Recommended by Ricochet Members Created with Sketch. The Terry Malloy Election

 

Analogies aren’t perfect or exact but they ring true when they are immediately recognizable or resonate. It’s with this sentiment that I offer up an analogy to the election of 2020 and what we’ve been witnessing for the past four years. One of the greatest American films ever made is On The Waterfront, directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando (as Terry Malloy), Lee J. Cobb, Eve Marie Saint, Rod Steiger, and Karl Malden. It’s a story about lies, graft, corruption, gangsterism, and intimidation — and standing up to all of it even if it means risking one’s life. The forces at work in this film very closely approximate the powerful and elite forces in media, the federal government, and high tech that have used the American people for their own ends.

The Deep State has, over time, established two parallel systems of justice – one for Hillary Clinton, Joe and Hunter Biden, James Comey, Peter Strzok, the Ohrs, Andrew McCabe, and others and another for Americans who have committed minor infractions or no infractions at all. It has sent men and women to war to die needlessly in mismanaged or dimly thought-out conflicts that often result in more chaos and death, as we saw in Libya. Members of Congress and successive presidential administrations have unlawfully acquired wealth through insider trading or through pay-for-play schemes with countries like China that engage in slavery, torture, and repression. And for decades, members of the Deep State have shown that they will do anything – distort reality, accuse their adversaries of the crimes that they, in fact, are committing, and blatantly lie to the American people — anything to maintain their grip on power.

The Deep State of career, corrupt federal bureaucrats, politicians and the operatives at the State Department, the DoD and in the CIA, DOJ and the FBI, all willing to commit treason, and the biased mainstream media that lies every day and every night or smothers the truth, and the social media giants who censor any opposition to their woke narratives or preferred candidates — are just as vile and dishonest (or more so) as the criminal longshoremen’s union thugs depicted in On The Waterfront.

For too long, Americans have been bullied and pushed around by Deep State thugs and told that they know what’s best for them. Americans have been told that those in the ruling class are more knowledgeable about economics, climate science, medicine, and world affairs. And many more sheepish Americans take what they say as gospel truth and fall in line. In the meantime, Americans have been imprisoned, beaten up, have watched their businesses destroyed, been forced to stay in their homes and told that a virus with a 99% recovery rate unleashed by a Communist regime that paid the Biden family millions of dollars, will kill their grandparents or their children’s school teachers if they don’t shut up, obey and wear masks perhaps even into the year 2022. Americans, not part of the Deep State thuggery have also watched their cities burned and have been beaten up by roving gangs of anarchists that their “betters” won’t rein in or condemn and in some cases glorify.

Like the washed-up boxer turned “stool-pigeon” Terry Malloy, Americans who have been pushed around, beaten up, and threatened have had enough. They have a chance this election to fight back against a corrupt government, a corrupt media complex, and the deceitful social media hierarchy.

In about four years, Donald Trump, Devin Nunes, Tony Bobulinski, Tucker Carlson, John Solomon, Kash Patel, Peter Schweizer, and others have exposed the extensive corruption of these thugs…but if you only get your news from CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, other deep state propagandists or woke social media bubbles, you wouldn’t know that.

Like Terry Malloy, millions of Americans, who are tired of being pushed around and lied to; tired of been treated like imbeciles by their corrupt political overlords, by the media, and by Twitter and Facebook — have decided to stand up and push back. You see them in the long car and truck caravans of Trump supporters, the massive crowds at Trump rallies, or the impromptu rallies that have materialized even in various Democrat strongholds like Beverly Hills, California. And then there are the quiet Americans who have also had enough but who won’t wave Trump banners, or put up lawn signs, or speak up on social media sites, like LinkedIn because they sense or know that their activity is often monitored by their employers or fellow colleagues who may be more woke. Many of them have already voted. Many of them will vote Republican and vote for Trump for the first time.

At about five minutes into the video clip below, union boss John Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) is badgering the other longshoremen to get back to work after his thugs have beaten Terry Malloy (Brando) to a pulp. As he approaches ‘Pop’ Doyle, whose own son, Friendly had killed for reporting to the crime commission investigating the union’s criminal activities, Friendly begins to manhandle the older man. Pop replies, “All my life you’ve pushed me around.” Then pushes Friendly off the ramp and into the water to the cheers of the other dock workers.

Americans showing support for Trump and the quieter ones, perhaps more like Pop Doyle, no doubt realize that their votes won’t rid America of the rampant corruption in government, or the bias in the media and in the social media platforms; but they probably hope that their votes will at least send a message. I don’t know how close or far apart the presidential election outcome will be. But I do sense that Americans are tired of being bullied and pushed around and in voting Republican and in voting for Donald Trump they at least have an opportunity to push back and make a splash. Maybe even bigger than the pushback and splash they made in 2016.

