I feel compelled to write and share these facts because the future of my grandchildren, Natalie and Michael, hangs in the balance. The direction America is heading under leaders like Trump deeply concerns me, as it is a far cry from the values I hold dear—values of unity, compassion, and fairness. This country is much better than the divisive, fear-driven politics that are being perpetuated. I refuse to sit idly by while those who follow in Trump’s footsteps continue to chip away at the principles that should be guiding us toward a more just and inclusive future for generations to come.
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The Cult of Opposition: Understanding the Psychology Behind Trump’s Supporters
In modern political discourse, the relationship between leaders and their supporters often reflects a symbiotic exchange—one of mutual benefit. Typically, a leader provides tangible improvements to the supporters’ lives, who in turn offer their allegiance. However, Donald Trump's presidency introduced a paradigm shift that baffled many analysts. A significant portion of Trump’s base does not measure his success by what he does *for* them, but rather by what he does against those they consider adversaries. This phenomenon raises a critical question: why do Trump's supporters define his success not by policy achievements or personal benefit but by his ability to antagonize perceived enemies? In this research paper, we explore the psychology, sociocultural factors, and communication strategies behind this phenomenon, offering a deep dive into the mechanisms that sustain this unwavering loyalty.
The Psychology of "Othering"
At the heart of this dynamic lies a fundamental psychological concept known as *othering.* Othering refers to the process of creating a division between "us" and "them," where "them" are people deemed different or antagonistic to one's own group. Social identity theory posits that individuals derive part of their self-worth from their membership in groups (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). When Trump attacks certain groups—be they immigrants, Democrats, or marginalized communities—his supporters feel that their in-group (conservative, predominantly white Americans) is being validated. The "other," typically those outside their cultural or political bubble, becomes a target of scorn and aggression. By constantly positioning himself against these groups, Trump reassures his supporters that they are on the winning side of a cultural war.
This is where the success metrics diverge from typical political calculations. Success, in the eyes of Trump's supporters, is not rooted in economic growth or policy achievements, but in the symbolic victories won over those they disdain. Trump’s antagonistic rhetoric serves as a rallying cry for a base that measures success by how effectively he torments the "other."
Fear as a Unifying Emotion
The divisiveness Trump exploits is not built solely on disdain for others but on deep-rooted fear. Research has shown that political conservatism often correlates with heightened fear responses (Hibbing, Smith, & Alford, 2014). These fears manifest in concerns over demographic changes, perceived threats to cultural identity, and economic anxiety—particularly in the wake of globalization and immigration. For Trump’s base, he offers not only validation of their fears but also an outlet for their anxiety: the vilification of outsiders.
By acting against these outsiders—whether through harsh immigration policies, vilification of the media, or incendiary tweets targeting "leftist elites"—Trump provides a sense of catharsis to his supporters. It’s not about building bridges or creating new opportunities; it’s about protecting their identity and keeping perceived threats at bay. In their minds, Trump’s success is defined by his defense of the status quo against forces of change.
The Appeal of a Strongman
This dynamic is exacerbated by the allure of authoritarian leadership, often characterized by a leader who promises protection and order while silencing dissent. Trump's rhetoric—filled with hyperbole, aggressive language, and dismissive attitudes toward political correctness—resonates deeply with those who feel disempowered by societal changes. Studies have shown that authoritarian personalities are drawn to leaders who project strength and offer simple, binary solutions to complex problems (Feldman, 2003). Trump’s combative style against the "other" fits neatly into this framework.
In this context, Trump is seen as the protector, someone who will go to any length to defend his supporters from external threats. His aggressive behavior—though often condemned by critics—is perceived by his base as a strength. In their eyes, his relentless attacks on groups like the media, the "deep state," or racial minorities are evidence of his success as a leader willing to do whatever it takes to secure their safety and identity.
The Role of Media and Propaganda
An essential factor in maintaining this dynamic is the role of right-wing media in amplifying Trump’s actions *against* others while downplaying or ignoring any lack of substantive achievements. Fox News, Breitbart, and other conservative outlets often frame Trump’s attacks on immigrants, liberals, and the media as necessary battles in a larger cultural war. Through selective reporting, these outlets reinforce the idea that Trump’s presidency is less about improving the lives of his supporters through policy and more about the symbolic victories he achieves through opposition to their perceived enemies.
Trump himself understood the power of media manipulation, often stoking controversy to keep his name in the headlines. As noted by philosopher Hannah Arendt, in authoritarian regimes, propaganda serves to simplify the world into friend versus foe (Arendt, 1951). By keeping the public focused on his skirmishes against the "other," Trump ensured that his base remained engaged and energized, even when his policies provided little material benefit to their lives.
The Social Contract of Aggrievement
This relationship between Trump and his supporters can be understood as a kind of *social contract of aggrievement.* While traditional politicians offer economic benefits, infrastructure improvements, or social programs, Trump offers emotional validation. His base, particularly those who feel marginalized by economic shifts or demographic changes, finds solace in his outward displays of aggression. His ability to provoke outrage in the "other" reassures them that they are still relevant in a world they fear is changing too fast.
Interestingly, this contract does not require Trump to follow through on traditional metrics of success like job creation or healthcare reform. His supporters are not primarily concerned with how he improves their lives directly. Instead, they focus on how he reinforces their worldview—one where they are under constant attack and where Trump is their defender. This emotional satisfaction creates a loyalty that transcends policy, rooted instead in the shared sense of grievance and resentment.
Conclusion: A Loyalty That Transcends
In understanding Trump’s success, it is critical to recognize the unique metrics by which his supporters measure his achievements. His base does not primarily seek economic relief or policy victories; they seek validation of their fears and grievances. By acting *against* the "other," Trump provides emotional and psychological sustenance that traditional political figures often fail to deliver. His success, therefore, lies in his ability to symbolize and enact opposition rather than constructively improve the lives of his supporters. As long as Trump continues to antagonize those perceived as threats, his base will remain loyal, even in the absence of tangible benefits.
In the end, the tormenting of the "others" does more than sustain them—it defines them.
Thank you for this. The “emotional validation” and the “reinforcement of their worldview” certainly ring true to me. It’s difficult to understand when job creation, healthcare, infrastructure improvements, etc aren’t taken into account. But knowing what we’re facing is essential.
But getting others to know & understand what we are really facing - the undecided, the skeptical, etc. - is a real challenge! Today has been the worst day to me in terms of hope for Harris/Walz based on all of the Sunday news programs and these newsletters. I am not giving up and will do what I can through the next weeks.
