Though a Secret Service agent took a shotgun blast to the chest — amazingly, he absorbed the impact and returned fire — no one was hurt. Including the Los Angeles-based gunman.

And, so, once again we are talking about someone on the left killing or trying to kill someone with opposing views.

How much longer are the hate, malice, bias, and violence — supposedly the things this not-so-merry ensemble rejects — going to continue?

Indefinitely.

The why centers on the psychological construct we commonly call “addiction.”

With a personal preference for Mr. Webster’s brevity over the Dark Lord AI’s verbosity, the former offers this definition of the term — “A compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically causing well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors or nausea) upon withdrawal or abstinence.”

I draw on a personal definition of addiction, “Any repeated activity that crowds out normal living.”

With either pick, it’s in this word we find confirmation that America’s current liberal, progressive, socialist, Democrat crusade — like all addictions — is doomed.

The catch is that history proves that hooked movements reliably take a lot of people down with them.

Here’s some evidence to support my diagnosis —

Denial — With every measure of addiction, comes a matching measure of denial. Watch any liberal pundit, politician, partisan, or pupil, and you will quickly spot a dedication to sidestepping uncomfortable truths. That’s because addiction is so invasive, that no one can sustain it without a committed denial system. “MAGA Republican/Conservatives are evil, fascist, racist idiots” is the equivalent of “I only had one beer, officer” declarations at a traffic stop. 

High on lies — Dishonesty is a kissing cousin to denial. It’s more specific in that there is an intentional effort to cover up inconvenient truths. The more you do it, the more you are compelled to do it. Watch dead-eyed DC Democrat leadership for further illumination of another truism on dishonesty – the best liars lie to themselves first. There’s your answer to the conservative thinker’s question, “How can people possibly believe this stuff?”

Blindness — An inability to see the obvious, even in the face of relentless illumination, is a stark characteristic of today’s addicted liberal movement. One of my favorites is Asheville’s chronic drug addict/predatory vagrant/mobile mentally ill/homeless/wistful wanderer problem. The boys/girls/others in blue are in control of literally every level of government in Asheville and Buncombe County. Yet, this problem gets worse by the day. Drive down tunnel road anytime or grab a window seat in an Asheville restaurant. The parade of humanity lost in drugs, mental health spirals, anger, poverty, and social confusion will astound anyone coached in normal, traditional and functional values. Sorry guys, removing personal accountability from any helping effort – be that social, legal, physical, spiritual or otherwise – dooms that effort to failure. Try telling your toddler it is not their fault they are misbehaving and see what happens. Better yet, go about anywhere in Asheville and know what happens. 

Justification — Spouse abuse is a form of addiction that has much in common with the left. Statements like, “I wouldn’t up and hit you if you wouldn’t do stupid stuff” are common utterances of those who beat their spouse, as well as Democrats, who seek justification for beating up – sometimes shooting – their opposition. How many times have you heard a member of the “I love diversity as long as it comes in blue” fraternity say something like, “If Trump wouldn’t say and do so many stupid things, I wouldn’t hate him and his followers so much.” 

As a matter of fact, I am not a fan of President Trump’s unrelenting nastiness and exaggeration.

Would that he learn to lead and hush versus lead and fuss.

There’s a “why?” for that, but you won’t like it.

Yes, Trump exhibits all of the addictive behaviors of a narcissistic personality. 

It would be my submission that history and a review of the qualifications of the leadership class in today’s America reveals two things— (1) Most of them are sociopathic, which is even more dangerous than narcissism and (2) No one but a narcissist could plow through the nonsense, immaturity, greed, folly and ironic self-absorption that characterizes so many in today’s America. 

The fact we have this unpleasant/productive gentleman in the White House says a whole lot more about our character than his. 

Is there a treatment protocol for addicted liberals seeking to go on the wagon?

Sure, and it starts with the first word in the quote at the top of the page. 

Do that one, and you’ll immediately start countering your addiction to the angry entitled victim script the left uses as a political hook.

Wondering if your habituated thinking can be wrong is a good sign that your denial system is breaking.