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There comes a point where Hyperbole crosses paths with Reality.
My dear friends, I believe as a nation, we have passed that point — by a country mile.
Let me dare to explore a verboten topic, among polite company ...
A new book from a former cult member makes the case.
[...]
A new book by cult expert Steven Hassan, called The Cult of Trump, is the first serious attempt to argue that Trumpism is a cult. Hassan has studied cults for years and is himself a former member of the “Moonies” cult, an offshoot of the Unification Church of the United States led by Sun Myung Moon that made headlines in 1970s.
Hassan is convinced that Trump is more than just a manipulative, charismatic politician. The president, he writes, “employs many of the same techniques as prominent cult leaders and displays many of the same personality traits.”
[...]
Sean Illing
Are there meaningful differences between a political cult and a religious cult (or any other kind of cult)?
Steven Hassan
There are differences, but the core influence techniques are basically the same no matter the purpose or structure of the cult. And there’s almost always a core deception at the center of the cult, which is that the leader is the only [one] who has the keys to saving the planet, who has access to the truth.
Sean Illing
Do the majority of cult members recognize themselves as being members of cults?
Steven Hassan
No, most people would laugh at the idea of being in a “cult.” But that’s crucial to the sort of mind control you find in a cult. When people are being brainwashed, they think they’re making their own decisions, they think they’re doing God’s work, they think they’re saving the world. And above all, they think they made a conscious decision to do all these things all on their own.
Sean Illing
And how do you distinguish a cult leader from what we’d normally consider a charismatic leader?
Steven Hassan
I have a chapter in the book on malignant narcissism as a characteristic of destructive cult leaders. These are people who have a deep need for grandiosity, to be the center of attention, who need to control others, and who lack empathy and lie without hesitation. These are psychological traits perfectly attuned to manipulation and projection.
But the malignant part is about sociopathic tendencies. Almost every cult leader thinks he’s above the law, which is why he’s allowed to persecute and harass or harm anyone he wants. When someone really believes this, they can rationalize all kinds of destructive behavior.
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Other scholars have spelled out the common characteristics of a Cult, as well:
by Rick Ross, TheGuardian, May 27, 2009
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Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton, who once taught at Harvard Medical School, wrote a paper titled Cult Formation in the early 1980s. He delineated three primary characteristics, which are the most common features shared by destructive cults.
1. A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power. That is a living leader, who has no meaningful accountability and becomes the single most defining element of the group and its source of power and authority.
2. A process [of indoctrination or education is in use that can be seen as] coercive persuasion or thought reform [commonly called "brainwashing"].
The culmination of this process can be seen by members of the group often doing things that are not in their own best interest, but consistently in the best interest of the group and its leader.
Lifton's seminal book Thought Reform and Psychology of Totalism explains this process in considerable detail.
3. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.
The destructiveness of groups called cults varies by degree, from labour violations, child abuse, medical neglect to, in some extreme and isolated situations, calls for violence or mass suicide.
But surely it is hyperbolic to claim that Donald Trump has the “deep need for grandiosity, to be the center of attention“, isn’t it?
Well, why don’t why let the “Leadership Style” of Donald Trump, speak for itself:
TRUMP APPOINTEES TAKE TURNS PRAISING HIM IN BIZARRE CABINET MEETING
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“Start with Mike,” Trump said, referring to Vice President Mike Pence, after instructing each Cabinet member to say a few words about the good work his administration is doing. Pence set the tone for the bizarre 11-minute spectacle that followed, heaping praise on the president while he sat quietly nearby, smiling. “It is the greatest privilege of my life to serve as the vice president to a president who is keeping his word to the American people,” he said.
Next up was Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who recently offered to resign after clashing with Trump over his decision to recuse himself from the Russia probe. “It’s an honor to be able to serve you,” he said, describing the support he said Trump has from law enforcement across the country. “They have been very frustrated [and] they are so thrilled.”
Alex Acosta, the secretary of the Labor Department, called it a “privilege” to be in the White House. “I’m deeply honored and I want to thank you for keeping your commitment to the American workers,” he added.
