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To the editor:
The ugly break-up of the Trump-Musk bromance was predictable. Eventually, everyone associated with Donald Trump lives to regret it; ambitious youth enrolled in his fake university, donors to his bogus charity, even the women in Trump’s life become his victims. When Trump is done extracting what he wants from someone, he discards them like used Kleenex.
Trump’s trash heap is quite large. It’s filled with ex-wives, lawyers, business associates and “suckers” who believed in him. One day, MAGA supporters will see what Musk now knows — a mutually beneficial relationship with Trump, built upon trust and respect, is not possible. In Trump’s transactional worldview, he wins, you lose.
Pamela Hemphill, a.k.a. the MAGA Granny, found that out the hard way. A hardcore Trump supporter, Hemphill took part in the January 6 riot. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in prison with 36 months of probation and ordered to pay $500 restitution. Hemphill was included in Trump’s blanket pardon of J6 insurrectionists, but she refused it saying “It’s an insult to the Capitol Police, to the rule of law and to the nation. If I accept a pardon, I’m continuing their propaganda, their gaslighting,” adding “I lost my critical thinking, now I know it was a cult, and I was in a cult.
So far, most of the MAGA cult isn’t as clear-eyed as Hemphill, but that will change as they find themselves in Trump’s rubbish bin. To borrow from Jim Gettys in Citizen Kane, “I'd say what happened on J6 should be a lesson to MAGA. Only you're going to need more than one lesson. And you're going to get more than one lesson.”
Joseph Cannisi
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J.Donne
Your "delusional prediction" that MAGA supporters will eventually realize their relationship with Trump is transactional, as he allegedly discards those who no longer serve his interests, using Pamela Hemphill, a 1/6 protestor, who foolishly refused Trump's pardon, as evidence that some MAGA supporters are beginning to see the truth, is wishful thinking!
Wednesday, June 11 Report this
reenjoe
J. Donne, thank you for demonstrating what passes for "values" among MAGA supporters.
Pamela Hemphill takes a principled stance, refusing a pardon she sees as insult to the rule of law, the nation and the 140 Capitol officers injured and 5 who died on 1/6, and you call her foolish.
What a mensch!
Wednesday, June 11 Report this
J.Donne
I did not say that Pamela Hemphill is foolish, or that the foolish Pamela Hemphill, etc.
I said, using Pamela Hemphill, a 1/6 protestor, who foolishly (lacking good judgement) refused Trump's pardon.
Thank you for exclaiming: What a mensch!
I appreciate the compliment.
Friday, June 13 Report this
J.Donne
The main idea of your letter is that you predict that MAGA supporters will eventually come to terms with the fact that their relationship with President Trump is transactional. You support this claim by citing the example of Pamela Hemphill, a 1/6 rioter who refused Trump’s pardon, as evidence that some Trump supporters are beginning to grasp the truth. However, I strongly disagree with your prediction.
Saturday, June 14 Report this
reenjoe
J. Donne, you may disagree with my assertion that some MAGA supporters will follow Ms. Hemphill's lead and one day fall out with Trump. You may even describe that assertion as "delusional".
However, approval ratings support my assertion and disagree with yours. According to RealClearPolitics, a survey group known to favor conservatives, Trump approval on 1/27 was 50.5%, disapproval 44.3%. By 6/14 the ratings flipped. Approval is now 46.6% and disapproval is 50.4%.
As for splitting hairs over semantics - whether Hemphill foolishly rejected a pardon (lacking good judgment) or that she is foolish - I call that a distinction without a difference. I also question what it says about your judgment that you belittle her brave, selfless decision.
Finally, I never claimed that all MAGA supporters would come to understand that they have been used, only the ones willing to take off their blinders and face up to the fact that they were wrong.
5 days ago Report this
J.Donne
Trump supporters are more resolute in their support for Trump\. The Biden administration’s ineptitude has led to an immigration crisis, rampant inflation, and funding of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. “Brilliant leadership, Biden!”
2 days ago Report this