I am always surprised that "these colors never run" conservatives are more fearful than liberals and more willing to give up our basic rights in the name of safety. Of course, the nanny state is a liberal invention, valuing absolute safety and comfort above all else; even microaggressions are intolerarable. On both sides, we have become a nation of cowards.
22
Orlando was a hate crime. All that is emerging about Omar Mateen persuasively supports such a thesis. He had been an angry hater for much of his life. During the execution of his atrocity, he seemed as concerned with how it was going down on Facebook as with the actual carnage he was meting out.
ISIS provided a convenient vehicle as outlet for a hatred that we now know was already well-ingrained. Absent ISIS, some other sociopathic vessel would doubtless have "justified" Mateen's inchoate rage.
Mr. Tomasky writes, "a terrorist attack did not help the Republican candidate in the race for president. Indeed, it seems to have weakened him." More to the point, with his self-indulgent irrationality that candidate weakened himself in the broader crucible of general election politics.
The voter appeal of bluster, braggadocio, race-baiting, xenophobia and misogyny (have I missed any?) has a distinct ceiling. Donald Trump hit his the moment he left the funny farm of Republican primary electioneering for the real world of a more universal political stage.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
ISIS provided a convenient vehicle as outlet for a hatred that we now know was already well-ingrained. Absent ISIS, some other sociopathic vessel would doubtless have "justified" Mateen's inchoate rage.
Mr. Tomasky writes, "a terrorist attack did not help the Republican candidate in the race for president. Indeed, it seems to have weakened him." More to the point, with his self-indulgent irrationality that candidate weakened himself in the broader crucible of general election politics.
The voter appeal of bluster, braggadocio, race-baiting, xenophobia and misogyny (have I missed any?) has a distinct ceiling. Donald Trump hit his the moment he left the funny farm of Republican primary electioneering for the real world of a more universal political stage.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
63
Speaking of political fear-mongering, I remember the Bush administration's color-coded "terror alerts" before the 2004 election. These so-called alerts mysteriously disappeared once the election was over.
65
Sadly, it still works. Wait and see how many millions vote for Trump, and in South Carolina, where all but one of our Congressmen and Senators are far right Republicans, including such luminaries as Joe "You Lie" Wilson and Trey "Benghazi" Gowdy and still use fear as their major campaign issue.
41
so - is anything going to change?
will we just tell the truth and leave emotional embellishment for fiction writers?
will we just tell the truth and leave emotional embellishment for fiction writers?
3
For all their tough talk, Republicans are actually soft on terrorism. They refuse to debate in Congress the issue of fighting ISIS in Syria because they are afraid to make a decision. They won’t ban gun sales to people on the terrorist watch list or no-fly list. They won’t make background checks more thorough presumably to avoid preventing a terrorist from buying a gun. They won’t even discuss stopping the sale of military assault weapons with large magazines, the weapon of choice of terrorists.
They need the terrorist vote.
They need the terrorist vote.
68
I don't think the change is just since this event. Before that we've had lots more awareness of police violence toward citizens, especially minorities as well as the evidence of far more gun deaths by citizen violence than terrorist -related violence.
But yes, it's a sea change. Or the metaphor of your choice.
I think when you see huge changes, the most recent event may appear to be the cause when it's just a catalyst in a soup of causes.
But yes, it's a sea change. Or the metaphor of your choice.
I think when you see huge changes, the most recent event may appear to be the cause when it's just a catalyst in a soup of causes.
8
Trump did not act tough in response to Orlando, he acted crazy. That is what is turning voters away from him.
79
"and more often than not, it worked."
That depends on a rather narrow definition of "worked" doesn't it.
That depends on a rather narrow definition of "worked" doesn't it.
11
It may be that traditional fear memes, rolled out every election season, have diminished in their effectiveness. We've simply become much too aware of how we're being manipulated, if not the consequences that come from allowing it. But that hardly means we don't have realistic fears, or that we should always be on guard when campaign rhetoric attempts to address them. For example, I have a genuine fear about the consequences of persistent entrenched political indifference to gun deaths and mass shooting that seems to have overtaken the republican party, which finds itself in the paralytic stranglehold of the NRA. And yes, I'm angry about it, as I suspect a great many citizens are. Am we entitled to that fear and anger? Is it politically legitimate?
26
All angles, all political attitudinizing, continue to ignore the big picture: the US is at war with a shifting set of enemies in the MIddle East, and has been for decades. The Orlando victims died from this war. The fact that madmen commit massacres for other “motives” as well doesn’t change this fact; nor does the failure of anyone, on any part of the political spectrum, to offer a solution or engage with the problem. The level of American entanglement in this war has been steadily increasing since the 1980s, and there is every reason to believe it will continue to increase, decade by decade, until we are mired in a permanent Vietnam. Perhaps people will acknowledge this when the draft is reinstated. What this columnist celebrates as immunity to fear is, in fact, the triumph of denial.
4
While I hope that Mr. Tomasky's optimism plays out over time, it is also possible that something darker is taking shape as a result of Donald Trump's overt xenophobia and demagogy. Trump, after all, is still an outlier—an essentially unaffiliated caricature of ugly traits that the party would just as soon claim to purge as claim to represent.
Half-hearted endorsements of Trump by party elites make it clear that a Republican general election strategy is not yet formed and may not include Mr. Trump. What better way to re-invigorate worn out dog whistle racism and more subtle, inferred kinds of scapegoating than to cast off in shame a parody of these sins? Just because Trump's version of fear-mongering is an obvious burlesque, does it really follow that more careful executions of this tactic are discredited?
It appears that the Republican party fears Trump, but for different reasons than those stated here. In a word, he is uncontrollable. This doesn't mean that the next terrorist attack or other national crisis will not be used as an excuse to scapegoat an enemy or lead us—through disciplined party unity and pressure tactics—into another unnecessary war.
Half-hearted endorsements of Trump by party elites make it clear that a Republican general election strategy is not yet formed and may not include Mr. Trump. What better way to re-invigorate worn out dog whistle racism and more subtle, inferred kinds of scapegoating than to cast off in shame a parody of these sins? Just because Trump's version of fear-mongering is an obvious burlesque, does it really follow that more careful executions of this tactic are discredited?
It appears that the Republican party fears Trump, but for different reasons than those stated here. In a word, he is uncontrollable. This doesn't mean that the next terrorist attack or other national crisis will not be used as an excuse to scapegoat an enemy or lead us—through disciplined party unity and pressure tactics—into another unnecessary war.
10
Your piece starts off by claiming that this attack did not help Trump, may have even hurt him, and this claim is repeated again before it's finished. I don't see a citation or any polling figures to support this, though.
I agree that Trump's response to this tragedy was terrible but it seems like you are projecting your own feelings toward him onto the broader voting public.
I agree that Trump's response to this tragedy was terrible but it seems like you are projecting your own feelings toward him onto the broader voting public.
3
You're kidding, right? "After Orlando." You mean, like, 23 minutes ago? Two Words: Donald Trump.
3
Yes, I think we are moving from a fear of TERROR to a fear of ERROR. George Bush benefited from his "War on Terror," after September 11, 2001. The next president may want to focus on a "War on Error," for 2017.
What frightens me most about Donald Trump is that he has zero experience in government and thus he constantly makes mistakes, without concern. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has her history of mistakes, left and right.
Let's have a War on Error, not a War on (T)error.
====================================
What frightens me most about Donald Trump is that he has zero experience in government and thus he constantly makes mistakes, without concern. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has her history of mistakes, left and right.
Let's have a War on Error, not a War on (T)error.
====================================
7
The ONLY bit of real truth from Trump this election was the mockery of George W. Bush for "keeping us safe" (as his hapless brother JEB! kept saying). W is the ONE who actually did NOT "keep us safe" and created a more dangerous world to boot.
That said, with Trump's pudgy little fingers on the nuclear button, we may all be doomed.
That said, with Trump's pudgy little fingers on the nuclear button, we may all be doomed.
24
PT Barnum said you can fool a lot of people sometime and fool some of he people all the time. The Republican Party has used fear to win elections for years. The results have been alarming for many Republicans have done nothing to improve the lives of most. The problem is that Hilary Clinton and Bill have been in the public enemy for decades. She has been investigated by Congress for two to three years and they have dug up every suggestion wrong. Despite the fact that none of the suggestions were factual. Many still believe the lies.
7
You had better hope that fear tactics work, Mr. T., that's about all that's keeping your Democratic frontrunner ahead in the polls. Vote for Hills or else Trump is looking to be a fear tactic worthy of the Repubs, no? November will tell if the Independents are buying. Yep, they matter this time around.
11
Fear is largely what drives weapons sales. This in turn fuels lobbying and contributions to politicians that are in an "everything for sale" system. As long as this "everything for sale" system is tolerated and supported, there will be no gun control, there will be continuing war for profit, and worst of all, there will be the steady undermining of the rule of law and the peoples validity as participants in governance.
19
"Has Political Fear-Mongering Lost Its Appeal?"
Absolutely not! Thanks to the Democratic Party and their minions in the media there are millions of Americans who now fear any inanimate object that looks like an "assault weapon." Never mind the person who uses one to kill indiscriminately, never mind their mental health, their sickness, their bigotry or their political affiliation just concentrate on the gun.
And while you are hating and fearing the gun also hate and fear millions of law abiding, peaceful Americans who own guns or "gasp" belong to the NRA. The author of this article should read other articles in this paper to conclude that fear-mongering by the self-righteous left is still alive and well and will probably work to relieve law-abiding Americans of more of their rights. Terrorists and criminals, not so much.
Absolutely not! Thanks to the Democratic Party and their minions in the media there are millions of Americans who now fear any inanimate object that looks like an "assault weapon." Never mind the person who uses one to kill indiscriminately, never mind their mental health, their sickness, their bigotry or their political affiliation just concentrate on the gun.
And while you are hating and fearing the gun also hate and fear millions of law abiding, peaceful Americans who own guns or "gasp" belong to the NRA. The author of this article should read other articles in this paper to conclude that fear-mongering by the self-righteous left is still alive and well and will probably work to relieve law-abiding Americans of more of their rights. Terrorists and criminals, not so much.
8
All of our political campaigning, from both parties, seems nothing more than negativity -- exaggerated slander directed at the opponent. Nothing positive is offered. Nothing enlightening is said, nor positive offered. It is a disgusting process, carried on by disgusting people -- on a par with corner tavern philosophy. Small wonder than many choose, in despair, not to vote.
9
Note the relationship between fear-mongering and desire for raw power perpetrated by Republicans and conservatives. All the dog-whistle and "behind your back" racial, xenophobic, homophobic (and many other) attitudes are out front for all to see. What has been revealed should both scare and exhilarate us... We know the enemy and he is us.
8
Funny - Tomasky uses the "Daily Beast" to fear-monger against Bernie Sanders. What a hyprocrite.
10
Bravo and well said.
But most people haven't taken enough psych./social science courses to understand, at least intellectually, the amygdala, fear & hate.
Appropriate fear works for survival of the species, hate gets in the way of discerning thinking.
But most people haven't taken enough psych./social science courses to understand, at least intellectually, the amygdala, fear & hate.
Appropriate fear works for survival of the species, hate gets in the way of discerning thinking.
5
Trump is a pathological grandiose delusional narcissist, formed because his level of privilege gave him regular experiences of omnipotence. Now, it is seen clearly that constantly and consistently he is out of touch with reality, grandiose and delusional. The writer rightly recognizes fear as an underlying primitive affect that in fact drives everyone. It drives a person variably, based upon an individual's complement of biology and attachment experience, to non-consciously seek safety, and for those feeling fear, possibly in a seemingly omnipotent protector, like Trump. A frightened mind is physiologically incapable of thought and reflection, freezing, fleeing or fighting instead, and attaching to a protector such as Trump. As noted, only in time has primitive fear become subject to awareness and reflection. Maybe now a critical mass of mentalization is possible to react outside of the fear-into-mindless-aggressive-action pattern. Reassurance and demagoguery are equally problematic. One does not feel safe and real, the other only feels that way because it converts fear into anger and action through identification with the aggressor who feels like the safety-providing alpha. We must recognize how Trump, McConnell, and myriad others use fear, as it exists in humans, to further their power, and while people feel afraid, they have no reason to be afraid. We now have more safety from real threats than any society ever has; paradoxically, perhaps possibilities create fear.
