What bothers me the most about Trump supporters

[lunatica]

Last edited Mon Feb 18, 2019, 01:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Is how cruel they are. I’m talking deep down cruel where, for example, their emotional reaction to children being torn from their families is a yawning shrug of indifference that I see as actually showing inhumanity. But it’s not just that they don’t care because they do. But the way they care is to get pleasure out of it. They feel a deep satisfaction when they see misery and pain and hopelessness, especially when it happens to people who do care. And worse to people who are scapegoated as deserving bad treatment simply for being a different race or nationality. It’s like their desire to hate and loath is so strong that they go out of their way to find victims or to embrace any leader who has the real power to hurt people just because they can.

They may be stupid, but stupidity doesn’t automatically mean hatred or brute pleasure in causing pain and suffering. Stupidity doesn’t automatically birth loathing and rage. But fundamental streaks of cruelty do thrive on the lowest vibrations of hatred.

It used to be that I would help people who had trouble with difficult and complicated issues. I would never have thought of anyone as stupid because it would be cruel to do so. I feel it is my duty to help people when I see them in need, not to judge them.

But now I feel that those who are MAGATs are savagely vicious in a profoundly fundamental way. They seek out causes and people who will give them the outlet to spew poisonous hartred. And Trump knew this because it’s who he is too and because he wants power above everything else he exploits the MAGATs the same way every other vicious dictator has exploited their followers.

I now think they will never change, except to go back into their black holes to seethe with resentment in silence with their own kind. They need to be relegated to the fringes where they can’t act out their hatred, where they can’t harm Democracy and humanity. Let them decide on their own to become human if they want to be heard. I don’t see how we owe them anything more than what they create for themselves. Our energy is better placed to help good people who need help.

The truth is always a good thing to know, even if it hurts.

[samnsara]

1. yep and they are ALWAYS the ones to start a political argument.. always!

[lunatica]

7. I think they crave rage so that's why they start arguments

It’s not about having legitimate differences. It’s the fight they want. They’re addicted to the Adrenalin of anger.

[Dustlawyer]

19. They have been programmed like a cult for decades to believe that their problems are

caused by those not like them instead of the oligarchs and the corporations who have been taking from them and the rest of us. They want to punish those they have been trained to believe are attacking everything they hold dear. They are encouraged to do so!

How can we ever hope to deprogrammed these people? I know we would have to change how our media reports things but not how this could be done in our society. I would guess exposing what is really happening would be a start, but getting them to listen and understand is the conundrum.

[McKim]

53. Very Astute Comment

Yes, they are addicted to rage! Some of them have a legitimate reason to be angry, low wages and diminished life chances and rising prices have ruined many people’s lives. But it does get out of hand when it makes them take it out on the wrong target.

[Mopar151]

72. 1000% correct

Absolutely Proud! of their temper.....Act a lot like tweakers or cokeheads, including building a terrible tolerance for their flamboyant, narcissistic rage. Every day, it takes another grain of Rage to get them off.

[COL Mustard]

31. I have family members who are Trump supporters...

I make it a point not to discuss politics with them. There’s just no reasoning with that logic. I don’t see them very often, and it’s not worth ruining the relationship over politics. I vote my way and they vote theirs, and after the 2020 election, the shoe will be on the other hand.

[olegramps]

62. The very fact this board exists provides me with hope for humanity.

[RKP5637]

2. IMO they have a sadistic orientation and this gives them great pleasure to beat on down and out

people plus all of the other despicable things they love. I've always thought there was an egregious and ugly underbelly to the US that was despicable, and now it's been verified. I would be not surprised if a fair number were sociopaths ... and some psychos.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

51. Some of that, but many are brainwashed by rightwing media

Watch this movie to understand.

[RKP5637]

58. Thanks!!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

63. Just watched this last night!

I knew the brainwashing was the fux method; I’ve read several of the books mentioned in the film.

Excellent movie it’s an absolute must.