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  1. Susan Quinn Contributor

    Brian Watt: Americans showing support for Trump and the quieter ones, perhaps more like Pop Doyle, no doubt realize that their votes won’t rid America of the rampant corruption in government, or the bias in the media and in the social media platforms; but they probably hope that their votes will at least send a message.

    What’s tragic, Brian, is we have to ask if anyone will get the message. Will they hear it? Do they care? I do hope at least Republicans hear it, because they will need to lead the fight, not just complain about Trump. We’ll have to watch and see. Good post.

    • #1
    • November 1, 2020, at 12:03 PM PST
    • 5 likes
  2. Stad Coolidge

    Brian Watt: In about four years, Donald Trump, Devin Nunes, Tony Bobulinski, Tucker Carlson, John Solomon, Kash Patel, Peter Schweizer, and others have exposed the extensive corruption of these thugs…but if you only get your news from CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, other deep state propagandists or woke social media bubbles , you wouldn’t know that.

    Thank goodness for Rush, Fox, and the rest of the alternatives to the mainstream media . . .

    • #2
    • November 1, 2020, at 12:04 PM PST
    • 9 likes
  3. Annefy Member

    To explain DJTs win in 2016, I’ve said: Americans are tired of being bullied. So they hired their own bully and sent him to DC. In the past four years, DJT has proven himself over and over as up to the task. 

    To give an example from my life, years ago I got into a verbal altercation with some “toughs” outside a bar. I can’t remember what started it (I think it was some inappropriate behavior towards a much younger female in our party). What I do remember is that I stood my ground and chased a couple of guys off. When I looked behind me, there stood a friend who is about 6’6”. He hadn’t said a word; just stood there. I laughed and said I needed him behind me 24/7. He suggested I be a little more circumspect 

    That’s how I feel with DJT as president, like my 6’6” friend is standing right behind me 

     

    • #3
    • November 1, 2020, at 12:14 PM PST
    • 20 likes
  4. Clifford A. Brown Contributor

    Brian Watt: But I do sense that Americans are tired of being bullied and pushed around and in voting Republican and in voting for Donald Trump they at least have an opportunity to push back and make a splash. Maybe even bigger than the pushback and splash they made in 2016.

    May it be like the December 2019 UK election, where life-time Labour voters said “enough” and overwhelmingly elected Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party.

    • #4
    • November 1, 2020, at 12:15 PM PST
    • 9 likes
  5. Stad Coolidge

    Annefy (View Comment):
    To explain DJTs win in 2016, I’ve said: Americans are tired of being bullied.

    And lied to with a straight face by the MSM . . .

    • #5
    • November 1, 2020, at 12:24 PM PST
    • 4 likes
  6. Unsk Member

    Great Post. 

    Annefy: “To explain DJTs win in 2016, I’ve said: Americans are tired of being bullied.”

    And let’s hope they are really tired of being bullied in 2020.

    • #6
    • November 1, 2020, at 1:46 PM PST
    • 4 likes
  7. PHCheese Member

    For all Trumps foibles he may be the only politician in America that hasn’t been bought and paid for.

    • #7
    • November 1, 2020, at 2:07 PM PST
    • 6 likes
  8. James Gawron Thatcher
    James Gawron Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Brian,

    You are on it exactly. Never has an ordinary man trying to go to work and earn a living been given such a total load of cr*p. Everything the Democrats do damages him and his interests long term and short. They damage his family, they hurt his children trying to go to school, they raise the price of everything and wreck his chances for a better job or even just a raise.

    The Democrats stink to high heaven. To hell with them.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #8
    • November 1, 2020, at 2:35 PM PST
    • 9 likes
  9. Mark Camp Member

    Annefy (View Comment):

    To explain DJTs win in 2016, I’ve said: Americans are tired of being bullied. So they hired their own bully and sent him to DC. In the past four years, DJT has proven himself over and over as up to the task.

    To give an example from my life, years ago I got into a verbal altercation with some “toughs” outside a bar. I can’t remember what started it (I think it was some inappropriate behavior towards a much younger female in our party). What I do remember is that I stood my ground and chased a couple of guys off. When I looked behind me, there stood a friend who is about 6’6”. He hadn’t said a word; just stood there. I laughed and said I needed him behind me 24/7. He suggested I be a little more circumspect

    That’s how I feel with DJT as president, like my 6’6” friend is standing right behind me

    Sometimes one has long tried to understand what’s happening in the world, and finally all of the elements have assembled themselves in order, just waiting for the last simple piece of the puzzle to be discovered, and someone produces that missing piece.
    Thanks, Annefy.

    You summarized beautifully why we are voting for Trump and why we are not ashamed of it.