13
I've often wondered about the American responses to terrorism or the perceived threat of terrorism. Although my knowledge if the British reaction to acts of terrorism by the IRA is limited, I never got the impression that the British were scared witless like so many Americans seem to be. So many Americans seem to be paralyzed by irrational fears. I ask myself, where did the so-called pioneer spirit go? I see these pro-gun people talk about their fears of a new societal order with the government taking over control of all the facets of their lives and their claims that they need assault weapons in order to respond to that perceived threat. Those people, to me, are so irrational as to defy any credible explanation. I think to myself that the best sci-fi writers have often seen the future and sometimes their vision comes close to the truth. But, frankly, I don't see that future yet, and I think many of those who fear it now have been playing too many single-shooter videos games.
15
Fear mongering began long before 911. The strategy is evident starting with St. Ronnie and continuing with Rove and Newt. FSQ (Fear, Smear and Queer) has mobilized and exploited the GOP base resulting in our current polarization.
11
Hey, I am a real American and I don't support Donald Trump.
9
Perhaps if the media were less fond of generalities and overbroard generalizations about populations the media could present more professional, rational and fact-based news and opinions.
However, this is unlikely because few American readers have much tolerance for detail, nuance or ambiguity so most Americans refuse to read responsible journalism. It is so much easier and more entertaining to watch major media, hate radio and internet sites present events in universl superlatives that occassionally accurately reflect reality.
Unfortunately, most people in "journalism" have reduced themselves to pandering to American's short attention spans, prejudices, immature emotions, and semi-literacy.
And so here America crouches, more than a decade into multiplie wars that were motivated by fear, fueled by hate and maintained for profit.
Fear and hate mongering always can find an audience among a substantial portion of any population so long as the media are ready, willing and able to provide the vehicle.
Congratulations are due to Murdoch et alia.
However, this is unlikely because few American readers have much tolerance for detail, nuance or ambiguity so most Americans refuse to read responsible journalism. It is so much easier and more entertaining to watch major media, hate radio and internet sites present events in universl superlatives that occassionally accurately reflect reality.
Unfortunately, most people in "journalism" have reduced themselves to pandering to American's short attention spans, prejudices, immature emotions, and semi-literacy.
And so here America crouches, more than a decade into multiplie wars that were motivated by fear, fueled by hate and maintained for profit.
Fear and hate mongering always can find an audience among a substantial portion of any population so long as the media are ready, willing and able to provide the vehicle.
Congratulations are due to Murdoch et alia.
11
The television media could stop covering Trump and force him to start spending his own money- which he won't. That would end the Trump campaign then and there. He knows his days are numbered and that he has no chance. Hillary is riding high in the poles as Trumps dips. Soon we'll elect our first woman President who has yet to articulate 1 coherent policy or proposal on the economy, terrorism, education or environment. And we are supposed to think that Trump is the snake oil salesman? This woman scammed us all and didn't have to say a word.
Donald Trump being the presuumtive nominee of the Republican party instills a brand new fear in most Americans. Any rational person is opening thier eyes and looking directly at the republican party 's joke of lining up to vote for him. For eight years this party refused to work with POTUS and denied any forward progress. Why these actions have not been considered treason as they have undermined the working of the federal government at every level. Donal Trump is just the latest awful thing they be stowed upon we citizens.
Every mass shooting they offer thoughts and prayers. Perhaps if they actually passed gun laws that could help slow the carnage we have daily in america the thoughts would be sincere. I am sick to death of these 2nd amendment people rights being more important than all of our rights to life liberty and happiness.
Every mass shooting they offer thoughts and prayers. Perhaps if they actually passed gun laws that could help slow the carnage we have daily in america the thoughts would be sincere. I am sick to death of these 2nd amendment people rights being more important than all of our rights to life liberty and happiness.
8
This sentence stopped me: "I doubt they were reading this social science in the George W. Bush White House, but they clearly got it." Really, why do you doubt it? You think this was accidental and not purposeful?
6
Yes, "pundits, commentators, insiders" think they know the public's mind. Yet, the knowledge is often just wishful thinking. I frequently find the media only manage to further distinguish themselves from researchers, academics, and non-partisan practitioners. That is to say, they compromise intellectual rigor for a convenient and timely statistic at every opportunity.
Survey design and polling are some of the hardest things to get right in research and the news media act like they have it on lock. For instance, I'd like to know what these survey panels look like. Even PhDs can't seem to eliminate bias in the world of mobile. However, studies are presented as indisputable fact by the news media and used as the basis for opinion and analysis. My guess, when you start digging down, you'll find the foundation pretty rotten.
Perhaps that's why some voters aren't as quick to jump off the fence at every catastrophe. They've become more educated about manipulation in the modern age. Newspapers not withstanding.
Survey design and polling are some of the hardest things to get right in research and the news media act like they have it on lock. For instance, I'd like to know what these survey panels look like. Even PhDs can't seem to eliminate bias in the world of mobile. However, studies are presented as indisputable fact by the news media and used as the basis for opinion and analysis. My guess, when you start digging down, you'll find the foundation pretty rotten.
Perhaps that's why some voters aren't as quick to jump off the fence at every catastrophe. They've become more educated about manipulation in the modern age. Newspapers not withstanding.
4
Fear still has a strong hold on the American "man." Witness these supposed men proclaiming in public that they need guns in order to protect themselves when they walk out their front door. I cannot believe that they think that guns make them tough, when it's the exact opposite: it makes them look like the weak cowards that they are.
21
The Orlando Massacre was a watershed in American society. Playing on fear and anger catapulted Donald Trump, a carny-barker and real estate swindler into his role as presumptive Republican Presidential nominee. Shocking, the rise of political fear-mongering bottom feeders, supported by the NRA and gun lobbies. More hate crimes and terror attacks by self-radicalizing demented lone wolves is what will shock the social media crowd. We are swinging on a different hinge of history than we were on September 11, 2001. President George W. Bush and his cohort of hawks, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rove, the whole barrel of rotten Conservative Right Wing Tea Party apples started the US on this path of terrorism and fear-mongering with their initiation of two wars in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and Iraq 13 years ago. These perpetrators (perpetraitors) have not yet been hung by their own petards. The Republicans won't and can't protect us; their party, now headed by Donald Trump has all but disintegrated into roadkill.
7
Trump is nothing but bluster. There is nothing that we know about him to make us believe he has any special ability to "keep us safe," but somehow the tough talk is enough for some people
4
We are all Americans and we have to stand up for each other. We should have learned that from 9/11 already.
A racist President will not be able to do that because he thinks that "Americans" are only the ones that support him. Even if Trump tried to protect his America in a terrorist attack, he would fail because he would no know what to do.
And. He is the smartest, therefore he unable to learn from anybody. Like Sarah Palin but louder.
A racist President will not be able to do that because he thinks that "Americans" are only the ones that support him. Even if Trump tried to protect his America in a terrorist attack, he would fail because he would no know what to do.
And. He is the smartest, therefore he unable to learn from anybody. Like Sarah Palin but louder.
8
The Repulicans offered the weirdest set of candidates this last primary season. Trump was given permission by the leadership to become the parties candidate for President. They are so desperate to win the White House they are willing to support Trump. It's beyond reason why they are supporting Trump The Grand Old Party is now definded as the New Grand Old Party of the Donald.
3
This piece puts far too much faith in pop-science articles with sketchy conclusions about "liberal" and "conservative" brains. Just because somebody p-hacked their way to a publication doesn't make it gospel truth.
Stop trying to explain complex social postures with simple neurological models.
Stop trying to explain complex social postures with simple neurological models.
9
I am old enough to remember the 1964 election and and the little girl plucking a flower before Barry Gold water blew us up. (He was also eliminating Social Security). I remember Spiro Agnew being "a heartbeat away" from being President. And of course, Ronald Reagan was a "cowboy" with nuclear weapons, clearly not to be trusted. Now it is Trump. Left Wing fear mongering is alive and well, and the Times is a leader.
5
I thought the reaction was simpler: It wasn't a broad terrorist attack against us. It was an attack against them -- the gays -- so we're still okay.
True, there were signs that divide is crumbling, but there were also lamentations among fundamentalists that the toll wasn't higher.
True, there were signs that divide is crumbling, but there were also lamentations among fundamentalists that the toll wasn't higher.
12
While I wish Mr Tomasky were correct, i fear that he may not be. First, it is too early to write the obituary for fear-mongering. One week's experience? One data point? What kind of social science would accept that kind of evidence? But second, it may be that fear-mongering doesn't work for Donald Trump, because he is so transparently about himself. From his outrageous statement that he could kill someone in Times Square to his self-congratulatory tweet this week, all but the most conservative and partisan Republicans can see through this. I suspect that if we had a different GOP candidate -- even one with significant flaws -- fear would have a much greater and more familiar impact.
6
Anyone who would be fearful enough to fall for republican fear monger is just a low IQ voter. It was is as true today as it was on 9/11. Anyone who wanted to vote for a Democrat but switched their vote to republican out of fear, is just not very educated or intelligent. Unfortunately that is enough people to re-elect the worst President of our times. Ben Franklin was right. Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.
So even the fear card doesn't work for Republicans. This election is going to be a bloodbath for them.
So even the fear card doesn't work for Republicans. This election is going to be a bloodbath for them.
12
Maybe Liberals are in fact more alert to threats - namely Donald Trump.
7
Of course fear mongering still works, just look at the Pentagon's obscene budget, not to mention the militarization of police forces, and the $1tn Obama has committed to nuclear arms without consulting Congress or us. Follow the $$$ & you'll see how well fear mongering works.
8
Trump's narcissistic misread of Orlando has demonstrated his inability to protect anyone but himself. Ergo, he is no longer a viable candidate for protecting the electorate he has successfully frightened; they do not need to understand this cognitively because they feel it. There are very few Americans who believe GLBT deserve righteous punishment, and they generally see Orlando as a hate crime mores than terrorism. Many of those 30 million will still support him and turn more rage against the groups Trump has attacked; some will leave him, but the damage is done.
Perhaps only another 9-11 could put Trump back on top. Cosmos willing, it won't come to that.
Perhaps only another 9-11 could put Trump back on top. Cosmos willing, it won't come to that.
Maybe it's just because Trump's obsession with "evil Islamic terrorists" simply doesn't make sense in relation to the Orlando tragedy. It's not a secret that there are plenty of people on the religious right who are as homophobic as any Moslems. Most people may even find it fairly obvious that the risk of an LGBT American being assaulted by a fellow American is much higher than the risk of being targeted by radical Islamists from abroad --- after all, there aren't really all that many Moslems in the US. Perhaps more people are starting to realise that their own risk of being shot by an angry American with a gun is just as high, if not higher, than being attacked by ISIS terrorists.
So Trump's response to the tragedy, and the responses of his supporters including comments along the lines of "we are the only ones protecting LGBT Americans because we want to block Moslems from entering the US" simply seem absurd, and completely missing the point.
So Trump's response to the tragedy, and the responses of his supporters including comments along the lines of "we are the only ones protecting LGBT Americans because we want to block Moslems from entering the US" simply seem absurd, and completely missing the point.
3
What we might not recognize is that fear is transforming into numbness, the grey area between rational fear and the desire to gulp Kool Aid. It is producing an ecosystem of interconnected absurdities; under the watchful eyes of a free press.
What is the evidence? An act of horrific violence committed by a Muslim, indicts all Muslims. It provokes monumental idiocy and yelling. "Ban Muslims" on the one hand, and "Islam is a religion of peace" on the other. Both colossally wrong. Our logic is driven by the unshakable faith in the premise that Hispanics, Blacks, Muslims, immigrants, women represent a clear and present danger. Hence, we have effortlessly modified the new normal; whites can now kill blacks, every Muslim is now a terrorist, and every Hispanic is now a rapist. In a new normal, we wait in a 3-hour line for a pat down for a two hour flight. Now this is normal. Half of us think we will round up 11 million illegals (in boxcars?) and throw them out (ahem, where?). Or will ban Muslims (we will only buy oil from and sell our arms to Christian nations, probably Denmark). I guess the angry middle class dude who is for Trump thinks the Muslims who are cops, Marines, doctors, scientists, accountants, FBI agents - will all be replaced by cross-burning uneducated rurals because they voted for Trump and hence singularly qualified.
