Joe Perticone, congratulations on writing one of the very best pieces of “you are there” reportage I have read this year. You have explained the Kennedy phenomenon to me better than anyone else has.
The common denominator between Trump's and Kennedy's crowd— they are both terrified by a world that seems/is out of control.
They are both terrified by a world that they do not understand because they are constantly looking backward. The difference between Old Convicted Felon and RFK, Jr.' "vision" is how far in the past they look. RFK, Jr. wants the "glorious 60s" while OCF wants to go 100 years further than that, back when men were men, women knew their place, in the kitchen, pregnant and making dinner, and there was no talk about "equal rights" for anyone who "did not belong".
Perticone continues to impress. The Bulwark was smart as hell to snatch him up. There’s not a bad writer or a bullshit thinker at this joint, but I agree with you that this piece is FIRE!
Kathleen we keep crossing paths today! I totally agree with your sentiment on this article. I remember as a little girl staying up with my mother to watch Jaqueline Kennedy host a televised tour of the White House. It was grand! I’d seen the White House many times since my grandparents lived in D.C. but I’d never been inside. That’s the time the Kennedy family was our royalty. The family history is truly sketchy for sure, but the image Jack and Jaqueline created was like watching a fairytale. Because that’s exactly what it was. RFK jr is deeply involved in that fantasy and between him and Trump’s fantasy of raping and pillaging the peasants, supported by the like of Phil McGraw and delusional “Blue MAGA” liberals is not a viable option for voters.
Yep, Jack and Jackie sure did look good. Many have stressed that JFK was the first president of the TV era, when it became extremely important to look well on the tube. Pretty people like Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and movie star Ronald Reagan have had a definite advantage over ugly people like LBJ and Nixon.
What to say? If Kennedy thinks his agenda will have any real place in a trump administration, he is even more nuts than he already seems. Trump is going to be very busy signing exec orders for project 2025. There won't be much left of the Health department. Any regulations on food, water, air will be a thing of the past. Kennedy, like most of the American public, doesn't understand that Project 2025 is a real plan, that hundreds of people are working on it as he speaks...recruiting magas to replace Civil Servants, writing administrative orders, etc.... that the Heritage Foundation is not just whistling dixie. Anyone who thinks otherwise is in denial. They might want to look at how the Federalist Society undermined the supreme court, with the help of trump and mcConnell. They don't talk about what they are gong to do... they just do it. I just wish the American people were smarter than this. I'm just praying that Kamala will win.
Kennedy and Trump are both con men although their styles are different. Each thinks he can use the other to further their own ambitions. Both think they have the relationship under control but in reality, neither does. The difference is that Kennedy will become disillusioned first because he has less to lose.
I agree. But I can't stop thinking about those poor, deluded "blue maga" rfk supporters. It is, I think, an interesting dichotomy to risk your mental & moral health while being desperate enough to hitch your Health for Everyone star to trump. Can you say "disappointed?"
The ridiculous assumption here by RFK’s followers is that Trump will somehow have a use for RFK once the election is over. Trump cares nothing about RFK’s policies. Trump only wants him for his sliver of votes and will cast him to the winds once his usefulness has exhausted itself. And all these RFK acolytes will once more be out in the cold. Where they should be.
As Republicans have spent decades hollowing out our public school systems, we are now seeing the results. Voters are frighteningly ignorant about so much. All the stuff I read that seems to malign Democrats for their education pisses me off; while not everyone needs or is suited for college, everyone does need a solid education through high school, and that should include civics.
“Well, I'm trusting that Robert knows that Trump is going to take his advice,” said Donna Bervinchak, a rally attendee. “I'm trusting that Robert is reading him because I don't have that trust [in Trump], but I do trust Robert Kennedy.” Well, Donna, Trump will kick RFK Jr. to the curb when Big Ag fills Trump's pockets with money.
"His frailties and quirks, the tragedy and oddness, are all proof that modernity can take a toll, and that modern life is not all it is cracked up to be." You nailed the RFK Jr. vibe.
Oh, c'mon. Give "modernity" a break. You can't blame RFK on it. The guy experimented with drugs as a teen, eats unclean food, was raised as a Kennedy to think he was extraordinary, and may just have ordinary health issues.
Joe, until you wrote about them, I would have "Blue MAGAs" as the typo of a color-blind writer. Hard to say "thanks" for the clarification of that term when one knows what type of wide-eyed follower of the most flippy Kennedy there ever was is who is being IDed. RFK Jr. will just wind up being like all the Republicans in 2016, believing "he" can control/correct the Orangeutan only to learn that is the fastest way to being ignored unless you stop that sort of shenanigans and drink the Kool-Aid.
You know all the Bulwark writers read each other's post, and there isn't a day that goes by that Joe isn't besting all of them, much to their joy and chagrin.
