Author: Reemberto@gmail.com

The crisis at the border in this early summer of 2018 with the forced separation of children from their mothers may be the breaking point. Or not.

Grabbing pussies did not do it. Lies and more lies did not do it. Flirting with the Russians did not do it. Trying to ban Muslims did not do it. Deregulating the financial market did not do it. Crazy tariffs did not do it. Affairs with porn stars did not do it. Denying climate change did not do it. Insulting Mexican, the disabled, women, LGBTQ, blacks, and many others did not do it. Pandering to the racist alt-right did not do it.

So, will separating undocumented mothers from their children as they flee horrific situations – that the U.S. helped create – and try to enter the U.S.A. as refugee do it?

Maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell.

An opinion piece in the Washington Post today was titled simply “Repugnant”.

I see the article begins quoting a Cuban-American (Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen) – Republican at that!… Totally relate. This incident may do more than anything to date to wake-up the ‘right of center’ Cuban-Americans to the embedded indecency of this President. Cuban-Americans – across the political spectrum – are all too familiar with family separation issues; from the ‘Peter Pan’ children of the 60’s to Elian Gonzalez. Those of us that were separated from our parents – albeit by choice and under loving condition – remain hyper sensitive to the psychological scars the current situation will inflict on these children…. The damage is done. Politically – this incident coupled with the mishandling of the recovery in Puerto Rico – Trump might have just sealed the fate of Florida’s upcoming elections.

And yet some of his supporters try to justify the situation by either evoking the horrible things Obama and the Clintons did, or quoting the Bible, or grossly simplifying the situation and options, or simply deflecting the simple fact that Trump caused this problem. He seems to have changed his mind with an Executive Order that is vague in details. And now what?

… Not sure these folks minds can be changed though… Therefore:

For the historical record: Here are a couple of the least insulting and most charitable Facebook comments from the Trumpistas:

If God’s children can obey this nation’s laws and adhere to the above requests, please, enter the U.S. and enjoy the freedom you’ve been looking for! Here’s 81 verses in the bible that relate to laws – …  Here’s the bottom line as I see it: 1) Please enter the U.S. in one of the 389 LEGAL ports of entry. Just pick one, it doesn’t matter which one, but please pick one. Don’t put your child in jeopardy of being taken away from you 2) Please make sure that the child that you are bringing in is YOUR child, not someone else’s. The last thing we need is to provoke a child smuggling ring in the U.S. 3) Once we grant you an Asylum hearing, PLEASE attend! 80% of those people seeking Asylum do not attend the meeting, then they are virtually impossible to find. We don’t need any more illegal immigrants here after we’ve tried to help them become legal, PLUS, you don’t want to spend the rest of your stay here with your family hiding under the radar. Please think of your family, do the responsible thing and attend the hearing!

Yeah…. But undoing what Obama did is a huge task….have friends in. Military and they hate O for what he tried to do for 8 years…the list in endless…so why did Obama crafted a law that if follow to the T caused this???? Think about it.. this, no one raised hell like now….Trump follows the law as written and suddenly he is a monster…. The hypocrisy of the left and Dems is amazing….he is the only one with cojones to actually follow the law.

#RESIST. Get friends and families registered to vote. Don’t waste your time trying to change the minds of these folks. #RESIST

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I was asked recently “Why? Why do you join those dysfunctional institutions like the Catholic Church and the Democratic Party? Why do you stay?”… Actually, I have been thinking about this for a while, since the last spiritual exercise I attended a few months back… I’ve been meaning to jot down some thought about this, and here it goes.

Am I a joiner? I choose to belong and stay in my neighborhood, community, political party, faith, and civic and service groups.

I could choose not to belong. I could choose to go at it along. I could choose not to join. I could choose to quit.

Certainly some do. And they are no less of a good person.