There is a line between rational fear, healthy paranoia, and plumb craziness. We crossed that divide rather easily.
Kalidan
What is the evidence? An act of horrific violence committed by a Muslim, indicts all Muslims. It provokes monumental idiocy and yelling. "Ban Muslims" on the one hand, and "Islam is a religion of peace" on the other. Both colossally wrong. Our logic is driven by the unshakable faith in the premise that Hispanics, Blacks, Muslims, immigrants, women represent a clear and present danger. Hence, we have effortlessly modified the new normal; whites can now kill blacks, every Muslim is now a terrorist, and every Hispanic is now a rapist. In a new normal, we wait in a 3-hour line for a pat down for a two hour flight. Now this is normal. Half of us think we will round up 11 million illegals (in boxcars?) and throw them out (ahem, where?). Or will ban Muslims (we will only buy oil from and sell our arms to Christian nations, probably Denmark). I guess the angry middle class dude who is for Trump thinks the Muslims who are cops, Marines, doctors, scientists, accountants, FBI agents - will all be replaced by cross-burning uneducated rurals because they voted for Trump and hence singularly qualified.
There is a line between rational fear, healthy paranoia, and plumb craziness. We crossed that divide rather easily.
Kalidan
5
Or... in the end, it may turn out that more people fear the fear-monger himself than the fears he stokes. I certainly do.
10
Hmm. When I think of fear mongeting today, I think of climate change and myriad other environmental issues typically bandied about by liberals. And that certainly does seem to work - at least among the Chicken Littles.
5
Trump scares me a whole lot more than do terrorists. Terrorists might land a lucky blow and kill a few thousand of us. But Trump no doubt will get sand in his panties and might inadvertently wipe out the planet.
10
How about every time a Republican says they will keep us safe from terrorism we ask them how they will protect us from actual threats that matter - such as those arising from guns and automobiles. Two of our biggest killers.
13
This article is based wholly on assumptions that may not be true. I believe that polls since the mass murders in Orlando show an increase in support for Trump.
Dan Kravitz
Dan Kravitz
3
Hope you are right. Every time there is another bombing or mass murder it is the same old story with the press - keep they hype going so we can run with the story all week. I will occasionally watch Fox to gauge their response and it is always intended to keep the viewers very afraid, always offering the worst possible outcomes, and of course always finding a way to blame Obama. Orlando was a hate crime. The fact that the hater happened to be Muslim is very blown up. He was either a homophobe who hated all gay people or he was a closet gay who hated himself. Either way he was a person who had too much hate to keep it in and should never have been allowed to get more that a handgun, nobody should be allowed to get assault rifles or semi-automatic guns. I hope congress will do something this week about the gun problem in America, but with the republicans all being in the NRA's pocket I expect them to do nothing, nothing. The 2nd Amendment does not give people the right to massacre a group of people it only gives the right to protect yourself.
9
Pundits think they know the American people? Novel idea. It's always seemed to me that pundits believe they know what's "really" going on, and try to tell the American people what they ought to be thinking.
Trump's incessant braying may not be frightening more and more people, but the floodgates of hatred and paranoia that he has already opened are not going to close anytime soon. His followers are entrenched and willing to spew venom that they'd have had to keep to themselves a year ago. And that is terrifying.
Trump's incessant braying may not be frightening more and more people, but the floodgates of hatred and paranoia that he has already opened are not going to close anytime soon. His followers are entrenched and willing to spew venom that they'd have had to keep to themselves a year ago. And that is terrifying.
4
The propaganda machine is working hard to make Orlando an instance of "Radical Islamist" terrorism. If it is successful, amygdalas will fire.
As Rove, Luntz and company have proven, framing the discussion is everything.
As Rove, Luntz and company have proven, framing the discussion is everything.
4
"Has Political Fear-Mongering Lost Its Appeal?"
Good Lord No! Just the opposite.
Donald Trump fear-mongered himself to candidate for president...Fear mongering launched the no to Trump opposition...the GOP still uses fear-mongering constantly (and falsely the last eight years has shown) to warn against any and all Obama or liberal or Democratic initiatives...fear-mongering was at the heart of the "Obamacare" opposition...fear-mongering has been the GOP's sole and steady output since election day 2008...any of the political ideologues start fear-monger the moment they open their mouths for any reason sans packing in the food or pouring down the liquor...(the right has their own list on the left's use of fear-mongering)
Fear-mongering lost its appeal? Not in the least Sweetie, it's being broadened and expanded second by second, minute by minute...the more ignorant or stupid the demographic, the more effective is the fear-mongering, as stupid and ignorant don't do truth-research. Don't be attributing failure for a strategy because one attempted expansion failed...
Good Lord No! Just the opposite.
Donald Trump fear-mongered himself to candidate for president...Fear mongering launched the no to Trump opposition...the GOP still uses fear-mongering constantly (and falsely the last eight years has shown) to warn against any and all Obama or liberal or Democratic initiatives...fear-mongering was at the heart of the "Obamacare" opposition...fear-mongering has been the GOP's sole and steady output since election day 2008...any of the political ideologues start fear-monger the moment they open their mouths for any reason sans packing in the food or pouring down the liquor...(the right has their own list on the left's use of fear-mongering)
Fear-mongering lost its appeal? Not in the least Sweetie, it's being broadened and expanded second by second, minute by minute...the more ignorant or stupid the demographic, the more effective is the fear-mongering, as stupid and ignorant don't do truth-research. Don't be attributing failure for a strategy because one attempted expansion failed...
4
I've seen nothing but fearmongering over guns in the respectable media since Orlando, a long with much dogwhistling about how we can't have a policy of fewer Muslim immigrants or that's just a slippery slope to murdering all the Jews.
Freud's most valuable concept is "projection." Thus, angry and paranoid articles like this one accuse everybody else of being angry and paranoid reflect rage and fear among mainstream journalists.
Freud's most valuable concept is "projection." Thus, angry and paranoid articles like this one accuse everybody else of being angry and paranoid reflect rage and fear among mainstream journalists.
7
The 24-hour news cycle contributes to the fear. When every horrible thing that can happen in a nation of 360 million plus people is beamed direct to you, many people cannot process the actual statistical likeliness they will come to harm and instead find knee-jerk emotions ruling the day. From terrorism down to school shootings to the ridiculous "bathroom wars", we need to stop overreacting and look at the facts.
6
Perhaps part of the reason Trump's appeal to fear doesn't seem to be working as well is because he overdoes it ... he overdoes everything ... and his johnny-one-note fear-mongering is wearing thin, particularly since he doesn't present anything positive in response. If so, my feelings about most Americans being sensible is being reinforced.
2
People already have an innate fear of terrorism, being attacked, feeling secure with the current administration and their lack of strength with terrorism; they do not need any fear mongering.
2
People who are easily motivated by fear mongering seem to be stuck in a very childlike, almost infantile state of belief.....a belief that they CAN be safe from harm, from all harm, if they just do certain things. Like ban Muslims from immigrating. Like buying a gun for protection. It's a long list, and Donald Trump is good at putting things on the list. But there is no way of achieving personal safety short of incarcerating oneself in solitary confinement. And who chooses that? With freedom comes risk. There is a beautiful Corsican saying: "Chi non risica, non rosica", which translates to "without risk there is no reward". A well lived life is a well-balanced diet of risk and caution. Reasonable risk, sensible caution. But always we must go forward with the attitude that life is only worth living if we have freedom. And freedom brings risk. It's worthwhile to live life with gusto, with joy, with confidence, and accept the risk. To those who would argue that prohibiting Muslims from coming to our country is a reasonable caution, I doubt I could change their minds. But it might not be Muslims only, on the list. Maybe it will be people like you, like your children, like your grandchildren, or people your children or your grandchildren love. Me, I will live with the risks.
7
Overall, Dumpf and his Trumpletons (and the damage they have already begun to do to the fabric of our nation) stir up my amygdala far more than the possibility of a terror attack.
4
Many of us have been aware of GOP fear mongering since 1968 when the Nixon dirty tricks criminal conspiracy began. The Canuck Letter to kill the Muskie 72 campaign; the Willie Horton lies to kill the Dukakis 68 campaign; the Whitewatrer and Vince Foster lies of the 72 Clinton campaign; the ballot stealing and voter intimidation against Gore in the 2000 Campaign; the Swift Boating of Kerry in the 2004 campaign; the birther, Muslim baiting, racist incitements of the 2008 and 2012 Obama campaign.
That fear mongering is the bread and butter of Republican races from Dog Catcher to President. It is EXACTLY what has given Trump the power to take control of the Republican Party because their membership was built on the fear appeals to racists, gun owners, fanatic Christians, and anti-government libertarians and anarchists of America. It's just that this time the Republican elite power structure lost all control.
And they have lost it forever, because seizing control to prevent a future Trump will cut off the 40% of their membership that adores Herr Trump.
Fear is still there but the fear is now of the fascist excess and complete lack of temperament that the anti-intellectual Trump promises. His clownishness and disgusting pandering scares all those Americans with an IQ above a cold voting day in early November.
Fear will always be there, but it should be focused on solving the real problems that create the fear, not as a tool to gain political power.
That fear mongering is the bread and butter of Republican races from Dog Catcher to President. It is EXACTLY what has given Trump the power to take control of the Republican Party because their membership was built on the fear appeals to racists, gun owners, fanatic Christians, and anti-government libertarians and anarchists of America. It's just that this time the Republican elite power structure lost all control.
And they have lost it forever, because seizing control to prevent a future Trump will cut off the 40% of their membership that adores Herr Trump.
Fear is still there but the fear is now of the fascist excess and complete lack of temperament that the anti-intellectual Trump promises. His clownishness and disgusting pandering scares all those Americans with an IQ above a cold voting day in early November.
Fear will always be there, but it should be focused on solving the real problems that create the fear, not as a tool to gain political power.
4
The terrorist attack in Orlando did not help Republican candidate Trump because he was so ham-handed in the way he tried to exploit it. Bush/Cheney/Rove et al were more deceptive, manipulative and Machiavellian in taking political advantage of 9/11. We all paid a terrible price for their fear-mongering, especially the hundreds of thousands who died in the war they lied us into so they could run Bush in 2004 as a "war president."
10
Before RWR the superannuated Naval cargo handler/flight attendant Richard Nixon beat up on war hero bomber pilot George McGovern for being "soft". In my mind, that's a good place to start. Since then every Democrat has been characterized thusly.
4
Richard Luettgen, elsewhere you wrote about Obama's stimulus bill - "you remember, those start-ups whose founders closed hem down in bankruptcy microseconds after they cashed in on them?"
Loan guarantees for green energy and new electricity transmission projects was $6 billion out of the $787 billion stimulus. And here is the NYT Editorial board reminding us of what the stimulus accomplished:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/what-the-stimulus-accom...
Also, NYT should not delete your posts, they will be invaluable material for some future sociologist researching the pathologies induced by Trump.
Loan guarantees for green energy and new electricity transmission projects was $6 billion out of the $787 billion stimulus. And here is the NYT Editorial board reminding us of what the stimulus accomplished:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/what-the-stimulus-accom...
Also, NYT should not delete your posts, they will be invaluable material for some future sociologist researching the pathologies induced by Trump.
11
Incidentally, the government's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program gave a $465 million loan to Tesla Motors in 2010. Tesla did/is doing well, and repayed that loan. Overall, Solyndra and the others that went bankrupt represented 3% of the loan portfolio.
But don't let facts interfere with Trumpification.
But don't let facts interfere with Trumpification.
8
A president/candidate must be able to at least feign empathy, if only to play out the expected role. Bush failed after Katrina, leaving a permanent stain.
Trump, oblivious and insensitive, went on the attack. Worse, he appears to have learned nothing from the backlash. Two horrors for the price of one.
Does Trump have anyone left he hasn't offended, excluding his fanatical primary voters?
Trump, oblivious and insensitive, went on the attack. Worse, he appears to have learned nothing from the backlash. Two horrors for the price of one.
