pool, it turns green. It was mildly popular elsewhere but the rest of the cou try realized it was about as unnatural as it gets,,and switched to Clairol. MTG is tacky, tasteless and thinks she’s hot.
I’m not as forgiving as you. When we hold the reins again, I’d like to see the maggats all get deported
They bitch about how bad this country is, I think they should get to live in a place where they have no voice in anything and constantly fear for their lives.
I don’t know, maybe we could deport them to Russia?
At this point I don’t really care what Trump voters were thinking or not thinking on election day. I don’t even care what they are thinking now. I care about what they do. If they are mad enough to vote for a Democrat, or not vote at all, that’s all I need to hear. Many of them by no means fit this description. Maybe they will later on. Many of them, the cultists, the true believers, never will. But a good number definitely will. Bernie Sanders, AOC, and any other Democrats doing “town halls” in red states understand this.
It’s not a question of forgiving them or not forgiving them for what they tought or did in the past. It’s certainly not a question of them suddenly becoming Democrats. If they are sick and tired of being lied to, cheated and robbed by the assholes they themselves voted in, that’s good enough for me.
Why is that important? Because we have to be able to talk their language and not alienate them. Imagine some Democratic millionaire or billionaire buying radio stations in red states, hiring hosts to talk the same angry messages being heard in these red state town halls, stick to the economic and civic issues that practically everybody agrees on, not the divisive ones, and telling them that things won’t change until they stop voting for these MAGA jerks, and how the Democrats really can fix things if they vote them in — just like FDR did.