A couple of post-debate thoughts...
A couple of post-debate thoughts...
TAT readers,
Well, that was quite a beating that Trump took last night. I have never seen anything quite like it but then again, we are nearing the end of the Trump era, and nothing should surprise anyone. Like honest Americans regardless of political beliefs, I applauded loudly and often at the fool that he made of himself. I even went crazy and posted some, tongue-in-cheek glee on Facebook where family and friends could see, not exactly my normal behavior.
Kamala body slammed that former guy, and then ate his lunch 😅🤣 - My Facebook page
The glee though has subsided and there are a couple of lessons that we all must consider from last night’s Trumpian debacle. Candidate Harris pointed out what really matters, and it wasn’t the professional wrestling-styled so-called, “body slam” of my Facebook post. It was that it is time to solve serious problems together with facts, reason and truth. Yes, would I like to have heard more on policy, of course. Last night though was a watershed moment that had to be addressed, precisely as Kamala did. It was the taming of an anti-US values bully, via his own preposterous nonsense that yes… his base still believes, excuses and defends. They can’t help themselves because they have fallen under the spell of decades of FOX and Russian influence operations.
With Trump, there can be no policy debate because his whole candidacy like his previous administration, is built on a cult-of-personality. First defeat the personality and now, lead intelligently and factually. She committed to both, and she was believable. Her record and especially that of the Biden administration was exactly as she declared last night, “cleaning up the Trump mess” across the board. Not only are they cleaning up but making a great deal of progress for our nation and global democracy, in the process.
This morning’s report shows that inflation dropped again, therefore highlighting even more, the price-gouging of corporate America. Oil is at its highest domestic production levels, ever. Green energy is growing faster than ever and especially here in Texas where the Governor, Greg Abbott whines about it but it is our green energy, that has kept our power on for the past three years, not fossil fuels. The border encounters are now lower than at the end of the Trump administration and we handle asylum seekers, humanely.
NATO and global cooperation in the security realm is stronger than it has been since Trump and Putin tried to destroy both for the past nine years. China’s threat is weakening but still requires a great deal of attention, because they are now the leader of the global, Axis of Evil. This extremely moderate administration and a potential Harris administration are focused on us the people, not bizarre conspiracy theory-laden culture wars that divide us. Yes, America and the globe are slowly moving past the decade plus, of global, far-right extremism and doing it with reason and more equability for everyone. We must stay the course.
Finally, the most serious note for all of us. We’ve all lost family and friends to the brainwashing of FOX, Trump, Russia and the globe far-right conspiracy theories and culture wars. They, to a person have succumbed to Russian-centric, far-right extremism dominated by fascism, oligarchy and White Christian Nationalism. All of this is tragically and overtly written into Project 2025 and the 2024 GOP Platform.
After last night’s debate, it is okay to gloat and poke fun at things like cat-eating in Springfield, Ohio, where I went to elementary school and my father was raised, but let’s not poke our Trumpian zombies to a point where they won’t feel like they can rejoin reasonable society. Remember, they are our family, friends and fellow Americans.
When someone has succumbed to decades of Narrative Warfare and to the point that their identity has been so thoroughly corrupted, some won’t be able to recover but we must still hold the door open. Many will want to come back through that door, but it will take time. That’s how the psychology of this works. I personally will keep these doors open while standing firmly grounded in not compromising on the realities, they currently ignore.
This coming weekend, I will attend my 50th high school reunion in Urbana, Ohio which is just 16 miles north of Springfield. Jim Jordan shamefully lives just outside of my hometown. JD Vance is from an area very close by. It’s a Trumpian world and my views during the Trump era haven’t made me the most popular person. Still, when I see my friends, they tend to be much like the rest of the Midwest and especially before the Trump era, polite, respectful and kind. I am hoping that this still applies in my hometown, recently voted the best small town in Ohio. I would agree with this assessment.
Candidate Harris last night committed to moving the nation forward for all of us, as is any president’s responsibility. Forward progress will be faster and more effective, when we all pull together, instead of having Trump-styled culture warriors pulling in the opposite direction. It’s up to all of us to keep those doors open and extend a hand. Awhile back, I wrote an essay about the three most important words to move forward together. They are all, “A” words, apology, acceptance and atonement. Wouldn’t it be great if we get those apologies from those who’ve been duped by the FOX and extremist crowd? Don’t hold your breath. They still don’t realize that they have been conned. It is critical to also be able to accept those apologies and ultimately, everyone must atone for the sins of culture wars regardless of “side.” Those shameful wars over gender, pancake mix, demonization of those who believe differently, the imposition of Christian Nationalism onto every American, etc. etc. etc.
True, that there are still a long few weeks until election day and I expect an entrenched fight by the MAGA crowd, some violence and… election meddling attempts via well-placed Trumpian acolytes in the election process and claims from Trump and crowd even crazier than his cat and dog eating episode last night. We must all, regardless of which “side-of-the-aisle” or otherwise, unite to redouble our efforts to achieve victory over Trumpism and all the baggage that goes with it. There is no way forward for our nation, if we don’t. We are fighting a movement, that is grounded in ideas, that are grounded in an alternative reality. No nation can exist on fantasy. All problem solving requires truth and critical thinking. Conspiracy theories are by default, the opposite of these factors.
Yes, the bottom line is in its simplest form, to focus on the word, “united” as in the title of our nation, the United States of America. I once heard an expression that left a lasting impact on me, and I adhere to it to this day; “the first step that a person takes on the path to revenge, is the first step towards their own, self-destruction.” No one should seek revenge against another of our fellow citizens for believing differently. That’s what American democracy is all about, in our constitutional republic.
My very best for everyone’s day,
Paul