Don't take any of those "news programs" at face value. Their ownership all want the enormous tax breaks the criminal has promised to them, it's all about GREED. Of course even dumber of them because he makes a lot of promises but in the end will only protect and serve himself, every one else will have the giant tracks from the bus on their faces.
Yes. I am in a Project 2025 book club group through Democrats Abroad (DA). We are slowly slogging through reading and discussing it, skipping around the read the topics that most interest us first. We are also reading related materials. We realize one reason to read through this is, even with the lies, lack of creditable references and examples of what they are saying is wrong that they want to fix, it still gives a good overview of government and how complex it is. We also have a chat around this stuff. A member of my DA regional group posted this as we are discussing the MAGAs. The attitudes expressed are truly frightening. https://x.com/MrsButters/status/1832795696497373530
The evening before I had watched a German documentary called "Trumpland" where the journalist traveled in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia in a camper with his wife and 2 children, and sort of showed us places he was going and talking to people who were telling him for the most part why they were voting for Trump. He reported Georgia as the only state of the 4 that was not clearly going for Trump. Also, he only interviewed 4 people that were not voting for Trump. Three who were against him ( 2 Latinas and a Black man), and one White farmer who said he wanted to hear who had the better farm policies and was not for either. Now, he is clearly waiting for them to tell him, not researching it himself. So, that already says that there are people who have concerns but they are not looking into it on their own, but waiting. So, will he be convinced by someone just telling him, or otherwise. If any of you speak German you can see it yourself. https://youtu.be/g-DPcKF294g?si=c2cqB1q3HlUoLgrl
I hope that the Harris-Walz campaign is doing their own polling and not spending a lot of time sharing it with her.
I agree. Mr Ritchie's post helps explain Trump's draw in clearly defined terms. What I want to know is why Harris' numbers aren't pulling away from Trump's.
My takeaway from the tight polling is that as voters are starting to entertain candidates for the presidency, Trump is pulling in at about the same rate as Harris.
As some incoming undecided/skeptical are horrified by Proj25, an equal number are horrified by fear of the 'others.' It doesn't help that there are forces favorable to Trump working to get him elected - ones with a lot of money and influence.
We just have to keep up the work to make our side bigger.
the media is telling us all of this, the polls are so flawed, don't forget the 2022 RED WAVE that wasn't even a trickle. I have been a consumer of news across all outlets for years but no longer take anything they say as truth, fact check and fact check the fact checkers. It's exhausting but necessary.
Robert Hubbell reported on that today. He is saying that the Corporate media wants to keep people reading by convincing us it is a horse race, although he seems convinced that they are neck in neck.
My mathematician husband is not a big fan of statistics. He feels they can be manipulated to show anything you want.
Still, I am going to ignore the polls, but not trying to understand the people I share a country and planet with who are so filled with hatred, and that fascists stand for.
A person posted this X-video that is a compilation of hateful people spewing hatred. I think the American Psychological Association should make it illegal for anyone under 18 to view these sights. If I had my druthers, anyone under 30, when the frontal lobe is fully developed in most people's brains, and you can exercise some judgement. After seeing this clip by Mrs. Butters,
which already has 471,000 views, and 8,629 likes, I am certain that we need to protect our youth from this of all genders. It is either terribly frightening, or might trigger off some gun accessing youth to go to it. Even if the likes are just people agreeing with her that it is terrifying, I have to say, it is terrifying but I don't like it. These people, and other MAGAs should have ratings put on their material. Yes, it is not censoring per say, but it is saying no one under 18 should be able to access this. I think we need a rating scale for the internet content. Don't know how to introduce that, but it starts with using the research on it, and then some politicians getting together to do this.
This makes it even more difficult to understand because if the criminal becomes the dictator he wants to be the media will cease to be allowed to air anything except what the dictator tells them to. Many will lose their jobs and that entire landscape will change drastically. The money the greedy make now will slowly fade as they become "state owned media". It's shocking they haven't grasped that.
I find this a problem too. I am wondering how they could study journalism or writing without history. Perhaps too much American history, and not enough other histories. Like the many different fascist times in countries of the last century starting with Mussolini. They seem very insular, both the owners and many of their political reporters.
re: "If Trump wins, the book title telling the story should be US Corporate Media: The Making of President"
If we believe what Agolf is saying, if he 'wins', there won't BE ANY books about how it happened, other than those written and approved by the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025. Stephen Miller and his new Civil Service, all replaced by Trump "loyalists.
I fear that far too many people are not realizing what is planned for us under the Trump Reich.
We could be, right now, the 21st Centry version of 1939 France.
I get it, although, it could be published in another country, where all of our media even if they have supported him, should have other houses to escape massive retribution. It can be published in another language as well. He has tried to block the unflattering film "Apprentice" that is coming out right before the election about him. It is going to be playing in other countries though.
Quite honestly - getting rid of "media" will likely be the one of the first steps - altho since there is very few that are not pushing Trump in one way or another - the whole horse race title - maybe they will just continue on the same way - who knows.
Those groups play both sides. No-one supports unilateral disarmament, but remind yourself which party wants Citizens United revoked and which one doesn't. I hope that clarifies that issue for you.
I think as we heard from lots of folks at the Convention and before, they'll throw distractions at us. We just need to keep our heads down and keep doing the work of calling , canvassing, writing postcards, supporting candidates, putting up signs, hosting events, putting up flags and fence posters, working as hard as we can. "We can sleep when we're dead." Coach
News programs are like polls....someone's idea of what it is.....we won't know until every vote is counted. So let's get ourselves and everyone we can talk to, TO THE POLLS! Registering 18 year olds in school, as Joyce posted about, is really one of the easiest ways to make a difference. If you recall YOUR first voting experince it can be intimidating and nerve wracking. I'm offering kids rides who don't have them (obviously with parental permission) and that also helps a LOT. Vote early and spend the time you have helping others vote/register. WE CAN DO THIS. And we must.
Watching the interview of Michael McCaul regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal - he got to say his piece - his opinions - but not much pushback on WHO set up the timeline in the first place. I have to say - yes, it was a disaster by both parties BUT there didnt seem to be much choice in the matter at the time. Its so very easy for these politicians to nitpick & undermine things - but its also so partisan!
