Tag: Donald Trump

The Real Archetype and the Fake One

From our earliest beginnings to our senior years, stories have a way of capturing our attention, touching our hearts, and lingering in our minds long after the tale has ended.

We simply never outgrow our “tell me a story” yearning.

Embedded within so many stories from history, literature, and mythology is an enduring figure, the hero.

Renowned psychiatrist and founder of analytic psychology Carl Jung placed the hero figure under the umbrella of the archetype of the collective unconscious.

Archetypes surface from the collective unconscious and enter our conscious minds as mythological characters.

Images of the larger than life personas take root within our thoughts, experiences, and memories.

Hero figures that are bona fide archetypes actually have the potential to influence our perceptions. Examples include real life military and sports heroes and fictional comic book superheroes.

Recently, former President Donald Trump was catapulted to hero status, when after being shot during an attempted assassination, he stood tall, pumped his fist in the air, and uttered the unparalleled words “Fight, fight, fight!”

In an instant, he became the archetype.

Everyone could see how compelling a moment it was, including the former president’s political opponents.

Democrats and the complicit media were well aware that something needed to be done to slow the momentum, reverse the narrative, and ultimately prohibit the continuance of his hero archetype status.

Initially, the response of the former president’s opponents was scattered and unfocused. Big Tech attempted to censor the iconic photo of his blood-streaked face, and social media influencers tried to change the narrative of the assassination attempt.

Nothing seemed to be working.

That’s when President Joe Biden was encouraged to hand over the governing reins to Vice President Kamala Harris, which he did quite swiftly and without using the correct protocols or going through the proper channels.

Still, there was another extremely important task that had to be accomplished. The vice president’s highly damaged image had to be remade. And more importantly, she had to have the appearance of having risen to the level of archetype herself, one that could stand toe to toe with the authentic hero status of Donald J. Trump.

Handlers went to work on giving the Biden administration’s social media accounts an extreme make-over. The Biden TikTok account’s name was changed to Kamala HQ, memes began to be posted by GenX influencers, and there was a focus shift to online discourse and pop culture.

Handlers also made sure that the vice president avoided holding any formal press conferences or making appearances in venues at which challenging questions might be asked.

A campaign rally was held, which used Megan Thee Stallion’s performance to draw a significantly larger audience than the vice president had previously been attracting.

Her far-left positions on key issues, such as the banning of fracking, confiscation of guns, outlawing of private health insurance, decriminalization of border crossings, defunding of police, abolishing ICE, and promoting the Green New Deal were scrubbed from the internet, and more palatable positions were substituted in.

Her ranking as the “most liberal” member of the Senate by GovTrack in 2019 was stripped from the web.

The news was adorned with fluff pieces about her collection of cookbooks, family life, etc., and somehow her grating laugh was recast as “joyful” and “charismatic.”

But they still weren’t finished crafting the fake archetype of their preferred presidential pick.

Despite the existence of extensive video footage and news reporting to the contrary, there was a flat-out denial that the vice president had been tasked with the job of securing the border, insisting that she had never been assigned to that position.

All this having been said, the Democrats and their allies in the media have two huge problems: The hero archetype in any story has to be believable, and real hero status has to be earned.

Bottom line is you just can’t fake being a real hero.

Public Demand for J.D. Vance’s Backstory Continues to Rise

We’ve heard a lot about polls lately, and although polls certainly have their place, spontaneous sales of print and streaming content oftentimes speak louder.

In the week following the announcement that J.D. Vance would be former president and current GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s pick as running mate in the upcoming 2024 election, book sales of Vance’s memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” rose a humongous 13,000%.

And that’s not all. During the week following the announcement, 197,000 print copies flew off the shelves, and the book became the #1 seller across all genres.

Additionally, when the e-book and audio book sales are taken into consideration, over 650,000 copies of “Hillbilly Elegy” were purchased during that monumental week, bringing the total sales since its release to more than 3 million copies.

Current demand has been so great at retail outlets that to meet the increased need the publisher, HarperCollins, has ordered a new print run consisting of hundreds of thousands of copies.