“My hat’s off to you,” Energy Secretary Rick Perry said, hailing Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
Reince Priebus, the long-suffering chief of staff whom Trump has reportedly been talking about firing for months, and who had been in the news that very morning for reportedly receiving an ultimatum to get the White House under control by July 4 or lose his job, called it a “blessing” to work for the president. “On behalf of the entire senior staff around you, Mr. President, we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing you’ve given us to serve your agenda and the American people, and we’re continuing to work very hard every day to accomplish those goals.”
Nikki Haley, U.N. ambassador: “It’s a new day at the United Nations. We now have a very strong voice.”
Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget: “At your direction, we were able to also focus on the forgotten men and women who are paying taxes, so I appreciate your support on pulling that budget together.”
Tom Price, secretary of health and human services: “What an incredible honor it is to lead the Department of Health and Human Services at this pivotal time under your leadership. I can’t thank you enough for the privilege that you’ve given me, and the leadership you’ve shown.”
Elaine Chao, secretary of transportation: “Thank you for coming over to the Department of Transportation. Hundreds and hundreds of people were so thrilled to hang out, watching the whole ceremony. I want to thank you for getting this country moving again, and also working again.”
Robert Lighthizer, U.S. trade representative: “I apologize for being late for work. For about four months, I got bogged down in that swamp you’ve been trying to drain.”
Sonny Perdue, secretary of agriculture: “I just got back from Mississippi. They love you there.”
Steven Mnuchin, secretary of the treasury: “It’s been a great honor traveling with you around the country for the past year, and an even greater honor to be serving you on your Cabinet . . .”
It sounds like a scene out of a Marx Brothers comedy. But five months into the Trump presidency, such tin-pot theatrics have become commonplace. What is shocking is not so much the deep insecurity of Donald Trump, but the speed with which his aides and enablers have contorted themselves to flatter his fragile ego. [...]
If only it was a Marx Brothers skit. If only it were an over-the-top Monty Python routine. But it’s not. It’s reality. It’s an object lesson on what counts as a “day at the office” in the sycophantic Trump Administration. A place where a clutch of Yes-men carry out their “Executive Time” orders.
An exclusive place where anyone who dares to hold Ego-manic at the top, accountable for his actions, well let’s just say that such “up-starts” get kicked to curb, faster than a Trump extortion threat, circles the globe ...
[...]
Fox News' senior judicial analyst, Andrew Napolitano, said Thursday that the summary released by the White House of a July 25 phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demonstrates "both criminal and impeachable behavior" by Trump.
Though the president has said it was a "perfect call" and that the summary exonerates him, Napolitano said in an opinion piece that the call showed that Trump was guilty of violating campaign finance law, bribery and intimidating witnesses.
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Napolitano also said the "president need not have committed a crime in order to be impeached, but he needs to have engaged in behavior that threatens the constitutional stability of the United States or the rule of law as we have come to know it."
The judge decried Trump's verbal attacks on the whistleblower [...] He called Trump's "allusions to violence are palpably dangerous" and said they "will give cover to crazies who crave violence, as other intemperate words of his have done."
www.usatoday.com — Oct 3, 2019
Within the week, Trump banished the truth-speaking Napolitano, to the outsider Hinterlands — far from the warming allegiance — that binds all “Trump Club Members” together … in the murmuring chatter of their unwavering accolades ...
Cult leaders will continued to double-down … on their own sheer wisdom, and “Perfection” ...
and they will triple-down too, when confronted by actual Facts from Reality ...
Do you know why such deluded leaders, claim they are “perfect”, infallible, even “chosen” by deities?
WELL, such brash behavior — of claiming perfection — helps them to “coercive persuade” their feeble-minded followers. By the constant repetition, the “fringe members” of the Club, might actually start believing that their “party” leader might indeed be “Above the Law”.
Might be beyond all reproach, all criticism, and even beyond the need for any critical thought.
“That’s just Trump being Trump — Whatcha gonna do?” (Psst. Fall-in-line.)