Some choose to go at it alone, yet they are not loners. Others choose to be socially active but not necessarily join in social action. And many pray in private, not community… There are also those who plug in and out of institutions for a particular purpose of a given time… And that’s ok… That approach to life just does not seem to be who I am and simply does not seem to be for me…

To me life is most lived in growing relationships. Relationships amplify life. Love is most found in healthy relationships. I can (and do) love myself, marvel in creation when contemplatively alone, and find my soul in solitude. Yet, it is relationship, companionship, community, sharing moments and stories, discussing wisdom and irreverence in conversation and dialogue, and marking rituals and celebrating together that I find the energy and drive to keep going, work for a greater good, re-examine the missteps of the past and pursue the possibilities of the future.

And so I join others in imperfect and dysfunctional institutions; in sometimes chaotic, difficult, and hurtful journeys… If I was to join only perfect institutions and seek only perfect relationships, I’d be miserably disappointed since none exist.

Clearly we all make choices for how we invest our time, talent, and treasure in relationships and institutions in a way that align with our core values and personal mission. Clearly most often joining most any institution requires choosing to focus on where personal values align and intersect the institution values rather than highlighting where there is discord, conflict, and divergence.

It is not about compromising values, nor suspending focus on them, nor ‘giving in’. It is also not about acceptance or being quiet or not dissenting.

I choose to join these imperfect and dysfunctional institutions because I believe in their mission. And – not but – I also choose to work from inside to create an environment where change is possible, never hesitating voicing dissent, and pursuing the greater good.

It can be tough, lonely, and disappointing for sure. Yet, I choose to remain – mostly. (There have been exceptions.) I choose to remain in light of seemingly insurmountable odds; I choose to remain in light of criticism – stated or not – of people I cherish and trust; I choose to remain even in light of oftentimes being viewed with suspect from some insiders who may think I am not a true believer, weak, or too conciliatory or compromising with outsiders.

I find the structure, ritual, permanency, and stability of these institutions something I welcome and cherish. I respect those that have come before me to create the institution I now belong to – and criticize from the inside. These institutions have firm boundaries, rules, regulations, hierarchy, and protocols that are necessary to their functioning as an institution. Oftentimes it is in these boundaries, rules, regulations, hierarchy, and protocols that I find challenges. So I routinely remind myself that my alignment with the mission is more important than the disagreement with a certain aspect of how that mission is achieved. (Though process still matters. A lot. I could not belong an institution that consistently disregards process or is consistently indecent, lies, cheat, and has no empathy regardless of how laudable the ultimate mission might be. Thus I can not support our President. But, that’s for another posting.)

Here are three personal examples of why I joined institutions that have many faults, yet have laudable, aspirational mission with which I align and enthusiastically support:

The government bureaucracy – I have worked with the public sector all my life. I more than know how inefficient and ineffective the bureaucracy can be. Yet, the mission of serving the collective good is something I embrace wholeheartedly. Sometimes I may feel like I am ‘in the belly of the beast’, yet when I see the many examples of very good people that have devoted their lives to public service, I find the energy to stay and continue the struggle.

The Democratic Party – I choose to be involved politically. And, given the wrapped limiting two party system that we have in this country, Democrats simply best align with my personal believe system for creating a civil society that is empathetic and cares for the disenfranchised people. Surely there are serious points of deep disagreements; yet, there is no question in my mind that the greater civil good is best achieved by electing Democrats.

The Catholic Church – I am a practicing Catholic. That is, I am practicing but haven’t quite got it right yet. I shiver sometimes at the over the top pomp and circumstance, the sometimes seemingly intentional alienation and exclusion of women, and requirements for membership and behavior that seem from another millennium. Yet, the core mission of the Church, particularly with its evident commitment to social justice is totally me. I am all in. (I am totally in particularly with the Catholics Jesuits whom which I choose to join in the journey of faith.)

So I chose to join these imperfect and dysfunctional institutions sometime in the past through a process of discernment now long forgotten. But, I choose to stay through the same, a process of continuous discernment, a daily practice of meditation, and attempts at contemplation.

No institution is perfect. Yet, even in light of imperfection and dysfunction, and knowing they are led by broken souls who are definitively not perfect either, I choose to stay because I too am broken, imperfect, and dysfunctional.

But, in this odd journey of life with companions – some of like mind and some not – building relationships that spark love which sparks action, building relationships that spark action that spark love, and building relationships where we can support and help each other flourish we keep on keeping on, not letting the perfect get in the way of the good and always aspirationally striving for the greater good.

