While our nation was slowly and painfully moving towards a more just society, a group of people was quietly seething with rage: I call them, “The Resentfuls.” They were cultivated by right-wing talking heads who did nothing so much as sell white male supremacy wrapped up in “patriotism” paper, with a big red “freedom” bow on top.
Then came Trump, whose first act as a candidate was to validate every micron of the hatred and bigotry pent up in The Resentfuls. Unlike previous Republicans who gave lip service to The Resentfuls in order to get votes for policy that made them and their elite buddies rich, Trump gave The Resentfuls front row VIP seats! He gave their anger at “liberals” top billing. He unapologetically attacked the people they wanted to see damaged. And he did it with relish. He boldly crossed the line. He delighted in seeing prim, stuffed-shirt Republicans squawk in dismay at his boorishness, while his base cheered him on from the sidelines. The more he went against type of the restrained, stoic politician, the more The Resentfuls fell in love with him.
His mission was ATTACK: He attacked people, ideas, truth, facts, institutions, norms, rules, laws, standards... he chose to be a bull in the china shop of government. The essence of government is public service. But the essence of The Resentfuls is the belief that government shouldn’t be serving THOSE type of people — something many establishment Republicans believed to greater or lesser degrees, but most certainly did not sell publicly.
Early on, there were Republicans who at least tried to defend “conservatism” as a set of fiscal and governing principles that were not entirely coextensive with nutball Trumpism. But those who stood up were soon brought to heel by The Resentfuls, whose wrath was swift, unforgiving, and COMPLETELY dedicated to their first “Soul-Mate President” since desegregation. The Resentfuls did NOT want to see Trump tamed or restrained in any way. They wanted him all-out full-test VICIOUS. Because that’s what they were feeling about the “gays, women, coloreds, Jews, Moslems & illegals.”
Of course, Trump’s reign could have been, and was, for a short time, restrained by the GOP. But soon Mitch McConnell saw Trump’s reflexive bullying for what it was....the perfect lash to keep dissenting Republicans in line. Trump not only wielded control over a passionately loyal base, but minions like Brad Parscale & Steve Bannon recruited already radicalized and militarized white supremacist terrorists groups like the Proud Boys, to act as Trump’s enforcers. Add to that Russia’s help in creating BOT armies to deploy social media fire storms on anyone who displeased “Dear Leader,” and 45 was able to exact total obedience from his caucus. With the minion militia in tow, McConnell had the tool he needed to push through an unpopular and politically dangerous agenda. And 45 was given leave to run roughshod over every single governing institution in our country.
When the Whistleblower came forward, and the American people saw the kind of lawless, self-serving and immoral things Trump was willing to do to boost his chances of reelection, there were many who assumed that the bright line had been crossed, and the GOP would cut its losses. But the firm mettle needed to do so had long since been sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. By then, the GOP had devolved into two camps: 1) the happy warriors, and 2) the grumbling, press-leaking, off-the-record, capitulators.
So...one by one, the GOP Senators ripped up their oaths of office, and asserted that abuse of power and obstruction of justice was fine, if it was done by someone who controlled the votes THEY needed to stay in power. 45 was impeached. The GOP was cuckolded.
In February, the Dow looked good, but the other metrics were not great for the GOP. They had lost 2018 by 10 MILLION votes. 45 had never maintained anything close to 50% approval. And the Dems started coalescing around a candidate that would be difficult to demonize (thought they were sure going to try). And then COVID happened.
At first, the happy warriors enthusiastically spread lies about the virus because it’s what they’d been doing for three years — lying for Trump. In March, coronavirus hit & went nuts. It was simply impervious to Trump’s lies, and it did PRECISELY what the experts said it would do: it started killing thousands of us. And then... ALL of Donald’s MANY character flaws and governing failures came to a head. EVERYTHING that The Resentfuls loved about Trump proved to be catastrophic to the country in a time of crisis.
And EVERYONE who was not drinking Resentful-flavored Cool-aid saw it: The lies, the bullying, the snake oil hawking, the personal attacks, the shifting of blame, the xenophobia, the cronyism, the incessant profiteering, the nepotism, the cruelty, the lack of empathy, the churlishness, the disrespect for the law, the inability to focus, the disdain for knowledge and expertise, the impatience, the isolationism, and MOST of all, the whiny, insecure, pathetic man-baby self-pitying, were just too much to take!
Three years, 34 million lost jobs, and nearly 80 thousand needlessly dead Americans after Donald came down the escalator to announce he was going to be as a big an ass as possible, America has now had enough of his jack-ass behavior. At this point, we would be much better off with no President at all, than this one, whose every move and instinct makes things worse.
In the midst of all of this chaos, Barr and McConnell are happy as hogs in slop, surgically dismantling the rule of law and, our institutions, while stacking the deck as much as possible to keep power. But in a way, it’s a good thing. We now know so much more about what we want from government, for having been traumatized by what we DON’T want, and NEVER wish to see again.
The Resentfuls gave us an eye-full of the country they want: one that isn’t anywhere in the ballpark of GOOD, let alone great. Their effort to sell racism, greed, selfishness, bigotry and hate as virtues has awakened a sleeping giant. Because now, WE, the sane and decent people of America, are OUTRAGED and even MORE seething, angry and yes, RESENTFUL, than The Resentfuls ever were in 2016. Oh, and there are 20 MILLION more of US, ready to walk over hot coals to vote Trump and every single one of his enablers out!
Pam's Website
ActBlue Link