The Cult of the Mediocre: How MAGA's Favorite Figures Get Away with Being Bad at Their Jobs
It's a common tale that circulates among family gatherings, one that serves as a cautionary warning about the dangers of laziness and incompetence in the workplace. The story centers around a mythical figure known only as "Person X," who is described as an overpaid, underachieving employee whose slovenly behavior goes unpunished due to their seemingly bulletproof employment contract.
This narrative has become a staple of the modern conservative movement, echoing similar campfire stories about welfare queens and entitled elites. By perpetuating this myth, Republicans can tap into the frustrations of well-off individuals who genuinely feel they're working hard while others coast through life on government largesse.
However, when it comes to actual power brokers in the Republican party, the story is starkly different. Bari Weiss and Tony Dokoupil, for example, have risen to prominence despite struggling with basic journalistic competence. Pete Hegseth, a C-tier Fox News anchor turned Pentagon official, has bungled his way through scandal after scandal while demanding respect from the press.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has long relied on this "noble victim" narrative to deflect criticism of his own ineptitude and questionable business practices. By painting himself as a perpetual underdog who's always been unfairly maligned by coastal elites, Trump has managed to win over supporters who feel they've been overlooked and underappreciated.
The latest iteration of this narrative comes in the form of Trump's continued boasts about being denied the Nobel Peace Prize despite his questionable track record on conflict resolution. This is a classic example of Trump's " Rodney Dangerfield" syndrome, where he claims to be a victim of circumstance despite having repeatedly failed to achieve his goals.
Ultimately, the moral of this story may not have one – except that it highlights the disturbing trend of Republicans requiring a constant stream of accolades and praise for their subpar work. By embracing this cult of the mediocre, they're able to maintain their grip on power even as they perpetuate a culture of incompetence and ineptitude.
It's a common tale that circulates among family gatherings, one that serves as a cautionary warning about the dangers of laziness and incompetence in the workplace. The story centers around a mythical figure known only as "Person X," who is described as an overpaid, underachieving employee whose slovenly behavior goes unpunished due to their seemingly bulletproof employment contract.
This narrative has become a staple of the modern conservative movement, echoing similar campfire stories about welfare queens and entitled elites. By perpetuating this myth, Republicans can tap into the frustrations of well-off individuals who genuinely feel they're working hard while others coast through life on government largesse.
However, when it comes to actual power brokers in the Republican party, the story is starkly different. Bari Weiss and Tony Dokoupil, for example, have risen to prominence despite struggling with basic journalistic competence. Pete Hegseth, a C-tier Fox News anchor turned Pentagon official, has bungled his way through scandal after scandal while demanding respect from the press.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has long relied on this "noble victim" narrative to deflect criticism of his own ineptitude and questionable business practices. By painting himself as a perpetual underdog who's always been unfairly maligned by coastal elites, Trump has managed to win over supporters who feel they've been overlooked and underappreciated.
The latest iteration of this narrative comes in the form of Trump's continued boasts about being denied the Nobel Peace Prize despite his questionable track record on conflict resolution. This is a classic example of Trump's " Rodney Dangerfield" syndrome, where he claims to be a victim of circumstance despite having repeatedly failed to achieve his goals.
Ultimately, the moral of this story may not have one – except that it highlights the disturbing trend of Republicans requiring a constant stream of accolades and praise for their subpar work. By embracing this cult of the mediocre, they're able to maintain their grip on power even as they perpetuate a culture of incompetence and ineptitude.
. I mean, come on, if Person X is getting away with being bad at their job, then shouldn't we be expecting our politicians to actually do their jobs? It's like they're saying it's okay for them to coast through life while we're expected to work hard and pay more taxes 
.
? Trump has been playing that card for years and people are just eating it up. Newsflash: being a reality TV star doesn't qualify you as a peacemaker or leader 
.
. It's like they think the only way to get ahead is by whining and complaining about how unfair life is 
. Give me a break! 
The fact that Bari Weiss and Tony Dokoupil are still getting work despite being subpar journalists is a huge red flag. And don't even get me started on Pete Hegseth's antics... it's like he's got a personal vendetta against the press corps. 
. Like, it's SO true! I mean, have you seen Trump's track record? The dude can't even get a simple press conference right 
. And it's like, the more he fails, the more he gets away with it because people just love him for some reason... it's wild 
. And can we talk about Bari Weiss and Tony Dokoupil? Like, they're literally getting paid to be bad journalists 
. I'm not sure what's more disturbing - that they're getting away with it or that they're actually successful at being incompetent 
. I mean, come on, if bari weiss & tony dokoupil managed to get ahead w/ that level of mediocrity, what's next? 
. And don't even get me started on trump's "noble victim" schtick 
? Give me a break 
. Maybe it's time we start holding these people accountable for their actions, instead of just giving 'em a participation trophy 
Interesting how they use the "noble victim" narrative to deflect criticism, it's like, no one expects you to be perfect, but actually doing some actual work would be nice 
. Meanwhile, actual competent people are getting left behind because they don't have the same connections or resources 
– newsflash Donald, you haven't exactly been a champion of peace and diplomacy.
. And don't even get me started on Trump - it's like he thinks being a loser is a badge of honor 
. And don't even get me started on how this narrative affects the rest of us who actually put in real effort and dedication 
. The idea that you can just coast through life because others are "getting away with" it is so not cool 
.
- it's blowing my mind! I mean, who knew that politicians like Trump and Bari Weiss could get away with being, well, not exactly the best at their jobs? 
. Otherwise, we're going to continue to see more of the same old incompetence and ineptitude 
.