However in the end, like Manson Trump is a piece of shit only instead of a nasty lump on the ground he’s been shaped into something less obvious than a turd on the ground — and polished to a high gloss. (Btw the Mythbusters proved actual turds can be transformed into a nice, shiny ball)
The idea has been floating around in my head since re-reading “Flight of the Intruder.” In the not as good as the book movie version there’s a scene where, after the fictional bombing run on Hanoi (during Vietnam) the pilot and his bombardier are getting an ass chewing from their Squadron Commander who, turning away from a guy who helped them plan the mission says “And as for you two — you can lead the Manson Gang now that Charlie’s in jail!” I maintain that Trump, ably assisted by Stephen Miller playing the role of Tex Watson (with Mitch McConnell vying for the role from the Senate) is by nature inclined to create so much turmoil that things will boil over and the United States will become the White, European-centric nation he’s always believed it should be. Evidence abounds that Trump believes this country is for Whites only, and that virtually anything worthwhile that’s been done/accomplished has been because of white people. As for black or brown people & especially any non-white immigrants they are to be servants only — relegated to a second or more likely third rate status with limited (if any) rights. Second rate status would I think be reserved for those of us who are white but can’t prove a long term fidelity to the GOP/conservative cause.
That’s exactly what they believe, because they weren’t born into significant wealth with a father who kept propping them up through failure after failure like Trump’s dad did then they should look in the damned mirror. Black, brown and/or foreign people aren’t the reason for their lot in life. It’s true that life isn’t always fair, and that sometimes even when you do the things you’re supposed to do to succeed that things don’t work out. It’s also true that for countless people someone else studied more, worked harder, and harder to overcome obstacles. It’s hard to admit even to ourselves sometimes but there it is. To that you can add that corporate America’s relentless approach to cutting labor costs by offshoring jobs, replacing people with machines and now AI and manipulating those who do still have jobs into working more and more hours because they know others would gladly jump in to have a job, any job if someone gets fed up and quits. Regular Americans and poor people including and especially those who are white have been systematically taken advantage of and pretty much screwed over by a relative handful of almost exclusively white rich and powerful people. Literally for decades. Alas, marketing can be devastatingly effective and the powers that be invested a great deal of effort into shifting blame away from themselves. And providing targets like minorities and immigrants.
Countless (mostly white) people want someone to blame. It’s not like other “leaders” in the past haven’t blamed people of color and/or immigrants & in the latter case highlighted “illegal immigration” as causes for job losses (among whites) or wages being stagnant for over four decades. However no one has done so as loudly and consistently as Trump has done from the Oval Office. From the day he rode down that (fake) gold elevator at Trump Tower to announce his candidacy to a crowd of people paid to be there for the event Trump’s campaign and Presidency have been fueled by white angst & hatred of “the other.” Since that day he’s not only continued regularly citing his “greatest” hits of “illegal immigrants” bringing crime and drugs and “infesting” us, gangs (although the relatively small MS-13 is the only one he seems to cite), Muslims and “even un-American” protesters like Antifa he’s always been looking to add others to the mix. Most recently it’s been four Democratic Congresswomen although even more recently he’s focused on two who happen to be Muslim. Also, for all his professed love for Israel he’s engaged in plenty of his own anti-Semitic tropes the latest being this week with his comments about Jewish voters that vote Democratic being “disloyal.”
In fact, I believe he WANTS these things. And much more. His daddy was a Klansman but to Trump’s way of thinking his dad/the Klan didn’t get the job done. In his mind they didn’t “purify” the America he believes should exist. I believe Trump is not only fine with inciting riots that will make those I saw growing up in the 1960s seem tame by comparison but that he actually wants it. His not all that veiled talk about his supporters rising up should he be forced from Office or voted out is I believe evidence enough that Trump is ok with inciting violence to stay right where he is. He sees all too well how differently white people with guns, even after committing horrific crimes are treated than non-white people — that the latter are routinely are shot dead in what would be routine encounters (with LE) with a white person. His pals at the NRA have successfully pushed for laws that on the surface increase gun rights for everyone equally but the reality is that us white folks are a helluva lot more equal than non-whites. If the GOP still controlled the House why do I feel Trump would sign a national version of the Mulford Act (link is:https://en.wikipedia.org/w
I truly believe that Trump wants riots if he loses, or if it becomes apparent that he’s going to lose so badly his buddy Vlad can’t or won’t be willing to step in and help next year. He’s already mused about not being able to hold elections. And he’s turned the GOP into a cult of sorts who either drink gallons of the Kool Aid or are afraid to challenge those who do and care far more about holding on to what they have in the here and now than the future of this country and the world. We might hold the House but McConnell has enough margin in the Senate and is in so deep at this point he is fighting tooth and nail to allow Putin (and anyone else) to rig the election in Trump and the GOP’s favor.
Like Manson, Trump has created a sort of cult. Only the Trump cult has power and resources ole Charlie could only dream of. Manson was a nasty smelly turd alright. And despite the orange veneer and the trappings of wealth Trump is nothing but a highly polished version of Manson.
A polished turd is still a turd.,
I do believe this is the best righteous rant I have ever read. A thing of beauty.
Thanks. I actually wrote it a little while back but was unsure of whether it should be published. I’ve been known to miss the mark pretty badly sometimes but I’ve also noticed when I get in rant mode and less inclined to delve into creating context & nuance people tend to pay more attention. I actually tweaked it just a little bit but left it in my drafts folder over on Kos. If folks like it here maybe I’ll put it up over there.
There is no reason to sugarcoat the truth. I thought it was a great comparison. If people disagree, that is fine.
Also, it came from your heart, even more than usual. It really came through.