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Trump comes at you fast. He is a good game show host! He knows entertainment suspense. He keeps us off balance… What will the next Tweet say? Will he or won’t he comment? Who will he insult next?

Oh, so entertaining!

Yet, the Presidency is serious stuff. Governance is not entertainment. Politics is not a sport.

People’s lives are at stake here.

(Side note: and here is where anti-abortionist will say, “Exactly the point. The unborn lives are at stake here and that is why we voted for him no matter anything else.” I have no argument against that myopic, zealot position other than to remind my good anti-abortionist friends that facilitating bringing a life into this world without the accompaniment of quality pre-natal care and post birth healthcare and support is a rather narrow – and ultimately counterproductive – view of things. More on this topic in another posting. But I digress.)

Policies like indiscriminately yanking children from parents at the border; leaving thousands of people in limbo by not addressing – or worse yet, negatively addressing – DACA and TPS; slashing environmental programs; and walking away from Puerto Rico demonstrate a devolution of American values that diminishes our nation being viewed aspirationally by Americans as well as others throughout the world.

Rash acts like the on-again off-again North Korea summit, temper tantrums against entertainment and athletes,  and insults of other politicians and federal departments demonstrates a lack of civility that is degrading not only the American Presidency but also the respect for authority that is so needed for a well functioning nation.

This President’s inability to articulate an argument in a coherent, developed manner; his limited vocabulary; and his flippant demeanor degrades the Office of the Presidency to the point that it leaves many with a yearning for true statesmen and stateswomen of the past, great men and women that present themselves as knowledgeable of the subject matter and can converse in a manner that is intelligent and actually makes sense.

This devolution of the Presidency – and of America by association – is so rapid and rampant that it has brought into question the very essence of the country as a nation others look up to, as a country in which one takes pride living in, or a President that we want children and youth to emulate.

Instead we have a country that has devolved to simply being one of many. Sure, an economic powerhouse, but culturally shrinking. Sure, a sports giant, but artistically shallow. Sure, a military might, but responsibly reckless.

We have a leadership that merits no more respect – and oftentimes much less respect – that the leadership of other first world nations (and even less respect than some second and third world nations!) We find ourselves in a downward spiral chase to the gutter that makes many other countries seem just fine, thank you.

The shining city on the hill that was the U.S.A. is fast becoming the chaotic, mean, transactional city of excess where riches may be found but souls are so often lost.

Of course we can still turn this mess around. #RESIST, help friends register to vote, and vote vote vote come November!

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One third of America does not care about the character of the President, what he did with porn stars, or how he made his money. They care about the change he is causing, the disruptions he is creating, and the improving economic times.

Whether you agree with this clear, sharp capacity of many Trump supporters to cheer him on, that is how at least of 1/3 of America feels. These are  – generally – the same folks that were tired of the excessive political correctness, have no patience for the complexity of diplomacy, or simply don’t care about the collateral damage of simplistic solutions.

These are some of our neighbors, family members, and friends.

And that would be o.k. Except.

Except this scorch earth, simplistic, take no prisoner approach to governing is devolving American ideals, cheapening the presidency, and causing some real damage to real people in this country and throughout the world. This bumper sticker approach to governing is shallow – and right down dangerous.

Build the wall. Move embassy to Jerusalem. Lower taxes. Terminate TPS. Make all abortion illegal. Deregulate.

All make for good bumper stickers. But, not considering the impact of these actions in the complex world we live in is irresponsible, authoritarian, and very, very dangerous.

The problem is the Trump supporters do not want to hear this. And if they do, they will resort to simplistic responses like: “It is the law. It has to be upheld.” Or, “he campaigned on this and now he is doing it.” All fine and good.

Yet, they will take no responsibility for their actions:

Never mind that the embassy move caused many Palestinian death; not the President’s fault, they will tell you.

Never mind that their new immigration policies lead to separating families; they should not have come here to begin with, they will tell you.

Never mind that paying for lowering the taxes for the rich causes real pain for the poor; don’t worry – it will eventually trickle down, they will tell you.

