Charles P. Pierce: A Message to Trump Voters on the Occasion of This Healthcare Bill

[babylonsister]

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a55824/senate-republican-healthcare-bill/


A Message to Trump Voters on the Occasion of This Healthcare Bill
You pulled the lever. This is what you were voting for.

By Charles P. Pierce
Jun 22, 2017


Hello, suckers.

Yeah, you. All of you. All of you people who've been buying what the radicalized Republican party has been selling you since Reagan rode out of Trickledown Gulch back in 1980. All of you who easily gobbled up the fictions about welfare queens, and "crazy checks," and big black bucks buying T-Bone steaks, and, most recently, of immigrants come to steal your jobs and cut your throats in the night. All of you who worried so profoundly about your neighbors who were black, or Hispanic, or Muslim that you handed the government to the people who have been picking your pocket and selling off your birthright for going on four decades.

And, especially, all of you morons who bought what the inevitable product of 30 years of fear-driven democratic malpractice was selling across the country in 2016: that he had a plan that would lower costs, cover everybody, and not touch Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare.

Today is not the day for you to ask for my understanding as to how you're going to afford Grandma's chemo now that she's busted the lifetime cap on her insurance. Today is not the day for you to ask for my sympathy for Grandpa who's going to get his ass hoisted out of his rest home and dropped onto the couch in your basement family room because his Medicaid ran out. Today is not the day for you to moan into TV cameras about how Cousin Clyde with the opioid problem has to go back to sticking up tourists for his fix because the little hospital up by the mountain closed.

snip//

I'm sorry, but I can't let the suckers off the hook on this particular Thursday, not when I know in my bones that, in a year or so, there are going to be more expeditions into The Real America in which we hear sad tales about the closing of rural hospitals, and medical bankruptcies, and children who died because the insurance company denied them a life-saving treatment. There will be all kinds of reasons postulated for this terrible state of affairs. "Culture" probably will be one of them, and it will be the stupidest one of all.

What will not be mentioned is that many of these people brought their tragedies on themselves, that voting has consequences, and that using a presidential election to hock a collective loogie at "The Establishment" and at Those People is a particularly dumbass way to participate in democracy.

[dalton99a]

1. Maybe they want to die off faster when their rural hospitals close and nobody wants to touch them

because of their pre-existing conditions

[forgotmylogin]

36. Does appealing or preaching to his voters do any good anymore?

I'd figure by now most of them either realize what's up or they are stubbornly refusing to realize what's up because they enjoy the racism and nationalism and classism, aka "MAGA 'MURICA FIRST"

[leftyladyfrommo]

41. No.

I live with these people. They were just out for revenge. Sock it to those librals. Get back at those Clintons.

They completely missed the big picture.

They will find someone to blame. Couldn't be their fault.

[olegramps]

43. What is unfortunate is that the ignorant will bring down the innocent because of their stupidity.

Too bad that the Angel of Death can not be selective and take only the those who are so fill with hatred that they can not even contemplate that they are signing their own death warrant and taking the innocent to their graves. This reminds me of a dissertation I which the Rabbi admonished a fellow passenger on a boat who insisted that he had a right to drill a hole under his seat since he had paid for his right to sit there and do as it saw fit. The Rabbi responded that yes, but the water that will come in will drown all of us.

Can this nation survive? I really don't know. The polarization is nearly as intense as that which proceeded the advent of the Civil War. It matters not that the president is a pathetic liar to his constituents. It matters not that he is a thief that has stolen millions from his those who trusted him. It mattes not to the Bible Thumpers that he sexually molested numerous women. The list of his sins could fill pages. He truly is man without a conscience. They have swallowed the extreme Right-Wing propaganda for 40 years and are totally oblivious to the truth. One can only hope that these phony sanctimonious Bible Thumpers choke on their hypocrisy before they bring about total disaster.

Trump is making the presidency into a mockery. A complete buffoon that has lost the credibility of the nation in the eyes to the world. It makes a citizen ashamed to say he represent us. This is what happens when people are so apathetic that the can't get off their lazy ass to get informed and vote. I am in my closing years, not many left to see to if this disastrous course will prevail or the nation will be able to survive. The major problem is that we are no longer a nation dedicated to the principle expressed in the nation's motto: E Pluribus Unum: Out of Many One. We are nation divided and the wisdom of the Gospels is an true now it has been for all eternity: A nation divided cannot stand.

[TheBlackAdder]

45. The Pubes keep talking about the "Fly-Over" part of the country, soon they won't exist!

[riversedge]

2. I weep for all who will be affected. Some will dies. Yes. They. Will

[BigmanPigman]

26. Yes, I will and it will be extremely painful I have been warned.

I wish those who support these monsters would suffer the physical, emotional and mental pain I will have to endure for years until it eventually happens. My poor family shouldn't have to go through this with me now and after I am dead either. We are also going to be hit hard financially, I will lose my home within two years now.
I am so depressed and would have gone to bed in tears if it weren't for watching Spinal Tap again last night. Laughter (and my dog) are great medicine too. I have the feeling I'll be re-watching a lot of my favorite comedies in the future.

[VWolf]

33. Sorry to hear that, my friend.

I feel for you and everyone who would be affected by this abomination. I only hope it never reaches 45's desk.

Spinal Tap is indeed good medicine.

[sheshe2]

3. They bought it hook line and sinker.

Now they are going to suffer and die along with the rest of us.