Back in 2016 the phenomenal success of “Hillbilly Elegy” catapulted Vance into the celebrity realm long before he entered the political arena. Readers of the book loved it and spread the word of its unique story.

Vance’s real life tale is a compelling one.

A fatherless home, a mother who fell prey to drug addiction, a poverty that defies description, a rescue by family members, an ascent to Marine Corps manhood, an undergraduate college advancement, and a Yale Law school trophy.

Truly the embodiment of the American dream.

The book also provides something else: A window into the Appalachian culture, featuring virtues to be treasured as well as vices to overcome. So reminiscent of sociological traits that are seen in various other multi-cultures across our country.

This all lends to the relatability and, of course, the popularity of Vance’s life story.

His backstory has been routinely cited by a wide variety of political experts (including his present political opponents) in an attempt to more fully understand the Trump campaign victory in 2016.

The candid portrait of Appalachia in particular and of rural poverty in general has helped many to appreciate the appeal of the former president to the forgotten members of the working class.

Interestingly, the critics heaped praise on Vance’s book.

The book’s original title is “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.”

In 2020 Hollywood produced a film adaptation of the book with the shortened title “Hillbilly Elegy.”

The movie was released in select cinemas before its streaming release on Netflix. It was the most-watched film on the site the first day of its release, before finishing third in its debut weekend.

Glenn Close portrays Vance’s “Mamaw” (which in 2021 earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination), Amy Adams plays Vance’s mother, and Gabriel Basso portrays the teen version of J.D.

Despite having the Oscar-winning director Ron Howard and a stellar cast, many in the film critic community slammed the movie. The aggregated critics on the Rotten Tomatoes website gave the film an unduly low 25% rating.

However, much like the book, after the announcement that Vance had been selected to be the GOP vice presidential nominee, the movie almost immediately trended on Netflix, and viewership grew by more than 1,180%.

The interest in Vance’s backstory caused the film version of “Hillbilly Elegy” to debut in the eighth position on the Netflix Global Top 10 Movies chart the week of the announcement of the veep nominee. The movie had a whopping 4.8 million views.

The organic success of the book as well as the movie is reflective of how people from all across the social, economic, and cultural strata can relate to a story that features the triumph of the human spirit.

“Hillbilly Elegy” may just end up translating into votes that echo throughout the mountains and valleys of the American landscape.

No Equivalency between Trump and Biden Trials

President Joe Biden’s son Hunter was recently found guilty on three criminal charges: Making a false statement in the purchase of a gun, making a false statement in information required to be kept by a gun dealer, and possession of a gun by a person who is an unlawful user of a controlled substance.

After only three hours of deliberation, a Delaware jury convicted Hunter on all counts. Each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Additionally, the first son could be sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Almost immediately after the guilty verdict had been announced, Democrats and the complicit media began singing from the identical song sheet. Phrases such as the tediously familiar “no one is above the law” echoed through the cybersphere.

Many supposed pundits made comparisons between Hunter’s trial and the unusual Manhattan proceedings, which claimed to convict current GOP presumptive nominee and former President Donald Trump.

First a little background on the current president’s son’s case.

Hunter ended up being tried on gun crimes. But this came about after a federal judge put the brakes on a plea deal that a previous prosecutor had attempted to push through.

The plea deal had been announced in June of 2023. Hunter had agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses through which he would have essentially escaped with a slap on the wrist.

If the deal had been implemented, he would have received two years probation and a “diversion agreement,” which would have enabled him to avoid prosecution on the felony gun charge.

However, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika seriously questioned the agreement. Hunter’s lawyers tried to salvage it but were unsuccessful. Everything culminated in Hunter’s recent Delaware courtroom trial and his swift conviction.

Now for the main distinctions between the two high-profile trials:

— Trump was never offered any deal to avoid being criminally tried. Hunter was offered a very choice arrangement.