Never mind that anti-abortionist care only that the baby is born; that is all that matters – even if there is no universal healthcare, childcare support, or extended work leave, they will tell you.

There comes a point when you can no longer argue with these folks. You get to the point where you are just talking past each other. No one is listening to the other with good will.

And, don’t even bring up the President’s character or investigations. It is all irrelevant and/or a fake news conspiracy promoted by the deep state, they will tell you. And they believe it. And nothing will change their minds.

So the only thing left to do is get them out of power. So you #RESIST. And vote vote vote. BUT: Before you vote you have to be registered.

NOW is the time to get your friends, family, and anyone you know is fed up with this devolution to get registered to vote. It is most crucially important to do these in States like Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. So if you know folks there, get in touch with them. Now. As in today. Make the call; send the text or e-mail. Let’s do it!

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President Trump has unleashed a wave of negative, aggressive, and selfish sentiments that have – among many other things – discredited the aspirational aspects of American democracy.

In his short tenure as President, Trump has managed to unravel, unwind, and untangle the quilt of good will that was America.

America was one complicated quilt. That quilt was (loosely) held together mostly on a general (immeasurable) consensus – across social, ethnic, and cultural lines – that the unfinished experiment that is the U.S.A. can best be pursued with high aspirations based on the (imperfect) thoughts, actions, and writings of men and women that have preceded us:

> A unique blend of aspirational guarantees of inalienable rights and the right to association; i.e.: simultaneously respecting the individual and encouraging community while seeking personal well being and the common good.

Trump has managed to diminish us to a country with a leadership that is – by any measure – corrupt, incompetent, and looks out mostly (if not exclusively) for that one third of voters that blindly supports him and the business interests of a few. Trump’s unholy alliance with so called Republicans has gained political power and is instituting a new America that I simply cannot be proud of. Instead, I am ashamed. Instead I am embarrassed. Instead, I have chosen to #RESIST.

I could flee. “America: love it or leave it”, some would say. But no, I am choosing to stay. I live here. I am not going anywhere.

I already fled one country as a child political refugee. I am not fleeing again. I will live out my life in this imperfect, dysfunctional, and increasingly racist country, acknowledging that we are no better than any other country, and recognizing that any dreams of being an aspiration and a model of democracy for others is gone – for the moment.

We have become one of many nations, no longer the nation being looked to by those in repressive governments as the nation to emulate. Enslaved, mistreated, and persecuted people throughout the world may still look to come to America, but no longer seeking a place to look up to, to replicate back in the ‘home country’.  Rather, Trump’s America has become simply a place where economic well-being may be sought, sure. However, nada mas. Nothing more. No longer the promised land. No longer the land that our ‘home country’ should aspire to be… Simply just another land where we can make a buck, feed our family, and muddle through life consuming consuming consuming.

No longer can I say I love America. At least not the America of the moment. It just happens to be where I live.

I cannot – will not – support this President’s America. And I will not sit idle by while he and his cronies rampage, dismantle, and abuse the institutions, agencies, and structures that form the backbone to an aspirational democracy.

I cannot be supportive of or enthusiastically cheer America while we have a President that personally attacks freedom of the press, destroys the independence of the judiciary by arbitrarily seeking to stack the number of appointed judges, and disrespects the men and women that have committed to serve in government in places like the FBI and CIA – and the EPA, HUD, NIH, etc. etc. etc.

And of course, I can’t support a president that so blatantly trashes immigrants, Muslims, the disabled, and the LGBTQ community.

And of course, I can’t support a president that shows no empathy for the needy and conducts foreign policy like Rambo.

And that is why I #RESIST. Because I firmly believe that we can regain aspirational national pride in who we are, recalibrate our internationally aspirational leadership, and rediscover our aspirational consensus to do good by being good.

(Have you helped a friend register to vote? If not, please consider doing so today.)

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We have had presidents that were slave owners. We have had presidents that are crooks. And we have certainly had presidents that were womanizers.

So why should we hold Trump to any higher standard? No, it is not a higher standard to which we are holding Trump accountable. It is the standard applied to anyone who happen to be president!

