Jonathan Karl thinks TFG is delusional, and Tom Sullivan agrees. However, I think that gives him too much credit, in one respect, and not enough in another. The too much credit part is that it lets him off the hook for moral depravity. The not enough is that it doesn't recognize the method in the madness. Clinical psychologist Alan Blotcky agrees:
Trump is not detached from reality at all. He knows exactly what he is doing. He knows the difference between truth and a lie — he just doesn't care about that, if a lie gets him what he wants. He is devious, conniving and hell-bent on satisfying his needs, wants and desires at any cost.
Trump's "delusion" is simply a conspiracy theory that he thinks has gained the most traction with his millions of supporters. His "delusion" is purposeful and intentional: The election was stolen from him; he will be reinstated as president in August (or at some other time); he could run for speaker of the House in order to impeach President Biden; he is likely to run for president again in 2024. He holds onto his "delusion" because it has successfully kept him the cult leader of the aggrieved and the victimized. His "delusion" has made him the pied piper of the Republican Party.
But focusing on the narcissistic megalomaniac himself is to miss the important point: Something like 30% of the people believe his preposterous lies and nearly the entire Republican party either backs them up or at best declines to deny them. The cynicism and irresponsibility of the party establishment is breathtaking, and appalling. They are literally trying to destroy American democracy wielding the cudgel of this preposterous lie. And so far, it's working.
No comments:
Post a Comment