Clearly these people's quality of life is not about the things you or I think about. I think they have low expectations. I once knew a family who ended up on Welfare. It was a White working class family. The father had worked in oil fields in Saudi Arabia at one point, but they had free rent in a building he took care of, and he also took care of some other buildings. They had 7 children, but were living in an affluent community where the family was kind of outcasts. The parents were alcoholics. The father was really racist. His kids were not. I don't know how they are now. Anyway, the mom told me when they went on welfare, that at the first of the month she spent money on treats, and then at the end of the month they had to live off of bread and peanut butter. She explained that having one time in a month where you had treats was better than having nutritious food all month, but no variety, and nothing to look forward to. It made so much sense from a psychological point of view. I imagine, that a lot of Trump voters live paycheck to paycheck, and their fun moments is what they live for, in a life that might have a lot of stress and struggles otherwise.
In my childhood, I remember a family without a father figure, on welfare. They were white but I wouldn’t call them working class because the mother didn’t work. They lived in a 6 family rental. Marty once described the new neighbors that had moved into the neighborhood using the “N” word and at first I kindly told him not to use that word. My mama taught me as best she could right from wrong. So Marty began shouting that word at me until I lunged at him and we commenced a terrible skirmish. I almost killed him that day. I had to release him from the headlock I had placed him in and as I walked home, he continued screaming that word. Funny, I can still hear him screaming that word today.
I want to answer this question that Joyce posed; Why is this so close? I have repeated the answer but no one gets it. The Biden administration has been on the wrong side of the border issue for 3 years. He virtually ignored the issue until deep into his administration. When his Homeland secretary was asked why Biden never invoked an executive order, Myorka responded ,”Because it wouldn’t hold up in court.” I was frankly dumbfounded with this remark. And if you think for one moment this kind of response doesn’t have repercussions, think again.
There is another push button issue that we have been on the wrong side (of course in my opinion) which is allowing however one wishes to call them: Trans women or boys in girls clothing in girls shower stalls. But you don’t allow balls in the shower stalls. No. No. No. unless you want to lose elections. If this were the case and I had a daughter in such a school, I would home school her. Im an avowed democrat but I’m a centrist. It is exactly what it means; center. I have supported women’s issues all my life and I’m not about to stop now because some new fangled fad has risen from the poisoning by social media that has now affected not one but two generations of children. Social media has caused a massive split in our society. It was never sufficiently regulated.
People are pissed off and they will vote for the stupidest, most ignorant self-serving traitor slob-farting autocrat and they simply don’t care that the lever they are about to pull is tethered to the platform they stand on with hinges and a rope around their necks. They will pull that lever and draw their necks in a noose because voting for a president is rarely done using reason and logic. It’s pure emotion and people are pissed off. Now do you understand why I have repeated this mantra for months?
When my daughter went off to college 10 years ago, in Oregon, her assigned roommate was a transitioning boy. I am very liberal, but I made that phone call. Could she change roommates?
She was fairly unperturbed, or perhaps hid concern. It was as ok as any assigned roommate was, and the biggest problem was the emotional crap of transitioning, and the fact that she was a night owl and my daughter had morning classes.
I try to remember that when I run into the people terrified by trans folks.
The others I meet are just haters, hate the "libs", think we need a bidness man in power, and are misogynists.
See my remarks below. Excuse me for being naive a bit here, but does transitioning imply having male genitalia removed as the final act? I’m serious. I guess I should ask AI Chat,lol.
Bill, your arguments today really disturb me. I wonder just how much contact you’ve had with the LGBTQIA community, and what you know medically about transitioning? As the mother of a gay son who has dated trans men, and the aunt of a gay niece who is married to a trans woman, you appear to be ill-informed on a lot of things. Even genetically things aren’t as simple as x and o. Jon Stewart had a geneticist on who explained a many people are more than just x and o. But if Kamala Harris loses the election, it’s not because of 10% of the population who are LGBTQIA. I’ve replied to you before, but right now I completely disagree with your posts today. And my son had a woman roommate for six years of pharmacy college. Balls weren’t an issue. Not once.
It’s all ok to disagree. That’s why we are democrats. And you are correct I don’t know that much about said topic. It’s just not one of my interests. But you didn’t answer my question because you probably think it’s not germane. I will however repeat a million and one times , leave the children alone and stop opening doors in early developmental stages. They shouldn’t be exposed. But really besides that, this issue this trans gender battle may be the crucible that ends democracy as we have known it. Fortunately I have a nough asset base to get myself out of this garbage dump if need be.
Bill, I had an encounter back in 1973 with a male who was transitioning. The first thing they do is change the hormones so they grow breasts. The removal of genitalia is more complex than simple removal. They do things with the skin so at least some of the sexual sensation remains, and they would also have to reroute the urethra.
Prof Kathleen Belew discusses the Anti-immigration planning of the Global White Right in the last 1980s early 1990s to replace their more overt racist rhetoric, just as they planned to enter mainstream politics in her book Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America. However, I do not fault the Biden administration for following international law, I fault the Democrats for not messaging differently on Immigration years ago. Instead of messaging how it is morally right to help immigrants, they should have been teaching the population through ads how immigrants are vital to our economy. That is what Democratic governments everywhere should have been doing, and now it is too late to credibly do this in a short time. That does not mean they should not start now. Also, look at how a meaningful bill was passed but Trump blocked it. Perhaps Biden should have made it an executive order, or whatever powers he has, it might have gone a long way to say this is a bipartisan government.
I’m not against immigration legal immigration. I am fully agains hundreds of thousands rushing the border. And now because of this, we are in danger as never before of losing the nation. So which side are you on? Letting immigrants rush the border and losing the country of placing enough obstacles in the way. And sole helping to develop Marshall like plans for Central America.
I agree with most of this analysis. Not the trans aspect, I believe that POV stems from a lack of knowledge about the issue, but we'll agree to not agree there.
Another one is the Dems ideology that dictates the instantaneous and irrational position that weapons cause violence.
Nobody would blame cars for drunk driving, but for some reason alienating another 1/3 of potential voters with their/our blame the weapon philosophy is beyond question. Gospel.
If Dems would lay off that one, we'd probably never lose another election, and could then prioritize brain health to be even with, or above physical health, starting with the insurance company monopoly that refuses to fund adequate treatment options.
Doc, if we are to believe some polls, it seems that the overwhelming %of the population wants major gun control. So I don’t think we lose on this issue. There should be strict regulation of firearms the 2nd never gave us this right but the NRA did its damage by repeating the lie. We are an outlier in this world of nations with our lax gun policy.
The rest of us were too polite to say anything. You're entitled to comment and your opinion. Thank you for sharing it, But your follow on comment prompts me to say that I think you are wrong on all three issues. Many trans athletes are welcome on their sports teams by their teammates. And, if a president thinks a court will rule against them, that is essentially admitting the action is illegal. And social media, like all other expression, is protected by the first amendment.
