I was surprised how trump's

[flying rabbit]

rhetoric infected this country. I am curious if President Biden's rhetoric will cure it. I like his game.

[StarfishSaver]

1. Interesting take

We can hope ...

[tiredtoo]

2. The infection has been here for years

The other guy's rhetoric just brought it out for all to see. We won't see a vaccine for this, at least not in my lifetime. It may go into remission but it will fester on.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Maybe that is a good thing, if it drains the infection.

But a painful process first.

[Irish_Dem]

3. A healthy relationship can repair past relationship trauma to some extent.

So it is possible there will be some healing.

But the entire county needs to be in counseling for PTSD.
There is a lot of damage.

[flying rabbit]

5. Don't know if it will work

but I think he's playing his strongest hand.

[Irish_Dem]

16. I think many Americans are more relaxed and hopeful now.

So that is a change for the better already.

[unblock]

6. Donnie was merely a blatant symptom. The infection is from foxnews, etc.

Donnie was merely the logical next step in an escalation that's been going on since the 80s.

[C_U_L8R]

7. Magats have been festering for years

A fool like Trump comes along and gives them permission to display their vileness in the open. Some good sunshine will send them back into their miserable spider holes.

[Solly Mack]

8. You were surprised that appeals to prejudice work so well?

It's the easiest way to sway opinions.

Appeals to the fears and prejudices (one often feeds the other) of people are sure fire ways to manipulate people. Get them frothing at the mouth and believing absurdities.

Not all people, but too many.

Can Biden offer a course correction? I'll say course correction instead of cure.

I think he's trying to course correct. So, we'll see.

[Justice matters.]

9. Course correction: Affordable Mental Institutions... nt

[Solly Mack]

10. That would help across the board for Americans.

[Justice matters.]

11. Agreed.

Link to tweet

Novelette Dryden
@DrydenNovelette
·
24 min
A mental institution is missing one of their own. #LinWood

[joetheman]

12. More than being "surprised" I was saddened that trump's rhetoric infected this country.

The message sent by it was loud and clear: we are surrounded by over 75 million fellow citizens who think and feel like Trump and his band of evil, corrupt, anti-American, anti-democracy, bigots and racists of all kinds. I always knew there was racism but it was just so hearbreaking that there are so many and that many of them came here themselves as immigrants just one or two generations ago.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

15. Trump plays the perpetual victim. Those who follow him see themselves the same way.

This feeling of victimhood -- believing others are getting something that is rightfully yours -- was given voice by T*****, who is the ultimate victim. "Stop the steal" is the latest manifestation of his seeing himself as a victim. His limited vocabulary and simple syntax where he repeats the same phrase over and over ("Nobody knows more about ... than I do" ) make his toxic messages available to the masses. I wasn't surprised that he lost the election; what amazed me was the number of people who wanted him to be president again, despite his narcissism, dishonesty, lying and childishness, such as calling people names.

[dchill]

13. Trump just ripped off the scabs. So to speak.

[Dan]

14. Surprised, but not because of Trump

But because Obama was elected and was president for two terms. That drove a number over the edge. His administration had no scandals or any sign of corruption, yet he was vilified during and post term.

Trump gave them license to express what was always hidden in polite company. Trump attacked civility as political correctness and identified it as a loss of freedom.

When the GOP adopted the southern democrats into their party during the LBJ years, I remember people within the community saying that the GOP didn't understand, that Racism was contagious. It is, once you accept that type of conversation/actions as part of your community it doesn't take long before the stain of it infects the body.

Can Biden clean the stain, heal the nation - he can start the process. Because some people will start to feel shame as more and more is revealed about the Trump years. But some people will dig in - seek every little thing to justify what they want to believe is true. The unfortunate thing is that so many young people will now be infected by this stain. Not prejudice which is somewhat normal, but racism which is degrees worse.

The healing will take time and can only begin with an acceptance of reality.