Vance is a manipulator who seeks power above all else. He has long been a major venture capitalist, making his fortune from big pharma and tech. His nomination came because of these ties. Yet he aligns himself with the MAGA ideology, which criticizes Big Pharma and tech as left-leaning. Sure, the intellectual minds creating innovative products may lean left, but the CEOs and those holding real power are often MAGA-aligned—once they’ve secured their gains from pharma and tech.
A prime example is Vance’s own statements. He once said he was a “never-Trump” guy and didn’t like him, yet now he praises Trump. It seemed sincere before, but now he bends to Trump ... until Trump is no longer a threat. After that, he will likely manipulate people toward his side while eventually vilifying Trump again.
Trump himself operates on ego and a unique level of sociopathy and psychopathy. It’s not just privilege—he’s exceptional at the extreme end of this spectrum. He speaks of what he perceives as strong or "manly", but has little understanding of what strength is or the consequences. In reality, he’s often a puppet for others, lacking the intellect to execute even 10% of what’s happening around him. The only policy truly driven by him is tariffs.
Great essay, Mike. I think you nailed it pretty well. I am probably going to end up repeating myself from previous comments, but I don’t really have much else to say.
You wrote: ”This isn’t politics. It’s moral decay. And if we don’t call it out — loudly, relentlessly, every damn time — we let it win.” yes indeedy. It’s moral decay. This was the theme of my lengthy essay on the insurrection 5 1/2 years ago. I wish that I could get it to you, but it’s too long to post here as a comment. But it goes into this in depth— philosophy, morality, religion, politics.
This is what I had to say then and it hasn’t changed: “My conclusion? Looking at what people do, rather than what they say they are doing, provides much better information about who they really are. His base just wants a con man, a sociopath, a criminal, a manipulator, and unfortunately, a strong man to guide them and embody their aspirations. That's all there is to it, and nothing more. But how anyone could look at a venal, corrupt, dishonest, bullying, weak, lying narcissist like Trump, a self-confessed sexual abuser, and see strength, is beyond me.
But therein lies the answer as to how we got to this point. Not to put too fine a point on it, but nearly half the this nation is ethically crippled, reality challenged, intellectually deranged, educationally debased, empathetically destitute, morally lazy at best and morally bankrupt at worst. No nation has ever survived this, nor can it, unless the other half stays vigilant and active.”
Also this: “As a Catholic acquaintance of mine wrote, the religious reich uses the unborn as a shield to protect themselves from any criticism or blowback for everything else they want to do. He wrote: “Because instead of defending the unborn, they have devoted their time and energy to defending every lie, cruelty, sadistic act, racist remark, misogynist bullying, sexual assault, kidnapping, call for violence, and criminal act he has committed. They voted for him this time, not because those things were bugs, but because they were features. If they had really only supported the prolife stuff and not all the other filth. they would have spoken against the other filth. They never did. They either remained silent or, as was far more often the case, they passionately supported it.”
If that sounds like your description of the vice president, remember that I wrote it 5 1/2 years ago.
Of course, none of this is news to me. I’ve written about all of this several times on these very pages. This is also from my essay: “But there is another example that means a lot to me, and has defined much of my political life. As a gay man, I have been listening for nearly 50 years to the Qhristian right bear false witness against, and revile and slander (2 Corinthians) me and mine without surcease, and with very little blowback from many denominations and ministers. Yes, many liberal denominations have become affirming for gay people, but most of the more conservative denominations have said nothing and done even less. Nothing remotely resembling “Judge not”, “Do unto others”, “love thy neighbor”, or “what you have done for the least of these, my brothers”, but plenty of “whited sepulchers” and “tax collectors and prostitutes shall enter before you”….
And…
“ I have long suspected that very few evangelical “leaders“ believe much of the product they are selling, but they still sell it very well. Witness Anita Bryant’s divorce in 1980, when she said that divorce went against everything she believed as a Christian. She still did it, so I suspect she left out the word “almost”. Convenience is such a harsh mistress.”
There is a lot more of course, pretty much on the same theme. I have been listening to this garbage coming from the Christian Reich for more than 50 years. It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that they still support the Republican Party overwhelmingly. The Republican Party has been going in this direction ever since Nixon announced his southern strategy in the wake of the passage of the civil rights act of 1963. The firmly red states rank consistently at the bottom of nearly every measure of social well-being available. You would think that after 50 years of this, they would realize that the Republican Party is not operating to their benefit.
