General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn Cold Blood
The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted.
― D.H. Lawrence, Studies in Classic American Literature
"He laid back on the soft feather bed. His eyes were closed as he reached to unbutton his trousers, listening to the sound of his young new lover ...." Okay, okay, that's not a line from Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover," it's just a way of mentioning Rudy Giuliani and Matt Gaetz in the manner the nation will long remember them by. Rudy in his role as himself in Borat 2, and Matt as witnesses testify against him in an upcoming thriller soon to be released on live television.
It's almost tragic in a comical sense -- or perhaps comical in a tragic sense -- that these two lads were too busy being hard, stoic lady-killers commiting crimes, rather than reading some of the novels of the past. Both were attracted to the gravitational force of Donald Trump, just as those with anti-social personality disorders become moths to the flame of a sociopath.
"But my client can only be charged with being a dreamer, no not the type that inhabit our wonderful and just nation illegally," a lawyer shall say forcefully in both opening- and closing statements of partial truth. For Rudy and Matt are Perry, the Dreamer from the classic "In Cold Blood." And Perry had dreamed of a big yellow bird since childhood, a bird that protected him when he was faced with danger. More, the big yellow bird renders a savage revenge upon all those even seeking to harm Perry.
Historians might argue that Perry was color-blind, and that the actual big bird of his dreams was actually orange. But no matter. Perry was the very definition of an anti-social personality disordered man. Brutal in nature, but yet living by his own criminal code of conduct, until he meets and teams up with Dick, a sociopath. Dick plays a father-figure to Perry, for follows him with a cult-like devotion. To Dick, Perry represents a physically strong, mentally weak man he kind of likes, and finds useful.
But when the shit hits the fan -- like it is for Rudy and Matt today, at this very hour -- and Dick and Perry are arrested for vicious murders at the Clutter farm, only one of the two remains loyal to the other. In one of the most pathetic parts of the book/movie, he actually believes his friend shares that same sense of loyalty. But the friend doesn't. Can you guess who is who?
Although it was Perry who murdered the four family members in brutal fashion, his criminal code of conduct had had him prevent Dick from raping the teenaged daughter before Perry killed her. In that sense, he may be distinct from a Rudy or a Matt. But they are going to end up coming to a similar recognition: there ain't no yellow bird going to come from the sky to save you. Instead, Perry recognizes that he has lived the hopeless dream of his abusive father.
Had Rudy and/or Matt taken the time, they might have understood the concept of metaphor. But nay! They were too busy committing crimes. When it was published, the Capote book's title was recognized as a metaphor for the lack of emotion that sociopaths have when torturing, even killing, their victims. Today, their cold-blooded behaviors are understood in a manner that should prevent anyone from expecting Donald Trump to be loyal to any person but himself.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,588 posts)It's perfect.
I thank you!
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)I kept cracking up while writing this ..... thinking of quotes from Jim Morrison, but not wanting to risk offending anyone. Luckily I still have the capacity to self-edit my thoughts!!!
It is a beautiful time here in the northeast. Perfect weather for gardening days, and howling at the moon nights.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)decades later he became a killer. That scene, with the rain looking like tears, is classic.
Doubt Ghule or Gaetz really care about their crimes or support of trump.
Blake was definitely a talented actor. And Perry was his greatest role, in my opinion. It's curious that he later became a killer without conscience.
Both Rudy and Matt have contacted the Trump disorganization, seeking support in various forms from the orange bird of their dreams. But Donald wants nothing to do with them. Such a shock!
And you are right, of course: they only care that they might be getting caught, and face consequences.
marie999
(3,334 posts)malaise
(268,930 posts)H2O Man
(73,536 posts)I had to tone it down a bit, both while writing it and before posting the final version. I did have fun writing it, though!
Saoirse9
(3,676 posts)Last edited Sat May 22, 2021, 08:54 AM - Edit history (1)
Will think back on their years with the giant orange shitbird and say that they love him but they hate him. Like Perry in the video.
Never mind that shitbird would throw them under the bus without hesitation. He would pull the lever to hang them himself just for pure enjoyment.
