I'm a firm believer in Occam's Razor:
What explains more of #MAGA’s hate of #Zelenskyy than Russian connections is their grievance of him.
MAGA is a cult of #manhood, but its led by these crooks who amassed their wealth or power in dishonest ways. And on some level they have to recognise what they are; thieves, bullies and liars.
”Every time a JD Vance sees a Zelenskyy he sees a better man.”
And they rage about it. They are petty, weak men using power to erase proof that better men exist.
And just to be clear:
I’m not downplaying any Russian influence on Trump or MAGA here.
On the contrary:
Russia is able to have such command of Trump & MAGA precisely because of this grievance.
Putinism is grievance. Putinism is being outraged at the world for ”stealing Russia’s greatness”. Putinism is trying to shoot Ukraine for wanting a better life elsewhere than under Russia’s boot.
It’s the same thing, and Trump is aboard because he wants the same thing: Nobody greater than him.
He helped get us here. He blathered and arranged support for the crazy RW threat we face, in the George W. Bush fake war for for oil debacle, but this is cogent. A clear insight.
@nitpicking Did I say that? I didn't try to, but I'm not a native speaker!
Of course there is Russian influence, has been and Kremlin continues to play their cards brilliantly, but Trump does not work for them. He just thinks he can get rich by doing business with them and not giving a shit that they are planning to take over the whole of eastern europe.
MAGA also doesn't want to care. They are weak & angry men who want to appear tough, and the only way they know to do that is through bullying
@gimulnautti @nitpicking The specific phrasing (or “Why not both?”) is a rhetorical question meaning the person ‘asking’ is suggesting it *is* both.
I think it’s also likely some Republican politicians have put a lot of effort into making themselves philosophical zombies. No introspection. No understanding that they’re bullies. This isn’t to say they’re less-than-human, just that they’re immune to philosophical arguments because they have a very minimal inner life.
@gimulnautti @nitpicking I think “Occam’s razor” suggests an “either/or” choice, so that may have been the confusion.
But I think you’re right and the Russian influencers involved just play directly to the same effect you’ve suggested.
“Don’t worry Donald, we know you’re a good person, here’s why Zelenskyy isn’t, now keep saying these things or the terrible shit you’ve done is going to be shouted everywhere” must generate the weirdest cocktail of anger and shame.
So much of this seems to be about that certain type of macho shove your way around bullshit that we all need to work harder to eliminate. The world has had enough of it and it's time to end it for good.
@darwinwoodka It really is the same old shit. Probably this cycle has been going on for 20000 years or more:
1. Smart egalitarians build a system that works, producing great profit for everyone, because it includes everyone
2. Dim-witted dominators think they have it figured out and conquer everything by force, replacing what they think is weak with what they think is strong
3. Egalitarians leave for greener pastures, everything rots, system crashes, city is left in ruins
"Soy un firme creyente en la navaja de Occam:
Lo que explica más el odio de #MAGA hacia #Zelenskyy que las conexiones rusas es su resentimiento hacia él.
MAGA es un culto a la #hombría, pero está dirigido por estos delincuentes que amasaron su riqueza o poder de manera deshonesta. Y en algún nivel tienen que reconocer lo que son: ladrones, matones y mentirosos.
"Cada vez que un JD Vance ve a un Zelenskyy ve a un hombre mejor".
Y se enfurecen por ello. Son hombres mezquinos y débiles que usan el poder para borrar la prueba de que existen hombres mejores."
@gimulnautti
I'd agree and add they are a group of little mother's sons. And mother was strict to her little boyz.
Finally, it's payback day for all other women ( except mum 😰 ).
https://www.smh.com.au/world/five-dictators-with-mummy-issues-20120522-1z2mr.html
THE Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud, who was very close with his mother, once remarked that "people who know that they are preferred or favoured by their mother give evidence in their lives of a peculiar self-reliance and an unshakeable optimism which often seem like heroic attributes and bring actual success to their possessors".
@gimulnautti this is quite weak commentary however.
What was astounding was that what usually happens behind closed doors was performed in front of the media. 2 people, whose respective TV fames enabled their ascent to their current native premierships, performed their diplomatic exchange for TV: Life imitating Art (of the deal).
Zelensky's life has been likely tied to Ukraine's success at least since his killing of Dugin's daughter. What is shameful is that those who backed up Zelensky, those who told him not to negotiate with Putin, were not there to be humiliated by the likes of Vance. Boris Johnson should have been beside Zelensky in this disintegration of realities 4th wall - but where is he now? Spaffing taxpayer money up a gaudily wallpapered wall smelling his own Churchillian farts.
@onekind I have. And I did try to place my words carefully. That’s why the ’more than Russian connections’.
Russian connections of course contribute, Putin has been masterfully stirring the pot from abroad.
But there is a strong component of male grievance there, Russia is just taking advantage of the situation.
And why not? Grievance for ”Russia’s stolen greatness” is central to Putinism. It’s practically the same thing: Beat your wife, your children & nations to submission.
@onekind Indeed. Perhaps I picked the wrong framing device.
But I do stand by my conviction that although Russia is doing plenty to stir it from abroad, the soup is very much their own making.
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