But they don’t care, because it’s far more important to them to rage about two guys they don’t know getting married in New York, or a woman getting an abortion five states over, or to deride expertise and compassion, than it is to be concerned about the Republican Farm bill that will cost them their farms.
I'm sorry, but, this communist is well aware that a culture cannot be built by two individuals; nor, can it be built in a year. This is MUCH bigger than Donald Trump. It is the result of late capitalism. Fascism is the last stage of capitalism. And, THAT is the inconvenient truth.
The Heritage Foundation and Project 2025 have been developing a talking point, distributing fliers to explore strategies for instilling fear and winning elections since the 1970s.
They needed a bigger platform and a fool of a puppet ... they found it in Trump and social media ...
JD Vance is a huge part of Project 2025, so he is a master manipulator, too. Trump is the puppet with a big following.
The average comprehension level in the USA is 6th grade or lower, making it easy to manipulate.
The Republican Party is through. Taken over by MAGA. The “good” Republicans need to rebrand themselves. Call themselves the Reformed Republicans or whatever and leave MAGA in the landfill of history.
Everything already said, and then some, with no apologies needed. This hate-filled stew is home brew, very American, and nothing new, going back the early colonial days, and brought from "the old country/ies": Enslavers, classist, anti-indigenous, anti-female, xenophobic, racist, know-nothings, etc. it's smog that we've been breathing for centuries. (B.D.Tatum) What inspires some of us to realize how we're being used, and rise up to reject, and celebrate all lives, while others of us continue to demonize others, and give power to dictators and the cruel among us? Why are so many cemented for decades in hatred, while others learn otherwise? Why do tropes persist? These are not rhetorical questions. They exhaust and infuriate educators, community organizers, and society's "others." Does it help to listen to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" or Nanci Griffith's "It's A Hard Life"? (Yeah, I'm old.) It does help to find and work with allies and not ever give up. Our ancestors expect it, and so do our children.
Children learn from their parents and other elders. This is, I think, a reflection of the racist tendencies that have been lurking in homes of the radical wing of the Republican Party, now coming to the forefront.
With the elimination of DEI on the part of Trump and company, these texts come as no surprise.
DEI still exists. It's just been rebranded. A big part of the rebranding is out here in the West, in the form of outdoor equity; meaning getting kids out into the woods. Who can provide a logical argument against getting kids; especially inner city kids from poor communities; out into nature?
Unfortunately, the progressive wing of the Dem party sees the road ahead as doubling down on failed issues such as DEI and all the hoopla around gender identify and trans gender citizens. One can still obtain goals by different emphases and different directions. As another example, consider the bipartisan efforts being made to retain George W. Bush's programs that fight the spread of AIDS in Africa.
Progressives need to learn the lessons from 2024 where, thanks to talking points from Fox News and the like, the progressive "agenda" was largely rejected.
So, you’re fine with rebranding, like the Young Republicans running racist rants?
Getting kids outdoors is great. IMO, gender identity and trans gender people are fine, those who don’t like them can ignore them. Equity, fairness…what is wrong with it?
Trump won by 1.5%, not the majority of the country.
It all goes down to ignorance on the one hand and vile, disgusting behavior on the other. JD and DT have no sense of right and wrong and should be punished for it. If that punishment comes with words of wisdom and feeling you’ve expressed today, fine. Because obviously these two knuckleheads are clueless but like you and me their speech is sort of protected by the Constitution. Theirs is like yelling fire in a crowded theater. Ours is truth, with wisdom for anyone who chooses to listen. And learn.
