In 50 years, once we speak about this period of American politics, it will likely be really inconceivable to seize the chaos, exhaustion, darkness, and madness of Donald Trump’s presidencies.
There gained’t be satisfactory phrases to explain how a lot modified in such a brief time frame, due to Trump’s utter debasement of the workplace, and the GOP’s determination to comply with him down one of many ugliest paths possible, all of the whereas abandoning rules, morals, and primary widespread decency.
Once we inform our youngsters and grandkids {that a} main political celebration in America nominated a convicted felon to be president, a person who incited an rebel on the U.S. Capitol, a person who was discovered chargeable for sexual abuse — and that that celebration was as soon as the celebration of “household values,” the Christian Coalition, and legislation and order, who would imagine us?
Trump’s corruption of conservatism, evangelicalism, the legislation, the Structure, and democracy has additionally had the regrettable impact of turning MAGA’s mouthpieces, together with sitting lawmakers, into completely reprehensible ghouls.
Let’s begin with Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a person I’ve frolicked with and used to actually admire earlier than he contracted MAGA mind rot, like so many different once-normal and first rate conservatives.
Within the wake of the grotesque shootings of two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers and their spouses, Lee took to social media. As a result of, proper after a tragedy, it’s all the time finest to attempt to rating political factors with an viewers of bots and trolls.
First, he posted on X, alongside a photograph of the alleged gunman, “That is what occurs when Marxists don’t get their approach.”
After which, “Nightmare on Waltz [sic] Road.”
To place into context how grotesque that is, he posted this lower than 24 hours after the capturing, whereas Minnesotans had been nonetheless processing the horrific occasions of a focused assassination and the gunman was nonetheless on the unfastened.
After all, there’s additionally the truth that Lee obtained the politics of the gunman all mistaken, assuming incorrectly that he was liberal. Whereas he was tapped for a panel by Minnesota Gov. Mike Walz at one level — thus the “nightmare” publish — Vance Boelter had a kill listing of dozens of Dem lawmakers and abortion suppliers, was an outspoken evangelical Christian, and in accordance with individuals who knew him was a powerful supporter of Trump.
After receiving widespread condemnation for the unconscionable posts, Lee quietly eliminated them, however has not apologized. What a shame he’s develop into.
MAGA mind rot has had one other impact, which is to place fixing issues for People final on the listing of lawmakers’ priorities. As a substitute a very powerful job and political foreign money has develop into proving their loyalty to Trump.
This week, former Fox Information host and Trump pal Tucker Carlson interviewed Sen. Ted Cruz, with the brewing Iran/Israel warfare as the primary focus.
Carlson, to his credit score, tried to pin Cruz down on some primary info about Iran, saying, “For those who’re calling for toppling a authorities, it’s incumbent on you to know one thing in regards to the nation and to assume by the implications of that. And also you haven’t and also you don’t. And I’m saying that’s reckless.”
After proving he knew little or no about Iran, Cruz dismissed Carlson’s requests for primary info and, with nowhere to go on substance, he predictably turned to MAGA’s favourite dodge — questioning Carlson’s loyalty to Trump.
“OK, you have interaction in reckless rhetoric with no info, and to be clear, you place out a publication attacking Donald Trump and calling him complicit,” Cruz whined.
Carlson, not desirous to be out-Trumped, replied, “I campaigned for Donald Trump, and that is like, after antisemitism, that is the final refuge, ‘You’re an antisemite and also you hate Trump!’ I really like Trump.”
So now, as a result of a senator shamefully can’t reply questions on a rustic we’d go to warfare towards, we’re off the precise subject and onto a pissing contest over who’s the larger Trump sycophant. Pathetic.
One other attribute of MAGA mind rot? It leads very sensible individuals to make very dumb choices.
Final week, former Trump legal professional John Eastman was instructed by a California appellate disciplinary panel that the advice to disbar him for his efforts to assist overturn the 2020 election would stand. One other choose had beforehand concluded Eastman had dedicated “a number of acts of ethical turpitude” in service of Trump and his phony, ego-driven claims of election fraud.
Eastman is joined by many different former Trump attorneys who’ve since seen their legislation licenses taken away, both briefly or completely, and their reputations destroyed, from Michael Cohen to Jenna Ellis, Rudy Giuliani to Kenneth Chesebro, all as a result of they obtained in mattress with Trump and made horrible selections.
No matter you considered these individuals earlier than Trump — and I’ve recognized a lot of them personally — it’s arduous to think about they’d have sunk so low with out his imprimatur, with out his struggling virtually no penalties for being a horrible particular person, with out him dragging everybody in his orbit into the gutter with him.
They justify all of it as a result of Trump has satisfied them that appearing like he does is in some way a righteous trigger that supersedes morality, the Ten Commandments, and primary human decency.
No matter precise points draw voters in — and a few are completely legit — they’re utterly corrupted by MAGA mind rot. It’s actual, it’s disgusting, it’s contagious, and it would simply be incurable.
S.E. Cupp is the host of “S.E. Cupp Unfiltered” on CNN.
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