Monday, June 13, 2022

Erecting a billboard for the blind


    
     Once you get in the habit of ignoring reality, the specifics of the reality being ignored hardly matter.
     That’s a key to understanding what’s going on right now, but not something that gets stated plainly. So I’ll say it again:
     Once you get in the habit of ignoring reality, the specifics of the reality being ignored hardly matter.
     Remember when Donald Trump bragged he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose a single vote? An uncharacteristic thing for him to say, in that it was true. But subsequent events bear him out, and we free of his mesmeric influence should never forget it. He doesn’t lead a party, but a cult. If your followers believe in you no matter what you do or say, then they are acolytes, not citizens. It’s faith: God is good no matter how many landslides He sends, sweeping away the village school. Ditto for Trump. He is their god. They certainly adore him like a deity.
     The facts presented are clear. After Trump lost the 2020 election, he tried to hold onto power by coining the lie that he had actually won, based on nothing but bluster, then bullied and pressured others to either believe him or act as if they did. He knew this wasn’t true, but he didn’t care. Nor did his followers. When Trump could not marshal enough compliant officials to reject the votes cast by the American people, he summoned a mob to Washington D.C. and set it on the Capitol at the exact moment Congress was certifying the election. It was an attempted coup.
     The U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol began public hearings Thursday. While part of the country tuned in, aghast and enthralled, a significant segment dismissed it out of hand, ahead of time, reflexively, easily, the way they smirk at climate change and shrug off gun violence. Fox News didn’t even carry Thursday’s hearing.

To continue reading, click here.

5 comments:

  1. I never understood why these hearings are taking place for the reasons Neil listed. I went to Fox to see what they had to say and the best Hannity could do was say Pelosi or Schumer could have called in the National Guard if they wanted.
    At first I thought Trump may finally have his feet to the fire this coming July 15 in New York but then reality set in. If he actually does testify he’ll just keep repeating, “I don’t remember.“
    That will be good enough for his cult. Good description Neil.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Except that Pelosi or Schumer didn't then & still don't have the legal authority to call in the DC National Guard!
      So more lies from the inveterate liars at the Fascist News Channel! Where they decide & you're supposed to obey.
      And exactly why would you turn to those liars for anything relevant about this or anything else?

      Delete
    2. From time to time I check to see what venom they’re spewing. They never disappoint.

      Delete
  2. Republicans have been practicing selective ignorance at least since I became politically aware. Before ProLife and TrickleDown came DaleyStealsPresidencyFor Kennedy. Republicans still refuse to acknowledge the simple arithmetic that shows Kennedy didn't need Illinois' 27 Electoral votes. They believe Nixon was a martyr, Reagan was God, Hillary is Satan and George W is Picasso. So it might not change many minds if Herr Drumpf is convicted and incarcerated, but let's try anyway. And someday a friend or relative will tell me, "Yeah I looked it up on the internet and Nixon needed Texas too"

    ReplyDelete
  3. That noose was intended for Mike "A Man for All Seasons" Pence. In the gallows presence rioters chanted "hang Mike Pence" you can't get much more intimidating than that. He did his duty and certified the presidential election results, declaring Joe Biden the winner. Not all Republicans are in thrall to Trump.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are moderated, and posted at the discretion of the proprietor.