Does Trump have anyone left he hasn't offended, excluding his fanatical primary voters?
7
American's for the most part a very ill informed, easily duped and preyed upon mercilessly by corporate media. The major Right and Left wing news networks pander to two vastly different groups. Fox News keeps the "+50 somethings" up at night with fear infused news about terrorism, economic malaise, and domestic race relations. MSNBC weighs in on the dangers of conservatism, guilt [over just about anything] and political correctness. That's pretty much the choices we have when it comes to informing ourselves via corporate media. Trump found and exploited an overlapping gap between the two groups and it worked for a while- however in 2 more months the major media will have subdued him into obscurity. The good news is the world will be saved- and the bad news is the vicious cycle of pandered news and big money media will continue with impunity. But don't blame them- blame ourselves for being so darn Dumb!
6
Great piece, thank you for the step back and thoughtfulness. I have had some similar thoughts as I have been glued to the TV (multiple channels to see what people are thinking) and hearing the republican leadership all but repudiate what Trump said is pretty incredible. The fact that the electorate is so at attention with the primaries is, I think helping... especially on the Bernie said where you have passionate progressives who are just participating who don't really see that much difference between a hate crime or a terrorist act and who rejecting more hate...
1
This argument is terribly misguided. Political fear mongering these days is the specialty of the liberal media and is directed at Trump. There have been countless Times editorials characterizing Trump as a dangerous neo-Nazi tyrant. Such exaggeration creates excessive fear. And it fails to recognize that, as much as anything, Trump is a buffoon. The excessive fear mongering about Trump portrays him as a serious political force who cannot be dismissed. The media makes Trump out to be more than he is. If it reported with proper discretion, it would portray the guy as a nut. Instead, they portray him as a force to be reckoned with, wrongly communicating that he is a serious candidate with serious policies whose candidacy is weighty. Give me a break.
8
I think you're right about the media portrayal of Trump, but the GOP has definitely specialized in getting votes based on fear, more so than the Dems. Take a look at Bush 04. He based his campaign largely on his claim that he had kept America "safe" for four years. It always boggled my mind that voters bought into that. After all, it took Al-Quaida 8 years between the first attack on the towers (1993) to exert another effort. I never expected anything of that magnitude to happen so soon after 9/11. But everyone bought into Bush's claim that he was the reason. He beat home to voters that fear and the Koch brothers' effective financing of the Swift Boaters' lies culminated in a belief that Bush was the safe bet and Kerry was a liar. So unfair to Kerry, and clear to anyone who has read the William Rood debunking of the Swift Boater lies.
2
I hadn't known that FOX, SKY news, Rush, Hannity, Breitbart, Infowars, Dinesh d-Souza and Ann Coulter's demented books, and all the rest weren't part of "the media."
Thanks.
Thanks.
3
He is a buffoon but unfortunately he is also a threat. The real problem is not that Trump is a rampant narcissist with no knowledge of the affairs he bloviates upon --- it is that his bloviation resonates with a significant number of our fellow citizens. It seems very likely that Trump's "campaign" (actually little more than an ego trip) will crash and burn but those who have been bamboozled by his combination of bravado and ignorance (reflecting their own) will not go away any time soon. (This would be a problem even should he somehow win --- since none of what he promises can be realized.) We may see an uptick in "2nd Amendment remedies" and may be forced to recognize that homegrown terrorism (Bundyism on steroids) is far more dangerous to us than ISIS.
2
We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
There are logical and rational approaches to all our problems, but Donald Trump is not the one who can articulate them and bring the people together under his banner. The rational GOP candidates tried and they were all voted off the island, pretty much in the order in which they embraced logic and reason.
In the fall, we will get the President we deserve.
There are logical and rational approaches to all our problems, but Donald Trump is not the one who can articulate them and bring the people together under his banner. The rational GOP candidates tried and they were all voted off the island, pretty much in the order in which they embraced logic and reason.
In the fall, we will get the President we deserve.
6
The author of this piece insults Americans as well as misunderstands us. We are not driven by fear from terrorist attacks we are driven by anger.
2
Fear begets anger, jacobi. I too live in Nevada and I see it every day here. But honestly, what exactly is it that you are afraid of that causes you to hate so much? You have to change your perspective (and newssources) to understand that the reason you fear most of the things that you do fear is more likely than not because you pay more attention to lies than you do to facts. Sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities, which will undoubtedly cause you to hate me, but just last week I had to deal with a co-worker who stated that "it's obvious that the Democrats hate America because they made them take the words 'under God' out of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'" Do you believe that too, jacobi?
2
And Anger+Guns=Mass shootings.
4
Trump is going to lose big because his appeal is limited to the angry, racist Republicans who voted for him in the primaries. If he were to try to tone it down - to sound "presidential" (which he probably can't) - he would sound like just another boring pol, but without any well-developed ideas. Either way, he loses. Big time.
10
The poor reception with which Trump's post-Orlando speech was met is because his tone was gleeful, not because it was fearful. It was self-congratulatory without a hint of real foreboding or of grief. More clever opportunists can ride high on fear, but Trump is plainly transparent.
7
Trump's dilemma is of his own making. His boastful ignorance charmed a fraction of the Republican electorate as bravado. But it has worn thin among the vast majority of Americans. He can and will hit all the notes of the Symphony in Fear major. But it is thin and reedy, without rhythm or tempo, and falls flat in its mastery of the medium. His strength has relied on selling a feeling, rousing the emotions, stoking fear. Now, when needing to appear presidential, he is your drunk uncle. We invite him to Thanksgiving, but with no relish of what his acceptance means.
Donald, your time is up.
Donald, your time is up.
13
According to the non-partisan New America Foundation, there have been 10 terrorist attacks related to jihadi terrorism in the United States in the nearly 15 years since 9/ll. Those attacks (which include the one in Orlando) have resulted in 94 deaths. Not to minimize the horror of these incidents or to suggest that we should drop our security guard, but these figures hardly point to to an existential threat to the United States and don't remotely justify the fear mongering by demagogues on the right, led by Donald Trump. And of course they pale beside the number of Americans killed by gun violence over the same period in incidents totally unrelated to terrorism.
17
Mr. Tomasky's analysis of our current political situation is useful, and a pleasure to read, since I, a liberal, have become very scared of conservative voters (Trump supporters) this election season. And the author promises they won't win and may even be fading away.
But let's consider another explanation for the conservatives' relatively "fearless" reaction to the bloodbath in Orlando, at Pulse ... a gay bar.
Let's consider the possibility that, as the news became more clear, and "fear-full" conservatives started to realize that the majority of victims were Puerto Rican and gay, they began to relax. No great loss. (See the response of Pat Robertson, the fundamentalist televangelist, to the Orlando reports. Basically "you reap what you sow.")
What if the shooter had broken into a prom full of white boys and girls? (See movie: Carrie.) That might be acknowledged as terrifying ... terrorist... awful and frightening ... by conservative American voters.
But let's consider another explanation for the conservatives' relatively "fearless" reaction to the bloodbath in Orlando, at Pulse ... a gay bar.
Let's consider the possibility that, as the news became more clear, and "fear-full" conservatives started to realize that the majority of victims were Puerto Rican and gay, they began to relax. No great loss. (See the response of Pat Robertson, the fundamentalist televangelist, to the Orlando reports. Basically "you reap what you sow.")
What if the shooter had broken into a prom full of white boys and girls? (See movie: Carrie.) That might be acknowledged as terrifying ... terrorist... awful and frightening ... by conservative American voters.
36
Scary things become routine when we are exposed to them enough without being injured. The vast majority of people never have met a person who has suffered a terrorist attack much less experienced it themselves. This is true even in places like Bogota Colombia where I spent some time during the hight of their civil war. Yea sure banks were being blown up regularly and people being kidnapped, but most people only saw those things on the news. The average person just shrugged and went on with their life.
6
The author seems to forget fear mongering is not just a Republican tactic. Both candidates are beating the drums of war and arguing for increased surveillance, internet and otherwise. We have very little choice in the matter when both parties are pushing for war.
11
Let's not write the obituary for successful fear mongering by the GOP yet. I would hazard a guess that it would still work if the Democratic candidate was viewed as a dove. Also, Trump is fear inducing himself. Unsurprisingly, more fear, whether naturally developed or whipped up by politicians, further isolates Trump as a candidate.
4
One more note to this otherwise excellent column. Those of us who do not regularly buy into the fear mongering, were, nevertheless afraid to call out that behavior for fear of being labeled unpatriotic. The political left and the mainstream media followed along because they didn't want to be accused of being anti American
But the disasters of Iraq and Afghanistan and the way Republicans reacted to the economic and foreign policy crisis they created and we all faced in 2009; nothing but obstruction, far fewer people believe now they are the patriotic party anymore.
But the disasters of Iraq and Afghanistan and the way Republicans reacted to the economic and foreign policy crisis they created and we all faced in 2009; nothing but obstruction, far fewer people believe now they are the patriotic party anymore.
42
If your brother went around the neighborhood bullying and robbing people, and someone got revenge by killing your other brother, who would you be most angry at? I would be angry at my brother for bringing this violence on my family.
My aunt called me "the enemy" for a decade because I was more angry at my aggressive government and the policies that create terrorism, which we can control and have a responsibility to change, then I was at a bunch of dead terrorists, and their friends hiding in caves on the other side of the world, whose actions I can not control and have no responsibility for.
My aunt called me "the enemy" for a decade because I was more angry at my aggressive government and the policies that create terrorism, which we can control and have a responsibility to change, then I was at a bunch of dead terrorists, and their friends hiding in caves on the other side of the world, whose actions I can not control and have no responsibility for.
2
We need agreement on a national definition of the word “terrorism.” If terrorism is the use of violence orchestrated by political organizations to advance their specific goals, then the evidence so far suggests that the Orlando shooting was no more a terrorist event than the Colorado Springs massacre at the Planned Parenthood clinic: they both seem to be orchestrated by lone wolves.
On the other hand, if using violence to advance one’s personal political agenda constitutes terrorism, then both events should be considered terrorist events. And yet, Republicans steadfastly reject all claims that the Colorado Springs event was terrorist. Was it simply because Omar Mateen invoked ISIS on his 911 phone call during the shooting? But Robert Lewis Dear also invoked radical, violence-provoking anti-abortion ideology to justify his actions.
My guess is if Republicans acknowledged that Colorado Springs were as much terrorist events as Orlando was, then they would have to further acknowledge that, given the number of such events that we have in this country, they could no longer use them to single out Islam as an existential threat to the US, which would dilute their political narrative.
So we are left with a working definition of “terrorism” in America as any violent event whatsoever that is carried out by anyone of any Islamic background at all. All other acts of violence are simply the unfortunate price we pay to maintain our precious Second Amendment.
On the other hand, if using violence to advance one’s personal political agenda constitutes terrorism, then both events should be considered terrorist events. And yet, Republicans steadfastly reject all claims that the Colorado Springs event was terrorist. Was it simply because Omar Mateen invoked ISIS on his 911 phone call during the shooting? But Robert Lewis Dear also invoked radical, violence-provoking anti-abortion ideology to justify his actions.
My guess is if Republicans acknowledged that Colorado Springs were as much terrorist events as Orlando was, then they would have to further acknowledge that, given the number of such events that we have in this country, they could no longer use them to single out Islam as an existential threat to the US, which would dilute their political narrative.
So we are left with a working definition of “terrorism” in America as any violent event whatsoever that is carried out by anyone of any Islamic background at all. All other acts of violence are simply the unfortunate price we pay to maintain our precious Second Amendment.
67
As a mathematician and student of history, I believe in precise definitions. Politicians believe in spin. Terrorism is using violence to affect public policy, by striking fear into constituents. The assassination of abortion providers is terror, by definition.
Our government and our media, however, only talks about "international non-state terror." This is because they do not want to talk about state terror, which we support in places like Egypt, where we fund and arm their military, which had a coup and put General SISI in power and who terrorizes his own population, including journalists, or the torture manuals we used to train soldiers in Central America.
The whole point of having a military is to use violence and the threat of violence to affect the public policy of other countries (and of course before the invention of police forces, the main job of the military was to keep the People under the thumb of the king). A military is a terrorist organization. You win by undermining the morale of the opposing army (scaring them into submission).
