Exposing maga's 30-year use of the pernicious psywar methods you describe to sabotage all opposing voices; its 10+ years mind-control over its base; its deployment of that base to intimidate and dominate the GOP establishment; and its legislative abuses and brute force to persecute the non-white, poor and foreign-born powerless, should be enough to disgust and repulse the 70% not committed to the oligarchical white Christian fascist monster it's only in 2025 fully revealed itself to be.
Likewise, a competent point by point, plain language and visual presentation of the regime's operations attacking individual civil rights and freedoms, violating the rule of law, democratic norms, guard-rails and Constitutional separation of powers/checks and balances are proof beyond any reasonable doubt of the maga regime's pervasive betrayal of the American experiment that made Americans the most innovative, productive, prosperous, free and secure people on Earth.
It's not necessary to kill our integrity to use factual information to get through to people acting against their ultimate interests with minds damaged by covert manipulation, long-term hidden conditioning and disinformation. It's our patriotic duty to use every weapon of this war to save the US for our people and its future.
I was just reading an article on Smithsonianmag dot com titled, "The Mere Sight of Someone Sick Triggers an Immune Response." Which directly supports what you are saying. They made Hillary seem physically revolting. Which is not usually done by liberals because it is so dirty. Also thank you for calling her, "The most qualified candidate for president in our lifetimes."
the fascists know how to play the emotions of those who possess empathy. Which is something psychopaths do not have but can read and imitate very well. I remember this crap starting back when she first ran for President in 2008. They really attacked her appearance.
Totally! Remember in 2016 when we assumed our friends with common sense were gonna NOT vote for the bigot? I remember saying to one ‘yeah but it can’t be trump’…….silence 😳.
And dog owners do not use the Pavlov method enough!!! It’s freakin amazing. Your doggo hates having his nails clipped? Well feed him his favorite treat ONLY when you bring out the nail clippers. Pretty soon nail clippers = favorite food. Maybe he gets peanut butter during the actual clipping. But ONLY then & no other time. It truly works.
I’m 61, Trump triggers disgust for me. Has sense I can remember, early 80’s. I had trauma, but I could tell he was a pompous, spoiled rich kid, womanizer piece of shit. His mannerism made him ugly. Never watched 5 minutes of the apprentice and vote for him??? When hell freezes over!
Great article, Jim. Absolutely accurate. And no doubt the PR industry and the KGB have known this from their studies over the years in how to control people. Reduce them to hungry dogs and the power of just the sound of a bell being ding'ed. I remember feeling the same as you describe you felt over the reaction to Hillary at that time. I was like, "ok, maybe she's not the best liberal but she's smart and has goodness in her, and it's no contest in comparison to her opponent!" I didn't know the extent of what was happening on the Right with Pizzagate, etc. but now I see it. Thanks.
I realized recently that a crucial aspect of this regime is this: There is a zombie aspect to the Republicans in that with Project 2025, already written, and with contracts having been signed, like for the new mass detention facilities --- the gov't is now largely running on auto-pilot. They MUST do what they are doing *because* "It's in the Sacred Document (Project 2025). They MUST begin rounding up homeless people and immigrants as fast as they can and not give anyone due process *because* these business contracts have been signed for lots of new mass detention facilities (so that a very few people can become outrageously wealthy). So, by elevating Project 2025 into a Bible, by having signed these cruel business deals...they feel that they *must* execute what is in The Sacred Document and do what it takes to fulfill the signed business deals. THEY now control them. The human beings, the Republicans, are now slaves, automatons to some ink on paper. Yes, each day they are choosing *not* to change course, *not* to change their minds about what is in their Bible, Project 2025. I have this image of them waking up each day theoretically with the ability to do whatever they want....maybe they've changed their minds about something, something that is in Project 2025 now doesn't seem right, isn't workable, but no, all evidence points to them each day, like zombie automatons, feeling they MUST obey the instructions of their Sacred Document. This has never happened in America before, this existence of a 1000 page guidebook for a Presidency. Those in power have always thought about things, discussed them with a large group in the present. Now they are beholden to a document. It's weird. It's like things......*can't*.....change with these people.
Trumpers are the most deluded, brainwashed useful idiots in the entire history of all humankind. They think they are Rambo, but they are really just the evil twin of Barney Fife. Comparing them to Pavlov's dogs is too kind.
I get this. Having 2 psych degrees, I am very familiar with Pavlov. I'm a registered Independent who leans Democrat, but I, too, was turned off by Hillary. I could never put my finger on "why?". In the end I voted against Trump, not for Hillary.
