Although I’ve paid attention to United States (U.S.) political matters only within the past decade, choosing to largely ignore such matters prior to that, I’ve come to realize that the Republicans, conservatives, etc. rarely forego an opportunity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
To understand what I mean, it’s important to know about the idiomatic phrase “snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.” It means to win even though it seemed as though you were going to lose.
Metaphorically, it compares a close loss to being caught in the jaws of a predator, and then escaping. For instance, imagine that a brave knight stands in front of an ominous dragon. Just as the knight is seemingly about to succumb to injuries dealt by the beast, he manages to prevail.
The courageous warrior swings his sword with every bit of strength he can muster just as the dragon is going in for the kill. Then, he snatches victory from the jaws of defeat as his blade pierces the dragon’s scaly flesh, and down tumbles the villainous beast. Victory!
Unlike this imaginary event, I’ve witnessed many instances of people aligned with the U.S. right wing perform the inverse of this idiomatic expression by snatching defeat from the jaws of victory—losing after being close to winning, usually regarding a virtually certain victory.
Despite the fact that I don’t ally with right-wing or left-wing sociopolitical ideologies or parties, as I don’t vote or subscribe to moralistic behavior whereby I illogically and unreasonably participate in demandingness activities, I do pay attention to U.S. political party behavior.
Though the Make America Great Again (MAGA) and America First (AF) movements are primarily affiliated with the Republican Party, I’m aware that these factions maintain unique differences of opinion in regard to morals and ethics, values, principles, etc. of conservatives.
Nonetheless, the Grand Old Party currently maintains power in the House, the Senate, and the Executive Office, and approximately six of the nine Supreme Court justices tend to be right-leaning. Yet, executive orders are being issued like hotcakes, rather than passing legislation.
What’s to prevent a future Democratic Party president from simply undoing current victorious action snatched from former President Joe Biden’s administrative term? So far, I’ve witnessed conservatives patting themselves on the back so hard that they may break their spines.
Yet, their proverbial battle isn’t over. There’s still a metaphorical dragon standing in their midst. How does one fight effectively with a broken spine? That brings me to another matter of interest.
Perhaps some of the main issues for which people voted regarding President Donald Trump related to Medicaid and Medicare, as well as social security or medical matters in general. Now, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a growing concern in this regard.
Will people lose their medical coverage or disability benefits? Although Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has only been the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services for a relatively short period of time, one wonders as to whether or not DOGE will sabotage healthcare and disability services.
Among other issues for which individuals likely joined with MAGA and AF were inflation, immigration, unemployment, and deep state overreach under the Biden administration. Where is our nation currently at in regard to these issues?
One imagines that with the U.S. continuing to support both Ukraine and Israel in what are essentially proxy wars, Republican-supported actions are antithetical to MAGA and AF philosophy. America……….FIRST……..not after foreign nations, or did I miss something?
How is sustained military or other support of non-U.S. sovereignties going to reduce inflation? Also, while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was a hot topic within the first weeks of the Trump administration, why is it that this matter has largely faded from media coverage?
Additionally, regarding employment, there seems to be more people losing jobs than acquiring work. Granted, I support the downsizing an over-bloated federal government. I further oppose a socialist-style system by which the government expands while oppressing people.
Still, for those people who allied with MAGA and AF, and who’ve now lost their jobs to efforts of DOGE, is this effect what you voted for? Noteworthy, for approximately 30 years I’ve heard rhetoric about going to college or university, getting a job, and establishing wealth.
In a socialist-style system whereby people gain well-paying government jobs after following those instructions, did it not occur to these people that the founders of the U.S. didn’t support expansionist action of this kind? The founders reportedly didn’t even support standing armies.
How then does one rationally maintain that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), U.S. Postal Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or other federal entities have any merit – especially the anti-Second Amendment Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives?
While I don’t experience schadenfreude when seeing DOGE downsize the federal government, because I know all too well what it’s like to abruptly lose a job (it’s unpleasant), one does wonder what people who voted for this very action think when they lose their jobs.
Now, an already competitive job market has grown. However, many of the people who don’t maintain degrees of higher education are suddenly in competition for jobs with recently fired or retired government employees. How many of them are also competing with immigrants?