This hit hard due to a state senator being involved in he is saying he won’t resign and offered a non apology. The insecure loser. I feel confident he will get ousted, but it stinks. Hate this behavior and seeing it in our government is discouraging.
the dictator fascist culture has been carefully established, and ‘playing nice’ is not going to stop it…. with regard to you and your dad, and cory booker and most democrats….
in theory the 'common ground' perspective is good, BUT in a cult/fascist environment it does not work....J6 happened and has been forgotten or ignored by vast numbers of people (especially the majority who are not engaged in politics as some of us are).... so for the majority, it's about themselves and their wellbeing. what will make them change their minds about trump and trump repugnicans? PAIN. if they don't suffer, life just goes on, and they are paying little attention to whether our constitution and normal american rights are being bastardized everyday. i don't believe polls, they are always wrong, and besides one comment from trump and his gang of criminal fascists, and those trump supporters are ok with what is going on..... 'he's just 'fixing' everything so give it time then it will be beautiful again'. playing 'nice with trump repugnicans and trump supporters won't work (if it did, then 4 years of biden 'playing nice and giving all republican states money and support' should have done it. ONCE AGAIN, with a cult and fascist environment, the OLD way of doing things must be thrown out the window. Gavin Newsom and AOC are the ones leading the charge. follow them... call trump a dictator (not the president'), call the repugnican congress trump's rubber stamp congress like putin has in russia. DEFINE the difference between trump and real people in terms people can understand - dictator/fascist/pro billionaire/selfish/anti union/anti healthcare/anti poor (they say poverty is a crime if people lose their job or even with 3 jobs they can't afford the rent etc...POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME - CREATING HARSH CONDITIONS OF POVERTY IS A CRIME). treat the red states and red counties like the criminals, do the revenge thing like trump (but with real justification)...hold back funding until they feel the pain of what they actually voted for and the only way the red state or county can balance their budget is to increase their local tax - THAT will get the attention of their voters.
ONCE YOU HAVE REHABILTATED the majority of the country to the fact that trump and the sycophant trump repugnicans have increased the pain and have damaged the American dream and American democracy, THEN start working on building common ground....otherwise the fascist white supremist radical right will always be able to brand you as 'typical weak libtards that give away americans money to illegals and criminals'. REVERSE the conversation - the radical rite is stealing from americans and giving it to billionaires who shelter their money outside usa so they don't pay taxes - the billionaires are the people stealing from americans. you have to find the 'scapegoat' just as repugnicans and nazis' did... ordinary people want to have the opportunity to be wealthy - but being an anti-american billionaire that doesn't pay a fair share in taxes, is stealing from the rest of us.
AND FINALLY, how to prevent government shutdowns.... i have communicated my thoughts with politicians and of course get zero feedback (because my idea takes some of their personal control away and ALL politicians seem to hate that idea)....
Every tax paying human must be required to provide a guide to congress as to how they would like the government to fund the departments in the government (education/health/defence etc). there are more people who complete tax returns than people who vote, so this will give congress a pretty good idea of where to allocate money so avoiding congressional battles that cause a government shut down. i have gone into more detail with the politicians than this summary, but they all seem to hate the idea of giving the people a chance to really have their say on individual issues rather than just vote republican or democrat 'packages' as presented by politicians. A follow on idea is getting tax payers to 'vote' on whether billionaires should pay more tax, whether tax loopholes that enable billionaires to shelter money from the IRS should be closed...as well as whether tax cheats who renounce USA citizenship will be arrested when they return if they have not paid all their taxes....and even setting a threshold for arrest - the low income groups are NOT the 1st to be investigated and prosecuted - the high income groups will be investigated and prosecuted before the radical rites favorite scapegoats - the wellfare moms....
HOW ABOUT A GOVERNMENT GUIDED IN EVERYWAY BY THE PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES.
The GOP is filled with racist, sexist assholes. But be honest. They are savvier and more savage than the Dems, who just keep stepping in it and giving them ammunition for What-Aboutisms. Schumer and Jeffries are eunuchs. Even Newsom —- who is killing it with trolling now —- stupidly gave their hate a platform on his podcast. The DEMs need to be more aggressive and strategic.
Kids? Kids?? KIDS!!!
Vance, go to hell. What if these “kids” called your wife a Towel-headed terrorist? You cowardly whore.
5 STARS for you!
Vance is a manipulator who seeks power above all else. He has long been a major venture capitalist, making his fortune from big pharma and tech. His nomination came because of these ties. Yet he aligns himself with the MAGA ideology, which criticizes Big Pharma and tech as left-leaning. Sure, the intellectual minds creating innovative products may lean left, but the CEOs and those holding real power are often MAGA-aligned—once they’ve secured their gains from pharma and tech.
