{"id":21023,"date":"2024-02-07T17:30:51","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T01:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/?p=21023"},"modified":"2024-02-08T09:52:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T17:52:16","slug":"another-visit-through-the-looking-glass-to-magaland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/2024\/02\/07\/another-visit-through-the-looking-glass-to-magaland\/","title":{"rendered":"Another Visit Through the Looking Glass to MAGALand"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li>The US is leading the world economically, but not according to MAGALand;<\/li>\n<li>MAGAfolks say they venerate the Constitution, yet support Trump as dictator;<\/li>\n<li>How prophets assert that Trump is president, and the GOP asserts that Trump did not commit insurrection;<\/li>\n<li>How Republicans gambled the Democrats would not compromise, and lost; David Frum on how Republicans won&#8217;t take yes for an answer;<\/li>\n<li>Thomas L. Friedman: GOP priorities are Trump, then Putin, then America;<\/li>\n<li>Robert Reich on how Trump fans\/cultists threaten rivals with violence;<\/li>\n<li>GOP candidates burning books;<\/li>\n<li>How the arguments for Trump staying on ballots is weak;<\/li>\n<li>How MAGA cultists are shocked that historical figures were gay.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2024\/02\/02\/multimedia\/02dc-globalecon-pjvb\/02dc-globalecon-pjvb-jumbo.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>NY Times, 2 Feb 2024<\/strong> (published in Monday&#8217;s 5 Feb print edition): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/02\/02\/business\/economy\/soft-landing-economy-inflation.html\">The Soft Landing Is Global, but It\u2019s Cushiest in America<\/a>, subtitled, &#8220;Economies all over the world are lowering inflation while avoiding serious recession \u2014 but growth in the United States stands out.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Print title: &#8220;Economies Worldwide Can&#8217;t Match U.S. Growth&#8221; subtitled &#8220;Factors aiding America&#8217;s recovering and holding back that of Europe and Japan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While in MAGALand people believe the U.S. economy is in shambles and blame President Biden.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><br \/>\n\\\\<\/p>\n<p>MAGAfolks claim to venerate the Constitution. They wrap themselves in American flags. And yet.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-apps\/imrs.php?src=https:\/\/arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/X6PWZFNNDJ6M4OJJQO2VJIAISY_size-normalized.jpg&amp;w=916\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Washington Post, Philip Bump, 7 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/02\/07\/trump-dictator-authoritarian-democracy\/\">Three-quarters of Republicans back Trump being \u2018dictator for a day\u2019<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/2024\/02\/75-of-gop-voters-approve-of-trump-as-dictator\/\">via<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>\\\\<\/p>\n<p>Conservatives and religious folks tend to *assert* their beliefs, regardless of evidence and reason. A tendency I&#8217;ve long noted.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/GeneBailey2024-660x330.png\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Religion News Service, 2 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2024\/02\/02\/with-flashpoint-live-familiar-roster-of-pentecostal-preachers-hits-the-road-for-trump\/\">With FlashPoint Live, roster of Pentecostal \u2018prophets\u2019 hits the road for Trump<\/a> (via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/2024\/02\/pentecostal-prophets-to-launch-pro-trump-tour\/\">Pentecostal \u201cProphets\u201d To Launch Pro-Trump Tour<\/a>)<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Among a certain cohort of popular evangelical Christian preachers and other conservative personalities, there are some bedrock truths that come not from human reason, they say, but Almighty God. Among them: Donald Trump is the U.S. president, and those who persecute him face death. Joe Biden, the antichrist, should be in prison for treason. Christians should rule over unbelievers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Another example:<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/grexazss-660x330.png\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Joe.My.God, 6 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/2024\/02\/gop-resolution-trump-did-not-commit-insurrection\/\">GOP Resolution: Trump Did Not Commit Insurrection<\/a> (Via press release from <a href=\"https:\/\/gaetz.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/media-advisory-tomorrow-congressman-gaetz-leads-more-60-republicans-resolution\">Rep. Matt Gaetz<\/a>)<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The coalition of Republicans, led by Rep. Gaetz, seeks to clarify the stance of the House of Representatives be that President Trump did not participate in actions that would bar him from again holding public office.<\/p>\n<p>The resolution directly states that \u201cPresident Donald J. Trump did not engage in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or give aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>If something disagreeable happens, just define it away.<\/p>\n<p>\\\\<\/p>\n<p>Republicans gambled the Democrats would not compromise on the bill to protect the border. Democrats did. Republicans refused to sign the border bill anyway, in order to keep the issue alive as a campaign issue. They deny this motive, of course, but for everyone outside their bubble, it&#8217;s plain as day.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/compote.slate.com\/images\/d1f09477-a36a-4cb3-b98a-1e1669936e6c.jpeg?crop=4500%2C3001%2Cx0%2Cy0&amp;width=1280\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Slate, Ben Mathis-Lilley, 6 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/news-and-politics\/2024\/02\/senate-border-bill-failure-existential-condition-of-the-senate.html\">Democrats a Bit Stumped by Republican Denunciation of Republican Border Security Bill<\/a>, subtitled &#8220;It can be hard to play chess against someone who doesn\u2019t acknowledge the rules of chess.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\\<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2024\/02\/07\/multimedia\/06friedman-cjmq\/06friedman-cjmq-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Thomas L. Friedman, NY Times, 6 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/02\/06\/opinion\/immigration-senate-house.html\">The G.O.P. Bumper Sticker: Trump First. Putin Second. America Third.<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cTrump First\u201d means that a bill that would strengthen America and its allies must be set aside so that America can continue to boil in polarization, Vladimir Putin can triumph in Ukraine and our southern border can remain an open sore \u2014 until and unless Trump becomes president once more. Our allies be damned. Our enemies be emboldened. Our children\u2019s future security be mortgaged.