I am blessed with having known people across the political spectrum. It pains me to see the moral and ethical calisthenics some of my friends are doing to excuse their support for Trump. (I know these same friends accuse me of doing moral and ethical calisthenics myself to justify my support of the Democratic Party, given their stand on abortion. That single issue has so marred, clouded, and seems to be the sole determinant of the distaste of many for the Democrats and their blind support of this President.)

He came in to clean the swamp and has infected it instead with countless appointees who have had to resign because of ethical improprieties…. Yes, this has happened before. But, never to this extent.

This guy is not leading a revolution – he is leading a devolution, the indiscriminate dismantling of a bureaucracy without a strategy as to what should replace it. Surged earth policy. 

Except. Except that this disruption of bureaucracy, dismantling of regulations, and the lack of governing is creating a window of opportunity for Trumpistas opportunists to reap the benefit of chaos – take the money and run – in hopes that by the time they get found out it will be too late and they and their children will have enjoyed their yachts, mansions, and golf courses for years.

One thing is to compromise with imperfect leaders in the political sphere. Another is to blindly support morally corrupt leaders because they are taking policy actions we agree with. As much charity as I wish I had to not be reactionary to his ranting, they are toxic to our collective soul.

For example, his ranting about past administrations regarding immigration. Obama worked with the Latino community to focus deportation on criminals. Yes, plenty of mistakes were made deporting some good folks. But there was never any doubt that the policy – and message – was clear and unambiguous: Let’s get the bad hombres out of here… But, Mr. Trump’s approach is dark, mean-spirited, and divisive. His focusing on the MS-13 crimes as an excuse to build his wall in exchange for a path to citizenship for Dreamers is sickening… Of course we need border security! But, remember, you build a 30 foot wall and the next week Home Depot will be selling 31 ft ladders…

Also: Why oh why oh why must he insist on referencing back to Obama and the Clintons?!? He is President now; start acting as such! Defend your policies on their merits – if you can. Defend your demeanor, personality, crassness and crudeness – and in thus doing show your true color: You and your Trumpistas have sold your soul for a marginally better performing stock market which benefits mostly the affluent; taken measures to advance your politically convenient pro-birth stance; and the warped thinking that immigrants are bad people.

Within the short span of one year, this man has degenerated the United States of America into nothing more than a mere economic entity focusing exclusively on the transactional functions of government. Long lost are the aspirational dreams of a nation, what could be, how we can form a better union, how we can be more empathetic and civil with each other.

He has single handily taken us into the gutter of ugly politics. It is our role to rise. To reclaim our dreams.

So we must #RESIST. And vote in November!

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This Trump guy is really unbelievable.

I am done thinking of him as our “President”.  He is nothing more than a self-centered performance artist who cares first and foremost – no, cares exclusively – about himself.

He is the ultimate Emotional Vacuum Cleaner.

What exactly is an EVC?… Well, think of it this way:

EVC=C+D

Emotional Vacuum Cleaners thrive in Chaos and Drama. Indeed, that is the only way they know how to function.

EVCs suck up the energy wherever they are, with whomever they are, and whatever they are doing. They simply do not know how to sit back, listen and learn. After all, they know everything.

EVCs simply do not have the capacity to work in groups or teams. Because, it has to be ‘all about them’. They know best. Only they are right. It is their way or the highway.

EVCs are divas. They are attention grabber. They talk the loudest. They insult the most. They demand everybody’s attention – or else.

EVCs cannot deal with consensus. They do not have the patience for it. They have no interest in it. They see no value in it. It has to be their way. And, if they change their mind, they will not admit it.

EVCs will definitively not accept a minority opinion. They don’t even want to hear it. And, if they do hear it, it will be only to use it to humiliate the minority.

EVCs have no capacity for empathy, compassion, or caring.

Our President’s EVC quotient is through the roof. He fits the definition to a ‘t’. He is a master in employing all its tactics.

And, to those who are looking for a strong man to follow, he is ‘their man’. He can do no wrong. It is him against the world – and he is showing up the world!

How do you deal with these folks?

