This point resonates: “We are all basically five years old, and 5-year olds expect good things to happen.” The Naked Man jumps all over that reality time and again because he knows that MAGA, in particular, is filled with whiners who believe they have been wronged by government, Democrats, Liberals, or whoever else the Naked Man says has wronged them. The reality is, in the history of the world, on average, the lives of human beings have never been safer, healthier, and more lucrative. But the Naked Man will never acknowledge that fact because it would undermine his entire fear-based power structure.
As the Bible says, love of money is the root of all evil.
Fred Trump was a monster, by all accounts. So is Musk's father Errol, and his mother Maye is no prize, either. Know who else had abusive fathers? Stalin, Hitler, and Ceausescu, who all killed millions of their own people, or allowed them to die of starvation. Trump and Musk haven't got a milligram of empathy between them. No wonder they found each other.
Speaking as the daughter of an abusive stepfather, I have shockingly little compassion that these men took that pain and aimed it outward. There are other uses for pain.
All that money could have bought them a fuck-ton of intensive therapy, but no, they choose to spend it making life miserable for as many people as possible.
I’m just pleased at this point that some members of the media are saying what has been obvious for years which is that Trump is mentally ill (psychopath and malignant narcissist) plus he has dementia. Paul Krugman says it and so does Lawrence O’Donnell and they pull no punches. My therapist and psychiatrist friends have said it for years. They know it when they see it.
Oh, I don't know. I remember that "covfefe" was supposed to be a product of his wit, and was waved as a banner. His nakedness gets clothed, mostly, so far.
The problem with the labels describing his behavior and psychology is that they aren't fully understood by a lot of people. They don't understand how it translates to harm to them- that what looks like a friend to him can quickly become an enemy if they don't bend to his will. They don't get that the person would burn it ALL down if he believed that somehow would protect his ego.
Unfortunately, Trump's narcissism is "old news." His cult no longer bothers to deny the obvious. They just don't care. Ditto Musk. The trouble is that the danger of his mental illness has never been greater. Sadly, I think only the experience of pain will bring some members of the cult around to see what is so obvious to the rest of us. Karoline Knucklehead will prolong the process by her continuous stream of rosy lies, but the pain will surface and only Trump and his cabinet will be able to deny it. And we will all be gaslit as they insist "Look, can't you see his clothes? What's wrong with you?"
All of us who have been yelling out for years and years that this guy has not a stitch of clothing on him, have been targeted with name calling (like lunatic liberal) and threats. His followers have believed they would be protected from the harm and destruction he caused. Some even cruelly cheered it on, feeling a collective power in watching us protest and squirm, believing it would only hurt those other people (as you have pointed out many times).
At some point, and it's already happening, they will wake to the reality that the emperor will not protect his followers from the harm and destruction - that they, too, are the peons that could be squashed. Afterall, the emperor doesn't know how to support people. He only knows destruction, control, and retribution. They will realize that not only is he naked, but he also doesn't love them. So, only when they can no longer handle that, will some look for another naked, daddy who convinces them he is royally dressed, and that only he can fix things.
On the more positive side, some may wake all the way up and decide they won't be conned again.
I hoping we can wake a lot of people all the way up!
It is part of our culture that operates largely on plutocracy and patronage, but loudly and constantly claims meritocracy, that we credit leaders with Leadership .
It’s a quality people can have all by themselves! we imply. It’s why they’re in leadership *positions*! Here, claim the hucksters, pay me and I can teach you how to have Leadership!
And these beliefs also mean, of course, that somehow, magically white and cis-male and heterosexual and apparently abled people have more Leadership. How else could they so disproportionately hold leadership positions? Too bad, so sad, Unworthies.
But white het abled cis-males can so disproportionately hold leadership positions because they have been clothed in sufficient human acceptance of their Leadership. If Leadership is anything, it is the invisible garment of public elevation, which so far we USians have disproportionately given to cis-male apparently abled white people.
But we can see through it and we can strip it away. Patriarchs and white supremacists have known this forever: it’s why they attack women and people of color and LGBTIQ people so regularly, and generally just ignore disabled people out of public existence.
See also: electability.
Trump and Musk and the bulk of their junta do not seem to be knowledgeable, bright, willing to learn, or even articulate.* And they seem unaware of choosing to live in an impoverished and imaginary virtual world characterized by Winning and by whizzing electronic credits. Not by warm earth, refreshing water, work to create good things, happy and dynamic relationships, or clean and immediate pleasure.