    • #9
    • November 1, 2020, at 3:24 PM PST
    • 5 likes
    • This comment has been edited.
  10. Ontheleftcoast Member

    Kamala Harris’ mask is coming off a bit more, and one of @garyrobbins fellow travelers speaks:

    • #10
    • November 1, 2020, at 5:51 PM PST
    • 5 likes
    • This comment has been edited.
  11. lowtech redneck Coolidge

    Brian Watt:

    The Deep State has, over time, established two parallel systems of justice

    This now extends to almost any judicial system run by Democrats: Kyle Rittenhouse and Jacob Gardner being the most prominent victims, while an army of violent rioters are the most prominent beneficiaries.

    • #11
    • November 1, 2020, at 7:13 PM PST
    • 5 likes
  12. Barbara Duran Thatcher
    Barbara Duran Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    This is one of the best posts I’ve ever read. Thank you, Brian Watt.

    • #12
    • November 1, 2020, at 7:18 PM PST
    • 5 likes
  13. James Gawron Thatcher
    James Gawron Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Ontheleftcoast (View Comment):

    Kamala Harris’ mask is coming off a bit more, and one of @garyrobbins fellow travelers speaks:

    Otlc,

    This gives you some idea of Kamala Harris’s intellectual level and emotional maturity. Equality, in opposition to Equity, could only be referring to equal treatment under the law. Equal treatment under the law is the cornerstone of Western Civilization’s idea of Justice. Equity is usually seen as a special and very specific remedy only employed when the court wishes to help someone in particular. Not because strict Justice would require the ‘help’ but out a sense of mercy for an individual. Of course, Equity employed as a general principle is an absurdity. It implies that human courts have a Gd like knowledge of how to manipulate a situation to produce some perfect result. Such a megalomaniacal court would do hopeless damage and destroy Justice in doing so.

    There is no way that a court can fix the world so we all end up at the same place. This is a hopeless childish illusion. The kind of idea that a woman who has been intellectually indulged and financially spoiled her whole life imagines is some sort of wonderful idea that only she can see.

    Gd help us if this spoiled child-woman gets power. Margaret Thatcher, she is not.

    Regards,

    Jim

     

    • #13
    • November 1, 2020, at 7:35 PM PST
    • 5 likes
  14. Brian Watt Member
    Brian Watt Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Barbara Duran (View Comment):

    This is one of the best posts I’ve ever read. Thank you, Brian Watt.

    Thank you, Barbara. Very much appreciated.

    • #14
    • November 1, 2020, at 9:42 PM PST
    • Like
  15. Bruce Caward Thatcher
    Bruce Caward Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    James Gawron (View Comment):

    There is no way that a court can fix the world so we all end up at the same place. This is a hopeless childish illusion. The kind of idea that a woman who has been intellectually indulged and financially spoiled her whole life imagines is some sort of wonderful idea that only she can see.

     

    Not only is it practically impossible to achieve, what genius out there thinks we all want to be in the same place?? The place that would make me happy and content might bore you, or might scare the hell out of you. The thing I want, that I’m longing for and willing to work hard for, might be stupid to you, valueless. (Plus, I can’t have you all living with me on my sailboat.)

    That’s why we made America, so everybody could have dreams and work toward them. You test your dreams against reality, which includes everybody else jostling to fulfill their dreams too.

    The free market and laws that protect individual rights results in a society that is like a beautiful forest. Lots of tall trees emerge, lots of medium-sized shrubs, lots of tiny flowers, some moss – incredible complexity that comes into being when the principles are laid down and then the people are unleashed to pursue their own dreams. Success is measured by individuals’ happiness, and the organic, freestanding health of the forest. Also, lots of natural diversity – which is actually a strength in this scenario. No one knows what a “perfect” forest is supposed to look like, so whatever comes up when the founding principles are followed is the best way to find out.

    The Kamala Harris Left finds this odious, because it’s not fair. Everything must be the same to have a perfect world. Trees are bigger than flowers, so no more trees and no more flowers.

    Trees probably get to have more water than lichen, and that is not going to produce votes in the agitators-for-lichen faction (though the lichen are probably fine with it). So trees must be phased out.

    They insist on the top-down control that results in a modern industrial cornfield – row upon row upon row of identical corn plants, each no larger nor smaller than its comrade neighbor. Success is measured by obedience, outliers are liquidated. The result is uniformity, a beautiful sea of identical red uniforms with white star, row upon row upon row as far as the eye can see.

    I prefer the forest, so I guess I must be a racist.

    • #15
    • November 1, 2020, at 10:20 PM PST
    • 4 likes
  16. I Walton Member

    The votes by individual citizens will be there. The question is how do we stop the fraud which will be much worse than usual, and what do we do if fraud carries the day. Do folks understand that if they win across the board there will be no coming back?

    • #16
    • November 2, 2020, at 5:12 AM PST
    • 4 likes