Truth and facts be damned. Americans love conspiracy theories in an age when facts are up for grabs

Many Americans love conspiracy theories. Truth and facts be damned. We accept and internalize a theory and stick to it. Social media grabs ahold of the theory and the next thing you know, credibility is created.

In his 1855 sermon “Joseph Attacked by the Archers,” pastor Charles Spurgeon said: “If you want truth to go round the world you must hire an express train to pull it; but if you want a lie to go round the world, it will fly; it is as light as a feather, and a breath will carry it. It is well said in the old Proverb, ‘A lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on.’”

And Spurgeon said that long before Twitter/X and Facebook existed, and before Fox News was a gleam in Rupert Murdoch’s eyes.

Conservative culture warriors — OK, Republicans — seem to create and promote conspiracy theories more often than those who are mired in reality. Their leader-messiah, Donald Trump, is a master of inventing conspiracy theories beginning with gems like Barack Obama being born in Kenya and Ted Cruz’s father having a role in John Kennedy’s assassination. Let’s not forget the whopper that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

When Trump’s fanatical supporters are asked to validate his conspiracy theories and other assorted far-out lies, they sometimes counter with statements like, “You can’t take everything he says seriously,” or “He’s just kidding.”

Now I understand — Trump is a comedian. When he described grabbing women between their legs, it was meant to be hilarious. Another howler was when he suggested that injecting bleach could cure COVID. How about the disparagement of John McCain and others who have served in the military? Pure LOL material.

The problem is that Trump (seen above in a public domain photo posted on wikimedia commons) is a comic genius, and we mere mortals just can’t quite find the humor as quickly as he delivers the lines. 

I must digress briefly. When I think about Trump’s brand of comedy, some classic comedy schticks come to mind. Abbot and Costello’s classic routine, “Who’s on First.”

Jonathan Winters and Robin Williams on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.” 

Eddie Murphy’s James Brown hot tub skit on Saturday Night Live.

I’m guessing that Trump thinks he is funnier than any of them. Nobody in his inner circle has the guts to tell him the truth that his routine has grown boring and cringeworthy. Instead, they are busy kissing his … uh … ring. 

Back to the topic. Here’s the conspiracy theory nobody is talking about. It begins with Joe Biden taking acting lessons and showing up at the June 27 candidate debate as a senile man. The alarm bells sound in the Democratic Party.

However, the next day, in a miracle turnabout, Biden has his wits about him. Come on. Isn’t there something weird going on? After making several post-debate appearances where he displays attentiveness and energy, he supposedly gets COVID and disappears for a few days.

Some even think he was in a coma or, worst of all scenarios, dead. Then, Biden resurfaces and withdraws his candidacy for president. Kamala Harris’s candidacy takes off like a rocket. 

Did all of this happen simply because Biden’s poll numbers and fund-raising totals were in the toilet? We need to ask some probing questions.

If Biden was in such bad mental shape, how did he engineer the release of the prisoners held in Russia? How did Biden stay awake late at night as he greeted them as they stepped off their plane?

Isn’t it obvious? Biden faked his mental lapses and physical fragility just as sure as the government faked the moon landing back in 1969. Come on. Connect the dots.

Biden provided the ruse so that Kamala Harris would be his hand-picked nominee to replace him. What has played out was Biden’s strategy from day one, right after he and the deep state stole the election in 2020. 

But wait. There’s more.

It’s a little-known fact that Biden is a lifelong boxing fan, and much of his political expertise is derived from studying boxing strategy. In particular, consider the 1974 world heavyweight championship match between George Foreman and Muhammed Ali. The bout, held in Zaire, Africa was dubbed the Rumble in the Jungle.

Biden analyzed the fight thoroughly and applied the rope-a-dope strategy used by the underdog Muhammed Ali against his physically superior opponent. Like Foreman in the early rounds of the championship fight, Trump thought his relentless body blows were effective. After eight rounds against Ali, the exhausted Foreman was knocked out.

Likewise, an exasperated Trump, having punched himself out on Biden is staggering. He is flailing against Kamala Harris. Biden’s plan appears to be working.

Let’s remember. When Biden ran for president four years ago, he suggested that he would be a one-term guy. We shouldn’t be surprised that Harris replaced him. Far from being mentally incapable, the clever Biden outsmarted his overconfident opponent.

Going into the last rounds of the presidential campaign, Trump is viewed by an increasing number of voters as the tired, senile, unhinged old man. The momentum has shifted. His trainers and corner-men are going ballistic while Trump complains and cries for a diaper change.

It’s past time to call the waaaaa-mbulance and take him away.

Randy Zitterkopf served as a public school teacher and administrator in Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota. Now retired, Randy and his wife Linda live in Sioux Falls.