But it is inconvenient to use a definition of terror that says it is ok to use "Shock and Awe" to bomb the people of Baghdad into letting global oil corporations control their oil, while complaining about ISIS (created by our action in Iraq) killing people by the tens.
So we redefine "terror" to be only international non-state acts of violence, and we can't admit that Christians who assassinate abortion providers are terrorists.
Our government and our media, however, only talks about "international non-state terror." This is because they do not want to talk about state terror, which we support in places like Egypt, where we fund and arm their military, which had a coup and put General SISI in power and who terrorizes his own population, including journalists, or the torture manuals we used to train soldiers in Central America.
The whole point of having a military is to use violence and the threat of violence to affect the public policy of other countries (and of course before the invention of police forces, the main job of the military was to keep the People under the thumb of the king). A military is a terrorist organization. You win by undermining the morale of the opposing army (scaring them into submission).
But it is inconvenient to use a definition of terror that says it is ok to use "Shock and Awe" to bomb the people of Baghdad into letting global oil corporations control their oil, while complaining about ISIS (created by our action in Iraq) killing people by the tens.
So we redefine "terror" to be only international non-state acts of violence, and we can't admit that Christians who assassinate abortion providers are terrorists.
3
When armed Americans kill each other or themselves at a rate of 30,000 per year (and now rising) and rush out to buy more guns each time there is a mass shooting, why is a foreign threat even part of the conversation? It's nothing but a drop in the bucket. It's a blip. Compared to the violence Americans do to each other.
Why are you all petrified by the foreign threat, to the point of spending trillions on wars abroad, and yet utterly dismissive of the threat at home, and only act to legislate to make it even easier for disturbed individuals to arm themselves?
Why are you all petrified by the foreign threat, to the point of spending trillions on wars abroad, and yet utterly dismissive of the threat at home, and only act to legislate to make it even easier for disturbed individuals to arm themselves?
152
I am glad to see the author write positively, if somewhat unenthusiastically, about Hillary Clinton's performance following the massacre. For me, whether it was a hate crime or a terrorist act is completely irrelevant. Omar Mateen was insane, he went berserk. The NRA and their Republican minions have guaranteed that the Adam Lanzas, Dylann Roofs and Omar Mateens in our society have unfettered access to machine guns. Hillary Clinton sternly promised to continue and to ramp up systematic efforts to identify nefarious plots, but she also demanded that common-sense steps be taken to reduce availability of weapons to people who have already shown signs of running amok. I would wager that gun manufacturers will lose very little of their margin by excluding such customers. The solution provided by the fear-mongering Trump is patently absurd, that had the disco-dancers been armed with machine guns themselves, the problem would have been solved. Gun-rights enthusiasts are similarly calling for armed elementary school teachers, armed concert-goers and armed preachers. I am thankful that my state does not allow my university students to come armed to class. That's a really effective way to increase grade inflation!
40
Give me a break, he wasn't insane. He knew he was killing humans and he was happy to do it. He checked to see if his crime was being followed on the Internet. I'm tired of people who are ready and willing to excuse these crimes on the basis of insanity. There is an entire army called ISIS doing the same thing in the MIDDLE EAST are they all insane, all they all depressed.
He made a decision to kill and he made a plan and he murdered 50 people. He's a murderer. No more excuses!
He made a decision to kill and he made a plan and he murdered 50 people. He's a murderer. No more excuses!
1
In response to this event, Trump suggested a "solution" (ban immigration) that everyone knows would have no effect on homegrown radicalized angry young men. No immigration ban can stop extremist views from reaching our shores via the Internet. The Democrats suggested a solution (don't let people buy guns if you don't let them fly) that maybe could have had an effect. It also sounds eminently reasonable, and puts the Republicans in a difficult position to explain why not. Maybe the fear-mongering lost not because this is a new era, but but because it is so obviously bankrupt in this case. We have yet to see if the same effect holds in the event of (say) a terrorist attack by angry extremist immigrants.
30
Fear is a component of the Republican propaganda, but the real target is hate. Hate is a far more potent and persistent emotion than fear when it comes to manipulating people's beliefs.
45
Actually I would say that fear is the first emotion and hate then comes because of the fear. If one is extremely fearful, then they figure out what it is that makes them afraid and they hate it. A autocratic leader such as Trump has figured out that some people are "just plain afraid" and he exploits it to his advantage giving them something to hate.
Hate is a way of hiding fear --- even from oneself.
Historically, fear and hate have walked hand-in-hand down the boulevard in United States of America, Casey. Fear has always begotten hate; hate has always begotten fear. Hard-line Conservatives that I have seen and known over the years seem to fear far more as a group than I consider to be reasonable, and maybe that's why they hate so much. It could be that what's needed is an amygdalic intervention - we as a nation would probably be more tolerant and far better off if the Conservative lot would sit their overactive amygdalae down and tell them to chill out.
1
"We — we pundits, commentators, insiders — think we get them, know their collective mind, believe we speak for them. Do we? And if we got this so wrong, what else are we missing?"
One problem I have yet to see cited by the "we" is that Trump voters are disproportionately likely to be lying to them, specifically because Trump voters are disproportionately likely to have lost their jobs for no good reason (say, outsourcing, or robots) while journalists are disproportionately likely to have KEPT their jobs despite the mistakes Tomasky mentions. This doesn't invalidate the rest of Tomasky's excellent piece. But it does make me think, Rumsfeldingly, that we don't know what we don't know.
One problem I have yet to see cited by the "we" is that Trump voters are disproportionately likely to be lying to them, specifically because Trump voters are disproportionately likely to have lost their jobs for no good reason (say, outsourcing, or robots) while journalists are disproportionately likely to have KEPT their jobs despite the mistakes Tomasky mentions. This doesn't invalidate the rest of Tomasky's excellent piece. But it does make me think, Rumsfeldingly, that we don't know what we don't know.
6
'Americans awoke scared and jittery again after the terrorist attack', these 'scared and jittery' statements were made unendingly after 9/11. I didn't know a single person who was 'scared and jittery'. Did you? Was this the government and/or press trying to project something false on the populace to stoke an agenda? We can be reasonably certain that Dick Cheney and numerous other politicians were actually scared and jittery for their own hides. And the way the government then brazenly passed over-reaching laws and seized the public treasury and ran away with it making wars while claiming to 'protect' a supposedly cowed populace was, and still is, staggering. Vast numbers of people realize that, however tragic terrorist acts and mass shootings are, they are not existential threats and pale in comparison to the daily dangers of being alive, like horrific accidents and diseases, large scale shooting wars, threat of nuclear weapons, living in disheveled and violent cities, encroaching old age, and the ‘soft violence’ of economic exploitation. Yet some politicians are craven and cynical enough to mount campaigns based on exaggerating a relatively minor threat. It is highly unlikely that Trump can find enough cowards to propel him to the Presidency based on this issue.
55
I have a hard time believing that fear-mongering has lost it's appeal, when I have never been so scared that the wrong person might become president in my life. Fear does have a way of focusing one's attentions. It might have lost some appeal but it still maintains it's potency.
11
Rick Gage: You and me both! I am terrified that Trump could win!!
1
Fear? What about fear of corporate dominance, infecting our politics, setting our political norms and those of the media that gives us our news and shapes our views? Guns for all is only 1 symptom.
Corporate and wealthy elite privilege has trumped all. So the Trumps of the world move in with little opposition and take over the media, the party and politics.
That Disney has now said, ok we’ll put up some signs by our ponds warning of deadly reptiles ready to kill children playing nearby –such a welcome relief. Thank you Disney for moving a fraction of an inch toward public responsibility of the most basic decency.
But what kind of political culture let’s corporations go so far as ours has in ignoring basic duty to society---lives be damned?
The history goes way back---tobacco, seat belts, food and drug safety, job safety, putrid water prevention. We tolerate business profiting off illness, not paying taxes and sending millions of American jobs away. The big issue now is guns for profit putting all our lives at risk everywhere. It’s not just if you’re Muslim or black or gay—it’s all.
Too many corporate crimes to even name. This is what Americans are threatened by, and should fear. These are the entities that finance our candidates, their platforms and our elections.
Corporate and wealthy elite privilege has trumped all. So the Trumps of the world move in with little opposition and take over the media, the party and politics.
That Disney has now said, ok we’ll put up some signs by our ponds warning of deadly reptiles ready to kill children playing nearby –such a welcome relief. Thank you Disney for moving a fraction of an inch toward public responsibility of the most basic decency.
But what kind of political culture let’s corporations go so far as ours has in ignoring basic duty to society---lives be damned?
The history goes way back---tobacco, seat belts, food and drug safety, job safety, putrid water prevention. We tolerate business profiting off illness, not paying taxes and sending millions of American jobs away. The big issue now is guns for profit putting all our lives at risk everywhere. It’s not just if you’re Muslim or black or gay—it’s all.
Too many corporate crimes to even name. This is what Americans are threatened by, and should fear. These are the entities that finance our candidates, their platforms and our elections.
8
Staying fearful is exhausting. I choose hope and life, even as I age and see more of life's atrocities and unfairness. I also recognize that fear is a regressive emotion. Yet humanity moves forward. Choose hope. Chose action based on that hope.
11
No, fear mongering is not dead. In the US, it's lost some appeal because of the poor vessel that is promoting it. Any other Republican candidate would be more successful at the task. The Donald has oversold it. We have to remember that most Americans, largely in the Midwest but everywhere, never encounter minorities in their neighborhoods, at work or at play. They and others cannot conceive that terrorism in the US as home grown--done mainly by disaffected white Americans. Trump's promotion of fear, instigation of violence against judges, Muslims and protestors at his events is a wake-up call for all those who thought that Fox News was the epitome of truth.
In this vein, it is interesting that the US has had much greater success in integrating Arabs in the weave of American life than have the Europeans. Arab-Americans have come here mostly as a matter of choice. They are doing well both socially and economically. Arab-Europeans were first induced to go there after WWII to fill factory slots without any thought of integrating them in community life. European citizenship is a recent development for them. Alternatively, they went to Europe as war refugees; the recent surge. They are lost, almost a generation. They spark fear in European hearts.
In this vein, it is interesting that the US has had much greater success in integrating Arabs in the weave of American life than have the Europeans. Arab-Americans have come here mostly as a matter of choice. They are doing well both socially and economically. Arab-Europeans were first induced to go there after WWII to fill factory slots without any thought of integrating them in community life. European citizenship is a recent development for them. Alternatively, they went to Europe as war refugees; the recent surge. They are lost, almost a generation. They spark fear in European hearts.
6
Fear-mongering does indeed work. But what is truly frightening is the fact that, with a little more savvy Trump would beat Hillary by a landslide. Let us not forget that his serial verbal blunders, which a more intelligent extremist candidate would have cleverly concealed, would have caused the 130 million November voters to swallow his fear-mongering lock, stock and barrel.
And herein lies the rub: U.S. citizens are manipulated far more easily than their European counterparts, as evidenced by the fact that 70 % of Americans accepted Bush's linking of Saddam Hussein to Al Qaeda while the highest number of 'believers' in any European nation was below 10 %. It's all about false patriotism, education and media manipulation (yes, the NYT also very belatedly issued a Mea Culpa).
So fear is a great weapon in the U.S.: Trump's problem is that he has overdone it. He needed just the right amount but instead went ballistic and has turned off many voters who see his fear-mongering as a Hitlerian parody lacking substance.
And herein lies the rub: U.S. citizens are manipulated far more easily than their European counterparts, as evidenced by the fact that 70 % of Americans accepted Bush's linking of Saddam Hussein to Al Qaeda while the highest number of 'believers' in any European nation was below 10 %. It's all about false patriotism, education and media manipulation (yes, the NYT also very belatedly issued a Mea Culpa).
So fear is a great weapon in the U.S.: Trump's problem is that he has overdone it. He needed just the right amount but instead went ballistic and has turned off many voters who see his fear-mongering as a Hitlerian parody lacking substance.
16
Tomasky continues to make the same mistake once again. He starts off being a little contrite and introspective and wonders if the pundits (a category in which he places himself, which in of itself supposedly shows humility even as he is bragging about his status as a knowledgeable pundit) really understands the collective minds of the American public. He notes that fear mongering was believed to be a true and tried technique to appeal to the American public. With a great deal of certitude he writes, "This we know."
But then along comes the massacre in Orlando. And the Donald tries to stoke fear, the definitive way to increase his appeal, as "we know." But his poll numbers tanked. And immediately Tomasky formulates another theory of how the American voter's mind works. One event, one poll. Enough to construct yet another theory.
Maybe Tomasky is right. In fact there is a part of me that is rooting that he be right. But he is wrong in so quickly coming to this conclusion. Punditry is more than following one poll. Just ask Nate Silver!
But then along comes the massacre in Orlando. And the Donald tries to stoke fear, the definitive way to increase his appeal, as "we know." But his poll numbers tanked. And immediately Tomasky formulates another theory of how the American voter's mind works. One event, one poll. Enough to construct yet another theory.
Maybe Tomasky is right. In fact there is a part of me that is rooting that he be right. But he is wrong in so quickly coming to this conclusion. Punditry is more than following one poll. Just ask Nate Silver!
7
The "use" of fear is the tradition of Religions. The most advanced change in Americans is our wholesale movement toward rational and truth based debate.
We are growing, we are demanding to know where progress can be made.
The Conservative Politics have served a minority since the beginning, to Capitalize you need inferiors to capitalize upon. You need to sell voluntary subordination.
The new leadership is no longer taken or assumed it must be earned. Conservatives are fire fighters that carry matches, that way they can always (start) find a fire to extinguish. The Internet changed that, we can talk to each other without their permission and believing in Progressive Futures has become far less difficult. It has always been right or shall we say preferred or correct.
We are growing, we are demanding to know where progress can be made.
The Conservative Politics have served a minority since the beginning, to Capitalize you need inferiors to capitalize upon. You need to sell voluntary subordination.
The new leadership is no longer taken or assumed it must be earned. Conservatives are fire fighters that carry matches, that way they can always (start) find a fire to extinguish. The Internet changed that, we can talk to each other without their permission and believing in Progressive Futures has become far less difficult. It has always been right or shall we say preferred or correct.
2
I hope that you are correct.
If society can become resistant to fearmongering, we can avoid many decisions that are later regretted.
For example, if the general population would rationally understand that they face virtually no danger from gun violence, then the Democrats will no longer have an incentive to grandstand the issue.
Maybe we have a brighter future after all!
If society can become resistant to fearmongering, we can avoid many decisions that are later regretted.
For example, if the general population would rationally understand that they face virtually no danger from gun violence, then the Democrats will no longer have an incentive to grandstand the issue.
Maybe we have a brighter future after all!
4
But that isn't true, is it? I know no one personally who's been injured by terrorism, but at least three or four who've been killed by gun violence.
2
"You can't stoke fear if your can't also reassure. It won't work." That surely is a great point that often is left unsaid.
Events trigger the process that escalates anxiety into fear. Worry about the next terrorist attack is today's underlying anxiety just as worry about a nuclear attack was the anxiety underlying the 60's and worry about violent crime was the anxiety underlying the 80's and 90's. People react to fear in a predictable way. It is easy to describe. When in danger and in doubt, run in circles scream and shout.
The people running in circles are wasting energy. Those screaming and shouting are spreading the fear and creating panic. In truly dangerous situations, the function of a leader is to provide the reassurance needed to stop the screaming and shouting and redirecting the wasted effort into confronting and defeating the danger.
That has not been true the Republican Party. The Republicans have worked hard to keep the public focused on their underlying fears, and accepting false reassurance rather than acting to confront and defeat the dangers we actually face. That is not leadership but using propaganda to cynically manipulate voters. Sooner or later dangers reappear and the false reassurance not longer works. Then voters must confront reality. Donald Trump is the face of the Republican Party.
Events trigger the process that escalates anxiety into fear. Worry about the next terrorist attack is today's underlying anxiety just as worry about a nuclear attack was the anxiety underlying the 60's and worry about violent crime was the anxiety underlying the 80's and 90's. People react to fear in a predictable way. It is easy to describe. When in danger and in doubt, run in circles scream and shout.
The people running in circles are wasting energy. Those screaming and shouting are spreading the fear and creating panic. In truly dangerous situations, the function of a leader is to provide the reassurance needed to stop the screaming and shouting and redirecting the wasted effort into confronting and defeating the danger.
That has not been true the Republican Party. The Republicans have worked hard to keep the public focused on their underlying fears, and accepting false reassurance rather than acting to confront and defeat the dangers we actually face. That is not leadership but using propaganda to cynically manipulate voters. Sooner or later dangers reappear and the false reassurance not longer works. Then voters must confront reality. Donald Trump is the face of the Republican Party.
10
At 69 years of age, I can remember hiding under my desk in school in 1954 in preparation for the inevitable nuclear attack from the Soviet Union. I can remember the neighborhood families who lost loved ones fighting the "commies" in Korea. And I myself received a gift from LBJ with his lying Gulf Of Tonkin resolution. Vietnam here I come in order to stop the Domino Theory. When the Soviets collapsed, we had to find a new bogeyman. He was a Muslim. Tomorrow he will be something else, but he will always be there. It's a tactic all imperialist powers employed from the glory days of France, England, Portugal & Spain, to the Medieval times of protecting Jerusalem from the Turks. Our founding fathers used it to rally the common laborer to arm up for war to protect the slave owning landowners from the evil, tyrannical Crown (who generously allowed the colonists to profit on his land). Capitalist, imperialist, ultra nationals will ALWAYS create fear in the ignorant masses. How else can you get stooges to fight for your greed? Nothing works better than fear mongering, except of course waving the flag and invoking the name of Jesus because after all, He is on our side you know. And like the Muslim fool who is promised a thousand virgins in the after life, we are promised an eternity of heavenly bliss when we die for our country. The real question for the reader is not "does fear mongering still work", but rather "when will we ever learn, when will we ever learn?"
49
Sorry but fear will not stop selling, any more than will sex or greed. The more likely outcome is that the product being sold, in this case politics, will be degraded. In fact, this has already happened.
So, fear will continue to win elections but their outcome will be of steadily decreasing consequence. The 1% can have their way through other means.
So, fear will continue to win elections but their outcome will be of steadily decreasing consequence. The 1% can have their way through other means.
4
Fear of change to the status quo, fear of true accountability and fear of the other sells, both for politicians and for the corporate news media is easy to market and sell. Political fear-mongering is what left us having to choose between Clinton and Trump. Not only has political fear-mongering not lost its appeal, it has never been more effective.
1
Interesting about the show '24' and Mr Jack Bauer. The same show would tank today, but post-9/11 was a huge success that hasn't really stayed in the common mind for very long.
It was a weekly paranoid's diary, and it was created for that reason. We were bamboozled, as a people, after that day. Our fear was monetized, at home and abroad.
But not for me. I didn't watch a single show. I sat at home, with a snake-fascination as we invaded Iraq. Fell into a deep depression and left the country. I should have stayed - there was fighting to be done. Sorry.
History should never forgive George Bush. The abominable mismanagement and opportunism should be mentioned every day. Certainly more often than the propaganda TV show that helped to drive it.
We were naive before. But not now. Trump will tank.
It was a weekly paranoid's diary, and it was created for that reason. We were bamboozled, as a people, after that day. Our fear was monetized, at home and abroad.
But not for me. I didn't watch a single show. I sat at home, with a snake-fascination as we invaded Iraq. Fell into a deep depression and left the country. I should have stayed - there was fighting to be done. Sorry.
History should never forgive George Bush. The abominable mismanagement and opportunism should be mentioned every day. Certainly more often than the propaganda TV show that helped to drive it.
We were naive before. But not now. Trump will tank.
26
You can add NCIS to that list.
1
I believe Americans can still be persuaded by fear mongering. It's just that fear has become built-in to everyday existence and in that sense, it has become a new emotional default.
What has changed, and upset the fear mongerers, is that Americans have grown weary of war mongering. The appetite for our nation to police the world and become embroiled in civil and/or religious wars elsewhere has sharply diminished. One recent example of this was the total lack of response to the revelation that more than 50 State Dept. apparatchiks urged a more aggressive U.S. military role in Syria. Not even the reliable GOP war mongerers, like McCain and Graham, had much to say about the idea.
Terror rattling is alive and well, contrary to this writer's belief. Saber rattling, not so much.
What has changed, and upset the fear mongerers, is that Americans have grown weary of war mongering. The appetite for our nation to police the world and become embroiled in civil and/or religious wars elsewhere has sharply diminished. One recent example of this was the total lack of response to the revelation that more than 50 State Dept. apparatchiks urged a more aggressive U.S. military role in Syria. Not even the reliable GOP war mongerers, like McCain and Graham, had much to say about the idea.
Terror rattling is alive and well, contrary to this writer's belief. Saber rattling, not so much.
10
"Republicans have owned the “we’ll protect you” narrative for decades, arguably going back to the early years of the Cold War, but certainly since Ronald Reagan."
And yet it was Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Truman and Johnson who got us into the major conflicts of the 20th century.
Government at all levels should provide two basic functions - protection of life and property. If they can't do that, there is no reason for government in the first place.
"We learned that fear made voters embrace more conservative positions than they might otherwise have."
You don't remember the "Daisy" ad from the 1964 election, do you? The Democrats used fear in reverse - that a Goldwater election would lead us into nuclear war. The Dems did that to Reagan as well. And they are now doing it to Trump. This works both ways.
The main thing I have learned from this election cycle is that most of the "normal rules" don't apply. I support neither Trump nor Hillary. I know both will say what they think is best for them to get elected. I see further division no matter which one becomes President. It is a sad commentary on the American electorate when the two standard bearers for this nation's highest office have such high negative ratings. It is a sad day when the best the Democrats and Republicans have to offer are two people who are not of good character. Both are narcissistic and neither can tell the truth.
And yet it was Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Truman and Johnson who got us into the major conflicts of the 20th century.
Government at all levels should provide two basic functions - protection of life and property. If they can't do that, there is no reason for government in the first place.
"We learned that fear made voters embrace more conservative positions than they might otherwise have."
You don't remember the "Daisy" ad from the 1964 election, do you? The Democrats used fear in reverse - that a Goldwater election would lead us into nuclear war. The Dems did that to Reagan as well. And they are now doing it to Trump. This works both ways.
The main thing I have learned from this election cycle is that most of the "normal rules" don't apply. I support neither Trump nor Hillary. I know both will say what they think is best for them to get elected. I see further division no matter which one becomes President. It is a sad commentary on the American electorate when the two standard bearers for this nation's highest office have such high negative ratings. It is a sad day when the best the Democrats and Republicans have to offer are two people who are not of good character. Both are narcissistic and neither can tell the truth.
4
Fear-mongering will have enormous appeal, contrary to Tomasky's assertion, but what motivates many Trump voters is not fear, but anger at a political system beset with gridlock and quid-pro-quo legislation. What's so remarkable about this moment is how little Trump voters believe he'll follow through on his outrageous claims. Trump, the "successful" businessman, is not beholden to quid-pro-quo politics, he'll just fix things, and will be extraordinarily entertaining in setting to it. America first, in a world whose order is increasingly fragile and fraying: Just the balm to set things right. Recognize that Trump has tagged the media as poisonous, so that the increasingly frantic warnings from journalists about Trump are rendered toothless. Tomasky, the campaign is far from over, there's plenty of fear-mongering to stoke.
6
FEAR MONGERING, the GOP SOP, causes the brain to respond via the emotional pathway. There is a reflexive response that sends information to be processed via the amygdala, using flight or fight behavior. The amygdala also blocks access to the prefrontal cortex where the higher mental processes, or the executive functions of the brain are located. In other words, fear mongering means that voters engage in a reflexive, dumbing down response style. Were they in their right minds, thinking logically and rationally, they would be using the higher mental processes of the brain, or the executive functions, including organization and planning, initiative, problem solving and decision making. The Founders intended universal free public education to prepare citizens to participate in the democratic process of governing. So, using that logic, the GOP fear mongering goes against the original intent of the Founders to encourage and support informed, rational decision making in the electoral process. Strangely, people are more attracted to Trump's purely emotional style and Bernie's rousing delivery than Hillary's detailed, in-depth rational presentation of the facts. She tells us what we need to know; what we need to work on as informed voters to participate in our democracy. It's understandable that viewers prefer entertainment and excitement, no matter how crazed, than the maxed out mental workout that Hillary's communications require. So eat your spinach and do your homework!
21
I believe the 60-year-old "Daisy" commercial is still the gold standard for fear-mongering. In those days, before I was old enough to vote and thought I was going to be a Republican in four years when I would finally be "grown up", it did have an unsettling effect on me.
That it was the work of Democrats was immaterial. That the Republicans now own the copyright on this tactic, and have for more than 4 decades is not. I do not believe that, even in the sixties and with Goldwater in the White House, the Bomb would have been dropped...on us or on Russia. It was still too fresh in people's minds.
Today, with Trump in the Oval Office, I would be beyond unsettled. Unless money is involved, this man has no concept of actions and their consequences. That, or he just doesn't give a damn. Or worse, finds it entertaining.
That it was the work of Democrats was immaterial. That the Republicans now own the copyright on this tactic, and have for more than 4 decades is not. I do not believe that, even in the sixties and with Goldwater in the White House, the Bomb would have been dropped...on us or on Russia. It was still too fresh in people's minds.
Today, with Trump in the Oval Office, I would be beyond unsettled. Unless money is involved, this man has no concept of actions and their consequences. That, or he just doesn't give a damn. Or worse, finds it entertaining.
24
Since September 11, 2001, the American people have been content to live their lives as usual behind a thin red, white and blue line of the 0.75% of Americans who have volunteered to put on the military uniform of any American armed force. The American people "support" their troops by singing the national anthem at sporting events, yelling USA and wearing an American flag pin lapel. So very brave and free? Right?
In the interim our really brave honorable warriors have been ground to emotional, mental and physical dust by multiple depoyments in foreign ethnic sectarian socioeconomic political educational civil wars. Wars that have no American military solution against enemies that are not existential threats to America nor Americans. And yet the Democrats have won the popular vote for President in five out of the last six elections.
Donald Trump has neither the acting nor political experience and talent of Ronald Reagan. Nor does Trump have the rhetorical Reagan gift for ethnic racist war mongering euphemism.
The lesson of Orlando Florida is that most Americans are not LGBT, Latino, black nor brown. The lesson of Sandy Hook Newtown Connecticut is that most Americans are not humble, humane, empathetic nor honorable nor brave.
There is no political nor social science. There is the biological evolutionary DNA genetic scientific reality that we are vertebrate mammal primate apes driven to crave fat, salt, sugar, water, habitat, sex and kin by any means necessary.
In the interim our really brave honorable warriors have been ground to emotional, mental and physical dust by multiple depoyments in foreign ethnic sectarian socioeconomic political educational civil wars. Wars that have no American military solution against enemies that are not existential threats to America nor Americans. And yet the Democrats have won the popular vote for President in five out of the last six elections.
Donald Trump has neither the acting nor political experience and talent of Ronald Reagan. Nor does Trump have the rhetorical Reagan gift for ethnic racist war mongering euphemism.
The lesson of Orlando Florida is that most Americans are not LGBT, Latino, black nor brown. The lesson of Sandy Hook Newtown Connecticut is that most Americans are not humble, humane, empathetic nor honorable nor brave.
There is no political nor social science. There is the biological evolutionary DNA genetic scientific reality that we are vertebrate mammal primate apes driven to crave fat, salt, sugar, water, habitat, sex and kin by any means necessary.
12
Anticipatory fear without a direct immediate cause is a useful evolutionary response when it prompts long-term thinking that enhances our ability to survive. But evolution is not always a straight line. Hence extinction. Fear is crippling when it keeps you from adapting to the world you live in and embracing it in all its unfamiliar complexity.
Fear of The Other is useful when it ensures the survival of your tribe. But that depends on how you define the boundaries of your tribe. If you think of yourself as living on Noah's Ark as the special few, or scrambling for a place on one of the Titanic's lifeboats, you lack the altruism we need to ensure the survival of our species at large. Sometimes you need a bigger boat—a bigger tribe—a different and better metaphor for cultivating community.
I'm a late middle-aged white woman from Appalachia, but when I saw CNN's repeated memorial of the victims, their names, their beautiful faces, I saw mainly Latino names, skin color darker than mine, many with African descent. I know from the social circumstances that many or most are LGBTQ. But they are the kind of tribe I identify with. I identify with the senseless grief of their parents. With my British-Scandinavian-Irish-Western European-touch of Iberian Peninsula DNA, I do not have to identify with Donald Trump. I am tired of public discourse dominated by fear, distrust, bigotry and hatefulness. Guns symbolize death, not freedom. I identify with a free rainbow America.
Fear of The Other is useful when it ensures the survival of your tribe. But that depends on how you define the boundaries of your tribe. If you think of yourself as living on Noah's Ark as the special few, or scrambling for a place on one of the Titanic's lifeboats, you lack the altruism we need to ensure the survival of our species at large. Sometimes you need a bigger boat—a bigger tribe—a different and better metaphor for cultivating community.
I'm a late middle-aged white woman from Appalachia, but when I saw CNN's repeated memorial of the victims, their names, their beautiful faces, I saw mainly Latino names, skin color darker than mine, many with African descent. I know from the social circumstances that many or most are LGBTQ. But they are the kind of tribe I identify with. I identify with the senseless grief of their parents. With my British-Scandinavian-Irish-Western European-touch of Iberian Peninsula DNA, I do not have to identify with Donald Trump. I am tired of public discourse dominated by fear, distrust, bigotry and hatefulness. Guns symbolize death, not freedom. I identify with a free rainbow America.
116
C Wolfe - Bloomington
Brava !
Brava !
1
I had an argument with an old friend on Facebook a few days ago about the Orlando massacre.
The friend wanted to try Obama for treason.
I pointed-out that not only did Obama give the order to kill Osama, but he also has killed thousands of terrorists since 2009.
My friend countered by saying that there are still tens-of-thousands of other terrorists out there.
There was really no point in continuing our discussion any further, as what could I say to a man so consumed by fear?
The friend wanted to try Obama for treason.
I pointed-out that not only did Obama give the order to kill Osama, but he also has killed thousands of terrorists since 2009.
My friend countered by saying that there are still tens-of-thousands of other terrorists out there.
There was really no point in continuing our discussion any further, as what could I say to a man so consumed by fear?
138
We kill far more innocent civilians than terrorists. In Afghanistan children only go out to play when its raining, because that is when there are no drones.
It is our military that goes around the world terrorizing people for corporate profits. If there was no oil under those deserts, would we have ever gone there? If we had never used our overt and covert power to control that oil, would a desert people feel a need to come here to kill people.
I'm not saying the Middle East is an inherently peaceful place. The history of the last few thousand years is rife with invading armies sweeping away empires to create new empires. But the last time it happened it was the British redrawing the maps, supported by us, and those maps were kept stable (until Iraq) by our CIA keeping people in power by helping them terrorize their own populations.
The idea that we could impose our will all over the world and remain unscathed was fantasy. The anomaly is not that terrorists are coming here, but that there are so few of them. Considering our projection of military and intelligence forces into every country on earth, overthrowing democratically elected leaders and imposing violent leaders on many of them, training their militaries, intelligence services, and death squads in terror and torture, why don't we have a steady stream of people coming from around the world for revenge.
It is time to have a positive foreign policy, to actually back up our rhetoric with non-military action.
It is our military that goes around the world terrorizing people for corporate profits. If there was no oil under those deserts, would we have ever gone there? If we had never used our overt and covert power to control that oil, would a desert people feel a need to come here to kill people.
I'm not saying the Middle East is an inherently peaceful place. The history of the last few thousand years is rife with invading armies sweeping away empires to create new empires. But the last time it happened it was the British redrawing the maps, supported by us, and those maps were kept stable (until Iraq) by our CIA keeping people in power by helping them terrorize their own populations.
The idea that we could impose our will all over the world and remain unscathed was fantasy. The anomaly is not that terrorists are coming here, but that there are so few of them. Considering our projection of military and intelligence forces into every country on earth, overthrowing democratically elected leaders and imposing violent leaders on many of them, training their militaries, intelligence services, and death squads in terror and torture, why don't we have a steady stream of people coming from around the world for revenge.
It is time to have a positive foreign policy, to actually back up our rhetoric with non-military action.
4
...and hate(of Obama)! A lethal combination; blinds the eye, interferes with rationality & ensuing judgement.
5
There will always be fear and fearful people. The issue isn't the emotion so much as the response to fear.
Unfortunately, America lives -- and dies -- by the gun. Many citizens are armed to the teeth, all out of proportion to the actual physical threat. To some, the American military cannot be too big or too strong, and the national security state and industrial complex are more than happy to take and waste our tax dollars. Our national response to fear will remain irrational as long as there is money to be made.
Unfortunately, America lives -- and dies -- by the gun. Many citizens are armed to the teeth, all out of proportion to the actual physical threat. To some, the American military cannot be too big or too strong, and the national security state and industrial complex are more than happy to take and waste our tax dollars. Our national response to fear will remain irrational as long as there is money to be made.
83
The author iis trying to use this both ways, that Americans did not take this to be a terrorist attack, and that this shows something about how Americans now react to a terrorist attack.
Either it was or it was not understood in terms of a terrorist attack, not both. He says that only 14% took it as a terrorist attack. Almost everybody thought it was all or mostly something else.
It does not who how Americans would react to something they thought was a major terrorist attack.
Either it was or it was not understood in terms of a terrorist attack, not both. He says that only 14% took it as a terrorist attack. Almost everybody thought it was all or mostly something else.
It does not who how Americans would react to something they thought was a major terrorist attack.
15
These loan wolves are just suicides trying make their deaths significant by association with topical labels.
2
"Either it was or it was not understood in terms of a terrorist attack..."
Not if you take media preference into account. It was amazing to watch events and interpretations unfold through various perspectives.
The non-reactionary press by and large reported a developing narrative that this MAY have been radical Islam at work, but then began to tell the more nuanced story that this guy had serious mental/emotional issues and was just throwing in the Isis business for effect.
FOX News, Washington Times etc., jumped on the Jihadi bandwagon and is still riding it for all it's worth - in traditional fear-mongering style.
Which, in keep with the author's theme, I find reassuring. The right-wing noise bubble is getting increasingly shrill as it shrinks in size and influence.
Not if you take media preference into account. It was amazing to watch events and interpretations unfold through various perspectives.
The non-reactionary press by and large reported a developing narrative that this MAY have been radical Islam at work, but then began to tell the more nuanced story that this guy had serious mental/emotional issues and was just throwing in the Isis business for effect.
FOX News, Washington Times etc., jumped on the Jihadi bandwagon and is still riding it for all it's worth - in traditional fear-mongering style.
Which, in keep with the author's theme, I find reassuring. The right-wing noise bubble is getting increasingly shrill as it shrinks in size and influence.
4
True. And the fact that most people think that Trump is an idiot doesn't say much about the issue either.
The 9/11 was truly frightening not only for the US but for the whole world, and it was fully exploited by George Bush in the name of fighting global war against terrorism. However, ever since his hidden agenda of seeking the US unilateral dominance in the world through launching an aggressive global war against terrorism started revealing to the world with an unbearable domestic cost, and Obama hsd tried to reverse the drift by effecting the course correction in the US policy, domestic and foreign, the public perception about the terror threat underwent a major shift, becoming more realistic. So, Trump's fear mongering, both before the Orlando and afterwards, would have the same impact on the popular mind as the 9/11 could have, seems doubtful. Moreover, given the complexity of the US presidential elections system, it's not certain that Trump's success in the primaries would be repeated at the electoral college vote count stage or through the real popular vote percentage he receives at the end.
46
A lot of wishful thinking here. Americans are too conservative not to think that God is always on their side. They are too conservative to believe in racial tolerance. They are too conservative to think that government should represent social progress for all. When Americans become truly liberal we won't have to worry about who is in a public washroom, when a woman decides to have an abortion, and condemning to hell men who marry men and women who marry women.