How do you deal with folks that honestly believe that Trump is the victim? How do you deal with people that in their bones believe the real crime is being committed by the Clintons, Obamas, and the ‘deep state’?

Clearly we see him – and them – using all sorts of deflection tactics to focus the news cycles on the tantrums, the Tweets, the drama, the chaos. All along while they dismantle and deconstruct the functioning government as we know it.

This ain’t no revolution. It’s a devolution. What is going on with vacancies in the Federal Agencies, in the roll back of bureaucratic regulations, and in the not-so-hidden financial markets and new tax laws tailored to the super wealthy is nothing short of criminal. And he is doing all of this while he intentionally entertains us with his antics, chaos, and drama.

Mueller is not going to put Trump behind bars. No porn star is going to do so either. And neither will any other judicial court.

May I suggest we deal with him, his cronies, and his Trumpistas in the ultimate court, the court of public opinion, the ballot box?

May I suggest we deny this Emotional Vacuum Cleaner what he seeks the most, attention?

If you are fed up with this crap, sick and tired of this nightmarish bad performance artist, and are ready to do something about it, don’t wait till November. Don’t waste time getting mad. Don’t let him suck up your energy.

Act now. It is now more important than ever to get friends, family, and anyone within shouting distance to go register to vote. Without a fuzz, without hoopla; no chaos, not drama… Just invite them to do so. Implore them to do so. Help them to do so.

It matters. It can make a difference. (Just look at what happened in Pennsylvania a few days ago.)

It is time. It is time to disconnect this Emotional Vacuum Cleaner by getting people registered and voting to win a sweeping victory in the November elections… But the job starts now. Don’t wait.

#RESIST = GFR + GTTP

(Getting folks registered + Getting them to the polls)

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Dear Mr. President:

I love you.

I am not being sarcastic here. You know I don’t like you. I don’t appreciate your ways. I disagree vehemently with you. But, I love you.

You obviously look at life very different than I do… But, hey, you are God’s child. So, I love you.

I wish the best for you. I really do.

Mr. President, it is evidently clear you are not having a good time being president. Therefore, in loving care I implore you to go back to what you do best: Go back to real estate. Go back to being a game show host. Go back to your lockeroom talk and cocktail party jokes. Go back to enjoying your expensive properties. (Do be careful who you surround yourself with; it looks like in the past you’ve kept some shady company.)

Mr. President, you’ve had your run. You succeeded beyond the wildest expectations – including your own! You won the Presidency of the United States of America, fair and square. No argument there. (Well, maybe. No. We won’t go there here.)

Anyway: You’ve even succeeded in doing things (and not doing other things) that some of your ‘friends’* wanted you to do (and not do.)  You got tax relief for the rich; you appointed a Supreme Court justice that will advance conservative ideals; you are not about to pass any meaningful gun legislation; and, you even slowed immigration without as much as building a wall! (But, don’t get greedy. Some of the other ideas you and your ‘friends’* want to pursue may not be as easy or doable.)

*Be careful. Clearly your so called ‘friends’ are really not friends. These are ‘acquaintances of convenience.’ You are their useful idiot. They are using you. 

And the faith thing? Sorry, you can’t fake it. Oh, sure you occasionally go to church for a wedding or a funeral. But it seems like you never were much into thoughtful, discerning, prayerful lifestyle. And that’s OK. Not all of us have to be into that. Some of the best people in the world are not necessarily faith-centered. So no, I don’t hold that against you. (Though your alliance with fundamentalist Christians is quite amazing. It seems they have sold their soul. How else do you explain them supporting a morally unstable person like you?!?)

Mr. President, you have lost any credibility you might have had at one point. You are increasingly becoming the butt of all jokes. You are simply not to be taken seriously anymore. And when you try to be credible? You totally flop! You have to use a cheat sheet to talk to people about empathy. No one but a select group of right wing radicals invites you to their gatherings anymore. Your mannerism, lack of vocabulary, and persona is so not presidential.

But hey, it is who you are! Embrace it. That’s what some people that support you blindly love about you, right?  Why must you try to be presidential, they say?  Geez, no one voted for you for that!

Yet Mr. President, everything has its limits. It is time for you to move on. The welcome mat has worn out (not that it was ever there.)

