You've provided a detailed description of the traumatic mass re-education system employed in the PRC's Great Cultural Revolution and of the individualized process of what Winston Smith was put through in Orwell's 1984. Yet another portrayal is the two-year electro-pharmaceutical ordeal of the detective protagonist in the here-comes-totalitarian fascism in the Babylon Berlin German TV series. These other examples may help some people's understanding. Keep up your good work.
Is there a “second,” in addition to “First, narcissists are attractive to others because . . . “❓in answer to your important question “But why Trump?”❓
One might be that he was handy, and available. After 10 years of hybrid warfare, ramped up after BHO’s tepid response to Putin’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, helping to send HRC’s 2015 hat into the ring, motivating the Kremlin to turn a money-laundering asset into a political one in a then-new USA front in the war to reconstitute & expand the FSU/Russian Empire, here we are.
Is that it? Occupied & under the control of enemies domestic & foreign? Plundering & pillaging maybe only just begun?
But I’m still stuck on “why did he of all people become the model for so many”? First, his narcissistic qualities. Second, . . . . what do you think?
I remain astonished at the efficacy of the psy-ops techniques as applied against Americans with high IQs and solid value systems. His squalid personal history ordinarily would be anathema.
Any further answer(s) to your threshold question [maybe there’s not just a 2d, but also a 3d? a 4th? reason “why him”❓ ] would be sincerely appreciated.
Trying to get more clarity on exactly that (“why him”?), to aid my work (Hassan manuals in hand) extricating friends & family. Candidly, I’m stumped.
This was terrific, Jim. I wish I had a larger audience to share it with. Horrifying, but fascinating. I was immediately struck by Russell Vought (“translucent sea-worm” as Nina Burliegh calls him) using the word trauma when discussing the psychological violence aimed at federal workers. What kind of twisted freak uses that word so casually as a weapon!? It’s a colossal mass mental health crisis.
I had the thought while out running that a key aspect to their character is that these people in charge believe that they have the *right* to negatively impact so many millions of fellow Americans. They feel, somehow, enitled to do all this stuff. That had been a safeguard in the past -- sufficient respect for the rights and best interests of other fellow Americans. We could all rise up on this one notion and say -- "NO, you do not have the right to do this!!!"
Thanks, Jim, for another fascinating, inightful article. You're spot-on. I haven't seen analysis this perceptive and accurate anywhere else, I thank you for it! As you have written, it's very helpful to FIRST understand reality, what is happening now in America; then we can proceed with that knowledge in mind. With the potential collapse of Trump, we know that the gigantic machinery behind all this -- Heritage, Paypal mafia, and I heard from Ruth Ben-Ghiat who is absolutely outstanding, that 70 organizations in addition to the Heritage Foundation combined to write Project '25, -- we know that they are feverishly working on what they feel is their best succession plan for Trump, long-term. It has to start with Vance and maybe they'll simply see how MAGA takes to him but no doubt they're considering other possible leaders for the long-term. Would be curious if you have any thoughts/prognostications on that. I wonder how seriously they are considering Miller. Evil right in our faces - ideologically fanatical and shameless, and they may see his weird appearance as a plus. Point being, they aren't about to just collapse voluntarily if one guy, Trump, falls out of favor.
Having read Girard's, "I Saw Satan Fall Like Lightning," some years ago, I've always thought that Trump himself would end up as the scapegoat and be torn apart by his followers. Time will tell.
I always wondered why there were so many Trump rallies. Recently read a book called "The crowd: a study of the popular mind" by Gustave le Bon. The book was published in 1895 and remains amazingly relevant today because human nature has not changed. Even the author's very occasional display of his own personal prejudices of racism, misogyny and anti-socialism have been little affected by time.
We need, as a society, to find out why some people can immediately see he is a conman. Some people take more time to listen and observe his actions. Others cannot recognize the con. Con men and women know how to manipulate their marks. We need to find out what makes some people be able to discern so quickly and others not at all. Educational/experiential learning experiences in schools and homes can prevent many people from falling for cons. Obviously, we need to invest in this knowledge and education for our own sake as well as others. We don't want to experience another version of Don the Con who mesmerizes the masses.
I appreciate the information about how brainwashing occurs and examples of how it works in MAGA. I also like the information about what’s happening internally for Trump and the narcissistic collapse. It’s alarming to think what he might do this time, given what he did on J6.
You've provided a detailed description of the traumatic mass re-education system employed in the PRC's Great Cultural Revolution and of the individualized process of what Winston Smith was put through in Orwell's 1984. Yet another portrayal is the two-year electro-pharmaceutical ordeal of the detective protagonist in the here-comes-totalitarian fascism in the Babylon Berlin German TV series. These other examples may help some people's understanding. Keep up your good work.