So now I'm left with a dilemma. It's pretty widely understood that Trump is a rapist, child molester, traitor, cheater, and compulsive liar. And most people see him for the malignant narcissist that he is. If disgust is involuntary, automatic and contagious, how did he get elected? Why are not more people screaming to have him removed from office? How are some escaping this involuntary, automatic response of disgust and revulsion? He's also physically repulsive. And his mental abilities are highly compromised. What am I missing here?
In my mind the strategy that worked the best was the constant repetition by corrupt lying Trump of always prefacing Hillary's name with "crooked." Even To a supporter in your mind whenever you thought the word Hillary the word crooked was imprinted before the thought. Scumbag Trump did the same thing with "sleepy" Whenever he referred to Joe Biden. This was a masterful tactic that I think has an amazing amount of pull on below information American public.
I had in my posts evangelized the idea of always referring to Trump as "Lying Trump" to create the same kind of psychological imprinting on him and I think it would have worked except the extremely stupid Democratic Party felt they were above such tactics and the results are obvious.
Regarding Hillary, I still believe that she shot herself in the foot by making almost all her appearances rah rah rallies for the promotion of girls and the breaking of the glass ceiling. Never did she stand up for the needs of creating a prosperous future for all of America's youth. She was an extension of a radical feminist viewpoint blaming men and boys for all of society's problems without, I believe ,actually really thinking about it. Stupidly thing that the women's vote could turn the election. This certainly turned me off as a voter and although I did vote for her I never liked her and felt that she was an enemy to the men and boys of the United States who need the same representation as women and girls to make our nation great. Sadly in the Democratic Party this kind of sexism still reigns supreme and in some sections if a candidate isn't a woman of color then they aren't considered really representational of what the Democratic Party stands for which appears to be the subjugation of men and boys to the and power of radical feminists. Just my viewpoint but I think it resonates with a lot men.
Also the Democratic Party has to stop shooting itself in the foot making the trans issue such a important cornerstone of their concern. As a gay man I am certainly protective of the rights of all sexual minorities by pushing this particular very small minority that raises such a visceral discussed in so many straight people across the country is just gross stupidity on the part of representatives. We are about to lose ALL gay marriage rights as the red states work hard to get the Supreme Court to give that power back to the states like they did abortion so the "good Christians" can take equal rights away from gays once again as they did to women. It's so fucking easy, Fight for the of individual freedom of all Americans as equal under the law and stop picking a particular sex, sexual orientation, religion or nationality to be held up as the most oppressed and most deserving of being protected by our constitutional rights. Easy but it seems impossible for Democratic candidates, especially the female ones, to comprehend so we continue to lose.
Thank you JIm - I've learned so much from you and appreciate your clear explanations and moral clarity. I am able to live through this terrible time because I can turn to writers like you to help me understand what is actually happening ... and not feel so alone. You are doing so much for so many people and I really, really appreciate it.
Brilliant. Twenty years ago, as bad as things were, no one would have believed that Hillary disgust would lead like a cancer to the total collapse of American democracy. But it did. And no discussion could stop it. Nothing stopped Rush Limbaugh, or any of the rest of them. They were fearless in their evil. OUR disgust for them was nothing compared to their wealth and power, fueled by their unstoppable hatred. Haidt argued that our democracy would have a catastrophic failure by 2050. I think his date needs to be moved up to 2030.
Old style Democrats living in the past like Schumer and Pelosi completely sold us out with all that "our friends across the aisle" bullshit long after republicans had become the enemy of democracy and working class Americans. They managed to amass their fortunes quite well while the Democratic machine made sure they always got reelected even though they no longer represented the needs of their constituency in any way. They always had nice platitudes though.
I hear you. From today's perspective, you have a valid point. Yet, from the perspective of being in the thick of it since Newt Gingrich, Pelosi and others were working the system, not just to do well for themselves, but to fight the evil staring them in the face. When the struggle is won or lost by coalitions, as it is prior to total system collapse, there's nothing much else you can do. It's supposed to work that way. The true, ultimate culprits are the mindless morons who took over the system: Vietnam war hawks, Reagan, Gingrich, Cheney, Tea Party Fascists and libertarians, Q, Thiel, Leo, Federalist-Heritage Fascists -- and of course Bannon, Miller, and Donald Trump, the least likely person to succeed at anything. Pelosi, or anyone else getting modestly rich, is nothing compared to that evil. She was and is on the right side, although she may be powerless now. Others will rise up to lead the resistance. Bet on it.
Exposing maga's 30-year use of the pernicious psywar methods you describe to sabotage all opposing voices; its 10+ years mind-control over its base; its deployment of that base to intimidate and dominate the GOP establishment; and its legislative abuses and brute force to persecute the non-white, poor and foreign-born powerless, should be enough to disgust and repulse the 70% not committed to the oligarchical white Christian fascist monster it's only in 2025 fully revealed itself to be.