Just go away. We’re not looking for revenge. (Remember: We love you. We really do.)

But it is time for this nightmare to be over. You are an embarrassment to most Americans – and to many around the world as well. You don’t act presidential. Evidently you don’t feel presidential.

Mr. President, get out while you can. Someday soon it may be too late. Quit now! (Get Pence to pardon you for crimes you may have committed – just in case.)

In love,

Reemberto Rodriguez

p.s.: I am a U.S. Citizen. And I vote.

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If you get your news from only selective sources and give no credence to others, your reality will be formed by those ‘feeds’ you choose to feed you.

“Back in the days” most of us got our news from a select limited number of very similar sources. The folks that opted out of mass media were considered cultist and fringe.

Today, as the news sources have multiplied exponentially, we have little choice but to choose where we get our news. And -whether willing or unwilling – consistent, persistent, exclusive exposure to those select sources we choose is a major determinant factor on how we view the world.

For example, my choice of news-feed is a combination of the following: Reuters, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, Politico, Fortune, Fox Business, and Steven Colbert. I do routinely try to visit other sources, though I find myself increasingly incredulous of their reporting – and increasingly favoring my limited source. That is, I too am guilty of this balkanization of realities.

Having said that, imagine if your sources of news were – by choice – limited to Breitbart, Fox News, the President’s Tweet, and the White House news site.

Take a fresh look at the Tweet postings below. Imagine this to be your only source of news. Imagine if this is what forms you, day in and day out.

It then becomes possible to understand why a segment of America remains supporting this President and blaming everything on everybody else – never him. It then becomes increasingly clear how difficult – if not impossible – it is to engage these Trumpistas in any semblance of a coherent, sensible, respectful conversation.

Running the risk of getting theological, if logos thinking is scientific, critical thinking relying on facts and mythos thinking is expansive, mythological exploratory thinking, then there must be a third way of thinking that we are seeing today… A thinking that is constrictive, seeks certitude over facts, and provides the assurance of group think. It is that third way of thinking that is going on with the Trumpistas… They are incapable of logos thinking. They dare not venture into mythos. They choose to stay small, in a clear box, unwilling (afraid?) to venture into certitude of critical inquire or the ambiguity of mythology… Thus communicating with them is challenging, to say the least…

Thus, the likelyhood of convincing these committed Trumpistas to “see the (our) light” is a fruitless exercise. Therefore: The fight is no longer about convincing these folks to change. The fight is all about getting out the vote.

Our energy can infinitively be better employed in talking with the 2/3 of America that are not Trumpistas:

There is still hope for the 1/3 of America that while they may align with Trump’s politically convenient policies, are becoming increasingly annoyed by his behavior.

And, probably more efficient, would be to focus on the Americans who oppose Trump but did not vote: The 1/2 of 1/3 of America who are opposed to Trump. This population is most apt to realize that their vote could have made a difference and will consider – with our prodding – to vote vote vote.

VERY IMPORTANT: Remember that you have friends, family, and acquaintences in other part of the US as well… Prod them. Call them. Text them. Starting NOW. If they are not registered: Get them to register. It’s easy!

https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

Therefore: Please please please talk up voting in November starting now…

But, focus your efforts; be efficient. Let’s get to those amigos who we know might have not voted but would have voted with us if they had. Let’s find those willing voters who want to vote against this madness and nightmare.

And, if you need some encouragement, review these Tweets below from the Trumpistas world and ask yourself: If this was all I see day in and day out – this and nothing else – how would I view the world? (Note that these Tweets are not the worst. They are intended to show the manipulate half – and incomplete – truths (and lies) that the Trumpista media uses to brainwash their troops…  Again: Changing these folks mind may not be worth it… Just let them know: We’ll see you at the ballot box… And, make sure you work to get folks registered to vote, staring now! #RESIST

POSTSCRIPT: As I was finishing this post a friend send me a Facebook message about this article that has come out. Wow! Exact same subject matter – but obviously written much more professionally:

https://thedailybanter.com/2018/02/study-shows-trump-supporters-now-basically-unreachable/?platform=hootsuite

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