A few of the more astute get it, but many remain polarized without realizing it. From Obama the Messiah to Trump the God, how did it all come to this? How did a country that sent a man to the moon allow itself to be scammed by a former community organizer hailed as a Messiah, followed by a narcissist salesman seen by many as a God?
"He [Obama] made so many promises. We thought that he was going to be -- I shouldn't say this at Christmas time -- but the next messiah." – Barbara Walters.
"To say no to President Trump would be saying no to God … I want you to hear from God. God already spoke to me what I'm going to write out. You're going to write your checks to Paula White Ministries … If God tells you to give $12.99, do it. Whatever the Holy Spirit speaks to you. If you need to give by credit card, do so …" – Faith adviser Paula White, Faith and Opportunity Initiative, White House.
Dysfunctional American Politics
From ‘Change you can believe in’ to ‘America First’, sound bites are designed to mean anything a believer wants to read into them and attract the same cult following as the advertising competition between ‘finger lickin’ good’ and ‘I’m lovin’ it.’ From liberal fascism to corporate fascism; ‘Healing America’ to ‘MAGA’ are abstracts.
Like any cult founded on abstracts, both polarized opposites tried to tap into the American psyche and attract a fanatical base – Trumpies v traitors. Obama concentrated on the 20th century ideal of a socialist man-made utopia, while Trump hit the spot with greed, God and neo-nationalism. In both cases, when presidents can do no wrong the fault transfers to those believers who willingly submit to beliefs and later are forced to accept responsibility for the consequences. Currently, there is no shortage of those cultists who believed in 20th century ideals and accepted Obama as a deity v those who believe Trump is a God come to return America to a golden-age.
The Trump Factor
The Trump cultist doctrine shares many similarities with a particularly obnoxious form of right wing American evangelism – The prosperity gospel evangelists. This is the idea that wealth and status is pre-ordained by God; a popular form of control from both Monarchs and the Church of England up to the end of Victorian era. Those who ruled were put there by divine will and if people believed and kept the status quo they would be rewarded in heaven.
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertain...our-mind.html/
"The Shocking Net Worth of These 10 Richest Pastors Will Blow Your Mind"
The prosperity gospel preaches that the more people give to the evangelists, the more God will reward them with wealth in return and little wonder that Trump suddenly found Christianity, adding his own rewards of building walls, nationalism and promises of wealth in return for votes.
"Politicians have used you and stolen your votes. They have given you nothing. I will give you everything. I will give you what you’ve been looking for for 50 years … I’m the only one." Donald Trump.
In his defeat to hold the house in the mid-terms, Trump blamed the loss on those who refused to ‘embrace’ him, in much the same way as the prosperity gospel evangelists would blame poverty as an individual fault on those who didn’t contribute.
"The candidates that I supported achieved tremendous success … I think she should have won that race, but she [Rep. Barbara Comstock] didn’t want to have any embrace … Mia Love [Rep. Utah] gave me no love. And she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia … Erik Paulsen [Rep. Minnesota] didn't want the embrace …" – Donald Trump.
In other words, what Trump is saying is that those Republicans who lost didn’t believe (embrace him) enough and the result had nothing to do with the electorate’s choice.
Trump has spent his whole life chasing wealth and materialism and rather like the books of how to get rich by doing nothing; his wealth is not going to have a trickle- down effect on those who believe. His ‘success’ if we define materialism as an ethic, differs from others like Bernie Madoff in that so far he has been able to avoid prosecution. Steve Bannon recently described Trump’s organization and family as a ‘criminal entity.’ Was he wrong? So far 14 aides, donors and advisors who have been involved with Trump since his election have faced criminal charges, or have been jailed. Even whilst campaigning and before his election Trumps foundation charity was eventually closed down and fined $2m, for financial irregularities in which Trump had to admit he and his family had used the charity, "as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr Trump’s business and political interests."
Meet the Real Mr. Trump
Trump, his organization and family are a reflection of the worst type of Mafia-like characters America has to offer. Historians will not judge Trump kindly and the ones who fell for the scam of Trumpism will be the most disappointed. From promises to build a wall, make Americans rich and make America great by re-creating an industrial golden age, it was all a scam.
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-legal-trouble
"If you look at all his legal troubles together you see someone who is both reckless and lawless – which we knew – and perhaps in more trouble than has been noted. You might add to that list obscenely stupid, since he often seems to be the only one who believes his own lies, and since he and his children don’t seem to grasp that the scamming and cheating that got them through the dirty world of New York City real estate doesn’t work as well on the global stage."
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics...andals/474726/
"The Many Scandals of Donald Trump: A Cheat Sheet. The breadth of Trump’s controversies is truly huge, ranging from allegations of mafia ties to unscrupulous business dealings, and from racial discrimination to alleged marital rape. They stretch over more than four decades, from the mid-1970s to the present day."
You may now pile in Trumpies, but let’s keep it civil and on topic?
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Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove
