24 Comments
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Jul 21, 2023
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Ellen Zucker's avatar

Totally agree John. The prospect of living under a second Trump administration is chilling. Ruth is correct. We’ve been warned. We cannot allow that to happen.

Steve Rasmussen's avatar

Trump has groomed his people with techniques like his promotion of binary thinking. You're either with the deep state or you're against them. If you're not with me, you're for the deep state. Trump good, Dems evil. ........................Zero nuance to be seen here.

He also likes to say that he is protecting his followers from the evil outsiders. He loves to say that it's not Trump they're after, it's you, my followers. They feel threatened by this supposed attack and huddle close to their savior. It simply polarizes the nation further, which is what he wants. He's building an army of followers so strident that they would be willing to kill for him. This is classic narcissistic triangulation. If this sounds a bit like the Manson clan, it should.

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Jul 21, 2023
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Steve Rasmussen's avatar

They have no problem killing people if they feel they can get away with it. Pinochet is another example of a sociopath who killed by proxy. And to think we have people in the US cheering Trump on. WTF?

Anne's avatar

I found a pretty good article about the Dark Tetrad. OMG! It’s scary! This guy T**** is one sick man. Worse than I ever thought. https://www.insider.com/dark-tetrad-personality-traits-what-they-are-and-what-they-mean-2018-10

Steve Rasmussen's avatar

The reason why these people are so dangerous is that they have no conscience; they don't know right from wrong. They don't have an ethical guard rail.

Anne's avatar

That really gives me the chills and makes me feel sick. To think this could really actually happen here in the US is just beyond words. Great comment Steve.

Steve Rasmussen's avatar

Thanks Ann. Trump suffers from the Dark Tetrad Personailty. These people are highly manipulative and dangerous. Most of the world's worst leaders have had this personality; psychopathy, sadism, Machiavellianism and narcissism. It is rule by the worst-- kakistocracy.

Sarah Marshall's avatar

Enjoy your vacation, Ruth!

Lance Hartwich's avatar

Vacation? What's that??? Anyway, enjoy!

Gayle Donsky's avatar

Another great interview. Have a wonderful and well-deserved vacation.

Gwen Ito's avatar

I just became a paid subscriber. I appreciate all the work you do and the knowledge you share. Most of it is horrifying, but I would rather have a clear-eyed view of the possibilities so that I can do my small part to resist rather than wake up to a dictatorship one day.

JAMES LEONARD's avatar

Welcome to Lucid, I am so glad I joined. I have gotten a lot out of my experiences here. I share your view about knowing the horrifying truth and then often wonder why it calms me. I think it is because it aligns the reality I am experiencing with a rational set of facts. IDK =]

Gary Kloner's avatar

Ruth has emerged as one of the country's leading experts on authoritarianism. I always learn form her expertise!

Enjoy your vacation!

Beth Feldman's avatar

Glad to be a subscriber! I love when I see you on MSNBC! We must all hear what you have to share!

Charlie Austin's avatar

Thanks again, Ruth. Enjoy your vacation.

Ellen Zucker's avatar

Enjoy your vacation Ruth. You earned it. As you previously said, self-care is essential as things are only going to intensify as the 2024 election gets closer.

Hoping people are listening and taking your warning to heart.

JA's avatar

Warnings each and every single day! IF Trump returned to office, and we suffer disastrous results, WE the People deserve what we receive! Get off the chair, get out there and register! Most of all be prepared to VOTE BLUE! We must get the House back, hold on to the Senate, and take over ALL powers politically! Make ourselves heard and mean it! The present Supreme Court would be so different IF Hillary Clinton had been elected! WE the People got sluggish, and Trump the con man/little neo-dictator walked in. This CANNOT happen again, but it is up to YOU!

Ruthie Butz's avatar

Positive: Love the picture. Reminds me of sailing off Vancouver Island at sunset, as well as Pensacola Bay a few years later. Wonderful.

Negative and true: I missed seeing you with Ali Velchi on MSNBC. What you say is always good reminders of our current state of danger. I feel like screaming at and shaking some of the ones giving us "news" (I don't mean Fox nonsense). They seem to be lollygagging and speaking about stuff that means so little compared to the danger we are all in. Dems and many usually sensible Americans don't seem to be truly awake and alert to reality and the possibility of future destruction. I once found dictionary words I typed on to 4 pages to describe Trump and others like him. He definitely is a psychopath but the one word that fits him and his followers best is DESTROYER! Ruthie B.

Tom Quigley's avatar

Excellent photo! Question: What do Donald Trump and Robert Oppenheimer have in common? Both are ‘destroyers of worlds.’