* Exceptions: Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence look to me, in their memoirs, to be intelligent and good writers. Mr. Pence does not seem to be deliberately mendacious to any extent: he is not out to himself. Mr. Pompeo is a dedicated forensic film-glammed.
The ignorance of the acronym is there. Unfortunately I think she was rather glib on the mendacious framing of education itself and the work of the department.
She ran for Senate from CT twice and was beaten badly twice. She was taken to court by wrestlers from the WwE because of harassment etc. Her late husband Vince McMahon was no great person either. They are all failed entertainers or entertainment business owners who think they can do better than those with experience in those fields. They have been chosen for the clown car cabinet because they are like him—not exactly shining stars but the exact opposite. I’m waiting for SNL to mock her as well as Karoline Leavitt. Scathing I’m sure.
I have a couple of questions for the people here who are better informed than I. It's not exactly on topic, but related to how things now work with the emperor-in-chief. Why would any democrat pass a budget when the executive branch is currently refusing to spend money appropriated by Congress in the current budget? Why would they go through the motions when the institutions are being ignored by the felon, and conflicts of interest associated with Musk are out there in the open? Things are not normal! (I really want to understand this.)
IMO, they are in a spot never before witnessed; that has no precedent, and are Gob-smacked. They must get together as a collective, and protest to any and every illegal thing the bastard is doing. Get a class-action going, demanding that he cease and desist immediately and sign on as many Congresspersons possible, to be a part of it
GOP Congress persons are covered in chicken feathers in public. They can speak privately, but in public, will be verbally “tarred and feathered “ because his feelings are hurt and unable to have any constructive criticism.
I’ve been spouting that phrase since he started his campaign. It’s a perfect description of his tactics and thankfully, not the actual physical appearance! 🤮
Has anyone else seen Robert Reich's column from yesterday, called "Trump is a traitor, and Europe is now alone"? It's the view of us from France, by Claude Malhuret. A sadly perfect view of this country, by a wise man. Wish more Americans were that knowledgeable.
The most aggravating thing is watching Senators and House members totally neutralized/paralyzed by Trump and incapable of removing Musk. The world saw that clown show in the WH driveway yesterday. Like a used car salesman Trump stood there “selling” Teslas while psychopath Musk and his snotkid mugged for the cameras. That was an illegal act for a president to be doing a sales pitch on government land. Where were the people who could and should have made an arrest? We literally no longer have laws or anyone to enforce them where Trump is concerned. Where are the members of Congress including the Democrats who will standup to Musk and say “get out.” You have zero authority, you aren’t an elected or vetted official - get out.
In a country of 300 million we have no one who will stand up and say “shut up” and “get out” and this is the result of our nation clinging to freedom of speech and allowing a braying lunatic to run around the country for four years screaming lies and nonsense at his hate rallies. President Biden had to deal with that poisonous BS for four years because if he’d moved to stop it, he’d have
Been arrested instead of the lying, traitorous, lunatic.
He's naked. To which I would like to add that we need to be preparing the ground to receive those who will, eventually, come to their senses. Too many on the left are busy creating enemies. It seems to me there are enough of those out there without the need to swell their ranks! That is only going to make it more difficult for those deluded by Trump to admit his nakedness. We must leave room for repentance. It fine, important, fun even, to call Trump, Musk and company every nasty name we can conjure (Thank you, Susan Campbell, for taking leadership in this), but the more we castigate with nastiness everyone who voted for Trump we make it less likely for any of them to ever see Trump's nakedness. Everyone who voted for Trump is not stupid or malign and those who aren't are never going to change their allegiance if we make acceptance of our negative view of them a precondition of their conversion. This is Psychology of Persuasion 101.
This point resonates: “We are all basically five years old, and 5-year olds expect good things to happen.” The Naked Man jumps all over that reality time and again because he knows that MAGA, in particular, is filled with whiners who believe they have been wronged by government, Democrats, Liberals, or whoever else the Naked Man says has wronged them. The reality is, in the history of the world, on average, the lives of human beings have never been safer, healthier, and more lucrative. But the Naked Man will never acknowledge that fact because it would undermine his entire fear-based power structure.
Oh he’s extremely Naked Man.
As the Bible says, love of money is the root of all evil.
Fred Trump was a monster, by all accounts. So is Musk's father Errol, and his mother Maye is no prize, either. Know who else had abusive fathers? Stalin, Hitler, and Ceausescu, who all killed millions of their own people, or allowed them to die of starvation. Trump and Musk haven't got a milligram of empathy between them. No wonder they found each other.
