Turning Lies Into Bombs

It is surprising that it has taken this long. Presently, there have been at least a half-dozen bombs sent to targets seen by many as opponents to President Trump. The MAGAbomber has selected long-time objects of Trump's ridicule and wrath: Hillary "Lock Her Up!" Clinton. President "Birth Certificate Is A Fraud, Founder Of ISIS" Obama. Representative Maxine "Crazy, Low IQ" Waters. Billionaire George "He Pays Professional Protestors" Soros. Former CIA Director John "Loudmouth, Political Hack Who Can't Be Trusted With The Secrets Of Our Country" Brennan. Obama's Attorney General, Eric "He Better Be Careful What He's Wishing For, I Can Tell You That!" Holder. Representative Debbie Wasserman "Must Not Let Her Off The Hook" Schultz. CNN and The San Diego Union Tribune, both examples of Trump's "Enemies Of The People". Who knows where this ends?

It's hard to find a positive note in all this. Trump's hateful and dangerous demonization of his opponents has fractured the country. The enmity that he has helped spawn is now alarming. The main question is how long will it take to mend? Certainly not while the Divider-in-Chief and the complicit GOP Congress remain in charge. Empty words of "unify the country" will be spoken, then it will be off to another Two Minute Hate rally session. Just last week at one gathering, Trump congratulated a Republican congressman for body-slamming reporter Ben Jacobs of The Guardian. Let's see what he says at tonight's rally in Wisconsin.

Harsh, but true...

He typically vilifies anyone or anything that does not bow down to him. He defines them as hateful objects, worthy of being physically harmed. His opponents are harmful impediments to Making America Great Again.

The Press have become "The Enemy Of The People".

The Democratic Party is "the party of massive crime... they want to unleash violent predators and ruthless killers..."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-11/trump-attacks-arsonist-democrats-as-polls-show-house-at-risk

"They are not just extreme, they are frankly dangerous and they are crazy... They want to dismantle law enforcement and attack the heroes that keep us safe."

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/sep/22/trump-blasts-democrats-20180922/

Is it any wonder that the MAGAbomber is following through for Fearless Leader? In his twisted mind, the bomber has to be convinced that violent death to traitorous enemies is the path set forth by President. The incredibly toxic rhetoric favored by Trump is finally blooming into domestic terrorism. Again, it was only a matter of time before the Firehose of Hate created this degrading moment. It's Lies, Incorporated. Lies R Us. All Lying, All The Time.

To verify this claim, let's let the terrific reporter Daniel Dale of The Toronto Star (of Canada, a former staunch US ally) tell us about the torrent of BS blasting out of Trump's oral orifice:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/fact-checkers-identify-increasing-rates-of-false-claims-by-the-president

Yes, as time goes on, so does the velocity of whoppers and fibs. From 2.7 falsehoods a day in 2017 to over 5 per day now. And the last couple of weeks have been remarkable for the sheer volume of fabrication, a veritable Niagara of mendacity. Take one minute to check these out:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1054802555727986690.html

and Trump's contention that there are riots going on in California:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1053729767692926983.html

and that possible ISIS infiltrators are mixed in with the refugee "caravan" approaching the southern border:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1054352194777047040.html

and just general WTF-ery:

https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1055083496014839809

Oh, thank you, Mr. Dale. It can't be easy covering what amounts to be the Mt. Everest of Fallacy every day. It might be frustrating, it might even be comical, but today, it is dangerous.

And my humble apologies for striking such a strident style with this post. As you probably know, I do attempt to couch my observations with what passes for wit and perspective. But what has transpired today, and over the last couple of weeks, has pulled my patience out of the plug.

Putting it into the context of classic mid-60's power pop, here are The Knickerbockers singing their One Hit Wonder, "Lies". Two minutes of Beatlemania without the Beatles...