Ok so go scream firing a theater. Society and Congress always plays catch-up to needed legislation. So you want 1st amendment? Then corporations are individuals that have a right to influence candidates to the tune of multi millions of dollars. Foolish notion. We need regulation unless you are a Trump supporter in disguise. In China in case you were unaware, Tik Tok, a Chinese-owned company, cannot put out the same crap that they put out here in America. Only educational products maybe we should begin learning from the Chinese government for a change. Yikes.
And for those women who play sports and need to compete against frequently but not always, a stronger trans female, and object to that competitive edge, I am supportive. And btw, unless anyone thinks I’m homophobic, I’m quite the opposite and have been my whole life way before it was so popular to be supportive of alternate lifestyles. (I most identified as a hippie back yonder, another marginalized and crazy group) just don’t and will ever think young kids should be exposed to the crapola found on social media. Parents who who gave these mobile devises to the youngest of kids have found now all the negative that accompanies addiction to mobile devises including isolation, depression, you name it. I have no care if I am critized for my opinions. If Trump wins, you heard my rationale.
Most trans are welcomed on their teams? What delusional world do you live in? Are they welcomed in boxing, martial arts, soccer, weightlifting, swimming? et cetera.
Hell NO. They steal achievement and opportunity for girls/women.
And please don’t make me a person who despises them. I only stated that I support cis women on sports teams and will continue to support them regardless if it’s not the cool thing to do. Stop it.
When contemplating this phenomenon of voting against one's interests by casting a ballot for the former President, I wonder whether these people in the M.A.G.A. base have lost hope of benefitting by the 'democratic exchange' between the leader and his or her constituents.
ALMOST every-time I ask a Trump supporter if they watch Fox "news" the answer is "no" right before they reference "Sean" in explaining themselves. I asked an 83 year old man (who I consider a dear friend but says "I've been a right winger my whole life") that question the other day and he said, "No, I watch Newsmax." I don't frequent right wing media but people get defensive I've talked to as if they're programmed into a state of denial. I explain, I'm just trying to understand your thinking" and often times the reply is "You're not going to change my mind." Right wing media and republicans use the propaganda tactics of the Third Reich and it works.
This has been my experience as well. Trump supporters are very right wing with not really cogent arguments for why. They just continue to state the "given words" of the ultra right. And the Republican Party has been complicit in this by using those authoritarian propaganda tactics to gain power.
It seems like we’re talking about a whole subculture that has been programmed to be preoccupied with being at war with someone they cannot identify with. Their belief system about their fellow humans has become so polarized and narrow that they see their world as a battleground of sorts.
They require constant validation and assurance that they are on the winning side and thus are vicariously winners, themselves. This sadly is more important than even life improvements, peace or seeing a viable future for the human race. In their minds winners literally take all.
It's really too bad these people don't crawl out of their holes long enough to meet some "others". We have traveled the world and met all sorts of different people - of different skin color, different culture, different religion - and if you talk to them, even a little bit, you find out that they are really just like you. They have the same needs and desires as we do - except for the need to be better than everyone else.
Robert, excellent assessment of the cult of Trump. Trump is the big bully who will supposedly take on the rest of the playground for the kiddies even though he talks a good game but does nothing to actually help or really protect them. As long as they stand behind him, never beside him, he is happy and will keep pumping out the hatred, fearmongering, resentments, etc. and direct them properly. White people have been trained well to believe they/we are better, smarter, more of everything positive than THOSE OTHER PEOPLE, so when opportunities arise for that set of beliefs to be proven untrue or that others are just as good, white fear and anger can be whipped up into a kind of frenzy where there is no longer the ability to think clearly about much of anything. Then, there is their churches, the conservative ones, the fundamentalist ones that tell those scared angry people that they are right and doing god's work. There is no incentive for them to stop the hatred and their allegiance to a totally inappropriate leader like Trump. Republicans have been looking for a leader like Trump for a long time and found him and shaped him into just what those authoritarian oligarchs want ruling our nation. The Trumpers and Trumpettes don't even realize they are being used. Maybe they are OK with it as long as they are taking down the "libs" or "the woke." It's a dilemma We the People really do need to work on, much more seriously than anyone has done so far.
And why do they have grievances for Trump to capitalize on?
Reagan. He got rid of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. It opened the door to inflammatory one sided broadcasting.
What was the Fairness Doctrine? "The Fairness Doctrine mandated broadcast networks devote time to contrasting views on issues of public importance. Congress backed the policy in 1954 and by the 1970s the FCC called the doctrine the “single most important requirement of operation in the public interest "
Its demise was the canary in the mine shaft of democracy.
Very interesting. Something I didn't know (or possibly didn't remember because it wasn't important to me at the time. Clearly the media have run with that one.
Given that rescinding the Fairness Doctrine is the only reason Fox and others can do what they do, it seems like a cruel joke that Fox refers to itself as "fair and balanced" when it is of course anything but.
Reagan was a far less volatile and uncontrollable hired clown than Donny the Dope, but certainly an important cog in the wheel of the overall scheme to rid the 1% of the tediousness of democracy.
He fast tracked Murdoch's citizenship in 1985 so Murdoch could buy TV stations in the US. Murdoch then bought Metromedia which owned major station in NY, LA, DC, Houston, and Boston along with a wide variety of smaller stations which actually proved to be at least equally important in the scheme of swaying rural folks. Where all that cash came from seems obvious.
Those holdings became Fox Broadcasting Network in 1986.
In 1987 Reagan rescinded the fairness doctrine which opened the door for Murdoch's propaganda empire, along with peripheral clowns like Rush Limbaugh etc.
By then Fox was on the TV's in every airport, bus station and waiting room in the country. I don't doubt they even paid the cleaning crews or some such to make sure Fox was on those TVs 24/7/365.
Slowing mixing in its outrageous lies with cute stories drew in converts like a train wreck. It was/is the best and most effective fascist propaganda network ever assembled.
The rest is the inevitable pathway to the intentional destruction of our democracy, orchestrated by the greedy 1% holding the purse string of the nation.
Without the Fairness Doctrine, which you are not alone in not recalling, we're screwed. Unfettered national propaganda beats truth everyday of the week as without restriction it fuels fear like the plague it is.
If I could piss on Reagan's grave I would, but I've got an inkling that wicked witch Nancy was pulling addled Ronnie's puppet strings at that point at the behest of our dear vile 1%ers. You can see the greedy evil minded vicious viper in her sneering little eyes.