— In Trump’s case, the prosecution conflated a bookkeeping misdemeanor into 34 felony counts. In Hunter’s case, despite having possession of a now-authenticated laptop that was purportedly loaded with material indicating potentially serious crimes, the prosecution pared things down to a charge of lying on a gun application.

— Trump found himself in an extremely hostile venue, featuring conflicts of interest, star witnesses with credibility gaps, and evidence that was short on relevance and long on salaciousness.

On the other hand Hunter’s trial played out in a friendly venue, a place where people routinely viewed him and other family members as celebrities, and he wasn’t muzzled with a gag order.

— Lastly, Trump is running for president. Hunter isn’t.

The first son is set to return to the courthouse in late summer or fall 2024, this time in California. He will be facing charges of three felonies and six misdemeanors concerning $1.4 million in taxes.

The prosecution has alleged that he didn’t pay his federal income taxes from January 2017 to October 2020, and that he filed false tax reports to boot.

The back taxes have since been paid.

Under normal circumstances, a case such as this would pose greater potential legal jeopardy for Hunter than the case in Delaware.

But then again, there’s not much that can be considered “normal circumstances” these days, so it’s anyone’s guess what will ultimately happen.

Here’s one thing you can hang your hat on.

There is no equating the Trump and Biden trials.

Not in procedure.

Not in fairness.

Not in guilt or innocence.

Not in outcome.

And not when it comes to the dispiriting effect on our nation.

Making Twitter Great Again, Elon Musk-style

Elon Musk just welcomed back to the Twitter-verse former President Donald J. Trump.

In the process, the social media site owner and self-described “Chief Twit” showed exactly what he’s made of, principles-wise.

The official reversal of Trump’s lifetime Twitter ban, along with the restoration of his more than 80 million followers, was implemented over the past weekend. The handle @realDonaldTrump was reactivated, and users on Twitter are once again able to tag the former president in posts.

Elon formally brought 45’s account back to life after conducting a poll on the platform that received more than 15 million votes.

“Reinstate former President Trump: Yes or No?” the poll asked.

Fifty-two percent of Twitter users voted to return him to the platform.

“The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated,” Elon tweeted, adding, “Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” a Latin phrase that means “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”

As the present world’s most successful entrepreneur, Elon understands that business accomplishments are the fruits of a free-flow exchange of ideas.

When free expression is stifled, weeds of stagnation are able to take root. They have the capacity to choke off discussion, interaction, creativity and ultimately personal as well as collective achievement.

In addition to Trump, Elon has reanimated the Twitter accounts of others who had previously been evicted, including psychologist, media analyst and author Jordan Peterson, cultural commentators and political lampooners The Babylon Bee and comic-turned-leftist activist Kathy Griffin.

In response to his efforts to make Twitter free again, Elon has been derided in the press, berated on social media and pummeled on his very own site.

But what really threw leftists and their compliant media buddies into a full-blown tizzy was the reinstatement of the former president’s account.

For his part, Trump used his own social media platform (Truth Social) along with a recent video address to express some uncertainty about actually engaging in tweeting on Twitter.

“I hear we’re getting a big vote to also go back on Twitter. I don’t see it because I don’t see any reason for it,” the former president (via video) told the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas.

Trump had been banished from Twitter in January of 2021, ostensibly in response to post-election events that occurred at the U.S. Capitol building.

His tweet history stands as a testament to his social media mastery. The brevity and wit are unmatched by anyone, except perhaps the Chief Twit himself.

Two posts that Trump made just before he was banned illustrate the point.

At his January 6 rally, after he called on people to act “peacefully and patriotically,” he followed up with a plea for peace via his Twitter account.

“Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!” he posted.

This admonition was buttressed with another tweet.

“I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”

Given the wide reach and influence of Twitter, and considering that the 45th president recently launched his campaign to become the nation’s 47th president, fans and even some foes of the former president have a genuine desire to see Trump tweet again.

It took a lot of courage to do what Elon did in returning Trump to the Twitter platform.

It also took a whole lot of integrity, something society desperately needs yet too frequently gets in its civic and corporate leaders.