Speaking as the daughter of an abusive stepfather, I have shockingly little compassion that these men took that pain and aimed it outward. There are other uses for pain.
All that money could have bought them a fuck-ton of intensive therapy, but no, they choose to spend it making life miserable for as many people as possible.
But instead, they turned it outward. To hell with them.
I’m just pleased at this point that some members of the media are saying what has been obvious for years which is that Trump is mentally ill (psychopath and malignant narcissist) plus he has dementia. Paul Krugman says it and so does Lawrence O’Donnell and they pull no punches. My therapist and psychiatrist friends have said it for years. They know it when they see it.
Well, in this case, it would be hard to miss, right?
Oh, I don't know. I remember that "covfefe" was supposed to be a product of his wit, and was waved as a banner. His nakedness gets clothed, mostly, so far.
You would think.
The problem with the labels describing his behavior and psychology is that they aren't fully understood by a lot of people. They don't understand how it translates to harm to them- that what looks like a friend to him can quickly become an enemy if they don't bend to his will. They don't get that the person would burn it ALL down if he believed that somehow would protect his ego.
Unfortunately, Trump's narcissism is "old news." His cult no longer bothers to deny the obvious. They just don't care. Ditto Musk. The trouble is that the danger of his mental illness has never been greater. Sadly, I think only the experience of pain will bring some members of the cult around to see what is so obvious to the rest of us. Karoline Knucklehead will prolong the process by her continuous stream of rosy lies, but the pain will surface and only Trump and his cabinet will be able to deny it. And we will all be gaslit as they insist "Look, can't you see his clothes? What's wrong with you?"
It seems that he should be subjected to an extensive health exam and a Psychiatric exam. He is far from being anything close to normal!!
I am in despair as all these court cases are being won - but with NO compliance by Trump. When will we see some ENFORCEMENT!
When we stop letting him play the court system with endless delays and appeals.
It doesn't look like there is much push back at all
Yes when will we see enforcement?
Should have that be to pass the budget
And the five (4) year old has spoken.. he told the emperor to hush and wiped biigers in his throne!
True.
What you said! Amen!
All of us who have been yelling out for years and years that this guy has not a stitch of clothing on him, have been targeted with name calling (like lunatic liberal) and threats. His followers have believed they would be protected from the harm and destruction he caused. Some even cruelly cheered it on, feeling a collective power in watching us protest and squirm, believing it would only hurt those other people (as you have pointed out many times).
At some point, and it's already happening, they will wake to the reality that the emperor will not protect his followers from the harm and destruction - that they, too, are the peons that could be squashed. Afterall, the emperor doesn't know how to support people. He only knows destruction, control, and retribution. They will realize that not only is he naked, but he also doesn't love them. So, only when they can no longer handle that, will some look for another naked, daddy who convinces them he is royally dressed, and that only he can fix things.
On the more positive side, some may wake all the way up and decide they won't be conned again.
I hoping we can wake a lot of people all the way up!
Well written Susan. Thank you for sharing.
Yup.
It is part of our culture that operates largely on plutocracy and patronage, but loudly and constantly claims meritocracy, that we credit leaders with Leadership .
It’s a quality people can have all by themselves! we imply. It’s why they’re in leadership *positions*! Here, claim the hucksters, pay me and I can teach you how to have Leadership!
And these beliefs also mean, of course, that somehow, magically white and cis-male and heterosexual and apparently abled people have more Leadership. How else could they so disproportionately hold leadership positions? Too bad, so sad, Unworthies.
But white het abled cis-males can so disproportionately hold leadership positions because they have been clothed in sufficient human acceptance of their Leadership. If Leadership is anything, it is the invisible garment of public elevation, which so far we USians have disproportionately given to cis-male apparently abled white people.
But we can see through it and we can strip it away. Patriarchs and white supremacists have known this forever: it’s why they attack women and people of color and LGBTIQ people so regularly, and generally just ignore disabled people out of public existence.
See also: electability.
Trump and Musk and the bulk of their junta do not seem to be knowledgeable, bright, willing to learn, or even articulate.* And they seem unaware of choosing to live in an impoverished and imaginary virtual world characterized by Winning and by whizzing electronic credits. Not by warm earth, refreshing water, work to create good things, happy and dynamic relationships, or clean and immediate pleasure.
* Exceptions: Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence look to me, in their memoirs, to be intelligent and good writers. Mr. Pence does not seem to be deliberately mendacious to any extent: he is not out to himself. Mr. Pompeo is a dedicated forensic film-glammed.
