A personal note before I begin: I have not reacted to 99% of the rants that I see on Facebook, rants from friends who should understand—but don’t—that they are making this election quite personal, even if they aren’t naming people. Since silence is often misconstrued as acquiescence, I felt compelled to respond and have been encouraged to do so. Apparently, the editor of the Winchester Star whose editorial in this morning’s (January 18, 2017) paper deals with the same theme as this post, feels the same. We didn’t consult each other ahead of time, but then we’re friends—who happen to think alike. For all my friends who don’t, please stop giving me cause to write about politics.
The Left is outraged over the outrageous things that Donald Trump has said. In fact, many such folks from Congress to Facebook are apoplectic over some of his statements. The irony is that Trump is the culmination of outrageous statements from the Left; statements that have barely drawn a rebuke over the years, much less any outrage from those same people on the Left, especially the media.
“It all depends on what the definition of is is.”
“We have to pass this bill to see what’s in it.”
“To just be grossly generalistic, you can put half of Trump supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? Racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic, you name it.”
Those are three good examples of outrageousness on its face and that barely drew acknowledgment from the media.
“Bush is Hitler,” is another one that comes to mind.
All of which brings us to Meryl Streep and her comments at the Golden Globe awards during which she chastised Trump for not only making fun of a reporter,[i] but also of a general lack of tolerance on the part of all the deplorables. Of course, it was Meryl who led the standing ovation in 2003 at those same Golden Globe Awards when child-rapist Roman Polanski was named the best director for The Piano. “Child-rapist” might be a bit harsh; he did plead guilty to statutory rape in a plea bargain and then fled the country, but I guess some “women’s issues” aren’t as important as others.
Meryl also noted that, “This instinct to humiliate when it’s modeled by someone in the public … by someone powerful, it filters down into everyone’s life because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same.” Ummm, yes; yes it does. Could be the reason why some people cling to their God and their guns, that is to protect themselves against elitist bullying. You know, the bullying that says based on my principles I refuse to cater Donald Trump’s inauguration, but your principles don’t count when you refuse to cater a gay wedding. (And please–I’m all for gay weddings. In fact, I’m for the government getting out of the wedding licensing business all together, but if we’re talking about the right to exercise one’s principles . . .)
To Meryl and Hillary and Bill and all the foaming ranters on Facebook: Don’t expect Trump supporters to be outraged by Donald Trump. They can’t hear his outrage for all of your hypocrisy. You drove them to this point, a point at which they were determined to do whatever it took to begin successfully combating your outrageousness. As it turns out, voting for Donald Trump was what it took.
Right now, the best way for Leftists to facilitate communication is to stop talking. In fact, we should ALL stop talking, then commence the conversation once we actually have some results or non-results to talk about. I would hope that results are what all of us root for, but I’m beginning to have my doubts.
***
[i] In fact, this reporter is clearly not “handicapped” as he indeed is capable of functioning as a reporter. In that same vein, he is not disabled; he has the ability (the “ableness” if you will) to do his job in spite of the fact that he suffers from “arthrogryposis, which according to the National Institutes of Health, can impact the function and range of motion of joints and can cause muscles to atrophy.” Let’s give Serge Kovaleski some credit for being able to do his job in spite of his condition. We need a new word.
Austin Gisriel 
Love this, Austin. This is EXACTLY how we got to this point today, and why everyone needs to just shut their mouths for a while. We’ve heard the liberal left for so long going on and on … and ON … and are so weary from it … while we remain silent. Why is that? Maybe because we are more polite and less egotistical.
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Thanks, Bonnie. The funny thing is that we’d all be hard-pressed to find someone more egotistical than Donald Trump, lol. Perhaps what you’re seeing in Trump supporters (which we all should be now, right?) who tend to be older, is the knowledge gained over the years that we don’t have all the answers. I’ve said this before, and it was the genius of Washington: It’s not your way or my way, it’s the right way. What works? God help some of these poor Leftists if Trump succeeds. A collapsed world-view is a scary thing.
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Thanks for a balanced, calm, rational post. Totally agree with you!!
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Thank you, Buffy. We need much more “calm and rational” so I’m glad you feel that I’ve provided some!
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Very well stated, Austin. I sincerely hope this inspires more than a few of our more “vocal” friends to take a step back and take a glance inward for a change.
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Thank you, Jerry, and let’s hope so.
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Great piece, Austin. I hope you don’t mind my linking to it in my next Toons offering.Jerry  âThere is nothing better than getting shot at and missed. Itâs really great.â
Gen. James Mattis – SecDef
From: Austin Gisriel To: jalan1964@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 11:51 AM Subject: [New post] Streep Throat #yiv2589681201 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv2589681201 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv2589681201 a.yiv2589681201primaryactionlink:link, #yiv2589681201 a.yiv2589681201primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv2589681201 a.yiv2589681201primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv2589681201 a.yiv2589681201primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv2589681201 WordPress.com | Austin Gisriel posted: “A personal note before I begin: I have not reacted to 99% of the rants that I see on Facebook, rants from friends who should understandâbut donâtâthat they are making this election quite personal, even if they arenât naming people. Since silence is often ” | |
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Not at all! I’m flattered that you think that much of it.
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Couldn’t agree more…
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Well, I COULD agree more but I’m taking your advice and staying silent…
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Lol, that’s a wise idea. It’s that attitude of “I’m 100% certain that I’m right, which makes you an idiot for disagreeing with me,” that shows a decided lack of tolerance for many who preach tolerance.
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Nicely done!
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Thank you, Jill. Hope all is well with you.
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4 words: JUST WAIT AND SEE. Give it a minute!!!!!!! Sheesh. Thanks Austin, a perfect article.
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Thank you and well said, Chris! Let’s see what happens and then we’ll all have something to talk about. Hope you’re well and warm up there in NY!
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As always, Austin, you write what many of us think. A couple points I like to add about the hypocrisy of the Hollywood elites: 1. When Zoe Saldana pointed out that hollywood created the atmosphere where Trump could be elected by bullying anyone who didn’t agree with them. She is now being bullied into retracting her statement. 2. Nicole Kidman mentions that since Mr. Trump is now President-elect we should all get behind him to make this country a better place. She is now being bullied by the same crowd. 3. Steve Harvey goes to meet with the Pres-elect and is called a “mediocre n*****o”. More bullying perhaps.
That’s alright by me, I’m just a deplorable anyway (even though I don’t consider myself any of those things mentioned by (almost) Queen Hillary.
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Good examples, Nick. These people will tolerate anyone except those who think differently than they do.
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