<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;<br \/>\n[Quoting Francis Fukuyama] \u201cThe Republican Party has grown very adept at hostage holding. \u2026 The hard-core MAGA wing represents a minority within a minority, yet our institutional rules permit them to veto decisions clearly favored by a majority of Americans.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\\<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.theatlantic.com\/thumbor\/oj8wOiXbZF6VUQIlt1RGspGHz4A=\/0x0:4705x2647\/976x549\/media\/img\/mt\/2024\/02\/Kevin_DietschGetty_Images\/original.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Atlantic, David Frum, 6 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/ideas\/archive\/2024\/02\/republicans-congress-immigration-deal\/677357\/\">The GOP\u2019s True Priority<\/a>, subtitled &#8220;The Republicans who won\u2019t take yes for an answer&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>So if no deal results, what truths will we learn from this process?<\/p>\n<p>The first is that Republicans don\u2019t really care all that much about the situation at the border. A real \u201cexistential threat\u201d cannot wait for some later date. People who perceive an existential threat don\u2019t delay. In fact, a good many Republican legislators are very happy to allow a continuing flow of laborers across the border.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>There&#8217;s also a second truth and a third truth &#8212; &#8220;The very act of negotiation is mistrusted.&#8221; &#8212; and a fourth truth: &#8220;Donald Trump has sold his supporters the dangerous fantasy that democratic politics can be replaced by one man\u2019s will. No need for distasteful compromises. No need to reckon with the concerns and interests of people who disagree with House Republicans. Just somehow return Trump to the presidency: He\u2019ll bark; the system will obey.&#8221; Frum: &#8220;Of course, such fantasies have no basis in reality.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\\\\<\/p>\n<p>A couple more items.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff4add8d6-c03d-4c26-a240-6a5459d80a29_283x314.png\" width=\"250\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Robert Reich, 7 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/robertreich.substack.com\/p\/what-kind-of-presidential-candidate\">What kind of presidential candidate \u2014 and supporters \u2014 would cause opponents to fear for their lives?<\/a> (Also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alternet.org\/does-nikki-haley-get-secret-service\/\">at AlterNet<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Well, I would say, because Trump fans aren&#8217;t merely tribalists, they&#8217;re cultists, will to do anything to support their glorious leader, including threatening violence against his rivals. Here is where America has sunk to.<\/p>\n<p>\\<\/p>\n<p>Now GOP candidates are literally burning books.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gomaex-660x330.png\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Joe.My.God, 7 Feb 2024<\/strong> (from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meidastouch.com\/news\/gop-candidate-burns-missouri-public-library-books-with-flamethrower\">Meidas Touch<\/a>): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/2024\/02\/missouri-sec-of-state-candidate-uses-liberal-tears-flamethrower-on-lgbtq-themed-public-library-books\/\">Missouri Sec Of State Candidate Uses \u201cLiberal Tears\u201d Flamethrower On LGBTQ-Themed Public Library Books<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\\<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/fnLOZWbgZMZk3WYCkQE0edJCdsU=\/0x0:2409x1606\/920x613\/filters:focal(1013x611:1397x995):format(webp)\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_image\/image\/73115201\/1094227856.0.jpg\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Vox, Ian Millhiser, 6 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/scotus\/2024\/2\/6\/24054902\/supreme-court-trump-anderson-disqualification-insurrection-fourteenth-amendment\">Trump\u2019s legal arguments for staying on the ballot are embarrassingly weak<\/a>, subtitled &#8220;It\u2019s hard to imagine this Supreme Court removing Trump from the ballot. But his lawyers gave the justices very little to work with.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>I saw another article that claimed that it would be hard to reconcile the current Court&#8217;s &#8220;originalist&#8221; bias with not disqualifying Trump on the basis of the Fourteenth Amendment. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.<\/p>\n<p>\\<\/p>\n<p>The MAGA cultists are shocked, shocked, about history.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Netflalex-660x330.png\" width=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Joe.My.God, 7 Feb 2024<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joemygod.com\/2024\/02\/cultists-rage-netflix-turned-alexander-the-great-gay\/\">Cultists Rage: Netflix Turned \u201cAlexander The Great\u201d Gay<\/a> (from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2024\/02\/06\/alexander-the-great-gay-bisexual-netflix-show-anger-conservatives\/\">TMZ<\/a>)<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Conservatives are up in arms over Netflix\u2019s depiction of Alexander The Great as a gay man in their new docuseries despite a long-standing belief that the dude was definitely bi.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cEnd Wokeness\u201d X account \u2014 widely known in right-wing circles \u2014 took offense to ATG, played by Buck Braithwaite, passionately kissing his pal\/ potential lover Hephaestion early in the first episode of \u201cAlexander: The Making of a God\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Worth noting \u2026 the legendary conqueror was also depicted as bisexual in the 2004 film, \u201cAlexander\u201d, played by Colin Farrell. So this whole idea of him being bisexual ain\u2019t new.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I suppose the MAGAfolks are thinking, you mean life hasn&#8217;t *always* been like America in the 1950s?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The US is leading the world economically, but not according to MAGALand; MAGAfolks say they venerate the Constitution, yet support Trump as dictator; How prophets assert that Trump is president, and the GOP asserts that Trump did not commit insurrection; &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/2024\/02\/07\/another-visit-through-the-looking-glass-to-magaland\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,90,18,54,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conservative-resistance","category-conservatives","category-lunacy","category-politics","category-religion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21023"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21028,"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21023\/revisions\/21028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markrkelly.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}