And here we are at the precipice it has created with no telling what comes next.
I'm not as equipped as you are for decorating Reagan's grave, but it sounds like an excellent thing to do. I would be with you in spirit, because I have disliked him since his days as California governor. Reagan was also the first president to use the Mandate for Leadership in his administration, that wonderful document that today is known as Project 2025. That's probably where getting rid of the Fairness Doctrine came from - the Heritage Foundation. Thank you for giving me sound reasoning behind my dislike of the man.
Very helpful. It gives me insight into the dynamics of my exchanges with a Trump-supporting neighbor. When I make points she cannot refute she just changes the subject or says "I don't have time for this." Now I understand that her resistance to taking in new information, or in any way acknowledging the possibility of reasonable disagreement, stems from the emotional validation she is getting. The big question this raises is, what could ch
From my experience with folks like this, there is no, or very little, possibility for changing this dynamic. And that is truly scary, because they will not go away even when Trump is defeated. Something very dangerous has happened to many people in this country and we are going to live with the reverberations for a very long time.
Brene Browne writes on this subject. Sadly, the old adage, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' is an easy commodity to sell. The puzzling thing is that it seems to sell at every societal level, rich poor, educated uneducated, religious agnostic, regardless of gender identity, or political ideology from left to right, across the board.
Trump has the skill of othering down to a science.
Robert, this seems spot on. Last night I was watching a German documentary on Trumpland. The German journalist and his wife and two children were traveling in a camper around the US and talking to Trumpers in venues where one might expect to find them. They started in Texas where they went to a rodeo, a gun show, and a rally as well as interviewing people in several towns, and visiting several sites with border patrol. A man who looks "Mexican" and is named Garcia, his big issue is the border. He says his family members are life long Republicans. I don't think this was a fact based piece. He also went to Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia. In Georgia he interviewed a farmer who was "White" who is the only one who said that what they do for farmers matters. He is not tied to a party, he cares about policy. Hopefully Harris will address agriculture. Going after price gouging at the supermarket still does not explain what will happen on the farmer end. German foods are way more subsidized. It is so much cheaper to buy groceries here in Germany. So, why is that? Then, he talked to one Black man in Biloxi, Mississippi, who said that he does not support Trump. He felt that his city was for Harris. He also talked to two Latina women in Texas, who were against the border walls, and not for Trump. They were activist against it. Everyone else in the film says they are for Trump. They all seemed to feel he has their backs. It was not just White people, but Black and Latino/a. It was about values and being part of the group. The documentarian did mention only Georgia might not go for Trump as a state of the states he visited. Still, Texas used to have Ann Richards for their governor, so having a Democrat is not unheard of. Mississippi I don't have any hope for. If any of you speak German here is the video of this movie about visiting in "Trumpland" in the South. https://youtu.be/g-DPcKF294g?si=7xNFA_P-7XO698i2
Personally, I have found it impossible in the 8 + years since Trump infected my husband, twin brother and so many friends, to move them at all with rational arguments or even pleadings to trust me. Added to that are the people who have not experienced this with close friends and families . Those who malign them have no idea how much their “othering” hurts.
In the end I look at it as a mental disease passed on by Trump aided by the ancient tropes of a patriarchal society in which there “can be only one” and “he” must be the biggest baddest bull. To me there is little that can be done. They are caught in a web of fear, delusion and illusion.
It is also clear that there is a cabal who’s plan has been in place for over 30 years. One to turn us into an oligarchy of white males. They are extremely well funded and have executed a plan that has culminated in a totally corrupted Supreme Court. That corruption of our courts has brought us here.
In 2016 and 2020 the majority made clear their choice and yet because of a Civil War institution, the Electoral Collage or should I call it the council of the lords, decides. It is a horse race to win only 4 states instead of a majority of the people.
I am in despair, at least today. On good days I cling to a hope that Americans will come through in the end. That hate can’t be sustained. But lord I am weary. And the damaged done to my marriage and so many relationships will leave a major scar no matter who wins.
an excellent summary. The fear factor is huge, of course. Add in the fear of mortality, that research shows repressed fear of death drives people into authoritarianism. We are surrounded by reminders of death all the time. See this: https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/asap.12143
Thanks for this. I agree that it comes down to emotions. Yet what is in it for Trump? I think Howard Stern nailed it when he said Trump ran in 2016 as a marketing stunt. His interest is profit.
An interesting read is Joe Conason's new book The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds hijacked American Conservatism. This from the forward by George Conway.
"It turns out that lies sell. Anger sells. Hatred Sells. Conspiracy theories, libels, imaginary enemies, they all can be manufactured, at minimal cost, and marketed, from coast to coast, at a handsome markup, to the masses, including many people who probably cannot afford the price. You don't even have to be smart or skilled to get into the business: what economists call barriers to entry are low. Anyone can play the game, if they are shameless and greedy and dishonest enough."
Conason traces the thread of grift coursing through conservative American as early as the 1950s.
A friend gave me a letter he received in the mail from David N. Bossie, President of a group called Citizens United. It was pushing a DVD called "Trump's Rescue Mission: Saving America" from the creators of "Rigged: The Zuckerberg Funded Plot to Defeat Donald Trump" and 26 other critically acclaimed films..." You get the DVD for a minimum gift of $35 and he is "looking for a few patriots who can step up with a larger gift of $500 or $1000." Hell, I'm a patriot, sign me up!!
There is a Ukrainian anecdote of a man offered one wish with the proviso his neighbour got double. "I wish to be blind in one eye".
I do not understand the mindset but your post explains the situation very well. It is happening in Saskatchewan. The home of Medicare has become a home for division and hatred. When the war is over we are going back to Ukraine, not that it is better but I dont feel as bad about the corruption and hypocrasy there.
Jay Kuo reposted this earlier today on Facebook. The bottom line is that the polls, and poll aggregators, continue to appear extremely skewed toward Trump. I continue to ignore the polls and look at what has happened in elections over the past two years. The midterms were not the MAGA landslide that was predicted, and races that were predicted to be close, when the issues were abortion rights and basic defense of democracy, turned out to be progressive landslides, with 60+% of the vote supporting progressive positions. We just have to keep our heads down and keep working toward the outcome we want. https://www.facebook.com/nycjayjay/posts/pfbid02qxLbQsesUrUca1rh1zH3HcCuBH4yGnjpYEF45jZmujiKwvr8qRp8RUVDmJ9LgrvMl
Remember they will cheat ! We must be aware and prepare to protect our votes. I live in Georgia and am acutely concerned over the state election board.