The fact that he writes so well even after hanging out all day with lunatics (congress and congressional reporters) is incredible.
The less understanding of facts, the more pliable one is. That’s not a sign of strength or something that is admirable. It is a far cry from scientists that change their opinion based on evidence and new discoveries. And for that radiologist, I would joke with my medical colleagues that one who finishes at the bottom of his medical school class is still called Doctor.
To me, it seems both men, Trump and RFK Jr, have serious personality disorders. That could be a bonding factor. One of my husband’s nephews, mid-20’s, sort of incel-y, Libertarian, thinks he’s a lot smarter than he is (actually a pretty nice kid, just very dumb) was planning to vote for RFK Jr. He was one of those people who refused to get the Covid vaccine. A while back we had a family gathering and found out he’d gotten a new puppy and everyone wanted him to come and bring the puppy, but he couldn’t come because the puppy was too young to get its shots yet. I had to laugh. Lucky puppy gets to get his shots!
I want to assure RFK Jr that people had Tourette’s when we were kids because one of our friends had it. My mother, born in 1919, had severe asthma (she was once pronounced dead and brought back to life by an epinephrine shot to the heart a la Pulp Fiction, on the insistence of my father—luckily because I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t). And let’s not forget small pox and polio!
BTW, last summer the NYT had a good article about the rhetorical misinformation technique used by RFK Jr—including elements of truth and then a lot credible-sounding research that is actually unproven and flawed. It’s on purpose and insidious. He is a self-serving liar.
Which is worse---listening to a Tucker Carlson interview or a Dr. Phil interview? The guy is a regressive creep dressed up as a common sense guru. He hawks useless health products just like the rest of those right wing loons.
It never ceases to amaze me that Jr has anything more than 1,000 supporters. Whereas many politicians strive to have something that everybody can like, Jr seems to have something that everybody can detest.
I guess MAGA and JFK Jr followers have two things in common. One is their allegiance to their cult leaders, and the other being their attraction to conspiracy theories. So, if each of their dear leaders tell them the other is okay, their followers will decide that they can find a common thread in each other's conspiracy theories.
Joe Perticone, congratulations on writing one of the very best pieces of “you are there” reportage I have read this year. You have explained the Kennedy phenomenon to me better than anyone else has.
The common denominator between Trump's and Kennedy's crowd— they are both terrified by a world that seems/is out of control.
They are both terrified by a world that they do not understand because they are constantly looking backward. The difference between Old Convicted Felon and RFK, Jr.' "vision" is how far in the past they look. RFK, Jr. wants the "glorious 60s" while OCF wants to go 100 years further than that, back when men were men, women knew their place, in the kitchen, pregnant and making dinner, and there was no talk about "equal rights" for anyone who "did not belong".
Perticone continues to impress. The Bulwark was smart as hell to snatch him up. There’s not a bad writer or a bullshit thinker at this joint, but I agree with you that this piece is FIRE!
Kathleen we keep crossing paths today! I totally agree with your sentiment on this article. I remember as a little girl staying up with my mother to watch Jaqueline Kennedy host a televised tour of the White House. It was grand! I’d seen the White House many times since my grandparents lived in D.C. but I’d never been inside. That’s the time the Kennedy family was our royalty. The family history is truly sketchy for sure, but the image Jack and Jaqueline created was like watching a fairytale. Because that’s exactly what it was. RFK jr is deeply involved in that fantasy and between him and Trump’s fantasy of raping and pillaging the peasants, supported by the like of Phil McGraw and delusional “Blue MAGA” liberals is not a viable option for voters.
Yep, Jack and Jackie sure did look good. Many have stressed that JFK was the first president of the TV era, when it became extremely important to look well on the tube. Pretty people like Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and movie star Ronald Reagan have had a definite advantage over ugly people like LBJ and Nixon.
What to say? If Kennedy thinks his agenda will have any real place in a trump administration, he is even more nuts than he already seems. Trump is going to be very busy signing exec orders for project 2025. There won't be much left of the Health department. Any regulations on food, water, air will be a thing of the past. Kennedy, like most of the American public, doesn't understand that Project 2025 is a real plan, that hundreds of people are working on it as he speaks...recruiting magas to replace Civil Servants, writing administrative orders, etc.... that the Heritage Foundation is not just whistling dixie. Anyone who thinks otherwise is in denial. They might want to look at how the Federalist Society undermined the supreme court, with the help of trump and mcConnell. They don't talk about what they are gong to do... they just do it. I just wish the American people were smarter than this. I'm just praying that Kamala will win.
Kennedy and Trump are both con men although their styles are different. Each thinks he can use the other to further their own ambitions. Both think they have the relationship under control but in reality, neither does. The difference is that Kennedy will become disillusioned first because he has less to lose.
Trump thinks his relationship with Putin is under control. Kennedy thinks his relationship with Trump is under control. Both are wrong.