Likewise, a competent point by point, plain language and visual presentation of the regime's operations attacking individual civil rights and freedoms, violating the rule of law, democratic norms, guard-rails and Constitutional separation of powers/checks and balances are proof beyond any reasonable doubt of the maga regime's pervasive betrayal of the American experiment that made Americans the most innovative, productive, prosperous, free and secure people on Earth.
It's not necessary to kill our integrity to use factual information to get through to people acting against their ultimate interests with minds damaged by covert manipulation, long-term hidden conditioning and disinformation. It's our patriotic duty to use every weapon of this war to save the US for our people and its future.
I was just reading an article on Smithsonianmag dot com titled, "The Mere Sight of Someone Sick Triggers an Immune Response." Which directly supports what you are saying. They made Hillary seem physically revolting. Which is not usually done by liberals because it is so dirty. Also thank you for calling her, "The most qualified candidate for president in our lifetimes."
the fascists know how to play the emotions of those who possess empathy. Which is something psychopaths do not have but can read and imitate very well. I remember this crap starting back when she first ran for President in 2008. They really attacked her appearance.
Totally! Remember in 2016 when we assumed our friends with common sense were gonna NOT vote for the bigot? I remember saying to one ‘yeah but it can’t be trump’…….silence 😳.
And dog owners do not use the Pavlov method enough!!! It’s freakin amazing. Your doggo hates having his nails clipped? Well feed him his favorite treat ONLY when you bring out the nail clippers. Pretty soon nail clippers = favorite food. Maybe he gets peanut butter during the actual clipping. But ONLY then & no other time. It truly works.
Thank you again for giving us these tools. 🙏❤️🔥
I’m 61, Trump triggers disgust for me. Has sense I can remember, early 80’s. I had trauma, but I could tell he was a pompous, spoiled rich kid, womanizer piece of shit. His mannerism made him ugly. Never watched 5 minutes of the apprentice and vote for him??? When hell freezes over!
Great article, Jim. Absolutely accurate. And no doubt the PR industry and the KGB have known this from their studies over the years in how to control people. Reduce them to hungry dogs and the power of just the sound of a bell being ding'ed. I remember feeling the same as you describe you felt over the reaction to Hillary at that time. I was like, "ok, maybe she's not the best liberal but she's smart and has goodness in her, and it's no contest in comparison to her opponent!" I didn't know the extent of what was happening on the Right with Pizzagate, etc. but now I see it. Thanks.
I realized recently that a crucial aspect of this regime is this: There is a zombie aspect to the Republicans in that with Project 2025, already written, and with contracts having been signed, like for the new mass detention facilities --- the gov't is now largely running on auto-pilot. They MUST do what they are doing *because* "It's in the Sacred Document (Project 2025). They MUST begin rounding up homeless people and immigrants as fast as they can and not give anyone due process *because* these business contracts have been signed for lots of new mass detention facilities (so that a very few people can become outrageously wealthy). So, by elevating Project 2025 into a Bible, by having signed these cruel business deals...they feel that they *must* execute what is in The Sacred Document and do what it takes to fulfill the signed business deals. THEY now control them. The human beings, the Republicans, are now slaves, automatons to some ink on paper. Yes, each day they are choosing *not* to change course, *not* to change their minds about what is in their Bible, Project 2025. I have this image of them waking up each day theoretically with the ability to do whatever they want....maybe they've changed their minds about something, something that is in Project 2025 now doesn't seem right, isn't workable, but no, all evidence points to them each day, like zombie automatons, feeling they MUST obey the instructions of their Sacred Document. This has never happened in America before, this existence of a 1000 page guidebook for a Presidency. Those in power have always thought about things, discussed them with a large group in the present. Now they are beholden to a document. It's weird. It's like things......*can't*.....change with these people.
Trumpers are the most deluded, brainwashed useful idiots in the entire history of all humankind. They think they are Rambo, but they are really just the evil twin of Barney Fife. Comparing them to Pavlov's dogs is too kind.
I get this. Having 2 psych degrees, I am very familiar with Pavlov. I'm a registered Independent who leans Democrat, but I, too, was turned off by Hillary. I could never put my finger on "why?". In the end I voted against Trump, not for Hillary.
So now I'm left with a dilemma. It's pretty widely understood that Trump is a rapist, child molester, traitor, cheater, and compulsive liar. And most people see him for the malignant narcissist that he is. If disgust is involuntary, automatic and contagious, how did he get elected? Why are not more people screaming to have him removed from office? How are some escaping this involuntary, automatic response of disgust and revulsion? He's also physically repulsive. And his mental abilities are highly compromised. What am I missing here?
