Trump Defensive Syndrome

The only President we have has inspired a slavish loyalty among his followers, despite toupee and hair color changes...

And this kind of silliness online...

Followed by this one...

And even poor Dolly was dragged into this...

I left out depicting himself as Jesus because I'm writing this on Sunday and that felt blasphemous.

Add in the expensive monuments to himself that would embarrass Albert Speer...

...and a mismanaged and unnecessary war that has spiked inflation to new levels, tax cuts that starve the treasury and voila!, $40 Trillion in debt. A full quarter of our national debt occurred in his two terms.

Despite the frequent fits of narcolepsy and schoolyard insults, policy moves that hurt his constituents, like cattle ranchers, those same insults and dopey economic strategies like tariffs, which he doesn't understand, and coddling enemies while alienating allies, he still has a devoted following that, while in the minority, either excuse or simply don't understand what is going on.

And among this crowd, politics is everything and memes as silly as Trump's are their answer to any criticism. Whatever the move, like insulting and demeaning our closest neighbor and ally over the years, it is completely defensible.

That blind loyalty has divided communities and families, and now, finally my own.

I wrote a piece last week about the looney act of renaming Lake Ontario, and the lack of understanding Trump has of the basics of international trade.

Grab ’Em By the Beaver | Texas Outlaw Writers

“When you’re a star they let you do it.”

Texas Outlaw WritersRoger T. Gray

I have no problem with, and have often, responded to disagreement with my work and as an old reporter who did talk shows for a time, I enjoy the give and take. When it's on issues and facts, that is.

But too often what passes for disagreement is carried on with silly memes or the ultimate MAGA insult, you have "Trump Derangement Syndrome," a goofy made-up disorder that I actually find describes his defenders more than his detractors.

Anyway, a relative of mine, distant but a guy I have been close to all my life, responded with this tiresome meme that might have amused some people the first 100 times they saw it...

I know, a real knee slapper that unfortunately has nothing to do with the issue. But in today's social media world, this passes for an argument. It also seems to be the biggest issue on American's minds according to GOP campaign ads.

I simply responded, again to a relative I've known all my life, "Really? That's what you've got?"

Well, this cousin decided it was time to get personal, since his messiah had been impugned...

"You didn't think that was funny? I thought it was hilarious. Sorry. Why don't y'all go rename a school or a military base or tear down some statues. That will make you feel better."

My first instinct was to respond with a sarcastic retort...

"Sure let's build a Confederate statue, oh, up in Boston next to the one of Benedict Arnold. Oh, wait, there isn't one because of the whole traitor thing."

But, I didn't as that plays into the whole insult-fest that social media has become. And frankly, it was beneath me to even consider talking to him that way.

I did tell my cousin offline, that debates are fine and even welcome if you think the facts are on your side, but when your politics takes precedence over simple human decency toward your own family, that is, or should be, over the line.

I won't go into our conversation but suffice to say, he saw nothing wrong with getting insultingly personal with a close member of the family. Welcome to the average Thanksgiving dinner in America today.

Now, I don't know if I'm being far too sensitive about this, and I well could be. And I am probably showing my boomer side by being overly touchy about what is just the normal insulting anonymity of the internet these days.

But it is indicative of the coarseness of our politics currently and while I think he has made it infinitely worse, I don't blame Trump for all of it. As mentioned, normally, you don't know that dunderhead who is responding to you in the comments section on a Facebook post, but I suppose even if you do, they are fair game.

One fellow I corrected on an issue called me a redneck peckerwood from Texas, and somehow found a photo of my sister online and posted it having her say I was a KKK sympathizer.

That's where we are today. Nothing is out of bounds, even dragging innocent bystanders into your screed.

And I welcome comments on this, because I may well be overreacting here. But it seems that defending the often indefensible means the Marquis of Queensbury rules don't apply anymore and hitting below the belt is now the norm.

And that is great news for my cousin.