The man is a genuine free speech devotee who is determined to rebuild the digital town square.

For the sake of our country, pray that he succeeds.

How Jimmy Kimmel Became a Democrat Hack

A lot of folks have been wondering what’s up with Jimmy Kimmel. The late-night comic has become more and more vicious in his politics and extreme in his one-sided humor.

As a result, the ratings for his TV show have really taken a hit.

Here’s a theory about how Jimmy’s comedy got wrecked and how his once-popular program fell into a rating’s ditch.

James Christian Kimmel was raised a Catholic. In his youth, he was fervent enough in his faith to step forward and serve at Mass as an altar boy.

Now, both in his politics and joke delivery, he appears to back every left-wing narrative that the dominant media and reigning powers-that-be are pitching, including a load of Dem-devised policies antithetical to his own faith heritage.

As host and executive producer of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” he has consistently been serving as sort of a polar opposite altar boy for the Democratic Party.

He recently admitted that using so much of his show to aim insults at former President Donald Trump had resulted in his audience being cut in half over the last several years.

He also revealed that ABC is less than pleased with the loss in ratings.

In an interview with the Naked Lunch podcast, he spoke about the shrinking number of viewers, telling hosts Phil Rosenthal and David Wild, “I [Kimmel] have lost half of my fan[base], maybe more than that.”

“Ten years ago, among Republicans, I was the most popular talk show host, at least according to the research that they did,” he said.

He also shared that the network had discussed the idea of easing up on the constant barrage of Trump barbs. But according to Jimmy, he responded to the ABC heads by offering to leave the show rather than moderate his attacks.

“If you want somebody else to host the show, that’s fine, that’s okay with me. I’m just not going to do it like that,” he apparently said. He also claimed that the network reluctantly conceded.

The truth is he has been a Republican basher for as long as he has been a late-night host. Most recently, he was featured in a nasty partisan campaign ad, where he attacked the Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate in the state of Nevada, Adam Laxalt.

A glance at Jimmy’s past provides insight into the possible rationale for his unwavering allegiance to radical left-wing political and cultural ideology.

Prior to becoming the woke host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” he was the unwoke co-host of Comedy Central’s “The Man Show.”

When “The Man Show” first debuted in 1999, he accurately referred to the program as “a joyous celebration of chauvinism.”

The show began with a MeToo-violating theme song that included accompanying footage of a male using a leaf blower to remove a woman’s dress.

The program also had a regular segment in which The Man on the Street, namely Jimmy, recruited female volunteers to participate in a supposed game called “Guess What’s in My Pants.”

“I’ve stuffed something in my pants,” Kimmel said, explaining that “you’re allowed to feel around on the outside…You’ll have 10 seconds to then guess what is in my pants.”

Other skits on the show degraded women through use of vulgar props, partial nudity, and highly suggestive language.

In a sketch that degraded African-American individuals, prior to taking to the stage Jimmy applied a dark shade of makeup to his face for a supposed comedy effect.

By committing the above cultural violations over the years, he has broken a whole host of woke rulebook provisions, many of which were memorialized on video.

Maybe he has been trying to do penance as it relates to his newfound woke religion. Or maybe his kowtowing to the left has been the means in which he has avoided the cancellation of his prized television show and reputation.

In any event, although things seemed to have worked for him up until now, the past has a funny way of catching up with a person.

Or in Jimmy’s case, maybe a not-so-funny way.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Gives the Media a Bible Lesson

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been a target of the establishment press and the social media ever since she was elected to office.

In a recent critique of proposed COVID-19 vaccine passports, the House member from Georgia blasted the current resident of the White House, took a viral ride on the internet, and triggered a media firestorm all in one stroke.

“They are actually talking about people’s ability to buy and sell linked to the vaccine passport. They might as well call it Biden’s Mark of the Beast,” Rep. Greene tweeted.

A Facebook video further elaborated on her position regarding the issue.