Furthermore, even though federal law enforcement and intelligence entities are supposedly being reorganized under the guidance of Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, and Pam Bondi, one fails to understand why so many conservatives are now cheering on the CIA and FBI.
Wasn’t it the actions of the CIA that influenced Ukraine and Israel wars? Weren’t the methods of the FBI responsible for Jan. 6th participants having been treated like terrorists, as well as parents attending school board meetings being treated similarly?
Who illogically and unreasonably believes that by metaphorically severing the self-regenerative head of a dragon will somehow lead to a snatch of victory from almost certain jaws of defeat? While Gabbard, Patel, and Bondi are the new heads of government entities, its body remains.
The same employees of the CIA, FBI, and other oppressive agencies, bureaus, etc. remain firmly planted on the ground, dear knight who waves a proverbial sword. Without specific legislation being passed to radically favor the protectorate, temporary executive orders won’t prevail.
All the while, a distracted populous bickers about the Epstein files, a Martin Luther King Jr. records release, John F. Kennedy documents, and information about unmanned aerial vehicles, unidentified aerial phenomenon, or unidentified flying objects, and for what?
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in regard to matters that actually impact you is what bowing to a dragon, rather than metaphorically decapitating the beast, appears to be: the modus operandi of the Republicans, conservatives, etc. That’s precisely how you assist the dragon!
Finally, for the glowies and spooks that may come across this blogpost and misconstrue what I’m stating, listen up. When I used to maintain a top secret security clearance, I was required to complete the Standard Form 86 (SF-86) on various occasions.
Question 29.3 specifically states, “Have you EVER advocated any acts of terrorism or activities designed to overthrow the U.S. Government by force?” My answer was and remains “no.” I don’t even vote, so I don’t passively attempt to overthrow the U.S. Government either.
Rather, this post is intended to employ the use of critical thinking as a method of disputing the irrational beliefs held by so many U.S. citizens – nothing more, nothing less. Therefore, I’m not a knight or dragon in this metaphor. I’m merely a honey badger passing through the landscape.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Foster, G. D. (2013, July 15). Why the founding fathers would object to today’s military. Government Media Executive Group LLC. Retrieved from https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2013/07/why-founding-fathers-would-object-todays-military/66668/
Freepik. (n.d.). Dragons and fantasy artificial intelligence image [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-ai-image/dragons-fantasy-artificial-intelligence-image_42080892.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=42&uuid=acb805bb-e31d-4e3d-b63f-9e52ad38795d&query=fighting+dragon
Hollings, D. (2024, November 4). Critical thinking. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/critical-thinking
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, May 18). Irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason
Hollings, D. (2024, November 6). Media. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/media
Hollings, D. (2025, February 4). Money and the power. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/money-and-the-power
Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics
Hollings, D. (2024, March 3). Naturalistic and moralistic fallacies. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/naturalistic-and-moralistic-fallacies
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2023, June 30). On sheepdogs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-sheepdogs
Hollings, D. (2024, November 18). Opinions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/opinions
Hollings, D. (2024, May 26). Principles. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/principles
Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
Hollings, D. (2023, December 24). Schadenfreude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/schadenfreude
Hollings, D. (2025, January 5). Spooky business. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/spooky-business
Hollings, D. (2025, January 16). The words we use matter. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-words-we-use-matter
Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal
Hollings, D. (2024, November 24). Values. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/values
Hollings, D. (2024, November 5). You’ll enjoy yourselves. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/you-ll-enjoy-yourselves
House Judiciary Committee Republicans. (2023, June 6). Chairman Jordan expands investigation into Biden targeting parents at school board meetings. Retrieved from https://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-jordan-expands-investigation-biden-targeting-parents-school-board
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Deep state. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_state
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Donald Trump. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_trump
Wikipedia. (n.d.). January 6 United States Capitol attack. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Jeffrey Epstein. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Joe Biden. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden
Wikipedia. (n.d.). John F. Kennedy. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_f._kennedy
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Kash Patel. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kash_Patel
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Martin Luther King Jr. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Pam Bondi. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Bondi
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy_Jr.
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tulsi Gabbard. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsi_Gabbard
Wray, C. (2021, June 15). Examining the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/examining-the-january-6-attack-on-the-us-capitol-wray-061521
Comments