In the midst of answering a question about the ongoing trade war with China on Wednesday, President Donald Trump turned from reporters, looked to heavens and proclaimed, "I am the chosen one."
[...]
As he wrote in "The Art of the Deal" (Trump's second favorite book behind the Bible, he says):
"I like thinking big. I always have. To me it's very simple: if you're going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big. Most people think small, because most people are afraid of success, afraid of making decisions, afraid of winning. And that gives people like me a great advantage."
One of the ranking member of Trump Club, facing his own illegal complicity, recently renewed his “Trump Loyalty Oath” — and decided to praise the “chosen one” — with disturbing specificity:
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[Rick Perry] revealed that he gave Mr Trump “a little one-pager on those Old Testament kings about a month ago”.
“I shared it with him and said, ‘Mr President, I know there are people that say you said you were the chosen one and I said, ‘You were,’” Mr Perry said.
www.independent.co.uk— Nov 25, 2019
SOOO, let’s review the sign-post social-mechanisms hard at work in the Trump MAGA Club:
1) No meaningful accountability ? Check!
2) A process of indoctrination and brainwashing ? Check!
3) The exploitation of group members? Check!
4) A deep need for grandiosity, to be the center of attention ? Check!
5) A core deception, that the leader is the ‘only one’ ? Check!
6) The Cult leader thinks he’s above the law ? Check!
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Donald Trump has foisted upon the Nation — All the bitter Hallmarks of a living, breathing Cult.
(If only they had an identifying Club symbol … or something ...)
And his followers have willingly hat-checked their own minds, their own honor and dignity, their own values at the Club-house door — all for the opportunity to praise and protect their “chosen leader” for yet another mind-numbing day ...
… and ultimately for another 4 years, if no “ranking Cult member” decides to break ranks, in the coming days. (Decides to reclaim their own lives, and leave the Trump-Cult behind.)
Chances of such a systemic awakening are slim however … given the effectiveness of their Bully’s exploitations. It seems Donald Trump, for all his faults, has “perfected” the black-art of “Twitter Bullying” …
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Bullying at its core, is another Cult hallmark of “exploitation of group members” — so that the Leader remains in strict control, and can quell any dissension.
Disallowing any Primary Contests against Trump, demonstrates “that the leader is the ‘only one’ ” — another hallmark.
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So, let the brainwashing on the steroids by the Dear Leader, continue … dear Middle-America — What’s the harm:
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee says he has been "named to head up" what would be an unconstitutional 2024 re-election campaign for Donald Trump.
Mr Huckabee, father of former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, made the explosive claim in a pair of tweets on Thursday afternoon in which he also said the US president was "eligible" for a third term due to congressional investigations into him.
"Greatly honored to be asked to chair @realDonaldTrump re-election campaign for @POTUS in 2024. Gives me lots of time to plan!" Mr Huckabee said without providing evidence.
www.independent.co.uk — Dec 13, 2019
Heaven help us. Avoid their sheer madness … for no more than one more year.
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But this is what Independents have allowed, by their continued cynical Disengagement Syndrome — by their “both-sideism” spectacles, with which they continue to view current events.
The Silent Majority — by their perpetual “fence sitting” — are effectively condoning “the Perfect One who isn’t.” By their willful ignoring, by their hectic refusals to acknowledge the dangers, that the Trump Cult behavior represents — THIS PIVOTAL Demographic continues to weaken our very fragile democracy. They continue to condone America to a “laughing stock” place of shame, on the world stage. By letting Trump be Trump.
Or as Trump himself might put it: “Sad! SOOO sad. Too bad, suckers! “
Two MORE terms of Donald Trump? What’s the problem?
Just let the active-brainwashing of the Trump Club continue … dear Independent Voter. Afterall, in their own minds, “They can do NO wrong.” Never have. Never will.
Despite all the “real world” damage, the Trump Club has clearly already done.
…
But that’s just to the people, who don’t “really count” anyways … SOOO, what’s the problem?
That’s just what being “perfect” looks like ... when Strongman-Cults are quietly allowed to rule the world. ... After all the brain-washing is complete.
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