Uniting America? Don't Count on it

[honorentheos]

I also don't know if this was Schmidt or he retweeted it? This doesn't cite him as author or post under his name. But it also seems to show up in other locations under other names.

https://www.villages-news.com/2020/12/2 ... -worth-it/

This doesn’t look like Schmidt’s style nor does the content seem like a good match.

The earliest found appearance that I’ve noticed is December 20, from a Facebook page run by ‘The Red State Rustler’.

https://m.Facebook.com/TheRealRSR/posts ... 7edBhU2n5Y

Good find.

[Icarus]

I also don't know if this was Schmidt or he retweeted it? This doesn't cite him as author or post under his name. But it also seems to show up in other locations under other names.

https://www.villages-news.com/2020/12/2 ... -worth-it/

I cut and pasted it from Facebook and I wasn't aware Schmidt was a public figure.

I agreed with the sentiment which is why I shared.

[Some Schmo]

No amount of unity efforts can erase what we've learned about our fellow Americans the past four years.

The OP was spot on. I have surely become disillusioned by the vast number of assholes and idiots voting in this country. And I certainly feel no obligation whatsoever to find common ground with people so stupid and malevolent that they would vote for an obvious imbecile.

It really is best if people don't tell me they are a Trump supporter, because it is alienating. I will not associate with them. I do not trust them by default. They can “F” off and die in their imagined crises and resulting discontent.

[Some Schmo]

So, who divided America, again?

Maybe you should spend less time dancing to Japanese teen pop and pay more attention to what's happening in your country. It would help you avoid asking dumb questions like this one.

[honorentheos]

The inclusion of Steve Schmidt in the OP is fortuitous if plagiarizing.

I don't think we should lose sight of the fact we have Trump supporters because there was a multi-decade long strategy to villianise and dehumanize liberals, make government the enemy, and create a condition of hate that the political class knew wasn't right but assumed was so dangerous if actually put into action no one would be dumb enough to do so. In the process, they failed to realize their perceived inaction was seen as insincerity that meant that electorate was vulnerable to being taken over by an opportunist lacking any concern for the common good such as Trump. Schmidt has acknowledged his activities as a campaign strategist fed this, including being involved in getting Palin on the McCain ticket in 2008.

There is a mirrored problem on the left that is just running behind the right but doing its damnedest to catch up. Publicly advocating for economically unsustainable activities, behaving publicly progressive but privately pragmatic and excitedly attacking the opposition in ways that dehumanize them as well means we are creating left-wing equivalent of Trump supporters. And yeah, the OP is in that vein and it's wrong minded.

Successfully preserving the republic won't come from buying into the civil war. It requires principles and cooperation, pragmatism and dialog. Biden is doing a pretty good job in my opinion in walking a difficult line that needs walked. But it will be undermined by those on the left who want revenge and punitive legislation, ideology with no foundational thought, and partisanship.

[Icarus]

The inclusion of Steve Schmidt in the OP is fortuitous if plagiarizing.

I don't think we should lose sight of the fact we have Trump supporters because there was a multi-decade long strategy to villianise and dehumanize liberals, make government the enemy, and create a condition of hate that the political class knew wasn't right but assumed was so dangerous if actually put into action no one would be dumb enough to do so. In the process, they failed to realize their perceived inaction was seen as insincerity that meant that electorate was vulnerable to being taken over by an opportunist lacking any concern for the common good such as Trump. Schmidt has acknowledged his activities as a campaign strategist fed this, including being involved in getting Palin on the McCain ticket in 2008.

There is a mirrored problem on the left that is just running behind the right but doing its damnedest to catch up. Publicly advocating for economically unsustainable activities, behaving publicly progressive but privately pragmatic and excitedly attacking the opposition in ways that dehumanize them as well means we are creating left-wing equivalent of Trump supporters. And yeah, the OP is in that vein and it's wrong minded.

Successfully preserving the republic won't come from buying into the civil war. It requires principles and cooperation, pragmatism and dialog. Biden is doing a pretty good job in my opinion in walking a difficult line that needs walked. But it will be undermined by those on the left who want revenge and punitive legislation, ideology with no foundational thought, and partisanship.

I think you're delusional or just caught up in your propensity to equate both sides all the time. There is no comparison here, and the OP doesn't even begin to express the kinds of things that you suggest brought us Trumpism. No one is dehumanizing Trump supporters. Pushing for progressive policies isn't trying to "catch up" to Trumpsim. All the OP does is point out the damage caused by Trumpism and this sentiment resonates with many rational, conscientious Americans. People should be turned off by those who gleefully support a tyrant who tried his damndest to upend our Republic all the while pardoning his criminal friends and trying to kill Americans any way he can, kidnapping children, etc. The atrocities go on and on, and you're here to say its the same thing on the Left because.... you don't like the New Green Deal?

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

I think you just demonstrated his point.

- Doc

[honorentheos]

I think you're delusional or just caught up in your propensity to equate both sides all the time.

Dismiss opposing views with stereotype provided by the inside orthodoxy? Check.

No one is dehumanizing Trump supporters.

Um..

Pushing for progressive policies isn't trying to "catch up" to Trumpsim.

That's a bad read of what was said. The political class pushing the most extreme progressive policies are doing so with similar motives as those who pushed to villianise government and attack liberal policies. Some are diehard true believers but many know it plays well with their base even if it won't actually happen. And most know there are financial issues that would need to be considered and likely moderate the proposal.

It's damaging. It's not bothsiderism as that actually exists. It's pointing out you're walking the nation off a dangerous cliff in the opposite direction.

But hey don't think about what's being said. Just react in a partisan manner because you're in no way acting like a Trump supporter when you do that.

Coming back to principles here, what's the principle you are proposing as the foundation of the OP? What ideal does it represent to you?

[Some Schmo]

Successfully preserving the republic won't come from buying into the civil war.

Nobody's buying into a civil war except Trump's supporters. I'm not looking for a war, but I'm also not going pretend that voting for Trump is forgivable or admirable, and that it doesn't say something obvious about a person's character.

If people crap in my cornflakes, I'm not going to ignore it and start chowing down. I'll leave that for people who think both sides are equal.

[honorentheos]

Successfully preserving the republic won't come from buying into the civil war.

Nobody's buying into a civil war except Trump's supporters. I'm not looking for a war, but I'm also not going pretend that voting for Trump is forgivable or admirable, and that it doesn't say something obvious about a person's character.

If people crap in my cornflakes, I'm not going to ignore it and start chowing down. I'll leave that for people who think both sides are equal.

You aren't buying into a civil war, but voting for Thump is unforgivable. What's actually on the table for you?

Also, noting a problem is occuring that is overtaking the left wing of US politics that is following a similar path the right took to give us Trump isn't bothsiderism. I don't appreciate where the right has gotten us but it isn't going to be better if the Democrats and progressives decide to follow a mirrored path. That is putting the lid on the coffin of liberal western democracy as we've supposedly championed it for the better part of the last century. It's ... Whew. I don't know why it's such a problem to pause a moment and reflect on that.

Honest question: what principle is behind your views as expressed in the post above?