The Mirth of a Nation

Chronicling the rise and fall of 45. At first, the novelty of it all was too much to resist: Bombastic reality TV buffoon hops into the presidential primaries to boost his poor ratings. What could be the harm in letting that play out for a few months, just for kicks-and-giggles?

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I finally broke down and put up my Trump yard sign. Like the orange one, I too am a fan of straight talk.

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Spooked by Trade Wars, Trump Officials Hoard Supplies: 'It Would Be Stupid Not To!'

Donald Trump’s aides and administration officials are hoarding toilet paper, food, and household supplies before his tariffs cause prices to

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At Pope Francis’s funeral last week, Trump represented Americans by breaking Vatican protocol at every turn sporting a bright blue suit instead of traditional funeral attire that was requested, chewing gum and dozing off during the service, and then marching up to the casket stepping into the sacred space around the deceased pontiff, an aggegious breach of Vatican funeral protocol. Trump then left the ceremony early, but not before stopping to talk to the press. He joked about the Pope’s death and suggest he would like to be the next pope. Upon his return to the US, he posts this image. And it barely raises an eyebrow anymore. This is what our role on the world stage has been reduced to.

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The Land of the Free

First they came for the foreigners, and I did not speak out— because I was American.

Then they came for the queer, and I did not speak out— because I was not gay.

Then they came for the poor, and I did not speak out— because I was not poor.

Then they came for the elderly, and I did not speak out— because I was not old.

Then they came for the journalists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a journalist.

Then they came for the dissenters, and I did not speak out— because I was not critical.

Then they came for the artists, and I did not speak out— because I was not creative.

Then they came for the intellectuals, and I did not speak out— because I was ignorant.

Then they came for the leaders, and I did not speak out— because I was a follower.

Then they came for the brave, and I did not speak out— because I was a coward.

Then they came for democracy— and there was no one left who could speak for it.

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No one is voting for Trump

You can wear the MAGA cap, fly the MAGA flag, and adorn your lawn with MAGA signs, you're not fooling me. I know you are not voting for Trump. Identity politics explains some of it, but I think there is more to it. I've spent the last eight years plumbing the psychological depths of every MAGA supporter I know. Some are family, some are friends, some are neighbors. I've tried to understand why they would vote for someone who has proven himself to be the most vile human they have ever encountered, even by their own standards. My conclusion: none of them are voting for him. Here is who they are voting for:

5% of Trump’s MAGA base are dim-witted enough to believe Trump is a decent human and competent leader despite what is known about him - Danica Patrick being their poster child. They are voting for the person they wish Trump was regardless of consequences. 

5% are racists, misogynist, and cheats whose behavior has been mainstreamed by Trump. He has liberated them. They are voting for their liberation regardless of consequences.

5% feel Trump reinforces their identity as a callous tough-guy or bad ass.  They are voting for their self-image regardless of consequences.

1% are greedy psychopath billionaires who can use him in office to get richer.  They are voting for a financial windfall regardless of consequences. 

The other 84% are people who feel entitled and thrive on double standards and privilege. They despise any attempt to level the playing field because deep down, despite all their bluster, they are convinced they can't win on a level field. They are fearful and easily give in to their most base instincts like intolerance, spite, entitlement, victimization, vengeance. They lack the moral fortitude and maturity not to indulge themselves in these feelings. They also feel inadequate. These are the guys who sit in their 200K boat complaining about how bad they have it and whine about how put upon they are. There are a lot of these people in America at every economic level. As long as they can keep someone down they will never be at the bottom of the barrel. They talk as if they are convinced they are the only one who ever really worked for a buck in their life. They talk this way because in most cases they did not work that hard for that buck but want people to believe they did. They are hypersensitive to virtue signaling because that is their game. They want us to believe that all the shit they accumulate around them like the boat, the house, the watch, the car, are accurate symbols of their self-worth. By default, anyone with less flashy stuff to showcase is a less worthy human being who is after their stuff. When you worship at the alter of the holy dollar that is your measuring stick — stuff. More than anything else, these are the people who want to stick it to the snowflakes. The worse Trump is the more powerful the punch to the liberal elites.  They are voting for spite regardless of consequences. 

But no one is actually voting for the orange goblin. 

P.S. I just voted, and I didn't vote for Trump either.

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Trump-Backed Republican Candidate Accused of Lying About Military Record Comes Clean, Admits There's No Proof 'For Any of This Stuff' (Latin

Montana Republican Tim Sheehyhas admitted that there are no records confirming that he received a bullet wound while stationed overseas dur

Liar? Not a problem Sir. Welcome to the GOP!

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Jeffrey Epstein Calls 'Closest Friend for 10 Years' Donald Trump a 'Horrible Human Being' in Newly Released Audio (Complex)

Jeffrey Epstein speaks candidly about Donald Trump...

Wow, he should know.

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MSNBC's Ari Melber Gives Voters 18-Minute Recap of What They Forgot About Trump's First Term | Video (TheWrap)

“Donald Trump is having a rough campaign closing,” Ari Melber said Monday at the start of a special report focused entirely on a single top

The last 24 hours has been on-air therapy day for all the commentators following the orange troll for the last decade. I hope it makes them feel better because I don’t think recapping orange atrocities makes any difference to the electorate. If it did he would have been sidelined years ago.

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What Happens When Orange Jesus Fades? (Patheos)

You remember the story: Moses takes off for a bit to get some divine downloads, and the Israelites lose their patience. They melt down their

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Trump and the money men: Billionaires are repeating the Hitler mistake (Salon)

In 2019, I interrupted private equity emperor Stephen Schwarzmanas he addressed several hundred of his and my Yale classmates at our 50th-y

I’m not so sure it was a mistake, as they see it. If you are willing to sacrifice society for the company then it’s just another clever business move. A move that many of Germany’s most successful companies today made back in the Nazi era.

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‘He lies without limit’: New York Times shares searing 112-word warning against Trump winning election (The Independent)

The New York Times’s editorial board has issued a strongly-worded denunciation of Donald Trumpas the presidential election looms, telling r

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Elon Musk Lawyer Admits Voter Lottery Winners Are Not Random: 'We Know Exactly Who Will Be Announced' (Latin Times)

A lawyer representing America PAC, a political action committee founded by Elon Musk, admitted that winners of the PAC's million-dollar-a-d

You mean he lied?!

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Dick Van Dyke Issues a Bold Political Message Ahead of the 2024 Election (Parade)

Dick Van Dyke is making a big political statement ahead of the 2024 election. The actor took to social media on Nov. 4 to reflect on the po

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Opinion: Trump Isn't Playing to Win the Election, He's Plotting to Steal It (The Daily Beast)

Team Trump know they have lost. They have known for a while. They are not playing to win. They're playing to steal the election. During the

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The Breathtaking Ignorance of American Voters May Decide This Election (WhoWhatWhy)

In theory, the Internet would be a real benefit to democracy. It certainly should be. It allows voters to look beyond campaign ads and even