As a preface, I *promise* I didn’t start this blog to just shout into the political blogosphere, but as second-wave feminism famously said, “the personal is political” so… here I stand once again.
I’ll try to be brief today.
Today I’m thinking – as many are – about Trump’s unwillingness to admit he lost the election and formally concede, so the Biden administration can get rolling.
The articles are buzzing: Is it a slide into a fascist coup? Is it a distinct break with him being oriented to reality? Does he honestly think filing lawsuits and demanding recounts will change the results?
I’m not sure many of those queries apply here.
I could, but I am not going to launch into a diagnostic tome about the sitting president’s mental health challenges. Google it – you’ll find plenty of articles, books, accounts. Alas, legitimate and armchair therapists alike pretty much agree 45 is a classic narcissistic personality.
If we begin with that base assumption, what does a narcissist do to people around them?
Intimidate.
Take what benefits them.
Gaslight.
Bully.
Cast doubts.
Deny their words/actions.
Charm who they choose to.
Humiliate the others.
Surround themselves by yes men.
Distance themselves from blame.
Stonewall.
In other words – perhaps to completely over-simplify – narcissists keep their victims UNCOMFORTABLE:
– in a constant, walking-on-eggshells state of discomfort.
– in an exhausting vigilant state of trying to figure out what the motive is or what’s coming up next.
Discomfort: this is their tool of choice.
It frustrates, exhausts, enables worst scenario thinking and sows self-doubt. It gives him the power. 45 is not good for much, but he excels at this. And you’d better believe that he’s going to use this tool until the bitter end.
Conspiracies and fears aside, I think it’s probably just that simple.
If that’s not the past 4 years in a nutshell – or this unprecedented refusing to concede business – you must be one of his “charmed chosen” and fallen into allegiance with your captor.
alive. awake. uncomfortable. 