At this writing it is now 51 days, 16 hours, 27 minutes and 43 seconds prior to the midterms in which there is a good chance that many legislative seats could be flipped Blue; enough to put Democrats in the majority. If you want to watch the countdown in real time, go to 2026 Midterm Election Countdown. Like most socially conscious, politically aware and activated people I know, I am in that limbo state of having positive expectations and simultaneous trepidation. The current occupant of the Oval Office has made it clear that he intends to throw all kinds of monkey wrenches in our BT (Before Tr*mp) election process which assured us our right to vote would not be impinged. Even if, God willing (if the Divine even has any input in our political system), the Highest Good happens and we are freed from the tyranny of this administration by virtue of our vote, as long as the man is in office, he has vowed to do all he can to block Dem actions in the Senate and Congress.
It is bewildering how, with all he has done to demolish societal and political norms, that there are folks who continue to steadfastly cling to their loyalty to a man who wouldn’t cross the street to save them unless it benefitted him. I am aware that adherence to the cult of Tr*mp is so ingrained for some that to break away would mean, not only admitting that they were wrong with their vote, but also losing family, friends, a sense of belonging, a sense of erroneous superiority and a compass. According to Rich Logis who was a ride or die MAGA supporter, his indoctrination came courtesy of infusions from Right Wing media. He, himself became one of those who fed the beast with his own podcast and platforms by which he spewed hate-filled rhetoric. In an article entitled “It’s not just hopium: People really are leaving MAGA,” recently published in Salon, he comes clean about the inexorable pull of Tr*mp and what he came to realize that rescued him from the whirlpool. He is now holding out a welcoming hand for those who are still drowning in the form of the group called Leaving MAGA.
I perused the website since I am curious about the pivotal moment for those who shared their stories, to take a courageous leap to leave a movement that brought them tribal identity. I have a few people (not in my inner circle) in my life who still justify their allegiance and I would love for them to change their minds.
Whenever I see posts from people (who may be bots), lauding the bully in chief, using racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, homophobic, transphobic, or xenophobic slurs, I ask the question: How does he reflect your personal morals, values and ethics? Usually, I am met with silence or further insults. One person lashed back, school yard bully style with an assumption of how I must smell. I smiled, then smirked and then responded, “Woodstock era, gracefully aging hippie that I am, I generally smell like patchouli or lavender.” I guess that was too much for him, since he had no further retort.
I am watching, in real time, as are all of you, the deterioration from the inside out of a man who holds the most prominent job on the planet. I am not a medical professional, nor, even as a mental health professional, am I am able to diagnose him. I can bear witness to what he says, how he carries himself, how his physical and psychological symptoms mirror those of clients in my practice over the years and Residents in nursing homes in which I worked as a social worker. It seems he is not long for this world. I don’t have the information on his expiration date, but his body and brain seem to be conspiring against him. What remains uncertain is what will happen after he takes his final breath. JD Vance is lacking the charisma (however twisted it is), the gift of gab and the ability to draw rabid followers. He does, however, have the backing of those who penned Project 2025 as well as the red meat for the base rhetoric of his predecessor.
I wrote this a year ago.
“Please know that every time I post something that shines a light on DT’s outrageous words and actions, it is not an invitation to dive into ‘whataboutism’. His behaviors, verbiage and attitudes stand alone. They have nothing to do with any other candidate or any other current or former office holders. How you integrate what he says and does and what he stands for into your values system that influences your vote is up to you. Consider how many former supporters, allies and employees of his have made a searching and conscious choice to vote Democrat for the sake of the country even if they disagree with the platform.”
What I am noticing now, is that people who had been his cheerleaders, have silenced themselves. They are not responding as often. When I am out and about, I don’t see as many red hats (and when I notice them in this area, they are more often cheering on the Phillies, since the hats are red with a white P embroidered on them), t-shirts and lawn signs. I was at an outdoor festival yesterday and saw a man wearing a t-shirt that said PATRIOT on it. I thought to approach him and tell him that I was too and then ask him what patriotism meant to him.
My fervent hope, wish and prayer is that those who have turned away, for whatever reason (likely because the chickens have come home to roost and they are being affected), take it a step further and vote BLUE up and down ballot, support Dem candidates, and speak to their fellow MAGA peeps to encourage them to change their minds as well.
Photo by Donald Teel on Unsplash
