Trump is NOT some kinda abhorrent anomaly

[kpete]

I grew up in SoCal home of the John Birch Society - this rhetoric has been around my whole life
https://fullertonobserver.com/2020/01/03/remembering-nixonland-how-the-modern-republican-party-was-born-in-orange-county/

“Trump was not the cause of the political divisions that defined his term in office but rather was a product of long-term trends in Republican politics and American polarization more broadly.”
https://www.amazon.com/Presidency-Donald-Trump-Historical-Assessment-ebook/dp/B09HLDK37X?keywords=julian+zelizer&qid=1649767715&sprefix=julian+zel,aps,116&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=youwonnowwhat&linkId=fb93128a03a31a77ae990f7d5c9df148&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

[RAB910]

1. The GOP recruits 3 types of people

1) Stupid people- they easily buy the lies and they score points by telling them they are really smart

2) Cowards- The right-wing propaganda is mostly designed to play on peoples fears which they turn into hatred

3) Assholes- the abusive anti-American rhetoric grounded in bigotry, prejudice, and intolerance is like catnip to them

[llashram]

2. ++

[mountain grammy]

4. Every republican.

Is in one or more of those 3 categories

[empedocles]

5. 4) Belligerent rich people

[Claire Oh Nette]

34. Yet the bulk of the MAGA/tRump crowd isn't rich

Lots of what used to be called lower middle class and below socioeconomically vote for Republicans against their own interests.

My Iowa in-laws, for example, come from old farming Republicans, but they've been politicized and radicalized in their churches to the point they primarily vote against abortion because Jeebus love the little childrens, but they vote against anything that will benefit "the Poor" because they view the poor as Black , never as white folks.

The preachers proselytize them to vote in favor of economic policies that will help them when they become rich, too.

Low information, low education voters who conflate their religious views with Freedom and America. Dangerously so.

[PatSeg]

8. 4) Self-centered opportunists

The "I've got mine, screw you" crowd. They look down on people who need government help, but when they use government programs, it is because they are entitled. The republican party is the perfect place for them.

[DENVERPOPS]

31. YES !!!!!!!!!!!

It is amazing to watch this crowd of "anti-socialism" fanatics. They try do destroy any safety net. But then a weather disaster hits them, and they are the very first in line......and bitching that it isn't enough. And without exception, just weeks or months later they will be back to bitching about government intrusion into their lives.........

If you confront them with this hypocrisy, they deny their behavior. Their common answer is: "That it is different in their case".....

It is funny that they never once complain about "Corporate Socialism".........

[PatSeg]

36. Exactly

I've seen it up close and personal many times. They really don't see their hypocrisy, probably because they only see the world through their own subjective perspective. If something bad happens to John Smith over there, it is their own fault, but when something bad happens to Joe Q. Republican, he blames someone else, oblivious to the absurdity.

They never admit they are wrong and that is probably because in their minds, they are always right. I cannot imagine being like that.

[DENVERPOPS]

37. Thank goodness

I have been able to flush every last on of them out of my life these past five+ years.........some lifetime friends, regretfully.....

[PatSeg]

42. Yes, it is often sad

to let go of people we've known for a long time, but some things cannot be overlooked.

[Richard58]

41. Exactly.

I had a MAGA neighbor--thankfully now deceased--who always ranted and raved against "socialism" and government programs. But this flaming hypocrite, who was disabled, lived in government subsidized housing, got disability, food via EBT card. free bus rides, etc. One time I confronted him about him getting all that government help and he said, "Well I EARNED it!" Uh-huh. I wanted to say, "Why? Because you're a white guy?" Instead I said, "Don't other people deserve it too?" And he said, "No! Most people are lazy and want a hand-out." Typical privileged conservative! He died of Covid. Didn't believe in taking precautions. Too bad, so sad.

[PatSeg]

43. Amazing, isn't it?

I've heard the same thing, "I earned it". With everyone else, it is about "personal responsibility". Even when they accept and use government benefits, they complain about them - never enough and very inefficient.

[AZLD4Candidate]

24. 6) narcissistic sociopaths looking for lots of good supply (Trump, Miller, Gaetz)

7) social ne'er-do-wells that latch onto a cause because it fills the void (Ammon Bundy)
8) political opportunists that have figured out there is alot of money to be made on rubes (Charlie Kirk and Ben Shapiro)

Pretty much the dregs of society that attracted the leadership and rank and file of the Nazi Party.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Well, he is abhorrent, and he is an anomaly among decent people but not the Groomer Old Party. nt

[niyad]

6. Exactly.

[Marthe48]

7. I have some moderate conservative friends and relatives

that I still talk to and have relationships with. If they start blabbing talking points, I point out that it wouldn't be possible for me to move myself that way. And for these certain people, seeing how they live their lives, how the talking points are laid on over personalites that are kind and generous, support their communities, not affiliated with a church, I still think that it would be easier for them to come my way, because their human nature is better than the politics they follow. The people I have in mind are not part of the die-hard base, but I still will never understand why people who are normally kind and generous would support a political party that is made up of the dregs of the world.

[PatSeg]

12. Yes, it really is hard to understand

I've known many decent, moderate republicans. I don't know how they can rationalize all the hate, dishonesty, and ugliness we are seeing in the party today. It is not like it is only a few outliers, it has taken over the entire party.

[Hugin]

9. Nah, he's a pretty run of the mill loser. n/t

[TheBlackAdder]

10. See, supporting Trump is not a cult.

.



.

