by 
Lee Atwater spent his last days repenting for the damage he did as a political hit man. He often proclaimed that perception was reality. He meant that if he made the public believe something, the truth wouldn’t matter. People act on their beliefs as if they are reality. This precept has increased in dominance in the GOP political strategy. The GOP believes it so ardently that they feel no shame in publicly admitting it. Indeed, Vance cried foul when the debate moderator fact-checked him. He also dodged the question of whether Donald Trump won the 2020 election. (To answer in the affirmative is a test of solidarity with the party.)
Huge amounts of money are in play in the effort to prosecute crimes motivated by the political lie that the election was stolen. The January 6th riot cost the lives of more than four people, and injured more than 200 of those who defended the Capitol. The GOP’s political orthodoxy is looking more like a cult and less like loyal opposition with each day of the campaign.
In addition, to the vast waste of time and treasure, there is moral injury of epic proportions. More than a third of the adult US Population is in deep denial about what has happened to them personally and to their friends, and their spiritual leaders.
Truth will out. The test of our beliefs is utility; our collisions with reality are often epic fails.