Apparently one of the first things Kamala did was put 100 lawyers on the job of anticipating their moves when Trump loses. So hopefully we won't be caught flatfooted this time. Same thing this time with the response to their violence. 1/6 won't happen again.
I am also a Georgia voter in a 90R/10D county and am very concerned!(I previously resided in a 66R/33D Georgia county. The difference in attitude is scary!
I agree! Look at the proof, not the polls! Trump has his base. What’s left of it anyway. Last year our neighbors and good friends told us they would not vote for Trump if he ran again. Not saying they’ll vote for Harris, which would be nice, but they can’t stand Trump. We had a neighborhood gathering last week and not one person brought up politics.
Every where I look now driving around my beet red county, it’s the same flags in the same yards. No new supporters, in fact, some just covered Pence’s named with duct tape (I love that!). And those numbers are down from 2020. People can’t give a legitimate answer as to why they’re voting for Trump. Because the answer is they’re filled with self doubt and racism. What are they gonna say to you? “I’m voting for Trump because I’m a racist asshole?”. Or, “I hate my daughter so much, I want to refuse the possibility of life saving healthcare if she should need it?” Because that’s what every yard sign, hat, flag, vehicle sticker says to women who don’t want to be second class citizens.
Notice the abortion issue is being buried by Republicans and there’s a very good reason for it. Sure, the usual will vote for Trump, he’ll win states of course, but we aren’t going back.
Definitely the polls have been historically wrong, but general momentum worries me, and it seems Harris' surge is tempering a bit. We desperately need Jon Tester to win in Montana, if you can spare something, contribute to his campaign.
I want to know who owns the different polling companies-their biases. The different owners of the media companies-even NBC and thus MSNBC/CNBC, ABC, CBS. WGN is owned by the Chicago Tribune. What their biases are.
Trump gives some folks permission (or cover) to be and say who they really are. He gives them permission to hate, openly, the people they hate. That is it; that is all.
I'm so lucky to live on Castro Street in San Francisco. I don't know a soul who would vote for Trump. If they would, they'd never admit that in public. If you need to get away from your MAGA environment, Joyce, come and visit us. Kamala is our home-town girl. We're psyched! I'll buy you a cocktail (or some bird seed to send home for your chickens.)
Amen, Mark!! I’m an East Bay girl. There had been a fella whose home was waving not one but two Trump flags. Today, I drove by the house and only the American flag was there. Progress? I sure hope so!
Greetings from coastal Maine, where we have our MAGAs but they are few in number. However, we do have Leonard Leo…and Tucker Carlson,,, both part time summer people. We tolerate anyone, apparently.
Maine girl too! More Harris/Walz signs on a recent coastal drive and through some local neighborhoods. Inland, some Trump signs. I feel encouraged; I’m done amplifying anything about Trump by reposting it or commenting on social media. Polls can be wrong. Repost anything Harris/Walz and Vote Blue!!!
My home neighborhood! I was raised at Castro and 23rd St, and now live in South City, right on the edge of SF. There are NO trump signs in my neighborhood, and honestly I've never seen any when I drive through the Peninsula suburbs. I fly my American flag right next to my "Democracy, not Dictatorship" and "Harris" signs in my window.
My uneasiness in this election is at an all time high. I, too, cannot understand WHY anyone with a working brain would EVER vote for trump, but one of the things that makes me damned mad is that former President Bush & his wife Laura, a former school teacher would tell us that they will either not vote for either trump or Harris or they write someone in. THAT KIND OF THING ONLY HELPS trump!! The man who was really running the country, Bush's VP just came out for Harris.....get some cohones for goodness sakes. With so much at stake, it is confounding. For me & my household both of us being retired & living on Social Security as our only income, we have a vested interest in trump NOT returning to the WH, because his threat to kill of Social Security, which is NOT the government's money because all of us workers & employers contributed from our paychecks and profits to build a fund that would provide income for us when we retired. Plus, Ronnie Reagan screwed us all over when he "borrowed" from the Social Security Trust Fund in 1986 to cover the tax relief he gave to the ultra rich & corporations....sound familiar??? The amount $2.4 Trillion was never repaid! I'm mad. I yield back my time.
Along with many other readers, I say thank you, Joyce, for giving us so much dependable information. I admit to being deeply disheartened to read that the race is this close and that Kamala is not pulling away to a clear victory. I just don’t understand how so many of my fellow Americans can apparently shrug off Trump’s immorality. I am 75 and close to retiring as a college instructor in philosophy and psychology after many happy years driving 18-wheelers. The ethical issues with Trump’s candidacy are huge—and right there in the open for all to see. I just don’t understand how morally derelict we are turning out to be as a country. Maybe after years of “Amusing Ourselves to Death” (thank you, Neil Postman) this is the moral poverty we find ourselves contending with.
It seems the media is no longer the Freedom of the Press. The media has become a commodity purchased by those with the most money. Thus the money IS the power.
We lost a reasonably trustworthy media, and probably our democracy, when we lost the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, thanks to Reagan.
What was the Fairness Doctrine? "The Fairness Doctrine mandated broadcast networks devote time to contrasting views on issues of public importance. Congress backed the policy in 1954 and by the 1970s the FCC called the doctrine the “single most important requirement of operation in the public interest "
Its demise was the canary in the mine shaft of democracy.
If only the media would report the facts. This is a wild ride and the debate should help some. We'll know the answer in a few months meanwhile the AR's are selling like hotcakes. Never thought I'd see one again after coming home from Vietnam.
Thank you. I find this post sobering, but I am gearing up to write more postcards, talk to more people and do what I can. With hope, and with joy and community as my talismans.
I am no expert—but it seems to me that this odd support of such a demonstrably bad man as Trump is a weird combination of intellectual laziness (inertia) and lack of exposure to others (isolationism). Mix unsubtly with white supremacy and …
If we learn nothing else from the trial by fire through which I believe we will momentarily pass successfully, it is that we can no longer delegate our lives as we see fit to live them only to others. After all the legal and legislative efforts and protections, in the end, we --- we collectively --- each doing what they can to the extent of their abilities and resources --- is the strongest guardrail. Yes, more to worry about, as if life isn't often complicated enough. But it must be at the top of that life "to do" list; without it, the rest of the list becomes meaningless. "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." --- John Philpott Curran, 18th c. Irish statesman, barrister and wit (often attributed to Thomas Jefferson)
A fiftyish woman told me that the reason she, her family and neighbors were voting for CFDT was because they were tired of people cheating them, taking advantage of them. They want a tough new president who will crack down of grifters, non-supporting dads... "enough with due process, crap, just throw their ass in jail." I ask, "And you think CFDT will do that? "Oh yeah," she said. They want a Big Daddy, sounds to me like.
