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TikTok resurfaces video of Trump saying US shouldn't have a president with felony conviction
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this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2024
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This won't do anything. His base doesn't care. They treat this like a sports team. He's still "their" guy. The Cleveland Browns have a rapist as their quarterback. Despite everyone in Cleveland not being a fan of his extraciricular activities, I have seen no boycotts. I've seen no reduction in Browns gear here in Cleveland. I've seen no reason to believe that we've shown our front office that we won't stand for a rapist on the team.
It's the same with trump/republicans. They've had several, countless even, oppertunities to exit the highway down the road that is trump. The fact that he emerged in 2016 as the republican nominee at all still feels like it was decided by a round of plinko.
They should have looked at him from before 2016 and said no. They could have exited anytime between 2017-2021. They could have exited over J6. They could have exited in the aftermath of J6.
They stayed on the highway that whole time. They aren't getting off. They're going to ride that highway until they drive off a cliff at the end.
And in that sense, this article/post/video is nothing but a feel good moment for everyone else that ultimately doesn't do, or change ANYTHING. Remember, he JUST claimed he never said "lock her up". His base is unphased.
I have no credibility or relevant qualifications. I'm just some random moron on the internet, but here's my opinion:
His base has been manipulated. They have a sunken cost. Each time something new and horrible comes out about Donald Trump, they have to either be OK with it or come to terms with the idea that they may have been wrong about him this whole time. They'll react emotionally to this dilemma as if being wrong in this case would constitute a personal attack on their character.
No, his base hasn't been manipulated. They like Trump for one reason and one reason only: He makes you gnash your teeth. Trump is their revenge on you for being such self-righteous arrogant dicks and cheating in the political process. The only way Trump could lose luster in their eyes is if you guys all stopped freaking out about Trump, which won't happen.
Do you care to elaborate on how Trump is revenge? I am honestly interested in your opinion.
I think these "self-righteous arrogant dick" people are a very small minority of Democrat voters, just as any unflattering stereotype of Republican voters is only an accurate representation of the most unpleasant members of that group.
I think part of the appeal of Donald Trump seems to have something to do with the fact that he is (or at least has been, or projects the appearance of being) rich and powerful, and then is just blatantly honest about the level of corruption and hypocrisy that the rich and powerful get away with. I think people like that honesty. Nobody wants to live in a rigged system.
However, (and I think this is the part where you'll get frustrated with me) he seems to be highly and openly corrupt. I think he wants to make corruption and abuse of power seem normal so that when he does it, he can act like it isn't a big deal.
It's a big deal.
Starting in the 1960s, this country entered into a "culture war" that is, in many ways, similar to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. On one side, you have the postmodern liberal/left, which is motivated primarily by critical theory originating in post-Marxist philosophical movements. On the other side, you have modernist and traditonalist right (i.e. libertarians/neocons and the Christian right (I would be part the later group)). The right has been losing the culture war badly since the 1980s and the left has near total cultural dominance now, and has begun the process of destroying the modernist/traditionalist right through the school systems and its control of media. This has made the right feel utterly powerless and humiliated by the left, and has left them questioning whether the Republicans were ever actually representing them or were just stooges for the postmodern left the whole time.
Donald Trump is the epitome of everything the postmodern left hates. He's crude, belligerent, brashly honest about things you're not supposed to be honest about, but essentially a congenital liar in all other regards. He's sexist, he's borderline racist, he's anti-intellectual, and he's a rich, powerful straight white man who makes absolutely no apologies for it and is absolutely swimming in unearned privilege.
That's why the right supports him. The right isn't even allowed to question the left's agenda, it's dogma. They're not allowed to participate in politics and culture anymore, they're only recognized as the "bad guys," the "enemy." They feel like the only thing they can do is put a thumb in the left's eye and make them hurt. So that's why they are in love with Trump, and not a more sensible candidate like DeSantis. Because Donald Trump's mere existence makes the left gnash their teeth.
That's certainly part of it. They do think everyone is as corrupt as Trump, but only Trump is willing to admit it.
I totally agree. The man is beyond corrupt. I genuinely believe your average family dog has a better understanding of morality than Donald Trump, who may possibly be the most venal, corrupt person to ever hold the office of President. It's either him or Jackson. As I believe I said earlier, I'm not a Trump supporter. I'm a socially conservative Catholic who is moderate to liberal on economic issues, so naturally I'm very much opposed to the Democrats, but Trump doesn't really hold any appeal to me (except insomuch as his election might bring Project 2025 to fruition). I'm also Gen X, so I've known who Trump was for 30+ years and absolutely cannot take him seriously. But I totally get why the conservative base -- which is mostly made up of unideological reactionaries -- has embraced him.
Thank you for this great response. I'm genuinely interested in your perspective.
When you say that the right is losing the culture war, are you referring to things like the rights of women, minority groups, gay/whatever people, separation of church and state, and environmental protectionism, or am I misunderstanding?
Why does the right feel powerless and humiliated?