“Drowning in Trump’s River of Lies”
In the most recent issue, Judith Thurman of The New Yorker interviewed by email retired novelist Philip Roth about his 2004 book The Plot Against America. Given the “absolute disaster” (Cheeto Jesus’ words, not mine) that has been unfolding before us on national television, Roth’s work is especially prescient. The setting of the novel is 1940 through 1942 where American icon Charles Lindbergh, with the aid of Nazi meddling in the election, defeats FDR who was running for a third term. Because of the meddling in the election, it is feared that Lindbergh was susceptible to blackmail by the Nazis.
The historic Lindbergh was a strong isolationist, was the first to coin the “America First” motto that CJ borrowed, and publicly admired Hitler. His stature among the American people, though, was without equal since he crossed the Atlantic non-stop in a single engine aircraft.
In his email interview, Roth’s responses are rich in description and biting in criticism. For example, he was asked if his book had become true in the last election. His response:
“It is easier to comprehend the election of an imaginary President like Charles Lindbergh than an actual President like Donald Trump. Lindbergh, despite his Nazi sympathies and racist proclivities, was a great aviation hero who had displayed tremendous physical courage and aeronautical genius in crossing the Atlantic in 1927. He had character and he had substance and, along with Henry Ford, was, worldwide, the most famous American of his day. Trump is just a con artist. The relevant book about Trump’s American forebear is Herman Melville’s ‘The Confidence-Man,’ the darkly pessimistic, daringly inventive novel—Melville’s last—that could just as well have been called ‘The Art of the Scam.’ ”
When asked if CJ outstripped Roth’s imagination, he replied that him being a callous real estate developer does not, being President of the United States does. Further, he describes him in these harsh terms:
“[he is] ignorant of government, of history, of science, of philosophy, of art, incapable of expressing or recognizing subtlety or nuance, destitute of all decency, and wielding a vocabulary of seventy-seven words that is better called Jerkish than English.”
Perfect. But his coup de grâce was his comparison of today’s administration with cold war governments in Eastern Europe:
“Unlike writers in Eastern Europe in the nineteen-seventies, American writers haven’t had their driver’s licenses confiscated and their children forbidden to matriculate in academic schools. Writers here don’t live enslaved in a totalitarian police state, and it would be unwise to act as if we did, unless—or until—there is a genuine assault on our rights and the country is drowning in Trump’s river of lies. In the meantime, I imagine writers will continue robustly to exploit the enormous American freedom that exists to write what they please, to speak out about the political situation, or to organize as they see fit.”
It’s a good, if not chilling, read.
“Destitute of all decency…” not only sums up Trump and his cabinet, but the Republican Party which hopes to exploit him.
1Roth’s pithy summation of this con-man has inspired me to read Melville’s The Confidence Man.
Thanks, El Jefe, for the enlightenment.
Alternate facts cut both ways, so let’s be careful here.
“America First” From The Atlantic:
“Wilson had used “America first” to position the United States as an international leader; Hearst interpreted the slogan to mean preserving, in sympathy with the Germans, above all and absolutely the security of the American homeland and the American people. Hearst’s version stuck, not least because he revived it to oppose the 1932 nomination of Franklin Roosevelt for president and to invent the candidacy of John Nance Garner.”
And yes, regular customers to the Shop know who Philip Roth is, and what The Plot Against America is about since at least 3 weeks ago.
https://juanitajean.com/speaking-of-fascism/
2We know nothing about Trump’s business dealing, who he owes money to and what his business’s are doing in Russia.
3Until we do, suspect everything about Trump.
He did not put his business interests in a blind trust.
Donnie aspires to royalty. Courtesy of a writer at Wonkette through an anagram of his name, his wish has been granted: Lord Dampnut.
Although Sec/Sen Clinton has been too gracious to mention them, we’re stuck with the Dumpster Fire for a number of reasons. That bout of pneumonia that struck her at the precise moment her campaign should have been rolling into high gear may have changed history. She won the popular vote by a massive margin. With just a few thousand votes she also would have won the Electoral College vote. Due to an accumulation of tiny little microbes and we’re stuck with the tiny little man.
4Jane & PKM: “…accumulation of tiny little microbes…”. Interesting way to refer to those who didn’t vote or “couldn’t make up their minds”. At least that’s how I interpret your words. I like it.
5JAKvirginia, all those factors and the silly microbes who voted for Donnie’s lies yet to wake up to their tsunami of buyer’s remorse. But for a few thousand votes …
6Although it does no bit of good, imagining where we would be right now, with Secretary Clinton in the White House, as opposed to the Neanderthal and the horrific upheaval he has caused, at least lets me bask in a fantasy of euphoria… if only for a fleeting nanosecond. If only reason had prevailed.
7Your criticisms are duly noted.
8Write your books. I’m serious. I didn’t trust GWB either so I bought several important books from that period so I’d have proof of what actually happened. I mean, GWB had all presidential papers removed from the library open stacks. Helen Thomas had plenty to say about that. I like a paper trail for some things, myself. You know that LOC digitized their collection and discarded the others, right? Gave them away. And govt. documents were whittled down a lot so if you were a grad student researching the sex life of fruit flies or something, you had to ask someone in Illinois or Florida or some other place to dig around in a warehouse for the document and wait and wait and wait.
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