“They want you to be required to have something called a COVID passport,” Rep. Greene explained. “This would mandate your ability to be able to travel, your ability to be able to go to events, your ability to be able to buy and sell…”

It is obvious to all but the naïve that the requirement of such a document, which would demand proof of vaccination prior to attending large gatherings or traveling domestically and/or abroad, would severely hamper Americans ability to move freely within the country and without.

The freshman congresswoman completed her presentation in appropriate dramatic fashion by invoking the subject of totalitarianism.

A vaccine “passport” is “still fascism or communism whatever you want to call it. But it’s coming from private companies. So I have a term for that: I call it corporate communism,” she said.

Almost immediately the compliant media sprang into attack mode.

–The Guardian characterized Rep. Greene as a “Klan mom.”

–An online community of supposed Christians launched a petition that condemned Rep. Greene’s comments.

–And in another sorry attempt at humor, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel wound up disrespecting Rep. Greene while belittling her religious beliefs in the process.

“What a dumb person. The mark of the beast?” Kimmel pretended to query. “Everyone knows the mark of the beast is Zuckerberg.”

Rep. Greene responded without missing a beat by offering a bill to ban COVID-19 vaccine passports. She also brought forth a bill to have Dr. Anthony Fauci receive a 100% pay cut (#FireFauci Act) and additionally shared a video of a meeting that she had at Mar-a-Lago with President Donald Trump.

It is appalling to have to witness the parade of religious bigots in the news and entertainment media, who with apparent impunity think that they can display contempt for the beliefs of hundreds of millions of Christians.

Bible believers across the globe patiently await and prayerfully watch for a future that will someday unfold, one that is foretold in sacred scripture.

Passages of the Holy Book, which Christians revere as the sacred word of God, speak of a time when the Earth is ruled by a highly charismatic, yet deeply malevolent figure.

The “mark” to which Rep. Greene refers is an imprint taken upon one’s body, which is a demonstration of allegiance on the part of followers to the singular evil ruler.

Revelation, the final book of the Bible, sets forth key language on the subject.

“… all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, … receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads …”

The words of the scripture passage also make clear that no one will be able to “buy or sell” unless they have had the mark.

The evil leader about which scripture speaks is called the “son of perdition.” A specific number has been assigned to him, one that is familiar to many Bible believers and non-believers alike: 666.

This number, and the demonic figure with which it is associated, has permeated our culture across time, appearing in numerous movies, television shows, books, and songs.

Films such as “End of Days,” “Final Destination,” and “The Omen” have dealt with biblical prophecies that are embraced by followers of Jesus Christ. The remake of “The Omen” was released on 6/6/06 to capitalize on the connection to scripture.

The number has actually influenced the real life decisions of some of our nation’s most highly respected people.

In 1989, after his second term had been completed, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan moved to a new home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles. The residence had the unfortunate address of 666 St. Cloud Road, so the couple happily made the decision to have the address changed to 668 instead.

U.S. Route 666 became a highway in 1926. It acquired its number reference by being the 6th spur connected to the iconic Route 66.

The bureaucrats who named the road were apparently unaware of the number’s biblical significance as well as the negative implications it could attach to the road.

The road made for a particularly treacherous drive nonetheless, and it ended up acquiring two underworld nicknames: “The Devil’s Highway” and “Highway to Hell.” So in 2003, via legislation, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson renamed the road, changing it to U.S. Route 491.

In 2015 Texas Representative Joe Barton had the number of a bill that he had introduced changed from 666 to 702. According to an email sent by Barton spokesperson Sean Brown, “It quickly became clear that the original bill number carried many different negative connotations.”

In 2017 Finnair flight AY666, which flew from Copenhagen to Helsinki airport, the code of which is HEL, was renamed to flight AY954.

Much like the financial markets make predictions using indicators, the Bible reveals to Christians that they are to watch for End Times indicators of coming events that are foretold in scripture.

One of these indicators is a decline in moral sensibilities.

Millions of Christians and others are painfully aware that this is an ominous trend in our current world. Rep. Greene, along with many of her Christian sisters and brothers, are also extremely uncomfortable with the potential use of intrusive digitally-based identifiers.

