The Insufferable Boredom Of Privileged Assholes
It must be so fucking nice not to have to worry about little things like fascism destroying American democracy.
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The word must have gone out: Start complaining again about how nobody wants this election!
This idiotic talking point has been making the rounds for months and it’s been a really weird one. The press keeps equating Biden’s unpopularity with Trump’s and declaring that neither of them should run for president. Also, people are “dreading” the coming election because of how negative and crazy it will be.
The problem with this particular talking point is that the entire premise is a lie. 100% of the negativity and craziness comes from Donald Trump. Joe Biden could have dropped out a year ago and the election would still be a nightmare of screaming insanity from the right no matter who Democrats ran. Everyone knows this, especially the press. So when they say people are dreading the coming election and blaming it on “both sides,” they are fucking lying and they fucking know it.
But they overplayed that one and Biden’s rapid gain on Trump in the polls as well as his phenomenal showing in the primaries became a problem. It’s hard to convince people there’s no enthusiasm for Biden when every piece of data shows the Democratic base is actually quite enthusiastic to keep him in office for 4 more years.
Well, it might have been time to roll out the “Biden’s too old” bit again to tamp down some of that momentum. But then Trump went ahead and went sleepy time in full view of people with cameras and killed the press’ favorite attack on Biden forever. So sad!
With not much left in the quiver, someone decided to pull out “Ugh! This election suuuuucks!” again. Thus forcing us to live through the insufferable boredom of privileged assholes.
The Washington Post delivers this latest dose of insufferable boredom in an article titled: “How does the election feel around the country? 5 writers capture the vibe.”
Dave Barry the libertarian humorist kicks it off with: “We Floridians are hopeful (for a meteor strike).” You can see where this is going already. He’s funny but the general gist is, “Yawn. This election is dumb and everything is stupid.” What a brave and original take on politics. Wow.
Angela Garbes is next: “This election is as exciting as Washington’s dreary weather.” It must be wonderful to live someplace so safe and protected from Republican depredations that you don’t have to worry about fascism. But of course, Garbes does have to worry. Because if Republicans cheat their way into power or succeed in their next, inevitable coup attempt, Washington state will not be spared. There’s a thriving white nationalist movement in the Evergreen State and they will be quite excited to enact the will of the new Fuhrer.
Melissa Fay Greene discusses how Georgia is shifting from red to purple: “Look to Atlanta’s ever-changing suburbs.” Atlanta, particularly, is “being swamped by newcomers” from the coasts. Young, educated, and with more money, these transplants are not going to be flying Trump flags. Greene doesn’t really get into how excited (or not) people are for the election. She just makes some very good observations about her state. Said observations are not good news for Republicans, so there’s that.
John Grogan: “My Pennsylvania community wasn’t always like this.” This bit puts the lie to the entire narrative of “no one wants this election because of both sides.” Grogan discusses how the rabid MAGAs in his community are just nasty fucks who love to throw their hate in everyone’s faces. No decency. No manners. No sense of community. Just hateful and proud of it.
This, of course, is the case everywhere. Even the most hardcore Obama/Hillary/Biden supporters will, at most, put up a flag and maybe a sign or two on their property. It wasn’t their entire identity. But Republicans have made spewing hate the defining feature of their existence and they are only happy if people shun them. It lets them martyr themselves. A victim of oppression.
And then it’s back to “meh, whatever.” Charles Yu: “In Orange County, the 2024 campaign goes on spring break.” This one annoyed me the most and I’ll show you why:
Friends, wanting to stay friends, have learned the lessons of 2016 and 2020. We talk about it behind closed doors, with spouses and children. Or we just talk less about it because we already discussed it. And what good did it do? Did anything any of us said actually change anyone’s mind? It’s hard to continue a conversation when the starting point is: “I just don’t really like either of them.” Eight years ago, I was looking to argue. Four years ago, I was watching the news at home. This year, I’m staying mostly quiet. Because what do I know? About anything? Am I so sure I’m right?
God, what a fucking cop-out. If your friend is pro-Trump, they are pro-fascism. They are pro-white nationalism. I don’t give a fuck if they’re white, Latino, or Black. I don’t give a fuck what their reasons are or how much they are lying to themselves. They are actively supporting a man who openly appeals to Nazis. If you still want to be friends with them, you are not a good person and you should go fuck yourself.
“This year, I’m staying mostly quiet. Because what do I know? About anything? Am I so sure I’m right?” You fucking coward. What a pile of both sides bullshit. There is no “he said, she said” to this. Joe Biden is, at the absolute fucking worst, a normal president. That’s actually not true, he’s accomplished more than the last three Democratic presidents combined (with the exception of Obama passing the ACA). But if you ignore his record, he’s a normal president with a rather low number of scandals. Low meaning “zero.”
Trump, on the other hand, is the most corrupt president in American history. By a lot. Also the most incompetent. He tried to overthrow the government. He’s openly planning to do it again when he loses in November. He's been controlling a domestic terrorist movement for the last 8 years. He’s an agent of a hostile foreign government. He sold classified information after stealing it from the White House. He’s going to be a convicted felon in 3 months.
What part of this is not clear? What part suggests you should stay quiet? What don’t you fucking know?
I don’t know Yu’s political leanings. Maybe he’s a Republican and he just wants to keep his head down in his hometown which, according to him, is rapidly turning blue. If that’s the case, his advocating for being quiet because “how can we really know what’s true?” reeks of self-serving bullshit to keep the left from stomping on the lies of the right. After all, everyone deserves to have their own truth, right? Actually, no, they fucking do not. If you’re pissing on my leg, don’t tell me it’s rain and be surprised when I call you a fucking liar.
If Yu is not a Republican, that’s even worse. Trump and his fellow Republicans sent hate crimes against Asians, especially Chinese, skyrocketing during COVID-19. Yu, or someone he loves, could have easily been hurt or killed by a rabid MAGA obeying the commands of Donald Trump. But what does Yu know, right? Better to keep quiet and hope everything works out for the best.
This entire piece from the Washington Post seems designed to sap the reader’s will to pay attention to the election. Why stay engaged if nothing matters? Just let things play out and we’ll see what happens after the voting is done. Everything will be fine either way, won’t it?
Yeah, that’s what people said in 2016 and then Trump murdered half a million Americans, ushered in a new era of American fascism, and tried to topple the government. Now we are on the brink of losing democracy to a collection of pedophiles and morons. But, gee whiz, I hope it’s not too much of a fucking bother for people to pay the fuck attention between now and November 5th.
There are 202 days until the 2024 election. Vote blue like your life depends on it.
I finally blocked an ex-friend everywhere, including phone/text/email, who’s a proud maggot. I can’t have maggots in my life. They’re anti everything I believe and stand for. To ice the cake, he’s gay. Who does he think they’re coming for? Not him? 🙄
Thank you for calling this sick MAGA cult what it is: WHITE CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM. And thank you for calling out these milquetoast privileged asshats whose heads are firmly wedged up their asses. This is a fucking five alarm fire. Those who are sane need to act accordingly.