(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



The Greatest Con That Ever Succeeded? [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2024-11-10  

Like the rest of you, I have been grappling with the unthinkable result of Tuesday’s election. In fact, I was one of the uber-optimists in this forum, looking strictly at the numbers game and concluding he was in for a clobberin’. Now, I cannot say why Kamala’s base of support fell so far short. But him? I forgot about something that needs to be mentioned and it is so remarkable to consider.

Although I’ve lived in South Jersey most of my life, I actually grew up in Bergen County outside NYC. I happen to be blessed with a very good memory, for better or worse. And beginning in the late 1970s I started hearing some guy’s name with increasing frequency. He was a real estate developer in Manhattan named Trump. So what was he doing to merit all the media attention brought to him? In a word, nothing. Rather, it seemed to me that this Trump fellow was obsessed with wanting everyone to know how wealthy he was. Thinking back, he was displaying his narcissistic tendencies even at that young age already, and found a compliant media to facilitate his desires (Daily News, NY Post tabloids, esp.). NO ONE ELSE was behaving this way. Just him. Over time, this pattern of Trump this, Trump that, accelerated for no other reason but ego gratification. And it occurred to me that it was during this time, so many decades ago, that he was also honing his skills at charm and manipulation, helped again by those local media entities who likely saw him as a conduit for increasing newspaper sales. But these skills would not be put to maximum effect until decades later.

Have you watched some of these rallies as I have? (yes, a strong stomach is always recommended). Much has been said about whether his supporters constitute a ‘cult’ and I am not one to make that assertion. But there is something else at play that is so unbelievable that I am left shaking my head over and over again. And he knew EXACTLY what he was doing. He successfully duped an entire socio-economic group — the working class — into believing that he CARES about them! Have you noticed that? They really, truly believe this!! You can see it at his rallies, in the glossy eyed expressions of those people who attend. Looking at it from that perspective, it is easier to understand why they stay with him despite his indictments, convictions, sexual assaults, phony charities and universities, stiffing of more contractors than is truly known, cheating on ALL of his wives multiple times, etc. etc. etc. They don’t care about any of it because they value the ‘bond’ he created with them but which is actually nothing more than a figment of their imagination. How do you break such an imaginary bond that untold millions of ‘lower class’ folks want to hold on to at all cost? It helps them feel important, right? Who would tell them the truth — that he could not care less about them except as a tool to further enrich himself?

He knew what he was doing all right, and sad to say, they still believe he cares about them. I submit this may go down as the greatest con job ever achieved in this country, considering what it helped produce: a second term for him.

I do not know what else to add, because it is sickening enough to know what he has gotten away with. Me — I think I’ll go hibernate in the New Jersey Pine Barrens for a while to clear my head. It is so quiet and peaceful there — just what I need for spiritual healing. I hope the rest of you find similar during times like these.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/10/2285162/-The-Greatest-Con-That-Ever-Succeeded?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/