America has always had a love affair with The Celebrity. Sometimes it's a Hero like Charles Lindbergh, and sometimes it's a bit more...well earthy like Marilyn Monroe, the Sex Symbol. No matter what shape it takes, it's all part of our abundant love of Celebrity. It is through the celebrity that we learn how to respond to our changing world.
But now, the United States had developed a crisis of celebrity. A Cult of celebrity has taken over the Republican Party to the point where a large number of it's members would believe what Trump says over the word of their religious leaders or even other family members. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/21/iowa-republican-poll-trump-00112050
How did this happen? It began long before Trump took that iconic descent on the golden escalator and into the hearts of gullible voters. But at the core of the issue is Trump who has proven himself a master of manipulation. The Florida Times-Union muses, "Trump is quotable to a fault and has managed to make himself the story of the week without any apparent negative effects in Republican primary polls." The most corrupt man in American knows how twist words in a way that most politicians can only dream about. And the rubes living in their run-down trailers, the small time hucksters running for local offices around the country, and many others can't get enough of him.
So now what? How to make the True Believer see the light? Well, it won't be easy. There's been a dearth of leadership in the Republican Party for years - that's what Trump took advantage of to begin with. So that's the beginning. Republican stalwarts Chris Christie and former vice-president Mike Pence are beginning to speak the truth. I suspect that over time, the repeated telling the truth will have a positive effect and more people will see the value of unburdening one's soul. I am confident that one day this will just be another page in the history of American. It better damn well not be the last chapter.
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