Pretty rich irony there with the Former Guy supporter thinking a grifter who has nothing but contempt for her would be the one she'd choose to "crack down on grifters."
Her position is shared by many women... husband off making more babies, none of whom he supports, while she struggles to feed and clothe their child. No one in 15 year has been able to stop him. Listening to her was interesting, given we tend to think MAGA are angry young men... possibly like her husband. She obviously is not considering what big daddy will cost in other ways. I was perplexed she didn't see the same behavior in CFDT. She kept saying, "I want someone whose tough enough to enforce the laws."
The weirdness of this view to me is that they are elevating this grifter criminal to get justice for them. I also believe that the support of this guy is all about racism and hate of the "other" .
I often think that the power of corporate money, the interference of Russian propaganda, and a great deal of willful ignorance are the troika for Trump's success. If Trump can sell anything (and sometimes he does), it's his message that he is the avenging savior. It's beside the fact that he is a demented ol' coot; too many people believe him.
On the "interference of Russian propaganda' the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has identified six(6) persons, 5 men & 1 woman working on lucrative contracts for the Russian cut-out corporation, Tennessee based Tenet Media.
NBC News has identified those six persons as follows:
Benny Johnson
Tim Pool
Lauren Southern
Matt Chrstensen
Dave Rubin
& last but, not least, Tyler Hansen
Jen Psaki, MSNBC, specified the names & photographs of the six (6) foreign agents working for Putin on her Sunday show at noon Eastern today. Pool claims "I was deceived; I'm a victim".
However. Jen Psaki specified the pay received by one agent to make 4 videos a month at $400,000.00/month for the agitation-propaganda. That's a lot of rubles.
All six (6) foreign agents post on "X". Earlier today, I replied to Andrew Weissman on "X" and at MSNBC naming the six & demanding that "X" shut down the highly paid foreign operation.
I just checked & confirmed my morning post on X to @Weissman remains up with silence from Elon. Musk has other problems.
FYI, digital Platforms just took a major legal hit by a U.S. Court of Appeal last month by destroying digital Platform's get-out-of-jail free card which is Section 230 from the Wild, Wild West anything goes early social media era of non-regulation.
France has charged a lengthy list of criminal charges against Telergam's Owner, DUROV, who cannot leave France & cannot go back to Russia while under Prosecutor restrictions. All French action is based on French law. Fantastique.
The Presidential Election can be summed up in two words- “Electoral College”. The voters in swing states have enormous power. I hope these voters understand that and vote based on facts. Unfortunately that is probably not the case so it is up to all of us to continue to champion the facts and call out any falsehoods on both sides. And yes, there is no excuse not to vote!
Re: Harris herself has said she’s the underdog. She understands the assignment. This was never going to be easy, but it’s still sobering to see half of our fellow citizens saying they will vote for Trump. Even Dick Cheney won’t do that. What could possibly be the appeal?
Watch the first two segments. First John Karl interviews Liz Cheney. Next is Sarah Huckabee Sanders, child labor supporting RShit governor of Arkansas. This will give you insight to what Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Tim Snyder have been warning us about. My conclusion: violence is coming. The Christofascists are on a crusade, a mission from God.
I feel compelled to write and share these facts because the future of my grandchildren, Natalie and Michael, hangs in the balance. The direction America is heading under leaders like Trump deeply concerns me, as it is a far cry from the values I hold dear—values of unity, compassion, and fairness. This country is much better than the divisive, fear-driven politics that are being perpetuated. I refuse to sit idly by while those who follow in Trump’s footsteps continue to chip away at the principles that should be guiding us toward a more just and inclusive future for generations to come.
————————————————————————
The Cult of Opposition: Understanding the Psychology Behind Trump’s Supporters
In modern political discourse, the relationship between leaders and their supporters often reflects a symbiotic exchange—one of mutual benefit. Typically, a leader provides tangible improvements to the supporters’ lives, who in turn offer their allegiance. However, Donald Trump's presidency introduced a paradigm shift that baffled many analysts. A significant portion of Trump’s base does not measure his success by what he does *for* them, but rather by what he does against those they consider adversaries. This phenomenon raises a critical question: why do Trump's supporters define his success not by policy achievements or personal benefit but by his ability to antagonize perceived enemies? In this research paper, we explore the psychology, sociocultural factors, and communication strategies behind this phenomenon, offering a deep dive into the mechanisms that sustain this unwavering loyalty.
The Psychology of "Othering"
At the heart of this dynamic lies a fundamental psychological concept known as *othering.* Othering refers to the process of creating a division between "us" and "them," where "them" are people deemed different or antagonistic to one's own group. Social identity theory posits that individuals derive part of their self-worth from their membership in groups (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). When Trump attacks certain groups—be they immigrants, Democrats, or marginalized communities—his supporters feel that their in-group (conservative, predominantly white Americans) is being validated. The "other," typically those outside their cultural or political bubble, becomes a target of scorn and aggression. By constantly positioning himself against these groups, Trump reassures his supporters that they are on the winning side of a cultural war.
This is where the success metrics diverge from typical political calculations. Success, in the eyes of Trump's supporters, is not rooted in economic growth or policy achievements, but in the symbolic victories won over those they disdain. Trump’s antagonistic rhetoric serves as a rallying cry for a base that measures success by how effectively he torments the "other."
Fear as a Unifying Emotion
The divisiveness Trump exploits is not built solely on disdain for others but on deep-rooted fear. Research has shown that political conservatism often correlates with heightened fear responses (Hibbing, Smith, & Alford, 2014). These fears manifest in concerns over demographic changes, perceived threats to cultural identity, and economic anxiety—particularly in the wake of globalization and immigration. For Trump’s base, he offers not only validation of their fears but also an outlet for their anxiety: the vilification of outsiders.
By acting against these outsiders—whether through harsh immigration policies, vilification of the media, or incendiary tweets targeting "leftist elites"—Trump provides a sense of catharsis to his supporters. It’s not about building bridges or creating new opportunities; it’s about protecting their identity and keeping perceived threats at bay. In their minds, Trump’s success is defined by his defense of the status quo against forces of change.