It’s a little dated—one of the scholars interviewed spoke about Wikileaks before it became clear that wl was a Russian scam.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

87. glad you liked it

And yes many liberals were fooled by WikiLeaks (And Ed Ed Snowden) before we all learned of Putin’s hand in both.

[Lars39]

3. I would add, "... and deserving bad treatment because of being a Democrat."

My husband and I are being punished because my MIL found out we were Democrats.
The things she has said towards us have been cruel in a very passive aggressive way.

[lunatica]

6. The thing that drove me write this OP

Is a niece of mine who is also a grandmother to small kids. I don’t know her very well because se’s from my ex husband’s family. She seems to be a nice person and claims on Facebook that she adores her grandchildren but then she’ll will come up with some shocking hateful words against Native Americans and Latinos, and she forwards complete lies and filth about Obama. I just figured it was ignorance of the truth that would bring on such hatred, but it isn’t. She just a cruel person who wants to hurt others because she feels life owes her something she never felt the need to educate herself for.

[Lars39]

10. That's sad and sounds very familiar.

We indirectly saw a different side to my MIL on Facebook. It’s like they can’t help but out themselves. My MIL does and says cruel things to keep power.

[Dan]

24. Sadly,

Your MIL has only as much power as you are willing to give her.

[Lars39]

25. Taken years, but we're both fully understanding that.

[JHB]

17. The phrase I coined to describe similar relatives...

"Having too much fun despising the things they like to despise".

They are not inherently stupid people. Far from it. But if it pumps their bile ducts, if it grinds their axes, they'll swallow any amount of horseshit. They volunteer to be stupid.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

65. You certainly can't engage them in reasonable conversation--one fact and they're off.

Sometimes I just say “you need to get away from fux spews. That usually makes them sputter. I think a lot of them know loving fux isn’t something to brag about.

[YessirAtsaFact]

79. Stupid is as stupid does...

Forrest Gump

[COL Mustard]

33. It's hard to deal with people who can't accept

That their guy won. The rest of us have to deal with it though.

[proud patriot]

4. Well said

that's the part the bothers me too .. well that and thinking they
are experts on the Constitution while never had read it .

[COL Mustard]

35. Reading is hard

[proud patriot]

43. LOL

and it took a few readings of it to comprehend it well

[pazzyanne]

56. In my experience the only part of the constitution they have read is the second amendment!

[CrispyQ]

5. The woman who stated, "He's not hurting the people he's supposed to be hurting," summed them all up.

If you read them on social media, they delight in making liberal/democrats/the left mad/angry. It's part of their agenda, even if it means supporting policies that hurt them. It policies piss off the left, they support them, partly just because of that. They are not the deepest thinkers & are easy to manipulate.

[smirkymonkey]

12. +1000

This is why I hate them most of all. They stand FOR nothing. They only like Trump because he hates the people that they hate and they want to see harm caused to those populations. They are bitter, hateful, resentful people. There is nothing decent or noble in them at all.

[lunatica]

15. And the woman who said that is actually more awake than the rest of them

because she’s admitting he’s hurting her too.

But to me it’s like her husband beats the children which is fine as long as he doesn’t beat her too.

Truly eaten up with hate.

[47of74]

42. That's why every Branch Trumpviduan can fuck themselves.

They made their bed so they can lie in the goddamn thing as far as I’m concerned.

[guillaumeb]

8. Recommended.

A combination of fear, and racism, and anger, and hate. And Trump knows how to reach this group.

[Grasswire2]

9. who are these people?

I was thinking about this last week after spending time in a medical clinic, on the city bus, in supermarket, in the library, walking downtown, in a suburban mall.....................and every person I happened to encounter was polite, smiled, showed manners and congeniality....people of all kinds.

And I thought: where are the snarls and the grimaces and the ugly outbursts that we see from Trump supporters? Who ARE those people? Where ARE they?

Shape shifters?

