Cult of Personality

Many months ago, I got into an argument on Facebook over me stating that Trump loyalty was a cult of personality. The person I dialogued with was offended that I used the word "cult." In their mind, cult was a religious word and basically meant that I was equating Trumpism to Jonestown and the drinking of Kool-Aid. It was me denying their loyalty to Christ. I certainly didn't mean a religious cult, but the word is proving accurate with regard to allegiance at all costs. Cases in point:

1. This week, an audio recording was released of a conversation between the Maricopa County Recorder and Arizona Attorney General's office investigators. In the tape, the investigators addressed the anomalies concerning data storage of election results, alluding to voting machine issues. While voting machines were used, they were only used in Maricopa County to count "paper" ballots. The recent Republican funded recounts [plural] in AZ have been done by hand of paper ballots, not taintable computer data. Yet, Trumpists maintain the claim of fraud... It's been similar in other recounts around the country, with several recounts all saying that Biden won fairly. The definition of insanity is, after all, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. When is enough?

My fear is that this sets a bad precedence for future elections, for either political side. This is not Al Gore challenging George Bush over hanging chads and a severely close race. Every candidate has the right to challenge an election and ask for a recount. Trump has been different. One year later and he's still yelling fraud and Republicans are still seeking after nebulous proofs of voter fraud. It has jumped the shark into conspiracy theory and insanity. It says to people, nothing is trustworthy. And if we can't trust even the checks and balances in our system because we didn't get our desired results, then the system is deemed broken and Trump could be made a savior figure. This is how power is given away from the people to a person. If the people trust a single man over a procedural structure -- an institution of liberty, mind you -- like the vote, then we have lost and are giving over to demagoguery.

2. We learned this week that the Republican National Convention (RNC) is picking up part of Trump's "personal" legal bills in NY. This is over stuff that was NOT part of his presidency. Trump remains the figurehead of the party, so much so, that the party is backing him outside of politics. Sheesh!

And,

3. The Wyoming Republican Party voted last week to boot Rep. Liz Cheney from the party because she holds an opinion apart from Trump's. She denies his election buffoonery and suspects his responsibility for the January 6th insurrection. Rather than having the freedom to hold an opinion, which oddly is a Wyoming rugged-individualist cowboy ethic, the party is offended that she differs from Trump, who is no longer in office. On every other issue, Cheney falls lockstep in line with party politics. I guess if you suspect Trump's lunacy, it's your political throat. 

Of course, the response might be that she is a representative and is so beholden to represent her constituency. True, but this doesn't squelch personal views. She was elected because of her views and character, which largely mesh well with Wyoming. But now it would seem that Wyoming Republicans (at least those in control) have placed their loyalties with a single man and not the breadth and depth of party positions. Is this not a cult of personality?  

Why do I dislike Trump? 

It isn't a difference of political opinion. Granted, I disagreed with several of his policies and practices, from immigration to nationalism to trade and industry protectionism. But it is his overarching presence and disregard for procedure and political order, with a seemingly more rabid following of loyalists that has me concerned. 

I have been accused as having what some call "Trump Derangement Syndrome." The truth is that I am a historian and I see the through-lines of historical models. I am informed and see beyond the hype, straight to the potentialities of political danger. This is no syndrome, but studied history and political thought. 

My opinion is that this dude is unhinged and power-mad, who happens to follow the plays of the fascist playbook in his approach to the media, self-promotion, blaming others, propaganda, and conspiracy theories. His is/was the making of an autocrat or dictator. When people labeled him as fascist, which was not entirely true by definition, I used to cringe. But his tendencies have indeed leaned that way. Provided that he maintains or increases his loyalty-base, Trump could become all that his opposition fears and sees in him. So yes, there is indeed a cult of personality here, and it's potentially more problematic than any religious cult, because it affects not only its adherents, but you and me. Forget willfully drinking the Kool-Aid within this cult by members; here we are all subject to coerced infusion of the soft drink.