The Impeachment of Cult of Personality

Well my telephone was ringing

and they told me it was chairman mao

well my telephone was ringing

and they told me it was chairman mao

you can tell him anything...

'cause i just don't wanna talk to him now...

- from "Apolitical Blues" by Lowell George

This post is not about the Orange One. It is not an argument, for or against the president, his administration, or the tactics and operations employed. It is not about the legitimacy of the impeachment of a sitting president. It is not about the veracity or integrity of the GOP or the DNC. This post is not even about political chicanery… the dirty tricks routinely practiced by most, if not all politicians. This post is not about the Orange One… it’s about a Orange One.

In September of 2015, I posted the first installment of “Cult of Personality” wherein I questioned the (then) unlikely rise of an NYC real estate developer, turned reality star, turned candidate for the U. S. presidency, Donald J Trump. Sure, I took a few shots at the Orange One, for (then) obvious reasons… but the theme of the post centered on the phenomenon of a Cult of Personality. Such a cult arises when a public (political) figure is deliberately presented to the people of a country as a great person who should be admired and loved.

In that initial post, I briefly outlined the origin of the term and how it originally was used to describe fascist, authoritarian rule. From that post: “Personality cults were first described in relation to totalitarian regimes that sought to alter or transform society according to radical ideas. Often, a single leader became associated with this revolutionary transformation, and came to be treated as a benevolent "guide" for the nation, without whom, the transformation to a better future could not occur.”

I followed up this first installment a couple of weeks later with a second post dealing (no pun intended) with the symbolic subtleties of the “Trump Card” and the subterranean, synchro-mystic currents of meaning that underlie “the Donald’s” surname. Examining trump cards, such as the 22 cards that make up the Major Arcana suit of the divinatory Tarot deck, I connected the occultic dots, associating the Orange One and his iconic real estate property with the “Devil” card and the following “Tower” card (15th and 16th cards in the Tarot).

From that post:  “Tellingly, the 16th trump or major arcana card of the Tarot deck is The Tower, which means the breaking down of old forms. The Tower card follows immediately after The Devil card, in all Tarots that contain it… and is associated with sudden, disruptive, and potentially destructive change.”

“The name ‘Trump’ also raises more occult implications. The divinatory or oracular nature of the Tarot Deck, with its 22 major arcane or “trump” cards, suggests a supernatural predominance. Pop Media, in turn would associate the Tarot (inaccurately) with (pop) witchcraft and/or the ‘dark arts.’ In light of the above, and returning to the concept of Cult of Personality, the rise in prominence of Donald J Trump, suggests a troubling association with sudden, disruptive, and potentially destructive change.”

Much has come to pass since those 2015 posts. I think it is fair to say that the ensuing 4 years have demonstrated the kinds of disruptive change that was forecasted in those initial installments. Again, from the second post: “In the wake of global humanitarian catastrophe, such as massive refugee crisis in Europe and the renewed and emboldened proxy wars between the US and Russia, now being fought in Syria, the Ukraine and elsewhere… the situation appears to be moving toward a Geo-political flashpoint.”

And so our current, “desperate as usual” political situation presents just such a flashpoint, as contemplated in 2015. The extreme partisanship and tribal entrenchment of socio/political factions have… predictably… resulted in nationalistic and fascist conditions that are the hallmark of past cult of personality regimes. As one of those hallmarks, it appears as though ideologies from the right and left, have been co-dependent on their respective media outlets, for “those who control the message, control the masses.”

Media outlets that demonstrate a clear bias, right or left, only add to the partisan rift that serves to distract from underlying manipulations. In identifying motivation, it is hard to say which is “the cart” and which is “the horse” …did Fox recruit Trump or vice versa? The partisan, right/left rift itself is an obsolete contrivance from past centuries. It was originally conceived and implemented by the powerful, to divide and conquer the rising tide of worker movements of the early industrial era. As such, right/left ideologies have no place in identifying root, occultic influences that we moderns must grapple with. 

It is in this environment that our current president was impeached by the U. S. House of Representatives… and will be tried by the U. S. Senate. However… and let me restate…  this “trial by fire” is not as much about the Orange One’s impeachment… as it is about the promotion of antiquated political ideology. What was decided in “the house” and what will be decided in “the Senate” may very well fail to identify and address the root issues of increased social inequity, ethnic intolerance, and future shock.

Our dilemma isn’t so much about the Orange One’s success (or failure) as a cult figure… as it is about the social conditions that give rise to Cult of Personality. Oddly, the Cult of Personality phenomenon can be traced back to the Roman Empire. From Wikipedia: 

The Imperial cult of ancient Rome identified emperors and some members of their families with the divinely sanctioned authority (auctoritas) of the Roman State. Throughout history, monarchs and other heads of state were often held in enormous reverence and imputed super-human qualities. Through the principle of the divine right of kings, in medieval Europe for example, rulers were said to hold office by the will of God. Ancient Egypt, Imperial Japan, the Inca, the Aztecs, Tibet, and the Roman Empire are especially noted for redefining monarchs as "god-kings."

For the discerning readers of this blog, it is not an inconceivable stretch to correlate such historic phenomena with the fever-fueled visions of PKD and the para-political theory of “high strangeness” identified as the Black Iron Prison. Consequently, the rise of any Cult of Personality figure would necessarily bolster the suspicion that “The Empire Never Ended.” It is just such an empire wherein powerful, invisible hands would promote a cultic figurehead... one who is knowingly, or unwittingly participating in a political sham.

So it is critically important for us all… in these troubling times… not to get boondoggled by the age-old Cult of Personality con job. Such tomfoolery is nothing more than a slight of (the invisible) hand card trick. This time around, they may be playing the Trump card… but it is not the figurehead… it is not the “card” we should be focusing our attention on. Rather it is the “hand” that is pulling the trick.

As of this writing, Donald J Trump’s fate has not yet been decided. Regardless of the outcome, there is no percentage in holding your breath for any justice… for it is exceedingly likely that Trump and his syndicate will continue to thrive, whether he is found guilty or not. Rather, recognize the larger con that is being played. Cult of Personality has been played out before. As with Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, and Chairman Mao, buying into such a cult doesn’t turn out well for most folks. Regardless of the fate of the Orange One, it is the Cult of Personality as a political device that needs to be impeached from our political mechanisms.

 Recently, a lot of attention has been given to what has been described as “Late-Stage Capitalism.” It may very well be that a return to the old Cult of Personality gambit is a last-gasp effort by the powers that be. Recognize the scam… recognize right/left politics as part of the scam. After all, a cult of personality figure needs “the other” to point to as the real problem. It is those other evil bastards that are taking your jobs, replacing you, or otherwise rendering you ineffectual or obsolete! ...or so the scam goes.

As in the 2015 posts, the key to forecasting the next four years… is not to be deceived by partisanship. “We the People” from the U. S., Canada, Mexico… from Russia, Ukraine… from Syria, Iran… from Palestine, Israel… from China, Taiwan… we the people from wherever... have a hell of a lot more in common than any of us do with the invisible hand… with the one percent. Remember… it’s not “them vs us” …it’s us.

At this juncture, it does not appear as though the situation is going to return to normal… at all. The high strangeness that encompasses us all will likely continue to get stranger. In terms of navigating this strangeness, keep your wits about you and continue to develop your own criteria of discernment. Mass media, including much of the internet, will no longer be a trustworthy source of information. In these troubled times, remember the two commandments of the Conspiracy Age… Trust no-one and… don’t believe everything you think!

Constant vigilance, dear intrepid readers... constant vigilance!

Cult of Personality:  Part One  ~  Part Two