Thank you, Jim, for putting all this together.
Is there a “second,” in addition to “First, narcissists are attractive to others because . . . “❓in answer to your important question “But why Trump?”❓
One might be that he was handy, and available. After 10 years of hybrid warfare, ramped up after BHO’s tepid response to Putin’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, helping to send HRC’s 2015 hat into the ring, motivating the Kremlin to turn a money-laundering asset into a political one in a then-new USA front in the war to reconstitute & expand the FSU/Russian Empire, here we are.
Is that it? Occupied & under the control of enemies domestic & foreign? Plundering & pillaging maybe only just begun?
But I’m still stuck on “why did he of all people become the model for so many”? First, his narcissistic qualities. Second, . . . . what do you think?
I remain astonished at the efficacy of the psy-ops techniques as applied against Americans with high IQs and solid value systems. His squalid personal history ordinarily would be anathema.
Any further answer(s) to your threshold question [maybe there’s not just a 2d, but also a 3d? a 4th? reason “why him”❓ ] would be sincerely appreciated.
Trying to get more clarity on exactly that (“why him”?), to aid my work (Hassan manuals in hand) extricating friends & family. Candidly, I’m stumped.
This was terrific, Jim. I wish I had a larger audience to share it with. Horrifying, but fascinating. I was immediately struck by Russell Vought (“translucent sea-worm” as Nina Burliegh calls him) using the word trauma when discussing the psychological violence aimed at federal workers. What kind of twisted freak uses that word so casually as a weapon!? It’s a colossal mass mental health crisis.
I had the thought while out running that a key aspect to their character is that these people in charge believe that they have the *right* to negatively impact so many millions of fellow Americans. They feel, somehow, enitled to do all this stuff. That had been a safeguard in the past -- sufficient respect for the rights and best interests of other fellow Americans. We could all rise up on this one notion and say -- "NO, you do not have the right to do this!!!"
Thanks, Jim, for another fascinating, inightful article. You're spot-on. I haven't seen analysis this perceptive and accurate anywhere else, I thank you for it! As you have written, it's very helpful to FIRST understand reality, what is happening now in America; then we can proceed with that knowledge in mind. With the potential collapse of Trump, we know that the gigantic machinery behind all this -- Heritage, Paypal mafia, and I heard from Ruth Ben-Ghiat who is absolutely outstanding, that 70 organizations in addition to the Heritage Foundation combined to write Project '25, -- we know that they are feverishly working on what they feel is their best succession plan for Trump, long-term. It has to start with Vance and maybe they'll simply see how MAGA takes to him but no doubt they're considering other possible leaders for the long-term. Would be curious if you have any thoughts/prognostications on that. I wonder how seriously they are considering Miller. Evil right in our faces - ideologically fanatical and shameless, and they may see his weird appearance as a plus. Point being, they aren't about to just collapse voluntarily if one guy, Trump, falls out of favor.
Having read Girard's, "I Saw Satan Fall Like Lightning," some years ago, I've always thought that Trump himself would end up as the scapegoat and be torn apart by his followers. Time will tell.
If only.
I always wondered why there were so many Trump rallies. Recently read a book called "The crowd: a study of the popular mind" by Gustave le Bon. The book was published in 1895 and remains amazingly relevant today because human nature has not changed. Even the author's very occasional display of his own personal prejudices of racism, misogyny and anti-socialism have been little affected by time.
Brilliant piece! The best analysis I’ve seen to the thought process.
Thank you, Jim!
Scary AF!! I knew what Trump was years before he was on ‘The Apprentice’ I just don’t understand how other people didn’t see what I saw.
We need, as a society, to find out why some people can immediately see he is a conman. Some people take more time to listen and observe his actions. Others cannot recognize the con. Con men and women know how to manipulate their marks. We need to find out what makes some people be able to discern so quickly and others not at all. Educational/experiential learning experiences in schools and homes can prevent many people from falling for cons. Obviously, we need to invest in this knowledge and education for our own sake as well as others. We don't want to experience another version of Don the Con who mesmerizes the masses.
It was obvious from first glance that he was a narcissist conman.
A great summing up of a situation that is so layered and complex. Thank you.
I appreciate the information about how brainwashing occurs and examples of how it works in MAGA. I also like the information about what’s happening internally for Trump and the narcissistic collapse. It’s alarming to think what he might do this time, given what he did on J6.
Vitally important work, Jim. Thank you.
This is great information, Jim.