[erronis]

11. I'm thinking that the beginnings of this repuglicon party started after WW-II

and the success of the New Deal, the attempted integration of society after the soldiers (white and black) came back to start new lives.

Also isolationists were probably pushing agendas that would remove foreign power (UN, etc.) from having sway over the exceptionalist USA.

[Hugin]

13. That is when it picked up steam.

It's founding fathers were the corporatists who tried to soft coup FDR and were thwarted by Major General Butler.

Bringing about great wrath and the rise of Randian Objectivism.

Boy, were they pissed. Very nearly there now, however.

[Amishman]

14. Trump is a symptom, not the disease

He tapped into something that was already there; a murky subterranean lake of discontent and rage.

He was elected by riding a torrent of backlash against change and diversification.

You have two visions of the future of this country; one multicultural, urban-centric, diverse, and vibrant. The other a suburban and rural focused Christian conservative monoculture. They are not compatible with each other.

Why are the Pubs trying to fight a culture war? Because they are empowered right now by a grass roots cultural backlash.

[roamer65]

19. +1000

Bingo.

[raccoon]

44. Great post. Nt

[Evolve Dammit]

15. Typical racist Klansman but inherited 100 million.

[oldsoftie]

22. Wasn't it 400M?

[Evolve Dammit]

26. I dunno. It was a big pile of Daddy dough (Fred, the KKK rally arrestee)

[C Moon]

16. I have a trump neighbor (a few actually)

This one guy… we’re cordial with each other, but if I talk to him more than a few sentences, he’ll bring up right wing politics. So I always keep it to little more than “how are you?”

These trump people are brainwashed to push their agenda with every instance.

[dchill]

17. Kind of evangelical, actually. Right?

[oldsoftie]

27. They think the LEAST Christian president ever was "chosen by God"

which amazes me.
But when they agree that "God is in control", thats when I say "I agree. And so God chose Biden. because He is in control"
Followed by half-wit slack jaw look on their face.

[dchill]

33. Don't be amazed. These murderous charlatans have less...

...use for Christ than the average Klingon.

[Ohio Joe]

18. Big K&R

The real anomaly is finding a decent repug.

[BlueIdaho]

20. It's Populism Folks

A twisted tactic designed to create a following by aping popular “little guy” themes while installing dictatorial leaders hell bent on destroying democracy.

[Caliman73]

30. Conservative Populism.

There is a big difference between conservative populism and left or progressive populism. Conservative populism targets a "them". Some vague elite, typically academics and critiques of culture, or the professional class like certain lawyers or doctors who lean more liberal. Conservative populism is typically meant as a smoke screen, targeting people who maybe have some influence on cultural mores but not any real economic power or legal authority. That is why actors and celebrities are also often put into the "elites" category.

Progressive or left populism is what FDR tried to stoke in the 1930's, what Teddy Roosevelt tried to use, what Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren sometimes espouse. They point to "elites" too, but the Left's elites are actually people who have a major influence on legislation. Wealthy people like the Koch's, the Mercer's, the Walton's, the CEO's of GE, Comcast, Amazon, etc... people who own media and manufacturing, Fossil Fuel magnates. The people who have so much money that they can and do buy politicians. Remember FDR said something like (about the giants in the financial industry), "They hate me, and I welcome their hatred".

I don't necessarily like populism as a tactic. Though when it is genuine and actually seeks to balance the power in the country, it can be a good thing. The New Deal, the Square Deal, and the Great Society were all patterned on populism with regards to the average American getting a bigger share of the benefits of the country.

So I would say it isn't so much the "populism" aspect as the Conservative aspect that is the problem.

[SalviaBlue]

21. He may not be an anomaly.

But he is certainly abhorrent.

Otherwise, I am in complete agreement with you.

[Boomerproud]

23. I play to people's fantasies. Donald Trump "Art of the Deal".

Don't have to do much psychological research to see how successful that was/is.

[FakeNoose]

32. I don't believe Chump was even thinking about politics when that book came out in 1987

He was building casinos and laundering Russians' stolen money then. He might have even been a Democrat in 1987. The other crazy shit came later.

[Solly Mack]

25. K&R

[Martin Eden]

28. Most MAGAts don't say TFG is an "abhorrent anomaly"

They say he is a great president chosen by God to lead America.

[Whiskeytide]

29. We elected a black man president. Twice. And a good number ...

… of our fellow Americans lost their fucking minds. Тяцмp tapped into that rage better than anyone else we’ve seen on the public stage. That may be his only quantifiable skill.

[Lochloosa]

40. Bingo. Can't have a Black Man for a boss.

[Patterson]

35. I think the OP should say "aberrant" although "abhorrent" does work.

[Martin68]

39. Excellent point.

[Martin68]

38. No, "Trump is NOT some kinda abhorrent anomaly." He is a Republican.

[BComplex]

45. They left out anti-democratic.

Just sayin'.

[The Jungle 1]

46. I do not understand how the right thinks.

Reagan said:
I will lower taxes
Balance the budget
Increase defense spending
The nation believed him. I was just a young man at the time but I said no way can he do that it is a lie.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

47. I stopped associating with Republicans, to the best of my ability,

50 years ago.

The Republican party is the world's largest hate group. Republicans deluded and dangerous, individually and collectively. The MAGAT King is the quintessential Republican...a corrupt, narcissistic, greedy, hateful, sociopathic, self interested lying sack of shit. You gotta ask yourself - what kind of ethics and morals must a person have, to willingly join this monstrous hate group?

It ain't pretty.