Another Day of TDS Without Balance or Reason
Larry Walsh’s defense of Jake Tapper’s book Original Sin is a textbook example of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) dressed up as journalistic concern. The post convolutes legitimate questions about Biden’s presidency with speculative jabs at Trump, employs whataboutism to deflect criticism, and leans on unverified or misleading claims to prop up its narrative. This isn’t reasoned discourse—it’s a thinly veiled attempt to rehash anti-Trump talking points while shielding Tapper’s book from scrutiny.
- Convoluting Issues: Muddling Biden’s Record with Trump Obsession
Walsh argues that Tapper’s book, which allegedly details Biden’s “physical and mental decline,” is a necessary historical record. Yet, the post repeatedly pivots to Trump, framing criticism of the book as hypocritical given “pressure from the Trump administration” or the “psychopath with his finger on the nuclear button.” This conflates two unrelated issues: Biden’s health and Trump’s current presidency. By doing so, Walsh obscures any serious discussion of Tapper’s claims or Biden’s record, turning the piece into a referendum on Trump.
- Thinly Veiled Whataboutism: Deflecting with Trump Bashing
The post’s defense of Tapper hinges on whataboutism. Walsh suggests that criticizing Tapper’s book is hypocritical because Kimmel and others “can’t decry pressure from the Trump administration” and then “reject a book” they dislike. Similarly, he dismisses objections to the book’s timing by referencing “a divisive and potentially damaging administration now” (clearly Trump). These are classic whataboutist moves: instead of addressing why Tapper’s book might deserve criticism (e.g., sensationalism, timing, or accuracy), Walsh deflects by pointing to Trump’s supposed sins.
- Broader Critique: Lack of Balance and Reason
Walsh’s post pretends to champion journalism but drips with bias. It defends Tapper’s book without engaging with its content, assuming its necessity without proof. It paints Biden’s critics as suppressors of truth while ignoring valid reasons to question the book’s timing or motives (e.g., capitalizing on Biden’s exit). Meanwhile, it can’t resist sniping at Trump, even when irrelevant, revealing its true aim: to stoke anti-Trump sentiment under the guise of defending free speech.
The post’s appeal to Santayana’s quote about remembering the past is ironic. By convoluting issues, deflecting with whataboutism, and peddling unverified claims, Walsh distorts the past rather than clarifying it. True journalism—Tapper’s or anyone’s—demands evidence, not emotional grandstanding. This is just another day of TDS, where reason takes a backseat to partisanship.