[mercuryblues]

13. They walk among us

Wolf Blitzer put a terrific question to Rep. Ron Paul at last night’s CNN/Tea Party Express Republican debate in Tampa, Fla. What should happen, the moderator asked hypothetically, if a healthy 30-year-old man who can afford insurance chooses not to buy it—and then becomes catastrophically ill and needs intensive care for six months? When Dr. Paul ducked, fondly recalling the good old days before Medicare and saying that we should all take responsibility for ourselves, Blitzer pressed the point. “But, Congressman, are you saying the society should just let him die?” At that point, the rabble erupted in cheers and whoops of “Yeah!”

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2011/09/let-him-die-a-debate-question-exposes-the-incoherence-and-cowardice-of-the-republican-candidates-opposition-to-obamacare.html

[atreides1]

29. Say anything negative about Trump

And you'll find out who they are...

[LonePirate]

11. Not only that but they are vengeful and feel entitled.

They are wanting something to make them feel good about their horrible lives and the only thing that satisfies them is hurting other people. They are pathological in addition to being immensely stupid.

[Wellstone ruled]

14. Had a similiar

ugly experience with a Childhood Friends family member this past Thursday. Yes he is a Trumper,and it was a You Tube Live conversation about the Farm Economy and how it was effecting his operation in Wisconsin. Talk about things getting into some really negative garbage. The Kid goes totally hate spewing anti Muslim and anti Hispanic within minutes. Hey,I grew up in that Hazel Brush Poplar Swamp area of Wisconsin,and you are so off the beaten path of life,why would a sane person every worry about any threats of harm. If it was me,I would worry about some of his Relatives that are running around lose and being several bricks short of a full pallet.

I had to call his Parents over this thing. I mean,this Kids father and I have been buds since Junior High School,just could not let this stand. Long story short,the Farther had no clue his kid was this lost in life and vowed to do something about it. Got the Father and Mother to pull up the You Tube and watch and listen plus read the comments.

Lots of apologizing came my way, they did not have a clue about their Kids behavior. Hey,it blew me away as well. Muslim extremist in North Western Wisconsin,wow,talk about detachment from reality.

[lunatica]

16. Maybe it isn't detachment from reality but

Instead it is a need to feed something cruel within themselves. If it isn’t right in front of them then just invent it from afar.

I truly hope his parents pull him out of that hatred.

[Wellstone ruled]

41. Doubt it.

All of his Siblings and he include,all received a free College Education do primary to their Hardship financial conditions. Every one either number one or two in their High School Class and thus Hardship and other full ride Scholarships came their way. Just simply blew us away.
Only one remained in the Ag business,the others are Teachers or College Profs.

Talk about disconnection to how you got to be where you are.

[Claritie Pixie]

18. They have no empathy for other people. That's what allows them to be so cruel.

I had a Beige Dump supporter tell me that he doesn't care what BD says or does, as long as he keeps making money.

[COL Mustard]

38. I don't think he really wanted to be President

He was supposed to lose and make a fortune off losing. He couldn’t even do that right.

Sad...bigly sad.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

20. KR NT

[NRaleighLiberal]

21. They hate themselves, so have no ability to be compassionate.

Damaged goods.

[Yavin4]

22. Trump supporters are largely bigots who've been taken advatange of by the 1%.

Case in point, the 1% got their tax cuts, but they don't have their precious wall.

As a result, they live in a state of constant rage. Their lives get worse and worse, year over year, but instead of taking on the problems directly, stagnant wages, no healthcare, poor education, etc., they always blame some group, African Americans, LGBTQ, immigrants.

They externalize their pain onto other people. That's why they support Trump. They want to see the "Libtards cry" or the babies of immigrants cry.

They have deep emotional and mental issues that Democrats cannot solve.

[lunatica]

27. Exactly. We cannot continue to try solve their problems

or to try and find common ground. Those in their midst who have taken on the problems and who teach themselves the truth leave to get away from the hate and cruelty. They save hemselves.

All we have to do is welcome them.

[CaptYossarian]

23. Just wait until he takes more money from Puerto Rico to pay for the ovens to send to the camps.

Have they begun to tattoo numbers on the kids yet? Maybe a nice, modern bar code? A chip like a dog?

