Tilting at Windmills

I find myself intrigued by a phenomenon that seems to have enchanted remnants of the Republican Party: the compulsion to combat an enemy that exists solely in their imagination. This echoes the early 17th-century Spanish novel "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes.

In this tale, Don Quixote, the main character, becomes enamored with chivalric ideals and sets out to become a knight, battling foes he perceives to be insurmountable. His infamous encounter with a windmill he mistakenly believes to be a giant encapsulates this delusion.

Tilting, a medieval jousting term, signifies Quixote's detachment from reality; he cannot discern fact from fantasy. The windmills are not giants, and his efforts against them are ultimately futile.

Quixote's worldview casts him as a noble knight, valiantly fighting the good fight, infused with romance, nostalgia, and an inflated sense of self-worth. Despite his naivety, he embodies righteousness, courage, purity, and selflessness—indeed, he is a hapless hero.

In the 1965 musical "Man of La Mancha," Quixote articulates his quest, highlighting the noble rationale behind his continual battles against the world.

> "To dream the impossible dream, > To fight the unbeatable foe, > To bear with unbearable sorrow, > To run where the brave dare not go; > To right the unrightable wrong. > To fight for the right, > Without question or pause, > To be willing to march into hell, > For a heavenly cause! > And the world will be better for this, > That one man, scorned and covered with scars, > Still strove, with his last ounce of courage, > To reach the unreachable stars!"

It is a tale steeped in selfless heroism—the ultimate cause.

Pretzel Logic

The logic underpinning the new MAGA populism appears nonsensical. It resembles a patchwork of entertainment-driven rhetoric drawn from Fox News and other right-leaning outlets rather than a coherent ideology. Instead, it creates a one-sided dialogue meant for broadcast where responses are neither expected nor welcome. This is Don Quixote engaging with windmills.

These arguments frequently lack factual grounding, relying on ambiguous questions designed to project bravado through innuendo and whataboutism, primarily aimed at fostering fear, confusion, and distrust. They are filled with questions rather than answers, often rooted in conspiracy theories that suggest wrongdoing without proof. Once a possibility is perceived, it morphs into a probability, and soon, the narrative solidifies into an accepted truth.

The gaslighting prevalent in these exchanges makes it nearly impossible to deconstruct the convoluted logic where the accuser projects their own actions onto their opponents. If Republicans are attempting to undermine democratic elections, they accuse Democrats of election fraud. If they lean towards authoritarianism, they claim Democrats are collaborating with fascists, socialists, or communists.

While right-wing extremism has spurred domestic terrorism, they continue to allege that the so-called "radical left" engages in violence, despite a lack of evidence. They often reference ANTIFA as though it were a structured organization with leaders and a sinister agenda, rather than a concept opposing right-wing extremism.

The Jesus Fish

In a memorable "Seinfeld" episode, Elaine discovers that her on-and-off boyfriend, David Puddy, is a devoted Christian. She is frustrated that he isn't trying to convert her, seemingly content to let her face eternal damnation, a concept she doesn't even believe in. Puddy insists it's her problem, not his, a stance that enrages Elaine.

The discord arises from Puddy's indifference toward convincing her of her supposed error. Ultimately, they seek counsel from a priest, who, upon learning they are cohabitating outside of marriage, declares they are both doomed, much to Elaine's delight and Puddy's dismay. Here, it's Puddy's perceived superiority that bothers Elaine, not his lack of concern for her fate.

This dynamic mirrors how modern Movement Conservatives perceive the world. They embody a duality in which one aspect is secure in their righteousness, unaffected by others' beliefs, while the other seeks to compel the opposition to care, despite a lack of shared values or reality.

The Enduring Power of Delusion

With Trump and his followers, the desire to win is often overshadowed by a determination to ensure that if they fail, everyone else does too—a principle of mutual destruction. They despise the perceived superiority of the left more than they believe in their cause's righteousness, constructing an alternate reality where a flawed, insecure figure is a heroic champion of truth, justice, and the American way.

Everyone perceives themselves as the hero of their own delusion, which explains their choice of a leader who remains unbothered by adversity simply because he misunderstands his situation. It’s ironic that Trump has chosen windmills as his primary rivals, finding comfort in battling imaginary foes. He views himself on a grand quest, where you're either his loyal Sancho or an enemy, whether real or not.

You Can’t Reason With Crazy or Argue With Stupid

Reasoning with those who are irrational is futile, as they lack a firm grasp of reality. Similarly, attempting to debate with the uninformed is fruitless because the less one knows, the more firmly they cling to their beliefs. Now, let me address the common lament from self-identified centrists about America's divisions and the threat of partisan discord.

The reality is that we have long surpassed the possibility of bridging this divide, and no efforts will change that. Just as restoring order is the only way to recover from a prison riot, America must seek to restore democracy, even if that requires force.

We are entrenched in a culture war that threatens to spiral out of control, pitting one side against liberal democracy in favor of theocratic authoritarianism and illegal insurrection. This disqualifies them from participating in civil discourse.

They are violating the social contract of America, aligning with a treasonous insurrection. One does not negotiate with terrorists or reason with criminals; they must be prosecuted, the damage repaired, new rules established, and every effort made to stabilize the nation. Until then, both the ship and crew remain at risk.

It’s often said that wrestling with a pig only gets both parties dirty, and the pig enjoys it. Thus, I assert that we must quell the rebellion and restore democratic values to America. It would be refreshing to regain a sense of national pride, validated by the humility of recognizing how close we came to catastrophe.

The alternative is not only unthinkable but also entirely possible.