What we saw yesterday was the culmination of the small mindedness of the narcissistic sociopath currently holding the office the presidency. The fact that this disgraceful, small-minded president has not and will not accept the results of a free and fair election has led us to this moment.
Yesterday was an embarrassment to our country. It was frightening for our country. And it was dangerous for our country.
Enraged Trump supporters, carrying Trump flags and Confederate flags, broke into the Capitol building, our Congress, the place that is supposed to be the greatest deliberative body in the world. They broke through a building that houses our legislative body, a body that is elected democratically. These people claim that they are patriots, but make no mistake about it these protestors are not patriots. These are domestic enemies. By storming this legislative body, these people are no supporters of democracy or our system of government. They do not trust that our government, elected by We the People, are capable of doing their job.
But they did not do this on their own. President Trump is also responsible.
This president has stoked the emotions of his supporters since day one of his candidacy and ever since becoming president. He has further and further radicalized his base. Almost every time he opens his mouth or sends out a tweet, he lies and conjures up something to rile up his base. Today was the penultimate achievement in the power he holds over his base.
Make no mistake about it, this is the power of a sociopath leading his cult. Think about it. It has all of the signs of a cult.
One, he tells his supporters to trust no one but him. The media, scientists, or any type of expert really, none are to be trusted; they are fake news. Legislators, governors, defense secretaries, election officials, and apparently Pence now, none are to be trusted. But Trump, he should always be trusted.
Second, if you leave the cult or combat the cult, you become a RINO, or a “Republican in Name Only.” Outsiders aren’t welcome.
Third, he makes his supporters seem as if they have some insider information. No one on the outside can truly understand Trump you see. What happens when he says something crazy like injecting bleach into your body to prevent a COVID infection? Well, he’s playing 4-D chess. What happens when he says that he could actually run for a third term? He just trying to rile up the liberals. You see, only the cultists can understand Trump.
Fourth, conjure up some enemy to keep the cultists inside and willing to go to combat for you. The deep state or globalists or China or immigrants, they are all after something you have and they want to crush you. The list can go on, but you get the picture. These things are required for him to sustain power. This is a cult. No ifs, ands, or buts. We have been trying to warn you for years. Yesterday, hopefully, is that day.
Ever since the election was over, Trump claimed that the election was stolen by the Democrats. He has not once given a hint that he would concede. Why hasn’t he conceded? Why, for the sake of all of us, can’t he accept that he lost? Why does he have to sacrifice our institutions and prestige for his ego? Why has he prevented a peaceful transfer of power?
Well, if you know anything about narcissists or sociopaths the answer is simple. He can’t. His ego is simply too large for his small mind. His sociopathy will not let him relinquish power. His narcissism will never let him see something as greater than himself, not even American democracy.
And his cult followed right along, inline, step by step. It didn’t matter that 8 million more people voted for Joe Biden. It didn’t matter that Trump lost nearly all 60 court cases alleging election fraud. It didn’t matter that he never once reached a 50% approval rating during the entirety of his presidency. None of that, to him or his cult, could explain why he lost. To Trump and his cult, the election was signed, sealed, and delivered even before the election took place. To Trump and his base, Trump was always the rightful owner of the presidency. Trump has said as much himself.
Months before the election, Trump claimed that “the only way we’re going to lose this election, is if the election is rigged.” No matter the obvious evidence that this president would never accept the results of this election was written on the wall, Trump and his supporters claim that the election was stolen.
Give me a break. Give our country a break. We are tired of hearing it. We are tired of hearing from this dangerous, pathetic, ill-tempered, and irresponsible president. But yesterday was the last straw.
He has instigated his base so much so that they violently breached the Capitol building. He has shown that democracy really does not matter to him. He has shown that the rule of law does not matter to him. He has shown that his duty to the Constitution never mattered to him. What does matter to Trump is Trump. The truth is, this president was never fit to serve as president. He has stoked conspiracy thinking, has mislead the people, covered up evidence of wrongdoing, pardoned his allies, attempted to leverage a country for political gain, and attempted to subvert the will of the voters.
Yesterday should be the last straw. Trump needs to be removed from office. Congress needs to impeach him again. Except this time, they need to finish the job.
Alex Auman is a Richmond Country native. He currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He writes about politics, ideas and current events.
