Trump derangement syndrome, or TDS, is real. And it is dangerous.
But where does it come from?
It is a deep-rooted hatred of a singularly unique character trait that few leaders have: Bull moose gravitas.
One of those disturbing TDS moments just occurred. The kind that, on the one hand, you’d just love to shrug off. But on the other hand, you know it must be dealt with swiftly, surely and publicly.
Former FBI Director James Comey was playing cutesy with seashells and posted a picture of shells in the sand laid out to form a message. The shells themselves formed the numbers 8-6-4-7. Read as “eighty-six,” “forty-seven.”
The 47th president of the United States just had a former FBI director calling for him to be “86’d.”
In my experience, “86” is used as military slang for the disposal or removal of something, or worse yet, to eliminate or kill. Comey knows that, and Comey is the man who allegedly used to investigate threats against the U.S.
Comey has influence and a following, and he’s out there saying 8647. By Friday evening, the Secret Service interviewed Comey. In my view, he needs to do a perp walk into and out of the same building where he used to be the boss.
But it gets worse. Ed Krassenstein, political commentator and social media influencer, posted the same message to his 1 million followers on X using pool table balls lined up to say 8647.
Where did this come from? Who started this sick messaging?
A recent article was published about this very thing, saying 8647 was trending on TikTok as a “silent form of protest” against Donald Trump in hopes of " making it so he is no longer the president.”
We are less than a year since the Trump Rally in Butler County, Pa., where someone actually acted on their fantasy of taking out the man who now holds the Oval Office. Trump sustained wounds from a crazed shooter, and an innocent supporter was killed. Soon after that, another misfit lay in wait on a golf course with plans to shoot Trump. Two actual attempts on Trump’s life in the past year, yet the former head of the FBI thinks it’s cute to join the TikTokers and post 8647 on his socials.
That’s not just blind misunderstanding. That’s blatant threatening, and it must stop.
The left hates Trump. He has proven to be a physical, social and political force unlike any with whom they have ever dealt. All they can do is lash out and encourage the most ideologically wounded miscreants in their crew to take physical action by saying 8647. They’ve tried to sue him, convict him, bankrupt him, cheat him out of office, and even shoot him, but he keeps shaking his fist in the air, doing the Trump dance, and they seethe.
They have no idea what to do with a man who has “Bull Moose Gravitas.” Let me explain.
On July 13th, 2024, shots rang out at the Trump rally in Butler, Pa. Trump noticeably grabbed the right side of his head from what we now know to have been a sniper round that creased his ear. Secret Service converged on the president as he dropped to the stage floor. In a moment that will remain frozen in time, we watched him come to his feet, while over the heads of the protective detail, he shook his fist in the air and, no less than three times, yelled, “Fight!” It was an epic moment. Trump’s response was exactly what the world needed at that time … it was command presence – it was leadership. It was gravitas. The people loved it, but the left hated him all the more for it.
The ancient Romans named certain characteristics, such as “pietas” for discipline and authority; “Virtus” for valor, masculinity, excellence, courage; and “gravitas,” which meant that someone was sincere and carried themselves with authority.
A leader who exuded charisma, strength of personality, self-confidence, and individual magnetism, is one that projects “gravitas.”
But then there’s “Bull Moose gravitas.” That one has some history attached to it.
On Oct. 14th, 1912, Teddy Roosevelt stepped out of his hotel in Milwaukee, Wis., heading to an auditorium to give a campaign speech. Crowds cheered loudly when he came out, so Roosevelt stood up in the back of his town car to greet his supporters. A man named John Schrank approached with a .38 caliber pistol, shooting Roosevelt in the chest at close range. Roosevelt was knocked down and the bullet entered his chest cavity. Despite being shot, Roosevelt himself “was able to restore order to the chaos at the scene before the police arrived and took Schrank into custody.”
While bleeding profusely, Roosevelt insisted on proceeding with the speech and spoke with vigor and energy for an hour. Only after the speech, “shaky from loss of blood,” did he go to a hospital. Asked later by reporters how he was doing, Roosevelt responded, ”I’m as fit as a bull moose!”
It was gravitas. Bull moose gravitas. And the people loved it.
Not since Teddy Roosevelt have we seen such a dynamic in an American president. Until now.
But that dynamic also brings enemies. It brings out the Schranks, and the crazy shooters who lie in wait on golf courses and climb up on buildings in Butler, Pa. It brings out the Comeys and the Krassensteins who think it’s okay to say “8647” with all their TikTok sycophants wallowing in the mire of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
We all need to be praying for Trump daily. The man has some serious Bull Moose Gravitas.
But the TDS-left wants to 8647.
To contact Phil or request him for a speaking engagement, go to www.rightsideradio.org.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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