A prime example is Vance’s own statements. He once said he was a “never-Trump” guy and didn’t like him, yet now he praises Trump. It seemed sincere before, but now he bends to Trump ... until Trump is no longer a threat. After that, he will likely manipulate people toward his side while eventually vilifying Trump again.
Trump himself operates on ego and a unique level of sociopathy and psychopathy. It’s not just privilege—he’s exceptional at the extreme end of this spectrum. He speaks of what he perceives as strong or "manly", but has little understanding of what strength is or the consequences. In reality, he’s often a puppet for others, lacking the intellect to execute even 10% of what’s happening around him. The only policy truly driven by him is tariffs.
100%!!!
Great essay, Mike. I think you nailed it pretty well. I am probably going to end up repeating myself from previous comments, but I don’t really have much else to say.
You wrote: ”This isn’t politics. It’s moral decay. And if we don’t call it out — loudly, relentlessly, every damn time — we let it win.” yes indeedy. It’s moral decay. This was the theme of my lengthy essay on the insurrection 5 1/2 years ago. I wish that I could get it to you, but it’s too long to post here as a comment. But it goes into this in depth— philosophy, morality, religion, politics.
This is what I had to say then and it hasn’t changed: “My conclusion? Looking at what people do, rather than what they say they are doing, provides much better information about who they really are. His base just wants a con man, a sociopath, a criminal, a manipulator, and unfortunately, a strong man to guide them and embody their aspirations. That's all there is to it, and nothing more. But how anyone could look at a venal, corrupt, dishonest, bullying, weak, lying narcissist like Trump, a self-confessed sexual abuser, and see strength, is beyond me.
But therein lies the answer as to how we got to this point. Not to put too fine a point on it, but nearly half the this nation is ethically crippled, reality challenged, intellectually deranged, educationally debased, empathetically destitute, morally lazy at best and morally bankrupt at worst. No nation has ever survived this, nor can it, unless the other half stays vigilant and active.”
Also this: “As a Catholic acquaintance of mine wrote, the religious reich uses the unborn as a shield to protect themselves from any criticism or blowback for everything else they want to do. He wrote: “Because instead of defending the unborn, they have devoted their time and energy to defending every lie, cruelty, sadistic act, racist remark, misogynist bullying, sexual assault, kidnapping, call for violence, and criminal act he has committed. They voted for him this time, not because those things were bugs, but because they were features. If they had really only supported the prolife stuff and not all the other filth. they would have spoken against the other filth. They never did. They either remained silent or, as was far more often the case, they passionately supported it.”
If that sounds like your description of the vice president, remember that I wrote it 5 1/2 years ago.
Of course, none of this is news to me. I’ve written about all of this several times on these very pages. This is also from my essay: “But there is another example that means a lot to me, and has defined much of my political life. As a gay man, I have been listening for nearly 50 years to the Qhristian right bear false witness against, and revile and slander (2 Corinthians) me and mine without surcease, and with very little blowback from many denominations and ministers. Yes, many liberal denominations have become affirming for gay people, but most of the more conservative denominations have said nothing and done even less. Nothing remotely resembling “Judge not”, “Do unto others”, “love thy neighbor”, or “what you have done for the least of these, my brothers”, but plenty of “whited sepulchers” and “tax collectors and prostitutes shall enter before you”….
And…
“ I have long suspected that very few evangelical “leaders“ believe much of the product they are selling, but they still sell it very well. Witness Anita Bryant’s divorce in 1980, when she said that divorce went against everything she believed as a Christian. She still did it, so I suspect she left out the word “almost”. Convenience is such a harsh mistress.”
There is a lot more of course, pretty much on the same theme. I have been listening to this garbage coming from the Christian Reich for more than 50 years. It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that they still support the Republican Party overwhelmingly. The Republican Party has been going in this direction ever since Nixon announced his southern strategy in the wake of the passage of the civil rights act of 1963. The firmly red states rank consistently at the bottom of nearly every measure of social well-being available. You would think that after 50 years of this, they would realize that the Republican Party is not operating to their benefit.
