Is Insanity Contagious?

As noted here before, the fellow waiting in the wings to try out the job of ex-President greeted the election outcome with outrageous and incendiary falsehoods. Since that time a few days ago, I've heard people who know Trump well, including family members, staffers, and commentators, claim that Trump really believes that he, Trump, won the election and it's being stolen from him. Incredible as that may seem, I can almost believe it. I said years ago that Trump - to put it in terms that people in Trump country would have readily used in the small towns of the 1950s and 60s - is "tetched," that he "ain't quite right in the head."

But if Trump does believe this fantasy, he is most certainly the only one. The spectacle of his family members, political supporters, staffers - people like Baby Trump and campaign guru Lewandowski - repeating this tripe publicly is disgusting (there's that favorite Trump work again!)  They are all people who not only should but DO know better. As responsible, concerned citizens, they could  say, as many have done, that all votes need to be counted, and that recounts will be called for in some places. But there is no reason in the world to use the language they are using, unless they seek to spread dissent, sow doubt where none exists, and incite violence. It's like shouting "fire" in a crowded theater, and should be prosecuted. Good that so many of them are on film and tape with these statements.

Just an hour ago I received an anonymous chat message, the first of what I'm sure will be many, seeking to spread the same misinformation. With a cleverly designed cartoon (it shows a ballot being inserted into a red box, which is labeled Stop the Steal and which looks cleverly like the ballot counters many jurisdictions use, being shredded as it goes in, and a long message with multiple bullet points, all of which are totally false). As that message's lead-in says, "I didn't think I'd ever see anything like this is America." Ironically, I agree. Amen to that! I'm sure it's from a blind telephone number, but those things can be traced, so I'll be actively looking to the investigative sites I expect to be set up by the FCC, or my telephone company, to which to forward such viciously intended, actionable trash talk. 

Comments

[PiedType]

You nailed it with "unless they seek to spread dissent, sow doubt where none exists, and incite violence." However, such pettiness and fealty to a lame-duck leader strikes me as counterproductive for those wanting future careers.

[JHawk23]

Yes indeed. I would like to think that Trump Junior's public screeching about "stopping the steal" would absolutely annihilate him as a potential Presidential candidate in 2024 but unfortunately voters have very short memories.