103
The vision of a better, more decent, and more just society under liberal influence is clearly correct. But if all Americans really are racially intolerant, how do you explain the election, and re-election, of Barack Obama? The arc of history, as King said, bends toward justice. It's difficult in a time of Trump to recognize it, but we are moving in the right direction, if only in fits and starts and way too slowly.
5
Part of that has to do with terrible political big picture thinking by the Democrats and in my onion Obama's biggest failure as the leader of the party. Republicans have done a brilliant job of winning the legislative and local seats in states throughout the country. The ideas you mention, public washrooms, abortion, etc. are the result of a very small percentage of right wing voters going to the polls and the minority obtaining the power to enact their heinous laws, including voter suppression.
Obama rejected Howard Dean's 50 state strategy, designed to lift Democrats into office in states that are normally conservative. Dean's efforts (and Bush's failures) won the entire Congress in 2006.
Hillary's organization, backed by Dean, is revising that idea. She is working on creating a permanent 50 state presence by Democrats throughout the country, hopefully ensuring the majority opinions reflected by liberalism, become the majority of governing as well.
Obama rejected Howard Dean's 50 state strategy, designed to lift Democrats into office in states that are normally conservative. Dean's efforts (and Bush's failures) won the entire Congress in 2006.
Hillary's organization, backed by Dean, is revising that idea. She is working on creating a permanent 50 state presence by Democrats throughout the country, hopefully ensuring the majority opinions reflected by liberalism, become the majority of governing as well.
7
Nowhere do I say "all" Americans.
2
"But first let’s go back in time. Republicans have owned the “we’ll protect you” narrative for decades, arguably going back to the early years of the Cold War, but certainly since Ronald Reagan." I disagree with this. The GOP has not protected us and their facile statements about how bad government is, coupled with what they have done to make government worse have left us in a weaker position than we were before Reagan took office. We are more susceptible to the jingoism and easy slogans and explanations the GOP/Trump put forth to explain and solve our problems.
Rather than investing in America and Americans the GOP has danced to the tunes of their corporate masters who wanted less regulations and less government oversight. These same corporations use our roads, used to hire us, pollute our environment, and then move their monies overseas to avoid paying for the damage they cause. This has deprived us of funds we need to upgrade and improve much of our infrastructure. While this has gone on the GOP has looked the other way.
In other words the GOP is guilty of allowing America to fall apart. They have relied upon slogans and wedge issues to camouflage the facts which show how little they care and how little they have done to help all Americans have safe and decent lives. The attacks on September 11, 2001 were a gift for the GOP to start several wars and avoid the issues that needed to be dealt with here. None of this is reassuring.
Rather than investing in America and Americans the GOP has danced to the tunes of their corporate masters who wanted less regulations and less government oversight. These same corporations use our roads, used to hire us, pollute our environment, and then move their monies overseas to avoid paying for the damage they cause. This has deprived us of funds we need to upgrade and improve much of our infrastructure. While this has gone on the GOP has looked the other way.
In other words the GOP is guilty of allowing America to fall apart. They have relied upon slogans and wedge issues to camouflage the facts which show how little they care and how little they have done to help all Americans have safe and decent lives. The attacks on September 11, 2001 were a gift for the GOP to start several wars and avoid the issues that needed to be dealt with here. None of this is reassuring.
374
Good luck trying to convince people about all this. Americans have become "true believers" in any idiotic nonsense that's thrown at them to make them feel good.
1
Yes, thank you for you said it very well! The GOP is also guilty for allowing the gap to widen between the rich and the poor, the middle class to shrink and the very wealthy to amass even more money secondary to tax lop holes, big tax breaks and allowing companies and the very wealthy to shelter money in off shore accounts. I am not saying that the Democratrs in Congress did not lend a helping hand but what I am saying is that the GOP was the the driver on most of those issues.
4
Another issue of course is that the NRA as well as the gun and ammunition industry benefited greatly from the fear mongering of the GOP. This in turn allowed the NRA to "buy" the Congessional GOP members in order to further the NRA's cause and do their bidding and of course the gun and amunition manufacurers made money hand over fist. This is clearly evidenced by the increased sale of all kind of guns every time we have a mass shooting.
7
"You can’t stoke fear if you can’t also reassure. It won’t work. If you want to make people scared and force them to turn to you as their protector, you have to demonstrate that you are worthy of being that protector."
This is an excellent point. And one often overlooked. Trump may reassure his small base, but he injects fear in the rest of the country, so that his message is actually double fear: fear for listening to his reaction and fear that this guy is actually running for President.
But something said here has me more concerned, and it's this: every time President Obama has to come out and address another mass shooting, he states how sad it is that the nation is becoming inured to these attacks. That mass shootings have lost their impact, their ability to shock.
So, to think that terrorism which on the surface to some seems far more scary is creating a kind of terrorism fatigue, a new normal, is equally sobering. But like a shell-shocked soldier, at some point, the brain shuts down to a barrage of bullets.
I would like to think that the power to shock hasn't been exhausted here, but then again, I've been wrong too often during this most awful, of awful years.
This is an excellent point. And one often overlooked. Trump may reassure his small base, but he injects fear in the rest of the country, so that his message is actually double fear: fear for listening to his reaction and fear that this guy is actually running for President.
But something said here has me more concerned, and it's this: every time President Obama has to come out and address another mass shooting, he states how sad it is that the nation is becoming inured to these attacks. That mass shootings have lost their impact, their ability to shock.
So, to think that terrorism which on the surface to some seems far more scary is creating a kind of terrorism fatigue, a new normal, is equally sobering. But like a shell-shocked soldier, at some point, the brain shuts down to a barrage of bullets.
I would like to think that the power to shock hasn't been exhausted here, but then again, I've been wrong too often during this most awful, of awful years.
210
The silent majority is angry, not fearful. The vast majority of Americans have finally figured out that increasing production and working harder has done nothing but increase the wealth of the top 1% global financial elite. They also realize the BIG democracy-destroying money masters have bought the republican party and put those republican operatives, along with some democrats and independents, seats in every level of OUR government to cater to their wishes. People are finally waking up to just how much has been stolen from OUR taxpayer treasure, 401Ks and consumer dollars and plan to clean America's house of their dupes on November 8 and every election before and after. Anyone who needs a reminder of just how bad it is can watch this video, which went viral in the last year. It is NOT acceptable.
http://mashable.com/2013/03/02/wealth-inequality/
http://mashable.com/2013/03/02/wealth-inequality/
154
njglea - In no particular rank order:
To counteract the proven, verifiable effects of the donor class on politicians catering only to those donors' issues:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2014/04/08/rich-peopl...
we need to change how campaigns are financed, ending legalized bribery.
Next is enlarging the House of Representatives, to more nearly match our " Founders' Intent ", bringing voters closer to those they elect:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/enlarging-the-house-of-repr...
instead of the House becoming more and more remote, as each succeeding representative has more and more constituents - the more Representatives there are, the harder (more expensive) it is for special interests to write legislation/control the agenda.
And Dems along with the DNC urgently need to file lawsuits in Red States that would end the egregious gerrymandering, implementing the SCOTUS decision in April which upheld fairly drawn district lines in Arizona:
(see next link; NYTimes would only accept 2 hyper-links per post)
It is too often forgotten that after China and India, we are the most populous nation on the planet; if we don't act to make sure politicians are responsive to hoi polloi needs, we're condemning Americans who follow us to lives as sheeple.
To counteract the proven, verifiable effects of the donor class on politicians catering only to those donors' issues:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2014/04/08/rich-peopl...
we need to change how campaigns are financed, ending legalized bribery.
Next is enlarging the House of Representatives, to more nearly match our " Founders' Intent ", bringing voters closer to those they elect:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/enlarging-the-house-of-repr...
instead of the House becoming more and more remote, as each succeeding representative has more and more constituents - the more Representatives there are, the harder (more expensive) it is for special interests to write legislation/control the agenda.
And Dems along with the DNC urgently need to file lawsuits in Red States that would end the egregious gerrymandering, implementing the SCOTUS decision in April which upheld fairly drawn district lines in Arizona:
(see next link; NYTimes would only accept 2 hyper-links per post)
It is too often forgotten that after China and India, we are the most populous nation on the planet; if we don't act to make sure politicians are responsive to hoi polloi needs, we're condemning Americans who follow us to lives as sheeple.
29
2
But the "silent majority" didn't figure out wealth inequality well enough to vote in the primary for the Dem candidate that highlighted that issue. Instead they chose a hawk from the 1%.
2
The author says " It was around this time that I first started reading about the amygdala, the part of the brain that plays a key role in processing our emotional responses, including fear. I doubt they were reading this social science in the George W. Bush White House, but they clearly got it. "
We would disagree; there is ample evidence across some decades that with Karl Rove in Dubya's West Wing, nothing regarding voter manipulation was ignored by GOP'ers.
We would disagree; there is ample evidence across some decades that with Karl Rove in Dubya's West Wing, nothing regarding voter manipulation was ignored by GOP'ers.
167
I think David Brooks has the solution - if you look at his interview with Dan Siegel (back in his days of writing columns about neuroscience) you'll find there are specific practices (such as mindfulness) which work to calm the amygdala.
In fact, someone online has suggested that mindfulness - as it both calms the amygdala and increases activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, which in turn tends to increase individuals' liberal tendencies - might be the cure for extreme conservatism!
www.remember-to-breathe.org
In fact, someone online has suggested that mindfulness - as it both calms the amygdala and increases activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, which in turn tends to increase individuals' liberal tendencies - might be the cure for extreme conservatism!
www.remember-to-breathe.org
3
In order to have fear mongering work, a person has to suspend his/her sense of history and awareness of the wider world. Just in my lifetime, there have been homegrown terrorists of many stripes the SDS, Weather Underground, the FNLN (Puerto Rican) etc., as well as Timothy McVey, Ted Kozinski, and others. There have been mass shooters going back the U. of Texas, Luby's Cafeteria, school shootings too numerous to count... There have been assassinations - JFK, RFK, MLK and wars across the globe - many were ones in which our young died.
Yes, we were attacked on 9/11 and that was different (Pearl Harbor is a far away to mainland dwellers), but most of us know that life is one big risk. Death can certainly come capriciously - there's luck in it all. Most of us can be jarred by the most recent tragedy, but few of us live in the fear for long. Life would be very depressing if we held onto those initial feelings of horror and fear through months or years. Joy would be impossible. Most of us are also realists who know that there is only so much we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We also know that we are more likely to die in a car crash or struck down by a heart attack than we are to die in a terror attack. Fear mongering works with a sub set of the population, especially the conspiracy soaked crowd who are already a bit paranoid. For others it might work briefly after some tragedy. After that life goes on and so do we.
Yes, we were attacked on 9/11 and that was different (Pearl Harbor is a far away to mainland dwellers), but most of us know that life is one big risk. Death can certainly come capriciously - there's luck in it all. Most of us can be jarred by the most recent tragedy, but few of us live in the fear for long. Life would be very depressing if we held onto those initial feelings of horror and fear through months or years. Joy would be impossible. Most of us are also realists who know that there is only so much we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We also know that we are more likely to die in a car crash or struck down by a heart attack than we are to die in a terror attack. Fear mongering works with a sub set of the population, especially the conspiracy soaked crowd who are already a bit paranoid. For others it might work briefly after some tragedy. After that life goes on and so do we.
226
I have been affected, a husband downtown on 9/11, a string of friends and neighbors killed. A vacation in London 7/7, friends and family participated in The Boston Marathon a couple years ago. In many ways terror has become a cornerstone of my life. It has not dragged us down but my family has become very politically active. I find it strange that New York chose the two most unlikeable Presidential Candidates. (Clinton and Trump) Why wouldn't you want a nice fatherly man, Bernie Sanders who is safe and sage? No FBI investigations and above the fray. The politics of fear has overwhelmed the presumptive Presidential candidates, both Trump and the Clintons.
5
Wonderful comment.
1
Perhaps Sanders is above the fray for lack of attention by the powers-that-be.
Bernie Sanders.....no fear there.
He gets my vote, even if I have to write it in.
Bernie Sanders.....no fear there.
He gets my vote, even if I have to write it in.