A common allegation against Ronald Reagan during his White House years was that he confused movies with the real world. According to writer Chauncey DeVega, the current Republican presidential candidates do somewhat the same thing, and have added video games and a bit of Comic-Con to the mix.
“Wednesday night’s CNN debate showed the American people an alternate reality where Chuck Norris movies are the Bible for statecraft,” sniped DeVega in a Friday article for Salon. “Adult children who dress up and give speeches as they role-play being President of the United States are competing in a real life Republican cosplay competition to be one of the most powerful people on Earth.” DeVega also declared that the debate was so hysterical that it amounted to a “master class in lies. Joseph Goebbels would be proud.”
From DeVega’s piece (bolding added):
As a child of the 1980s, I grew up watching movies such as “Rambo,” “Red Dawn,” and “Missing in Action.” I voraciously read “G.I. Joe” comics and military-themed magazines like Soldier of Fortune…I vanquished the Russians, Libyans, and Iranians with ease in my Microsoft flight simulations and SSI turn based strategy games…
I knew the secret to beating the Russians and creating a Pax Americana that would spread freedom, democracy, and “American values” around the world: Peace through superior firepower. America is the greatest country on Earth...
Wednesday evening’s CNN Republican debate featured childish thoughts such as these…being offered as serious policy analysis…
…In [the Republicans’] world there are no verifiable truth-claims that can be confirmed or rejected based on empirical evidence. Here, something is “true” because a trusted source, elder, elite, or media personality tells you so…
Last night’s Republican debate was a theater and master class in lies. Joseph Goebbels would be proud as the 2016 Republican candidates channeled his Principles of Propaganda and their directives that:
…Propaganda to the home front must create an optimum anxiety level.
…Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred…
Wednesday night’s CNN debate showed the American people an alternate reality where Chuck Norris movies are the Bible for statecraft and childish speeches about the Statue of Liberty are considered respectable and serious political thought.
The 2016 Republican primary season is a human zoo. The frightening fact is that one of the survivors of this battle royal will be one of the two candidates for President of the United States next year.
Adult children who dress up and give speeches as they role-play being President of the United States are competing in a real life Republican cosplay competition to be one of the most powerful people on Earth. This is an epic Greek tragedy for the 21st century age of 24/7 cable news and reality television.
