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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"...our job was to pull the curtain back on the wizard and remind people that the emperor had no clothes"
That headline is from Simon's Wednesday election recap (he covers a lot of important ground)
The felon is abusing powers and inflicting enormous harms on us as the regime works to destroy the constitutional order. However, he is NOT all powerful. The opposite. He is in decline -- politically, physically, cognitively.
Yes, the horrors are enraging and heartbreaking, but one of my thoughts as I listened to Simon's election recap is that, with every post we have a choice:
1. We can promote the counter-resistance narrative that all is hopeless; that the aspirational America we love is dead, that the felon and MAGA are unstoppable.
2. We can promote the truth that he is in decline. He is wildly unpopular. He is a weak, vindictive, angry old man. Growing numbers of people recognize that his cruel, criminal, and corrupt acts are the Opposite of the shared American values that have driven every decent thing this nation has ever accomplished.
The "mood" of social media matters. And everything we post here or elsewhere contributes to that mood.
With (1) we sow doom and hopelessness that immibilizes. With (2) we sow the truth and inspire hope that activates.
Yes, the challenges are perhaps the biggest we have faced in our lifetime, but if we spark a positive feedback loop of hope and action that engages people in stepping up to shape their government in unprecedented numbers, we will see transformative change. Never, ever underestimate what People Power can accomplish.
There is a lot more good stuff from Simon. I highly recommend the entire segment.
He discusses things we are getting right, and suggests areas we need greater focus. This is not the usual run down of what "they" -- the consultants, electeds, and candidates -- need to do. It is what more of US need to be thinking about and doing to shape the social media narrative and push our electeds and other party leaders in ways that will make us a stronger and more effective party
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"...our job was to pull the curtain back on the wizard and remind people that the emperor had no clothes" (Original Post)
pat_k
Thursday
OP
question everything
(51,378 posts)1. We should not refer to him as a king but as an emperor
pat_k
(12,435 posts)2. A naked emperor. And no amount of sane-washing can erase that reality once seen. (nt)
BlueKota
(4,883 posts)3. I see him as an easily manipulated narcissistic puppet
of a want to be totalitarian regime.
pat_k
(12,435 posts)4. Malignant (psychopathic) narcissist
From wikipedia:
Malignant narcissism is a theoretical personality disorder construct conceptually distinguished from typical narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) by the presence of antisocial behavior, egosyntonic sadism, and a paranoid orientation...
Post fom August 2017 --the felon ticks all the boxes for both Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Anti-Social Personality Disorder (correlated with psychopathic traits)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1846040
DT is mentally ill. He meets the criteria for Antisocial and Narcissistic Personality Disorders. And based on public conduct, I have no doubt that an evaluation would put him way up on the Psychopathy Checklist.
Lying and "distorting reality" are hallmarks. He breaks every rule in the book in pursuit of his own ends. He lies and distorts reality to rationalize and justify his wrongful conduct. To puff up his over-inflated ego he stereotypes and denigrates those he sees as out-groups. His callous disregard for others and sense of entitlement appear to know no bounds. He weaves grandiose tales of his fearsome power, omnipotence, and unequaled brilliance. He is proudly abrasive and offensive. He clearly enjoys humiliating and embarrassing others, but reacts to any perceived slight to his own person, appearance, or accomplishments aggressively and vindictively.
I'm sure there have been U.S. presidential candidates, and presidents, who could be diagnosed with a personality disorder of some sort, but I can't think any of who exhibited this level of psychopathy. I can't think of any who met as many diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder, or who met as many criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
...
Lying and "distorting reality" are hallmarks. He breaks every rule in the book in pursuit of his own ends. He lies and distorts reality to rationalize and justify his wrongful conduct. To puff up his over-inflated ego he stereotypes and denigrates those he sees as out-groups. His callous disregard for others and sense of entitlement appear to know no bounds. He weaves grandiose tales of his fearsome power, omnipotence, and unequaled brilliance. He is proudly abrasive and offensive. He clearly enjoys humiliating and embarrassing others, but reacts to any perceived slight to his own person, appearance, or accomplishments aggressively and vindictively.
I'm sure there have been U.S. presidential candidates, and presidents, who could be diagnosed with a personality disorder of some sort, but I can't think any of who exhibited this level of psychopathy. I can't think of any who met as many diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder, or who met as many criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
...
Evaluation against DSM criteria follows the above in the post.