They don't call him Orange Hitler for nothing.

[Roadside Attraction]

26. Two friends have cut me off

I'm a retired Army officer with 28 years of service, three tours in Vietnam. Those of you who served can figure out from my length of service what my retired rank is.

Sweet Thing and I moved to a rural Virginia county on the Chesapeake Bay 11 years ago where I soon met other retired old soldiers. This area is Republican -- our local Congresscritter wins 60-40, our state representatives are Republicans who sometimes go unchallenged.

Back after Thanksgiving 2018 I was sitting around with two other retired Army guys, same rank as I. They were going on and on and on about Trump this and Trump that. They know I'm a Democrat but that's never been a problem. As time went on, the bullshit just piled higher and higher. These two were spouting every Trump-Fox-Limbaugh lie I had ever heard.

Finally I could stand it no longer. I don't recall exactly what I said but it was something like: "Goddam it, you two are US Army (rank). You have held positions of great responsibility because the Army trusts your judgment to operate with only broad guidance, you don't need constant supervision. You are supposed to be able to collect information, analyze it, plan courses of action, select a course of action, and evaluate things as you go along. I simply DO NOT UNDERSTAND how the two of you swallow this bullshit. You have said (and I proceeded to point out several lies). I just don't understand how two intelligent, responsible men can fall for Trump."

They were in shock. Then, the two of them replied, essentially: "Well, he's not a Democrat."

They avoid me now. I did notice last week one of them has removed the Trump bumper stickers from his truck and he was no longer wearing his MAGA hat.

[lunatica]

30. I hope they weren't too far gone into the hate addiction.

But what you say is shockingly true. They’re supposed to know better and really have no excuse.

[COL Mustard]

40. Sorry Colonel

From one to another

[OMGWTF]

69. Thank you for your service. Indivisible has at least one chapter in every congressional district

Find yours and go to their meetings and earn how to fight Trump's agenda and meet some awesome people too -- here's a Virginia group's Facebook page -- https://www.facebook.com/Indivisible-Virginia-1903755849854484/

[onecaliberal]

28. They're dangerous and pathetic. No redeeming qualities.

[LuckyCharms]

32. And the bigger problem is they raise their kids to be like them.

[SayItLoud]

34. Agree with everything you feel but you have to let it go. These disgusting

pieces of human waste will never be changed and you will drive yourself mad letting it bother you. Act on what is right, good and fair and support and vote for those you do agree with and respect. Just sayin..

[lunatica]

39. It's a little like the stages of grief

I’ve arrived at that stage where I’m no longer in denial and have accepted that they are what they are. The next step is to let it go. I’m there.

[Different Drummer]

36. The thing that bothers me most about them is the fact that they exist and they make others...

aware of that fact. They wear their support of Dolt a L'Orange like a badge of honor.

[charlyvi]

37. They thought no one would care. Really.....THEY THOUGHT NO ONE WOULD CARE!

The Trump administration was caught off-guard by the amount of public backlash it received against the "zero-tolerance" policy that separated thousands of immigrant children from their parents at the US-Mexico border, one official told The New Yorker.

The outpouring of anger toward the administration lasted for weeks, extending even after President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting the separations.

"The expectation was that the kids would go to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, that the parents would get deported, and that no one would care," the official said.

Instead, the controversy persisted after it became evident the government had no plan to reunite the families it had already split apart. A federal judge eventually intervened, ordering the Trump administration to reunite all eligible families — a lengthy, painstaking process that has so far reunited roughly 2,000 of the 2,654 children it separated.

https://www.thisisinsider.com/trump-officials-surprised-americans-cared-about-family-separations-zero-tolerance-2018-8

[scarytomcat]

44. We are a democracy and they get their opinion too, we just need

to turn out more people on election day.
How do we do that?
Not by being corporatist too, I don't think that is the winning move.
We need someone that will get people to vote that have not been voting.