For folks like us, the book of Revelation looms large as current events seem to be leaping off the pages of The Word.

The End Times scenario of a one world government, a one world religion, and a totalitarian system of rule seem more and more plausible with each passing day.

Thankfully, though, the second coming looms larger than all of it.

Symbols Define the 2020 Election

Each human being has an innate need to communicate with others. He or she also has a deep yearning to understand what another is attempting to convey, and to be validated on a personal level that he or she has been understood.

Communication, of course, frequently involves language. But the communication companion to language is the symbol, which may take the form of a language-based sign, pictorial sign, hand or facial gesture, clothing, shoes, an accessory such as a hat, jewelry such as a necklace, earring, or bracelet, etc.

In analytical psychology, pioneer Sigmund Freud actually used symbolic images to explain the meaning of dreams, while his colleague, Carl Jung, theorized that certain universal symbols called “archetypes” derive from the collective unconscious and alter conscious behavior.

Archetype symbols are a means of sending shorthand messages to the subconscious and conscious minds of human beings.

A fairly new multidisciplinary field called “semiotics” conducts research and analyzes the manner in which meaning is produced from signs and symbols.

How does all of this relate to the 2020 presidential election?

Well, in politics, meaning is generally communicated through words. However, symbols have become increasingly significant over time, especially with the advent of multiple social media platforms and limitless visual imagery via video.

Persuasion is at the heart of any political campaign, and communication through symbols is one of the most powerful methods of persuasion a candidate can access.

As it pertains to politics, the meaning of a message has a way of effortlessly emerging when presented through recognizable symbolic representations.

Needless to say, symbolic communication played a major part in the 2020 presidential campaign for both major parties, and particularly for the presidential candidates themselves.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden consistently appeared in public wearing – the mask.

The mask became a dual symbol, one of personal responsibility in avoiding the contracting of COVID-19, and one of a supposed caring attitude with regard to the spreading of the virus to others

One main Biden campaign theme was the supposed mishandling of the pandemic, which he attempted to use to try and reframe the president’s successful actions against the virus.

When the former vice president made live campaign appearances or appeared in photographs and/or on videotape, he made sure that he had donned a mask, or at least had one hanging from his ear. This was meant to convey his seriousness with regard to COVID-19, which he no doubt hoped would translate into folks thinking he could do a better job of managing it.

Interestingly, for many Americans the mask had the opposite effect and was perceived as a symbol of government control and loss of freedom.

President Donald Trump had a symbol that across the years rose to legendary heights – the red MAGA hat. It was hardly the only symbol that the president brought to the campaign stop stage. His speeches and events included an array of time-honored national symbols, which for many evoked a deep heartfelt love of country.

Sadly, for others the symbols generated anger to the point that some formed mobs, which took to the streets to burn flags, deface federal and state buildings, and tear down statues. Their intense hatred for the meaning behind the symbols, and for the American people at large, was laid bare.

Symbols are a precious part of the heritage of America, and they have meanings that bind us together in mind, heart, and soul. These symbols are ones that are instantly recognizable.

Here are some examples:

–The Liberty Bell, a bold symbol of independence.

–The Statue of Liberty, with a broken chain draped at her feet, representing an ever-emerging liberty; a torch in one hand, symbolizing enlightenment; a tablet in the other hand, with the date of the Declaration of Independence inscribed upon it, symbolizing the rule of law.

–The Bald Eagle, America’s national bird, representing the soaring spirit of her people, who are able to accomplish anything their hearts desire.

–The Bison, America’s national mammal, representing a proud and confident presence.

–The Oak, America’s national tree, representing a solidness and strength.

–The Rose, America’s official flower, representing a prayer enveloped with the fragrance of idealism.

–The motto “In God We Trust,” representing an all-encompassing faith in something more enduring than our mortal selves.

–The Flag, America’s official emblem, representing the qualities of justice, courage, and self-sacrifice, a tribute to those past and present, who give all, so all can live free.

May God bless America, now and forever.