But they don’t care, because it’s far more important to them to rage about two guys they don’t know getting married in New York, or a woman getting an abortion five states over, or to deride expertise and compassion, than it is to be concerned about the Republican Farm bill that will cost them their farms.
I wish I had an answer for this.
I'm sorry, but, this communist is well aware that a culture cannot be built by two individuals; nor, can it be built in a year. This is MUCH bigger than Donald Trump. It is the result of late capitalism. Fascism is the last stage of capitalism. And, THAT is the inconvenient truth.
The Heritage Foundation and Project 2025 have been developing a talking point, distributing fliers to explore strategies for instilling fear and winning elections since the 1970s.
They needed a bigger platform and a fool of a puppet ... they found it in Trump and social media ...
JD Vance is a huge part of Project 2025, so he is a master manipulator, too. Trump is the puppet with a big following.
The average comprehension level in the USA is 6th grade or lower, making it easy to manipulate.
The Republican Party is through. Taken over by MAGA. The “good” Republicans need to rebrand themselves. Call themselves the Reformed Republicans or whatever and leave MAGA in the landfill of history.
Everything already said, and then some, with no apologies needed. This hate-filled stew is home brew, very American, and nothing new, going back the early colonial days, and brought from "the old country/ies": Enslavers, classist, anti-indigenous, anti-female, xenophobic, racist, know-nothings, etc. it's smog that we've been breathing for centuries. (B.D.Tatum) What inspires some of us to realize how we're being used, and rise up to reject, and celebrate all lives, while others of us continue to demonize others, and give power to dictators and the cruel among us? Why are so many cemented for decades in hatred, while others learn otherwise? Why do tropes persist? These are not rhetorical questions. They exhaust and infuriate educators, community organizers, and society's "others." Does it help to listen to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" or Nanci Griffith's "It's A Hard Life"? (Yeah, I'm old.) It does help to find and work with allies and not ever give up. Our ancestors expect it, and so do our children.
Children learn from their parents and other elders. This is, I think, a reflection of the racist tendencies that have been lurking in homes of the radical wing of the Republican Party, now coming to the forefront.
With the elimination of DEI on the part of Trump and company, these texts come as no surprise.
So I can’t interject? You support rebranding but I can’t mention an event rebranded by Vance? Got it.
DEI still exists. It's just been rebranded. A big part of the rebranding is out here in the West, in the form of outdoor equity; meaning getting kids out into the woods. Who can provide a logical argument against getting kids; especially inner city kids from poor communities; out into nature?
Unfortunately, the progressive wing of the Dem party sees the road ahead as doubling down on failed issues such as DEI and all the hoopla around gender identify and trans gender citizens. One can still obtain goals by different emphases and different directions. As another example, consider the bipartisan efforts being made to retain George W. Bush's programs that fight the spread of AIDS in Africa.
Progressives need to learn the lessons from 2024 where, thanks to talking points from Fox News and the like, the progressive "agenda" was largely rejected.
So, you’re fine with rebranding, like the Young Republicans running racist rants?
Getting kids outdoors is great. IMO, gender identity and trans gender people are fine, those who don’t like them can ignore them. Equity, fairness…what is wrong with it?
Trump won by 1.5%, not the majority of the country.
Kindly review my comment and show me where I said ANYTHING AT ALL about the Young Republican racist rants. Stop projecting.
Mike I think in the Chicago area we are too lax and need to rally against trump more often. I’m looking at indivisible lol leaders are in Europe now.
It all goes down to ignorance on the one hand and vile, disgusting behavior on the other. JD and DT have no sense of right and wrong and should be punished for it. If that punishment comes with words of wisdom and feeling you’ve expressed today, fine. Because obviously these two knuckleheads are clueless but like you and me their speech is sort of protected by the Constitution. Theirs is like yelling fire in a crowded theater. Ours is truth, with wisdom for anyone who chooses to listen. And learn.
Mike….i can’t get your videos after you record them ….i’m a subscriber….🫨
Help!
