I must be getting old,here I was thinking a country can choose their own leader,however they go about it.
But now it seems anyone must meet with POTUS’s approval or he/she “wont last long,”that should go down a treat,around the world…He is as mad as a cut snake!
A fascinating look here at how religion shaped the US and now appears conflicted , if not traumatised , by its consequences.
“More and more Americans are conflating evangelicalism with Republicanism — and melding two forces to create a movement that is not entirely about politics or religion but power.”
“Across the Trump era, the ‘America First’ right has turned against immigration and globalization and become skeptical of foreign military commitments, including the U.S. alliance with Israel. So was it only a matter of time before nationalism opened the door to antisemitism?”
How the Rapture Explains the Rupture Over Israel on the Right
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Cos he already fucked up the US
Inflation up,
Unemployment up,
Tarriffs
ICE agents causing mayhem,
Tourism down,
The US losing Allies
Now hes moving on to his next victim
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Fascism thrives in chaos. It’s the logical conclusion that the fascist ideologues behind Trump (Miller, Thiel, Musk et al), are pushing him to create turmoil on as many fronts as possible for that reason.
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It’s really worth reading up on the end-times death cult version of Christianity in the US. It’s by no means a majority, but it does have reach, and it is more batshit crazy than you could ever imagine.
I actually came across it a few years ago when I saw a Nicolas Cage film called “Left Behind”. I think it was described as a “supernatural thriller” but I honestly couldn’t work out whether it was meant to be a comedy spoof in the style of Airplane! It’s a truly terrible film, quite possibly the worst thing I have ever seen a major Hollywood actor appear in. But it is actually what a lot of the fundamentalists literally believe in. There is a huge industry of Rapture planning and and an audience for this kind of fever dream literature.
The problem starts when personal religious belief strays from the wacky stories and associated woo-woo to actually trying to make your bizarre “prophesies” happen in the real world.
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He hates Europe but it’s probably whatever Daddy Putin thinks.
Though it could be the flea Farage in his ear or the Gavin Newson and Ed Miliband meeting really got at him.
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Of course, it’s well known that the Republicans are better for the economy.
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Being almost totally disinterested in anything to do with religion I’d really never paid much mind to all this nutty stuff about the Rapture and Christian evangelicism. But since the christo-nationalists now hold sway over the US govt. and its policy-making it’s become unavoidable. The recent controversy on the right over there involving Carlson and Fuentes , and then Trump giving his blessing afterwards was startling for the realisation that now it was seemingly perfectly acceptable for an an openly antisemitic white supremacist to spout this vitriol and then thank the President afterwards for coming to his defence. Strange days indeed.
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I take a little issue here with the writer’s use of “conflate”. Evangelicalism has become the driving force behind the party since Regan. It is about 30% of the vote and votes about 80-20 for the Republicans. Without this voting block Dems win every general election by 8-10 points and with over 300 EC votes every time.
Sure you can do similar with other voting blocks, but this is one characterized by conspiratorial thinking and what most outsiders would consider a very unchristian “the ends justify the means” sort of attitude to social life and politics. It is a very good vs evil world view, and with stakes determining what happens at end times, I think that explains why as a movement it has not only stuck with Trump when other right wing demos have wavered, but why they will change their opinion on an issue on a dime if it suits Trump. Ultimately Trump is their guy in the existential battle for their souls. He need not be a good guy, but he is a weapon for what they see as good, and so whatever is good for him is what they will support and view as ultimately the moral path.
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Its based on a book series (about 10 of them) that is hugely popular within that demo. They did a series of adaptations of them in the 90s that were firmly aimed at that audience (kind of an early equivalent of what a film produced by the Daily Wire today would be like), but this Cage remake was supposed to be more main stream. One of the best bits of film trivia I know is that it was nominated for a Razzie for worst film but lost to a film headlined by Kirk Cameron, the lead in the 90s versions of these films
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I have read these books. Thought they weren’t half bad, if a little preachy and over the top (naturally). I’d devour any remotely science fiction or fantasy related. Strangely enough, never could stand Terry Pratchett even though he’s got a following of note.
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Maybe the books are better. I’ve always rather liked horror with a supernatural / religious overtone (The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, The Omen) but it works best when it is aimed at a secular audience.
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These are sick, sick bastards
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My prejudice/bias towards you both being very interesting people I would love to have a coffee or ale with in a relaxed social setting, has been confirmed
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Anyway, I came to post this
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Actually… everyone else cracked it LAST year 
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The Orange swan…
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