Add Dr. Phil to the list. I bet Oprah is regretting every second she listened to him.
I agree. But I can't stop thinking about those poor, deluded "blue maga" rfk supporters. It is, I think, an interesting dichotomy to risk your mental & moral health while being desperate enough to hitch your Health for Everyone star to trump. Can you say "disappointed?"
The ridiculous assumption here by RFK’s followers is that Trump will somehow have a use for RFK once the election is over. Trump cares nothing about RFK’s policies. Trump only wants him for his sliver of votes and will cast him to the winds once his usefulness has exhausted itself. And all these RFK acolytes will once more be out in the cold. Where they should be.
Trump's superpower is his ability to convince people he will reward them, unlike everyone else from whom he has wanted something in the past.
"his ability to convince people he will reward them" - just another way of saying "con man".
Incredible reporting.
As Republicans have spent decades hollowing out our public school systems, we are now seeing the results. Voters are frighteningly ignorant about so much. All the stuff I read that seems to malign Democrats for their education pisses me off; while not everyone needs or is suited for college, everyone does need a solid education through high school, and that should include civics.
“Well, I'm trusting that Robert knows that Trump is going to take his advice,” said Donna Bervinchak, a rally attendee. “I'm trusting that Robert is reading him because I don't have that trust [in Trump], but I do trust Robert Kennedy.” Well, Donna, Trump will kick RFK Jr. to the curb when Big Ag fills Trump's pockets with money.
We are a nation of imbeciles.
"His frailties and quirks, the tragedy and oddness, are all proof that modernity can take a toll, and that modern life is not all it is cracked up to be." You nailed the RFK Jr. vibe.
Oh, c'mon. Give "modernity" a break. You can't blame RFK on it. The guy experimented with drugs as a teen, eats unclean food, was raised as a Kennedy to think he was extraordinary, and may just have ordinary health issues.
What an ignorant jackass that man is. He never heard of a peanut allergy when he was a kid because PEOPLE WITH PEANUT ALLERGIES DIED! What a buffoon.
Joe, until you wrote about them, I would have "Blue MAGAs" as the typo of a color-blind writer. Hard to say "thanks" for the clarification of that term when one knows what type of wide-eyed follower of the most flippy Kennedy there ever was is who is being IDed. RFK Jr. will just wind up being like all the Republicans in 2016, believing "he" can control/correct the Orangeutan only to learn that is the fastest way to being ignored unless you stop that sort of shenanigans and drink the Kool-Aid.
You know all the Bulwark writers read each other's post, and there isn't a day that goes by that Joe isn't besting all of them, much to their joy and chagrin.
The fact that he writes so well even after hanging out all day with lunatics (congress and congressional reporters) is incredible.
The less understanding of facts, the more pliable one is. That’s not a sign of strength or something that is admirable. It is a far cry from scientists that change their opinion based on evidence and new discoveries. And for that radiologist, I would joke with my medical colleagues that one who finishes at the bottom of his medical school class is still called Doctor.
Dr Phil is a Trump supporter???? 😵😡
Uh, yeah, he was openly pushing Trump back in August. https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-doctor-phil-interview-fact-check-1945252
To me, it seems both men, Trump and RFK Jr, have serious personality disorders. That could be a bonding factor. One of my husband’s nephews, mid-20’s, sort of incel-y, Libertarian, thinks he’s a lot smarter than he is (actually a pretty nice kid, just very dumb) was planning to vote for RFK Jr. He was one of those people who refused to get the Covid vaccine. A while back we had a family gathering and found out he’d gotten a new puppy and everyone wanted him to come and bring the puppy, but he couldn’t come because the puppy was too young to get its shots yet. I had to laugh. Lucky puppy gets to get his shots!
I want to assure RFK Jr that people had Tourette’s when we were kids because one of our friends had it. My mother, born in 1919, had severe asthma (she was once pronounced dead and brought back to life by an epinephrine shot to the heart a la Pulp Fiction, on the insistence of my father—luckily because I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t). And let’s not forget small pox and polio!
BTW, last summer the NYT had a good article about the rhetorical misinformation technique used by RFK Jr—including elements of truth and then a lot credible-sounding research that is actually unproven and flawed. It’s on purpose and insidious. He is a self-serving liar.
Which is worse---listening to a Tucker Carlson interview or a Dr. Phil interview? The guy is a regressive creep dressed up as a common sense guru. He hawks useless health products just like the rest of those right wing loons.
It never ceases to amaze me that Jr has anything more than 1,000 supporters. Whereas many politicians strive to have something that everybody can like, Jr seems to have something that everybody can detest.
I guess MAGA and JFK Jr followers have two things in common. One is their allegiance to their cult leaders, and the other being their attraction to conspiracy theories. So, if each of their dear leaders tell them the other is okay, their followers will decide that they can find a common thread in each other's conspiracy theories.