He won against a woman both times. Misogyny runs deep in USA.
I alluded to it in the piece. Pavlov doesn’t work by himself. You have to add trauma and Skinner.
https://www.mind-war.com/p/how-it-happened-why-america-mirrors
Too many if our fellow citizens are either narcissists themselves, extremely callous and/or politically and historicallyignorant.
In my mind the strategy that worked the best was the constant repetition by corrupt lying Trump of always prefacing Hillary's name with "crooked." Even To a supporter in your mind whenever you thought the word Hillary the word crooked was imprinted before the thought. Scumbag Trump did the same thing with "sleepy" Whenever he referred to Joe Biden. This was a masterful tactic that I think has an amazing amount of pull on below information American public.
I had in my posts evangelized the idea of always referring to Trump as "Lying Trump" to create the same kind of psychological imprinting on him and I think it would have worked except the extremely stupid Democratic Party felt they were above such tactics and the results are obvious.
Regarding Hillary, I still believe that she shot herself in the foot by making almost all her appearances rah rah rallies for the promotion of girls and the breaking of the glass ceiling. Never did she stand up for the needs of creating a prosperous future for all of America's youth. She was an extension of a radical feminist viewpoint blaming men and boys for all of society's problems without, I believe ,actually really thinking about it. Stupidly thing that the women's vote could turn the election. This certainly turned me off as a voter and although I did vote for her I never liked her and felt that she was an enemy to the men and boys of the United States who need the same representation as women and girls to make our nation great. Sadly in the Democratic Party this kind of sexism still reigns supreme and in some sections if a candidate isn't a woman of color then they aren't considered really representational of what the Democratic Party stands for which appears to be the subjugation of men and boys to the and power of radical feminists. Just my viewpoint but I think it resonates with a lot men.
Also the Democratic Party has to stop shooting itself in the foot making the trans issue such a important cornerstone of their concern. As a gay man I am certainly protective of the rights of all sexual minorities by pushing this particular very small minority that raises such a visceral discussed in so many straight people across the country is just gross stupidity on the part of representatives. We are about to lose ALL gay marriage rights as the red states work hard to get the Supreme Court to give that power back to the states like they did abortion so the "good Christians" can take equal rights away from gays once again as they did to women. It's so fucking easy, Fight for the of individual freedom of all Americans as equal under the law and stop picking a particular sex, sexual orientation, religion or nationality to be held up as the most oppressed and most deserving of being protected by our constitutional rights. Easy but it seems impossible for Democratic candidates, especially the female ones, to comprehend so we continue to lose.
I'm ready to sabotage it. Seeking concrete steps.
Thank you JIm - I've learned so much from you and appreciate your clear explanations and moral clarity. I am able to live through this terrible time because I can turn to writers like you to help me understand what is actually happening ... and not feel so alone. You are doing so much for so many people and I really, really appreciate it.
Brilliant. Twenty years ago, as bad as things were, no one would have believed that Hillary disgust would lead like a cancer to the total collapse of American democracy. But it did. And no discussion could stop it. Nothing stopped Rush Limbaugh, or any of the rest of them. They were fearless in their evil. OUR disgust for them was nothing compared to their wealth and power, fueled by their unstoppable hatred. Haidt argued that our democracy would have a catastrophic failure by 2050. I think his date needs to be moved up to 2030.
Old style Democrats living in the past like Schumer and Pelosi completely sold us out with all that "our friends across the aisle" bullshit long after republicans had become the enemy of democracy and working class Americans. They managed to amass their fortunes quite well while the Democratic machine made sure they always got reelected even though they no longer represented the needs of their constituency in any way. They always had nice platitudes though.
I hear you. From today's perspective, you have a valid point. Yet, from the perspective of being in the thick of it since Newt Gingrich, Pelosi and others were working the system, not just to do well for themselves, but to fight the evil staring them in the face. When the struggle is won or lost by coalitions, as it is prior to total system collapse, there's nothing much else you can do. It's supposed to work that way. The true, ultimate culprits are the mindless morons who took over the system: Vietnam war hawks, Reagan, Gingrich, Cheney, Tea Party Fascists and libertarians, Q, Thiel, Leo, Federalist-Heritage Fascists -- and of course Bannon, Miller, and Donald Trump, the least likely person to succeed at anything. Pelosi, or anyone else getting modestly rich, is nothing compared to that evil. She was and is on the right side, although she may be powerless now. Others will rise up to lead the resistance. Bet on it.