[MarcA]

45. They accept being abused as long as they have someone to abuse even more. n/t

[EndGOPPropaganda]

46. That's not true. Watch this movie

Really- watch this movie
“The Brainwashing Of My Dad”
ITunes, Amazon Prime

[kimbutgar]

50. Somebody posted the link to the full movie here on DU today

I saved it on my dvr after getting it from free speech tv. They sometimes broadcast it for free.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

52. +1 thanks

That was me

[Ananda62]

57. I re-gained my family.

Sorry about your family. My parents died many years ago, so it is just the me and my four siblings. We were of different political stripes for decades, but our hatred of Trump has finally united us. A tiny blessing.

[lunatica]

59. I'm truly glad for you

It’s the silver lining.

[samnsara]

91. same here. In fact hubby and I are moving out of town as we have NO support system here..

…...hubbys family is in Seattle...….im much closer to them and they are all LIBS and partiers. woohoo! My maggat sis and her family will have to deal with their lack of resources on their own. We wont be here to bail them out of their financial messes ( or fix their internet, computer, or move their heavy furniture). Maybe they can get trump to do it for them. we're outta here.

[Cryptoad]

48. What bothers me the most abt Trump Supprters,,,,,,,

,,, and Frankly scared the dookey out me,,,,,,,,, They will still be there after Trump is long gone!

[LiberalLovinLug]

73. And Trump will be there too!

If he does not go to prison...and even if he does!......he will keep his millions of Twits following him. He will be commentating and lying about every daily occurrence politically and keeping his deplorables stoked and angry. InfoWars, and Fox News and Rush will still be here supporting the dispossessed Trump, and his tweets, as if he were the rightful President in exile.

[Evolve Dammit]

49. Well said; totally agree with your post

[cpamomfromtexas]

54. I would like to see crime stats for trump worshipers

[DFW]

55. Unfortunately, I agree with you

Trump's most enthisiastic supporters seem to be the ones who get pleasure from kicking animals (or other humans), hurting people, hearing of other peoples' misfortunes, or contributing to them. They are the ones who not only are comfortable with mothers being separated from their screaming toddler, but actually wish they could be the ones doing it, enjoying the screams.

[Duppers]

60. K & R whole thread.

Great OP and replies.

[Nitram]

61. What bothers me most about Trump supporters is that they are still Trump supporters.

[Garrett78]

64. But...but...it's just (white) economic anxiety. And...and...we must do better at speaking to them.

So...so...therefore and such, we must nominate a white male.

This post is brought to you by "DUers say the darndest things."

[dlk]

66. Trumpers Definitely Have a Sadistic Streak

[IronLionZion]

67. Some cheer it on rather than just indifference

It's the same reason they cheer running over protestors in the road and police shootings of black people. They have a cruel streak and like to justify cruelty by convincing themselves that someone did something bad and must be punished with the utmost brutality.

She was having sex, so deserves to carry a baby to term without choice for abortion.

Brown people must be immigrants, and immigrants steal jobs, so it's best to punish brown people.

Undocumented immigrants broke the law when they crossed the border and must be punished.

An unarmed black person maybe had a small amount of marijuana at home and deserved to be shot dead since it's illegal in red states.

Of course we're never going to reach the hateful ones. But we only need to pick off enough moderate voters to make a difference in tight elections, and we've seen that many times over the last 2 years in special elections and the midterms. There are voters out there who are disgusted by the hate and cruelty expressed by the extremists.

[Baltimike]

68. They're *SPITEFUL* Spite can make one stupid for sure. This is why they are Trump Chumps nt

[lunatica]

74. Yes,you make a very important point.

Spite. If they just stewed in their hate in their fantasy worlds they would be out of sight. Spite brings them out, externalizes their need to get even for some perceived slight.

[Baltimike]

81. spot on.and spite is *expensive* nt

[SMoss]

70. Support from deplorables

Lindon Johnson said that all he needed to get support from the poor whites in the south was to give them someone to look down.

[SMoss]

71. Human nature flaw

If you are down, scared of tomorrow, living from paycheck without the education opportunity or courage to take action. You feel better if you see someone worse off than you. Abusing the people at the border with only the clothes on their backs makes you feel better about your situation.