This hit hard due to a state senator being involved in he is saying he won’t resign and offered a non apology. The insecure loser. I feel confident he will get ousted, but it stinks. Hate this behavior and seeing it in our government is discouraging.
the dictator fascist culture has been carefully established, and ‘playing nice’ is not going to stop it…. with regard to you and your dad, and cory booker and most democrats….
in theory the 'common ground' perspective is good, BUT in a cult/fascist environment it does not work....J6 happened and has been forgotten or ignored by vast numbers of people (especially the majority who are not engaged in politics as some of us are).... so for the majority, it's about themselves and their wellbeing. what will make them change their minds about trump and trump repugnicans? PAIN. if they don't suffer, life just goes on, and they are paying little attention to whether our constitution and normal american rights are being bastardized everyday. i don't believe polls, they are always wrong, and besides one comment from trump and his gang of criminal fascists, and those trump supporters are ok with what is going on..... 'he's just 'fixing' everything so give it time then it will be beautiful again'. playing 'nice with trump repugnicans and trump supporters won't work (if it did, then 4 years of biden 'playing nice and giving all republican states money and support' should have done it. ONCE AGAIN, with a cult and fascist environment, the OLD way of doing things must be thrown out the window. Gavin Newsom and AOC are the ones leading the charge. follow them... call trump a dictator (not the president'), call the repugnican congress trump's rubber stamp congress like putin has in russia. DEFINE the difference between trump and real people in terms people can understand - dictator/fascist/pro billionaire/selfish/anti union/anti healthcare/anti poor (they say poverty is a crime if people lose their job or even with 3 jobs they can't afford the rent etc...POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME - CREATING HARSH CONDITIONS OF POVERTY IS A CRIME). treat the red states and red counties like the criminals, do the revenge thing like trump (but with real justification)...hold back funding until they feel the pain of what they actually voted for and the only way the red state or county can balance their budget is to increase their local tax - THAT will get the attention of their voters.
ONCE YOU HAVE REHABILTATED the majority of the country to the fact that trump and the sycophant trump repugnicans have increased the pain and have damaged the American dream and American democracy, THEN start working on building common ground....otherwise the fascist white supremist radical right will always be able to brand you as 'typical weak libtards that give away americans money to illegals and criminals'. REVERSE the conversation - the radical rite is stealing from americans and giving it to billionaires who shelter their money outside usa so they don't pay taxes - the billionaires are the people stealing from americans. you have to find the 'scapegoat' just as repugnicans and nazis' did... ordinary people want to have the opportunity to be wealthy - but being an anti-american billionaire that doesn't pay a fair share in taxes, is stealing from the rest of us.
AND FINALLY, how to prevent government shutdowns.... i have communicated my thoughts with politicians and of course get zero feedback (because my idea takes some of their personal control away and ALL politicians seem to hate that idea)....
Every tax paying human must be required to provide a guide to congress as to how they would like the government to fund the departments in the government (education/health/defence etc). there are more people who complete tax returns than people who vote, so this will give congress a pretty good idea of where to allocate money so avoiding congressional battles that cause a government shut down. i have gone into more detail with the politicians than this summary, but they all seem to hate the idea of giving the people a chance to really have their say on individual issues rather than just vote republican or democrat 'packages' as presented by politicians. A follow on idea is getting tax payers to 'vote' on whether billionaires should pay more tax, whether tax loopholes that enable billionaires to shelter money from the IRS should be closed...as well as whether tax cheats who renounce USA citizenship will be arrested when they return if they have not paid all their taxes....and even setting a threshold for arrest - the low income groups are NOT the 1st to be investigated and prosecuted - the high income groups will be investigated and prosecuted before the radical rites favorite scapegoats - the wellfare moms....
HOW ABOUT A GOVERNMENT GUIDED IN EVERYWAY BY THE PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES.
OK, that's it... love to get any feedback
Likeness likes likeness, ppl voted a 34 Felon as the President of the United States of American and this is the HATE he gives, Psalm 37
Thank you…. Those that support such philosophies are vile. I hope their hearts and minds will warm.
The GOP is filled with racist, sexist assholes. But be honest. They are savvier and more savage than the Dems, who just keep stepping in it and giving them ammunition for What-Aboutisms. Schumer and Jeffries are eunuchs. Even Newsom —- who is killing it with trolling now —- stupidly gave their hate a platform on his podcast. The DEMs need to be more aggressive and strategic.
Right on, Mike!
An excellent point effectively made. It would be more persuasive without the vulgarities. I hope you're not raising your son to use them as you do.