[Marie Marie]

9. And sheshe, they will buy the right wing narrative that somehow,

this was the fault of Obama, Democrats or Liberals. They still won't get it. This is what we are fighting - willful ignorance.

[sheshe2]

10. You are correct, Marie.

[Hekate]

4. Chaz Pierce rocks the righteous anger

[geek tragedy]

5. rural and small town Americans will reap what they've sown. nt

[mcar]

6. Pierce speaks for me

[Achilleaze]

7. the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief did sucker the voters

for sure. The whole frikken russian-backed republican old boys club gleefully joined Comrade Casino in The Big Swindle 2016.

[gordianot]

8. Great rant but even when proven wrong Republicans will not admit THEY were wrong.

We will have to settle for righteous rants directed toward shocked Republican Congress persons in town hall meetings. When that happens cousin Clyde will be shocked to find out he is being labeled a rude Democrat or a Terrorist for speaking his mind. Few if any will consider who put that ass hole in office in the first place or admit they had a hand in their own condition. Well they did want a successful businessman in office and now they can protest the consequences. I may get to say "I told you so". Small to no comfort.

[smirkymonkey]

34. This is the problem.

They will never admit to the truth, not even to themselves. They will continue to blame and point the finger until they are six feet under. And basically, that is where they will be soon enough thanks to this bill, courtesy of the party they voted into power.

[OnDoutside]

38. Many don't have the intelligence to realise they were wrong. Others will die from lack of

coverage.

[zentrum]

11. Enjoy your "freedom" idiots! nt

[AJT]

12. I'm not sure which is worse; the greedy, heartless, wealthy

suburban Trumpster voters who couldn't care less about anyone else or the rural racist, xenophobic, hate filled rubes who voted for 45.

[spanone]

13. the really fucking sad part is that they won't blame trump....

they will blame the Black President.

[JDC]

14. Yep. Thanks Obama...

[CakeGrrl]

17. They can go right ahead.

And if I every have the opportunity, I'll tell them it's too bad that a black person in the White House made their racism act up so badly.

Pierce nailed this on the head. They voted their bigotry, not their pocketbooks.

[Pauldg47]

37. Ha!...My thoughts too and their republican senate/congress will tell them that too....MORONS!!!

[colsohlibgal]

15. Dumb Is Epidemic.

I have no sympathy at all for those who voted for this regime, that is what they get for suspending any critical thinking in their pea brains. So I am, as usual, with Charley.

[pansypoo53219]

28. does not help that MAINSTREAM MEDIA STILL LEANS TOWARDS TINKLE DOWN & TAX CUTS.

the TEEVEE GNEWZ still sucks reagan's dead balls.

[Different Drummer]

47. To be fair to them, thinking causes them to have painful brain cramps. n/t

[grantcart]

16. "You had me at 'hello suckers'".

[jaxind]

18. 2 Kinds of Republicans

Can't remember where I read this, but there are 2 kinds of Republicans...billionaires and suckers...look inside your wallet to see which one you are! So true!!

[flibbitygiblets]

19. They got suckered on more than healthcare; are still waiting for those awesome high-paying jobs

When they figure out that isn't coming either, then they'll turn on him.

But it will take longer if we make fun of them. It's starting to occur to me that instead of venting my anger at dumb rubes, showing some sympathy for them that they got duped might be a better approach.

[maddiemom]

22. Trump could have started by bringing back the jobs for which he's responsible.

[malaise]

20. That simple

Fugg 'em!

[Oden]

21. They always blame someone else

That's why trump is their guy. They never take responsibility for the mess they make.

[MarcA]

23. Dear Leader tells them that sacrifices are necessary

and they will willingly jump off of cliffs.

[NastyRiffraff]

24. This deserves a standing ovation

And a "fuck you" to all those idiots. As usual they'll try to blame anyone but themselves and the Orange Monster they put in the White House. They'll never, ever admit it, but they own this mess.

[brer cat]

25. Righteous!

Well said!

[Little_Gloves]

27. Preach it brother

Love me some Charles Pierce

[MBS]

32. I'm a big fan, too

and this is one of his best.

[citizen blues]

29. Let's add those who didn't vote too.

NOT voting has consequences too. Doing nothing is still a choice.

[MBS]

30. " " " " n/t

[citizen blues]

42. ?????

Sorry. Not familiar with this response. Translation please.

[MBS]

46. I just was trying to say that I agree with you completely!

" " " for "ditto"
n/t for no text (just the subject title).
Hope this helps.

[citizen blues]

48. Thank you!

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond!

[kentuck]

31. Stupidity has a price.

When someone tells you to not put your hand on the hot stove and you do it anyway, then you will get burned. There is a price to pay for doing stupid shit.

[FiveGoodMen]

39. Trouble is: They've put ALL our hands on the hot stove.

If this only affected Trump voters, I wouldn't give a rat's ass.

They deserve whatever they get; we don't.

[UberAlles]

35. If this

Is the result of an election, perhaps our health coverage shouldn't be in the hands of government

[Zambero]

40. But hey...

Gazillionaires will be sending y'all suckers a thank you card for all your troubles, once that tax cut kicks it. Hoping Gramps will be warm and comfy in your basement while y'all are working round the clock to make ends meet!

[Alhena]

44. Great article, but I don't see this bill passing

I see no way to satisfy both Republican conservatives and moderates on this bill and get 50 votes, with so many constituencies against it. So the idiot Trump voters won't actually suffer for it, thankfully for the rest of us who would have to suffer as well.