How the Right Got Right, and the Left Got Left - Lessons From An Abusive Relationship

“When you find yourself on a vicious cycle, for goodness sake, stop pedaling and get off.”
-- Swami Beyondananda

From Steve Bhaerman:

One of the biggest challenges for me in the wake of the election results has been speaking into the field of grief, anger, profound disappointment, hopelessness and despair so many of my progressive co-hearts have been experiencing.

And …I’ve been watching this slow-motion train wreck for nearly four years, so I was not surprised.

I began this election day by taking my own advice and following my conscience. I abstained from voting for President. My choice was neither of the above. My prayer was for the American people to make the wisest choice possible – and I let it be with that.

I went about my business peacefully, spent time in nature, watched inspiring, entertaining and educational programs Tuesday night and went to bed without following the “hearse-race.”

In sharp contrast to my rage and horror when it happened in 2016, I awoke to the news peacefully, and – please hear me out – relief that uncommon common sense prevailed, and the American people soundly rejected what has passed as “progressivism” in recent years.

Am I pleased Trump was elected? Well …there’s a reason I didn’t vote for him. (Check out Bill Maher’s rant on this very topic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtCK-dMb-F8)

Where to begin?

I keep thinking about a conversation I had just over a year ago with a long-time friend who was such a rabid anti-Trumper that if he bit you, you’d have to get a shot. After he informed me that Trump was evil incarnate, that anyone who supported him was evil, and anyone who didn’t believe he was evil was evil as well, I asked him a few questions.

We’ll call him DINO, which stands for Democrat In Name Only.

“DINO,” I asked, “How do you feel about ‘woke’ and all of the new language we are being told to use?”

“I hate it!” he replied. “I hate people telling me what I can and can’t say.”

“And transgender?” I inquired.

“I can’t even comprehend it. Absolutely fucking nuts!” he said.

Then I asked, “What’s your take on the immigration issue?”

“Are you kidding?” he responded. “You can’t just have open borders and let everyone in!”

This was at the time that gangs of youngsters were descending on stores and stealing everything they could get their hands on, and no one was being prosecuted. “How about the ‘catch and release’ policing?”

He rolled his eyes. “Incomprehensible,” he said.

I said, “DINO, I don’t know how to tell you this, but … you’re a Republican. The only thing keeping you in the Democrat fold is …Donald Trump.”

He didn’t say anything. What could he say? Several months after that, when he found I was supporting Bobby Kennedy’s campaign, he called to officially terminate our 40+ year friendship.

There’s a lot more that can be said – and you can go deeper into the conversation by watching our Front and Center podcast, where Michael Maxsenti and I explore both the critiques of the Harris campaign and Democrats through the sharp eye of Bill Maher (the closest thing we have to George Carlin these days) and the heartfelt words of reassurance about the Trump administration from Aubrey Marcus.

Bottom line -- 51% of American voters now identify as independent. That is the future of politics in America, if we are to have one. There is no “political savior” on any side … rather what will save us is the collective wisdom of we the people.

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