I know a person who thrives on a well-ingrained sense of victimhood. After his parents divorced, his father remarried; his stepmother supposedly disliked him. She and his father had two sons whom his father liked and, and so he opined, nurtured more than he. Each has had a successful career. This person has struggled. He is now married to his third wife.
He takes no responsibility for his upsets. He is an unapologetic narcissist. He constantly complains. A relationship with him does not improve in time. His life and its trials do not differ from others’ upbringings. He has chosen the negative, woe-is-me route of life. I have known many who will themselves to adopt the positive and lead fruitful journeys despite dysfunctional childhoods.
Not this guy.
The master of victimhood is our former president. As everyone knows, he holds himself unaccountable for his 2020 election loss and his legal morass. He confronts any responsibility for illegal actions with his favorite term: “witch hunt.” And childish insults for his critics.
And his fervent followers and weak-kneed Republican enablers support his pathetic, grievance-ridden narrative.
Some Spy readers will think: “Here he goes again condemning a flawed but effective president.” I question his effectiveness. Our allies distrusted him. Close advisers questioned his judgment. One characterized him as a moron.
Should he win a second term, our democracy will face incalculable damage at the sleazy hands of a despot determined to undermine the U.S. Constitution. Canada will endure its own border immigration crisis, as Americans, fearful of living in a country ruled by a dangerous narcissist, will flock to our neighbor to the north.
We will suffer through another four years of chaos and corruption. Democratic processes matter not. Civility is an elite concept. Appropriate presidential conduct is unnecessary. An amoral wave of behavior in the Oval Office will engulf our country.
Am I concerned that this deranged person might win? Absolutely.
He has an undeniable appeal to people who consider him a friend of the alienated and angry. His disciples view his political opponents as oblivious to everyday problems.
They do not trust the government; nor does the former chief executive. They hate the East Coast elites. So does he. They despise the media. So does he. They believe in illegal insurrections. So does he.
The beginning of the year is a time for optimism and hope. As it should be.
I dearly wish I could envision a reality that does not include a self-appointed victim and victimizer. Unfortunately, I cannot. I wish to see lightness, instead of darkness. Reality hounds me.
I am fretful. I am fearful.
I urge readers who share my obsessive worry—Democrats, Independents and mainstream Republicans–to participate fully in the 2024 election. Donate to the Democratic candidate, whether it is Joe Biden or someone else. Place a sign in front of your house. Join phone banks. Protect our fragile democracy.
And vote—do not stay home.
This column provides a platform for my beliefs and observations. I would be sadly remiss were I to ignore the danger posed by a person who cares
little, if at all about a cause above himself.
He is an inveterate liar. The truth is foreign and distasteful to him.
While I do not plan for this column, celebrating its tenth anniversary in July 2024, to become a political polemic, I must declare my love of country and concern about its future. We know what we would get should the former president be re-elected. He will be equally irresponsible.
Fear and intimidation are foolish ways to manage people. To be reluctant to criticize the narcissistic former president for fear of a bombastic personal attack is ridiculous.
Who cares if he mocks the critic? I believe it to be a badge of honor.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.
Bill Anderson says
Mr. Freedlander, but for your complete indoctrination into Democratic political leanings and full immersion into that, you could have noticed a very striking similarity in the mostly negative attributes you assign to Mr. Trump to those possessed by Joe Biden.
If you go back and take a reasonably honest, and if possible, somewhat unbiased view of your complaints about Mr. Trump, you too will see how alike everything you disdain about Trump is also true of Mr. Biden.
I perceive that in truth, you know this, but as a Democrat supporter, you are unable or unwilling to recognize it as you were writing.
Sian Salsbury says
Seriously, why do you all continually compare Biden to Trump. If you believe they are equally bad people why would you consider voting for either one? Obviously I must be a member of the liberal cabal I. Being afraid of a Trump presidency. I would like to ask Trump supporters, were you better off in 2020 than you were in 2016. I know I wasn’t. Not even taking into consideration government response to COVID, the response to COVID, my taxes increased because I wasn’t a millionaire and goods had gotten more expensive.
Joseph A. Fick, Jr. says
Infinitely better!
Beryl Smith says
It probably is like blowing at the wind, but I do fail to recognize any of the so-called Trump attributes in Joe Biden. Never have I heard him utter the words “witch hunt” or for that matter he has never called anyone, to my knowledge, vermin nor has he suggested hanging his vice-president. Contraty to Mr. Anderson’s recount, all the US allies finally breathed a sigh of relief to see Trump gone as he was certainly doing a fine job of destroying any relationships we had we countries that had been our longest and best supporters. And, finally, tell me please where is the chaos and confusion that we found throughout the Trump administration and that continues until this day? Mr. Anderson you need to educate yourself.
Joseph A. Fick, Jr. says
Another rant from the liberal cabal who use the Chestertown Spy to try to convince others that they are right and anyone who thinks otherwise is severely misguided. I seriously doubt you will change anyone’s mind with such negativity. The hate Trump rants are boring and judging by recent polls, not very effective. Find something positive to write about.
Sian Salsbury says
This is a wake up and realize that one candidate for president does not take the Constitution as guidance for governing our Country. Whether you believe in his ideas or not his actions and words after the election started riots in the capitol. His comments about what he intends to do if elected – taking away the power from any branch of government that he feels has harmed him. I take that as changing our judicial system to allow him to act in any way he wants even if unconstitutional.
I prefer my president to work with our laws and constitutional guidelines. There are other Republican presidential candidates that do that. Trump does not.