Here’s Linda McMahon giving us a hint of her vast lack of knowledge about the new job she bought for herself. https://www.thedailybeast.com/education-secretary-stumbles-on-fox-as-department-bloodbath-officially-begins/
The ignorance of the acronym is there. Unfortunately I think she was rather glib on the mendacious framing of education itself and the work of the department.
That's all she has, and the person interviewing her doesn't conduct interviews. She hosts fawning sessions, when she's not lashing out at Democrats.
Yeah, true. I just prefer it when one of the goon squad falls off the parade float obviously shitfaced.
She ran for Senate from CT twice and was beaten badly twice. She was taken to court by wrestlers from the WwE because of harassment etc. Her late husband Vince McMahon was no great person either. They are all failed entertainers or entertainment business owners who think they can do better than those with experience in those fields. They have been chosen for the clown car cabinet because they are like him—not exactly shining stars but the exact opposite. I’m waiting for SNL to mock her as well as Karoline Leavitt. Scathing I’m sure.
So much B/S
My eyes, the Horror
(Tee-hee.)
Probably a better fairy tale to put on classroom walls than the ten commandments.
I have a couple of questions for the people here who are better informed than I. It's not exactly on topic, but related to how things now work with the emperor-in-chief. Why would any democrat pass a budget when the executive branch is currently refusing to spend money appropriated by Congress in the current budget? Why would they go through the motions when the institutions are being ignored by the felon, and conflicts of interest associated with Musk are out there in the open? Things are not normal! (I really want to understand this.)
I hope they don't pass the budget. I hope they grind those gears to a halt.
IMO, they are in a spot never before witnessed; that has no precedent, and are Gob-smacked. They must get together as a collective, and protest to any and every illegal thing the bastard is doing. Get a class-action going, demanding that he cease and desist immediately and sign on as many Congresspersons possible, to be a part of it
GOP Congress persons are covered in chicken feathers in public. They can speak privately, but in public, will be verbally “tarred and feathered “ because his feelings are hurt and unable to have any constructive criticism.
Oh yeah, the GOP are all in hiding...I don't believe they even know WHAT to say, at this point...crickets...
I’ve been spouting that phrase since he started his campaign. It’s a perfect description of his tactics and thankfully, not the actual physical appearance! 🤮
Has anyone else seen Robert Reich's column from yesterday, called "Trump is a traitor, and Europe is now alone"? It's the view of us from France, by Claude Malhuret. A sadly perfect view of this country, by a wise man. Wish more Americans were that knowledgeable.
The most aggravating thing is watching Senators and House members totally neutralized/paralyzed by Trump and incapable of removing Musk. The world saw that clown show in the WH driveway yesterday. Like a used car salesman Trump stood there “selling” Teslas while psychopath Musk and his snotkid mugged for the cameras. That was an illegal act for a president to be doing a sales pitch on government land. Where were the people who could and should have made an arrest? We literally no longer have laws or anyone to enforce them where Trump is concerned. Where are the members of Congress including the Democrats who will standup to Musk and say “get out.” You have zero authority, you aren’t an elected or vetted official - get out.
In a country of 300 million we have no one who will stand up and say “shut up” and “get out” and this is the result of our nation clinging to freedom of speech and allowing a braying lunatic to run around the country for four years screaming lies and nonsense at his hate rallies. President Biden had to deal with that poisonous BS for four years because if he’d moved to stop it, he’d have
Been arrested instead of the lying, traitorous, lunatic.
Nation of cowards and appeasers.
The conflict of interest violations are so blatantly obvious. I don't know why every democrat in Congress and every (blue) state AG isn't on that!
Actually the Emperor is not completely naked; he’s still wearing his shit-stained underpants!
He's naked. To which I would like to add that we need to be preparing the ground to receive those who will, eventually, come to their senses. Too many on the left are busy creating enemies. It seems to me there are enough of those out there without the need to swell their ranks! That is only going to make it more difficult for those deluded by Trump to admit his nakedness. We must leave room for repentance. It fine, important, fun even, to call Trump, Musk and company every nasty name we can conjure (Thank you, Susan Campbell, for taking leadership in this), but the more we castigate with nastiness everyone who voted for Trump we make it less likely for any of them to ever see Trump's nakedness. Everyone who voted for Trump is not stupid or malign and those who aren't are never going to change their allegiance if we make acceptance of our negative view of them a precondition of their conversion. This is Psychology of Persuasion 101.