by Greg Seltzer, Hamilton
Let me get this straight. A couple of months before the 2020 election, President Trump declared to his own ego and therefore to the country in general, that the only way he could lose the election was if it was ‘rigged’. Wow!
Fast forward a couple of years and the Ravalli County Republican Central Committee has decided to pass a resolution that Trump won. (What’s this all about? Does it make sense that the victories of Republicans throughout the country are not questioned in this resolution?)
History shows that in the 2000 election Al Gore ultimately lost Florida by 537 votes to President George W. Bush. Those 537 votes cost him the election, yet whether you liked his politics or hated them, he had the character and integrity to concede on December 13, 2000 in order to put the interests of our country’s hallowed institutions ahead of his own interests. Without a ‘call-to-arms’ to cult members. Without any January 6th-style violence. Without a threat to the peaceful transition of power, a cornerstone of our democracy itself.
Donald Trump lost in three states that he needed to win, and lost by much, much larger margins in each. Take Arizona for example… Could it be that his loss there had anything to do with his relentless bashing of John McCain, their dead, war-hero, favorite son, long term senator? Nah, it must have been because the vote was ‘rigged’!
Are character and integrity important at all anymore? Who has it? Certainly not Trump, nor the Ravalli GOP. Maybe that character and integrity lies in the hands of those with a bit more humility, grace, and respect for our amazing country’s time-tested institutions.
There is no shortage of election results that have not gone my way during my 70 years on this planet. I’ll have to ask the Ravalli GOP what kind of whiny, divisive, obnoxious thing I should do about that.
Ed White says
I left the Republican Party when they started to move too far to the right. I have since declared myself Independent. I support candidates that share Moderate views. Any Democrat or Republican that believes the extreme view of their party is the way to has already lost my vote. This country used to believe in working together to solve problems, why not now. It’s OK if neither party gets all they want if the country and government move forward. I commend Greg for seeing the difference in the republican party of today with that we used to support.
Gomez says
The explanation to what has happened is simple;
“Cult groups often have a dynamic leader (in this case, Trump) whose authority is respected and, in many cases, unquestioned. Obedience to the leader is often required, even when it involves deviant or unhealthy activity. (ignoring the CDC’s advice about getting vaccinated).
Usually, a cult leader (Trump) is a person of tremendous charisma who makes followers feel loved and accepted. (“”We love you, you’re very special.” Trump to his supporters after the riot on January 6th).
It’s often suggested that cult leaders use brainwashing tactics to attract and keep followers.(“Don’t listen to the fake news media. Don’t believe your own ears”).
In many instances, cult members deeply identify with and admire their leader.(as witnessed by Trump flags being flown and red hats being worn here in the Bitterroot).
Cult leaders often require degrees of conformity among members. (“You’re either with us or you’re against us”.
The GOP has turned into the cult of Trump.