Joseph A. Fick, Jr. says
Your opinion. We disagree.
Gren Whitman says
Only one president has plotted a coup to stay in office.
Only one president has ever faced a criminal indictment, let alone 91.
Apologists for Mr. Trump have stepped through the looking glass and see everything backwards.
Joseph A. Fick, Jr. says
Your Opinion. We disagree.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Sorry, this is not “opinion” but is fact. Trump has been indicted and hundreds of others are serving prison sentences for attempting a coup.
Yes, you are allowed your pathetic “opinion”, no matter
how wrong you are.
Paula Reeder says
I share your view completeley, Howard. All those of like mind need to band together, be known and be sure to go to the polls when the time comes to let our view be known – and count!
Tatiana Croissette says
Leaving aside the pathetic tone of your essay, can you define the concept of “illegal insurrection”? Can you also give examples of “legal insurrections”?
James Nick says
Victimhood. As Mr Freedlander so well states, trump is the reigning master of victimhood by holding himself unaccountable for his 2020 election loss and his subsequent legal woes.
But trump recently threw more spaghetti against the wall with two additional gambits trying to dodge his indictment for inciting insurrection and in doing so is admitting his guilt.
First he argues double jeopardy. trump is making the absurd argument that “A president who is acquitted by the Senate cannot be prosecuted for the acquitted conduct.”
Here’s Senator Mitch McConnell’s take on this shortly after the senate acquittal: “We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being held accountable by either one.”
Simultaneously, trump is arguing that he has presidential immunity. It is trump’s contention that the criminal indictment of him for trying to reverse his loss at the polls is constitutionally invalid because he was serving as president.
Both the double jeopardy and immunity arguments amount to self-incrimination. “Yeah, Ok, I did it, but I have immunity for… well… reasons”.
Finally, Mr Freedlander notes that in maga-world “… Civility is an elite concept” and that “Appropriate presidential conduct is unnecessary…” to which Mr Anderson replies “… everything you disdain about Trump is also true of Mr. Biden…”
So let’s see. Here’s President Biden’s Christmas message to the country on X/Twitter…
“This Christmas Eve, my wish for you and your family is that you take a few moments of quiet reflection and find that stillness that’s at the center of the Christmas story.
May you find peace in this silent night. And warmth from those surrounding you.”
Meanwhile, here’s the best trump could muster as a message of warmth, reflection, and peace…
“Merry Christmas to all, including Crooked Joe Biden’s ONLY HOPE, Deranged Jack Smith. Included also are World Leaders, both good and bad, but none of which are as evil and ‘sick’ as the THUGS we have inside our Country… [rant, grievance, rant, grievance]… MAY THEY ROT IN HELL. AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
Like a dog whistle, only true cultists are able to hear the equivalency in terms of civility and appropriate behavior in these Christmas greetings.
Joseph A. Fick, Jr. says
At least Trump wrote his own message. Doubtful that Biden did.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Trump voters are either fellow grifters and only care about deregulation and tax cuts or people who do not understand how government works and are taken in by his shtick: the incurious and the easily fooled. It’s as simple – and as dangerous – as that. We have work to do to make sure he will not be able to destroy what has
been a 200 year democracy.
But seriously, how can one expect the uncouth not to love Trump. He represents every crass thing they admire.
Tatiana Croissette says
Ms. LaMotte, let’s sum up: the Trump voters are “incurious,” “easily fooled,” “ do not understand how government works,” and most of all “uncouth.” That’s it?
It’s always fascinating to see how tolerant and compassionate the left really is!
There are times when authors of critiques reveal more about themselves than about the people they are attempting to smear.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Oh the irony: calling out “the left” as intolerant and uncompassionate. Serious projection there. Your fuhrer opens his mouth and says things no normal parent would ever permit.
Yawn – rich, selfish, entitled narcissist just trying to stay out of a well deserved jail sentence.
He lacks principles, decency, judgement and any love of humanity or this country. Go away and leave our democracy alone.
Tatiana Croissette says
And there you are, Ms. LaMotte; I was wondering how you missed this one the first time around: Trump is Hitler and Trump supporters are fascists.
The Left never fails to disappoint: when they do not have any arguments, they resort to slogans and name calling. There is not an American alive who hasn’t heard the “Trump is a threat to democracy and Trump is Hitler” at least ten thousands times since 2016. It doesn’t seem to work though for the Left, does it? Just the opposite: Trump is leading in every single poll and the MAGA movement is ascending. Have you checked the number of Hispanics and African Americans who have switched to the Republican Party lately?
Tatiana Croissette says
Mr. Freedlander, can you define the concept of “illegal insurrection?” Can you also give examples of “legal insurrections?”
Chris Gordon says
Mr. Freedlander, I found it revealing that of the 17 (so far) comments to your column, not one refuted anything you wrote. At worst, you were accused of being a Democrat and/or liberal, an unforgivable sin to some. Keep up the good work.
Tatiana Croissette says
What is there to refute, Mr. Gordon?
Mr. Freedlander’s piece is nothing but a regurgitation of the same Leftist narrative: Trump is bad, his supporters are even worse and it’s up to the morally superior ones, i.e., the Democrats, to save Democracy from the vulgarians who make up the MAGA movement.
However, I have to admit that the idea of all leftists moving to Canada if Trump wins, is rather entertaining. I just wonder if comrade Trudeau will welcome a bunch of wealthy Americans moving into his country, or would he prefer the wave of immigrants from less fortunate parts of the world…
Deirdre LaMotte says
You poor thing. I’m so sorry.