2018 Expectations

Glenn Koenen

The basket on my arm held bananas, a container of cut-up fresh fruit, broccoli, a little tub of soup and a newspaper. I smiled at the lady pushing a cart in my direction: she glared. If looks could kill, my head would’ve been bouncing in front of the deli counter.

Now sixty weeks since I lost the race for District 95 State Representative, I still routinely encounter nasty people in the grocery store, at the post office and other places about south county. Modern Republican political reality does not allow worthy opponents, no, just enemies. And, battles which never end…

The current National Enquirer cover: PROOF! FBI PLOT TO IMPEACH TRUMP! In smaller type, The rogue agents, Obama & Hillary’s role and what Donald Jr. is doing to stop it [news stand & www.nationalenquirer.com ].

Remember, for all the vile hurled at the ‘liberal main stream media,’ Fox News, right-wingnut radio, websites such as The Gateway Pundit, and, even many church pulpits demonize all perceived enemies of Trump and the true way.

For example, CNN and others in the MSM cover complaints about the Mueller investigation from Republican Congressmen. The Gateway Pundit goes further…

The FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) were once considered institutions full of integrity and
honor before the Obama Presidency. Now they are riddled with corruption and led by a group
of deceiving, criminal and corrupt leaders who are working to overthrow the Trump
administration which threatens to uncover their many corrupt and criminal actions over
the past many years. It is high time to call them out on their acts of treason…

These people must be brought to justice. Concocting a fake investigation to remove the
duly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, is treasonous. Treason is a crime.

A Complete List of DOJ and FBI Corruptors and Criminals Destroying the US from Within

Let’s go back to the Enquirer.

Each issue sells about 364,000 copies. That’s more than the combined circulation of the Nation and The National Review [ https://www.statista.com/statistics/719070/circulation-of-national-enquirer/ and other sources], representing traditional liberal and conservative thought.

Yet, remember that while few buy the National Enquirer, each cover stands before millions of grocery store shoppers waiting to pay for their food. That’s millions seeing cover after cover praising Trump and attacking his ‘enemies.’

Probably unknown to most Trumpettes is the long and close relationship between Donald Trump and the Enquirer’s publisher. [ https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-trump-national-enquirer/ ] In fact, some of the first press touting Trump for President appeared in the Enquirer in early 2015. [ https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/tabloid-newspapers-trump-media-propaganda-214627 ]

Let’s look ahead into 2018. What do I expect?

More – not less – demonizing of Democrats and all who do not yield to the Trump and Republican way. Challenge dangerous cuts to the safety net or the need to make the rich richer and expect to be condemned.

More belief in alternative facts: Trump really won the popular vote, Obama was born in Kenya, Hillary was deeply involved with Russia before the election… you get the idea.

Many more pro-Trump National Enquirer covers.

Less tolerance of each other. As the tax debate has showed, this is an “us versus them” world. Trumpettes proclaim ‘We Are Right,’ as they said in the old Dinosaurs TV show [ http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/Dinosaurs ], which gets shortened.

In other words, I’m expecting more nasty looks in the grocery store next year.

Submitted by Glenn Koenen, WCD Member