[lunatica]

75. That applies to them, but I don't see it in other people

The heart of the Democratic Party is all about improving conditions for the least of humanity. Most of the world recoiled in shock and anger and disgust when the children were ripped away from their parents at the border.

Most of us aren’t born rich and many who go through economic downturns, losing jobs, becoming ill, losing loved ones and struggling don’t become sadistic or turn to people like Trump. Most of us come away with more empathy for people who struggle.

[SMoss]

85. I agree

Most Democrats and liberals do not respond like deplorables to adversity. To admit to being liberal means you claim to have the courage to try change. When we get in a bad situation we take a chance and do something about it.

[Historic NY]

76. They are like the Paulites....

[link:

|]

Ron thinks churches will take care of the sick. How and on what planet does this happen.
He spent most time tending to air force patients in other words the government.

[lunatica]

78. Sadly that is no longer a shocking response. nt

[SMoss]

86. Churches don't have the resources.

My mom's heart surgery and long hospital stay cost $250,000. What church has those resources. My church can't even come up with 1 month's rent to help someone in need.

[Turbineguy]

77. 30 Plus years of Fox News

40 plus years of right wing hate radio. Some of them have never thought their own thoughts in their lives.

They are like ISIS jihadists, but without the courage.

[Blue_Tires]

80. It's all about "owning the libs" to them

Like we're all playing some giant video game or something

[vlyons]

82. Hatred is what Hell is all about

Hate, anger, rage, violence, vengence are all part of the anger family of negative emotions. Those Trumpsters are already in a Hell of their own making, they just don't know it, can't see it. Minds filled with anger, resentment, and hatred can only see their own projections reflected back from from the mirror of life. They are not happy people. Not people filled with peace, tranquility , and true joy.

I recently came across something that the Karmapa said that startled me. It really rocked my boat. He talked about the attitude we should have towards ill-natured people. I know that a lot of DUers won't agree with this, but it touched me very deeply.

HH he Karmapa explained that “ill-natured people” means those who have a bad character or temperament. “Grim misdeeds” refers to great wrongdoing, very negative karma, or a malicious intent. “Misery” indicates someone experiencing intense suffering. If we encounter such people, what attitude should we have? We can see them as a precious treasure, thinking, “I have found a once in endless lifetimes’ chance to bring this situation onto the path of practice. May I bring them out of their terrible condition and place them on the level of Buddhahood.

HH The Gyalwang Karmapa

I don't know what to say to Trumpsters. I'm just not skillful enough to find the perfect words to bring a little light into their darkness. Maybe just saying, "I don't hate you." is enough?

Hatred is poison. Hatred is what Hell is all about.

[lunatica]

84. Excellent post! Doing one's best to understand

Karma and the way it rules the cycles of life can lift the burden of hate and fear. Understanding hate and fear is necessary and sometimes by struggling with it within ourselves we understand that the struggle must always be your choice to make.

That’s why at the end of what I posted in the OP I came to the realization that they can only help themselves. Sometimes we act in error to think it is our duty to do their spiritual evolution for them. If they ask for help then we do have the right to try to help them.

I love your post. Thank you.

[Locrian]

89. Hatred is poison. Hatred is what Hell is all about.

Indeed

The only way out is to not play that game. Hate is contagious and it's infecting us all.
They hate others, so we hate them, so they hate us.... and around and around it goes.

[MicaelS]

83. Compassion and empathy equals weakness to them.

I remember listening to Limbaugh back in the 90s, and would often use the phrase "compassion fascists", when talking about the Clintons.

[Bengus81]

88. Limbaugh,O'reilly,Trump............

All I want to do is live long enough to see all three DROP DEAD. Hopefully it's slow and painful for all of them.

[samnsara]

90. every single time i have had a political argument its cuz a maggat got into my face...

..even my own sis. She drives around with anti choice bumper stickers but was always first and loudest to point out my Hillary or anti trump stickers. They think they are so god damned chosen that they have to police the rest of us.