So of the three - Gaetz Giuliani & shitbird who is the sociopath and who is antisocial? I am guessing the shitbird is a sociopath but I am not sure about the other two.
Giuliani probably knows and has always known that 45 will turn on him at the least provocation. I hope he has evidence that will be useful to the feds.
Really great essay as always H.
Never watched the whole movie but the book scared the hell out of me. I read it in a rented 5 bedroom mansion in NJ - alone. Didnt sleep for days. Capote captured the crime and criminals perfectly.
Now, Rudy was never friends with Trump until recent years. He knew Donald was a petty crook, looking to become equal to what we know as "a mob boss." There are no records of the two being chums before. But Rudy was brought in by the pathological presidential candidate. I believe that resulted from the two having common friends in the NYC nest of retired FBI agents.
Gaetz mistook Trump's popularity with republicans as providing a potential path for him -- Matt -- becoming president in 2024, after Donald served two terms. Even Gaetz knew that Mike Pence had almost zero chance of following Trump, unless the fat man was impeached and convicted.
Hence, both mistakenly believed that by hitching their wagons to Trump, they would benefit, financially, politically, or both. Gracious! They sure were wrong about that!
I am hoping that tonight, one of the lawyers for Gaetz buddy will release some more documents. They shouldn't wait for the next weekend, in my opinion.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)H2O Man
(73,536 posts)kooth
(218 posts)Awesome analogy! Now I love "In Cold Blood" for another reason! Thanks for that!
It is such a great book!
If you like that type, there is a similar one -- though it only sold in upstate NY -- about a sociopath who murders a family of four on Christmas Eve in Dryden, near Ithace. It's "Good Cop/ Bad Cop," by Rebecca Cofer. The book does focus on the sociopath and his anti-social mother, but more on the brutal murder of a father, mother, son and daughter. And even more on the team that solved the crime, headed by my late uncle, a senior investigator with the BCI. Good book, though I might not be objective.
Paladin
(28,252 posts)A genuine masterpiece.
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)"true crime" book ever. Capote was a brilliant author.
Unknown Beatle
(2,672 posts)Excellent article. Superb writing. You should write a book. Maybe you already did but I'm not aware of it.
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)I'm working on my third ..... an autobiography for my children. They have requested it, though it won't be "published" except for them. And I appreciate your kind words!
An off-the-wall comment -- hopefully I read "Beatle" correctly -- a couple stopped by earlier this week. I didn't know them. But they saw the stone work my younger son did for Yoko, and want to hire him. Since he works at a school as a crisis counselor, he'll have the summer off. So I told the couple that I'd mention it to him the next6 time I see him.
Unknown Beatle
(2,672 posts)That's impressive. I wish I could see the stonework your son did.
BTW, although I love all kinds of music, from Bach to Rock, you probably accurately surmised, my favorite band is The Beatles. The Beatles were really ahead of their time in terms of music and lyrics.
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)I tend to listen to them daily. Especially while working in the garden.
Yeah, he did a lot of stone work for Yoko. His uncle and cousin have worked for her for years. Sean is a great guy, very popular with even the rednecks. (Yoko is nice. She gave my sister-in-law a farm house on the Dream Street properties.)
pamela
(3,469 posts)And the boot that Perry Smith was wearing that left the infamous print.
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)but probably should again. I used to use the movie for trainings on sociopaths at the mental health clinic, and to show the dynamic with anti-social fellows.
There's a scene where Dick & Perry are hitch-hiking, planning to kill the first person to pick them up. But it's a large man, that Dick recognizes as top heavyweight boxing contender Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams. They passed up on his offer of a ride!
Brutal as he was, I found Perry a more sympathetic character than Dick.
Nevilledog
(51,080 posts)H2O Man
(73,536 posts)Skittles
(153,150 posts)is neither one would have killed on their own, but like Capote said, together they created a third personality who did kill
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)Their synergy was what resulted in the brutal murders. Both were damaged people, who were at most petty criminals alone. But together, they became horrible.