The Appeal of a Strongman
This dynamic is exacerbated by the allure of authoritarian leadership, often characterized by a leader who promises protection and order while silencing dissent. Trump's rhetoric—filled with hyperbole, aggressive language, and dismissive attitudes toward political correctness—resonates deeply with those who feel disempowered by societal changes. Studies have shown that authoritarian personalities are drawn to leaders who project strength and offer simple, binary solutions to complex problems (Feldman, 2003). Trump’s combative style against the "other" fits neatly into this framework.
In this context, Trump is seen as the protector, someone who will go to any length to defend his supporters from external threats. His aggressive behavior—though often condemned by critics—is perceived by his base as a strength. In their eyes, his relentless attacks on groups like the media, the "deep state," or racial minorities are evidence of his success as a leader willing to do whatever it takes to secure their safety and identity.
The Role of Media and Propaganda
An essential factor in maintaining this dynamic is the role of right-wing media in amplifying Trump’s actions *against* others while downplaying or ignoring any lack of substantive achievements. Fox News, Breitbart, and other conservative outlets often frame Trump’s attacks on immigrants, liberals, and the media as necessary battles in a larger cultural war. Through selective reporting, these outlets reinforce the idea that Trump’s presidency is less about improving the lives of his supporters through policy and more about the symbolic victories he achieves through opposition to their perceived enemies.
Trump himself understood the power of media manipulation, often stoking controversy to keep his name in the headlines. As noted by philosopher Hannah Arendt, in authoritarian regimes, propaganda serves to simplify the world into friend versus foe (Arendt, 1951). By keeping the public focused on his skirmishes against the "other," Trump ensured that his base remained engaged and energized, even when his policies provided little material benefit to their lives.
The Social Contract of Aggrievement
This relationship between Trump and his supporters can be understood as a kind of *social contract of aggrievement.* While traditional politicians offer economic benefits, infrastructure improvements, or social programs, Trump offers emotional validation. His base, particularly those who feel marginalized by economic shifts or demographic changes, finds solace in his outward displays of aggression. His ability to provoke outrage in the "other" reassures them that they are still relevant in a world they fear is changing too fast.
Interestingly, this contract does not require Trump to follow through on traditional metrics of success like job creation or healthcare reform. His supporters are not primarily concerned with how he improves their lives directly. Instead, they focus on how he reinforces their worldview—one where they are under constant attack and where Trump is their defender. This emotional satisfaction creates a loyalty that transcends policy, rooted instead in the shared sense of grievance and resentment.
Conclusion: A Loyalty That Transcends
In understanding Trump’s success, it is critical to recognize the unique metrics by which his supporters measure his achievements. His base does not primarily seek economic relief or policy victories; they seek validation of their fears and grievances. By acting *against* the "other," Trump provides emotional and psychological sustenance that traditional political figures often fail to deliver. His success, therefore, lies in his ability to symbolize and enact opposition rather than constructively improve the lives of his supporters. As long as Trump continues to antagonize those perceived as threats, his base will remain loyal, even in the absence of tangible benefits.
In the end, the tormenting of the "others" does more than sustain them—it defines them.
Thank you for this. The “emotional validation” and the “reinforcement of their worldview” certainly ring true to me. It’s difficult to understand when job creation, healthcare, infrastructure improvements, etc aren’t taken into account. But knowing what we’re facing is essential.
But getting others to know & understand what we are really facing - the undecided, the skeptical, etc. - is a real challenge! Today has been the worst day to me in terms of hope for Harris/Walz based on all of the Sunday news programs and these newsletters. I am not giving up and will do what I can through the next weeks.
Don't take any of those "news programs" at face value. Their ownership all want the enormous tax breaks the criminal has promised to them, it's all about GREED. Of course even dumber of them because he makes a lot of promises but in the end will only protect and serve himself, every one else will have the giant tracks from the bus on their faces.
A "horserace" sells media advertising.
In their guts, they know Trump is nuts.
He has the appearance and demeanor of Bluto in Popeye cartoons.
Yes. I am in a Project 2025 book club group through Democrats Abroad (DA). We are slowly slogging through reading and discussing it, skipping around the read the topics that most interest us first. We are also reading related materials. We realize one reason to read through this is, even with the lies, lack of creditable references and examples of what they are saying is wrong that they want to fix, it still gives a good overview of government and how complex it is. We also have a chat around this stuff. A member of my DA regional group posted this as we are discussing the MAGAs. The attitudes expressed are truly frightening. https://x.com/MrsButters/status/1832795696497373530
The evening before I had watched a German documentary called "Trumpland" where the journalist traveled in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia in a camper with his wife and 2 children, and sort of showed us places he was going and talking to people who were telling him for the most part why they were voting for Trump. He reported Georgia as the only state of the 4 that was not clearly going for Trump. Also, he only interviewed 4 people that were not voting for Trump. Three who were against him ( 2 Latinas and a Black man), and one White farmer who said he wanted to hear who had the better farm policies and was not for either. Now, he is clearly waiting for them to tell him, not researching it himself. So, that already says that there are people who have concerns but they are not looking into it on their own, but waiting. So, will he be convinced by someone just telling him, or otherwise. If any of you speak German you can see it yourself. https://youtu.be/g-DPcKF294g?si=c2cqB1q3HlUoLgrl
I hope that the Harris-Walz campaign is doing their own polling and not spending a lot of time sharing it with her.
Cite ONE example in Project 2025 that is horrifying?
Good point, Daniel. Call it click-bait culture.
I agree. Mr Ritchie's post helps explain Trump's draw in clearly defined terms. What I want to know is why Harris' numbers aren't pulling away from Trump's.
My takeaway from the tight polling is that as voters are starting to entertain candidates for the presidency, Trump is pulling in at about the same rate as Harris.
As some incoming undecided/skeptical are horrified by Proj25, an equal number are horrified by fear of the 'others.' It doesn't help that there are forces favorable to Trump working to get him elected - ones with a lot of money and influence.
We just have to keep up the work to make our side bigger.
the media is telling us all of this, the polls are so flawed, don't forget the 2022 RED WAVE that wasn't even a trickle. I have been a consumer of news across all outlets for years but no longer take anything they say as truth, fact check and fact check the fact checkers. It's exhausting but necessary.
Gone are the days when the media put out the truth. I don’t read the Washington Post or the NYTimes anymore. They are driven by profit, not the truth.
Robert Hubbell reported on that today. He is saying that the Corporate media wants to keep people reading by convincing us it is a horse race, although he seems convinced that they are neck in neck.
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/trump-suffers-emotional-break-media
My mathematician husband is not a big fan of statistics. He feels they can be manipulated to show anything you want.
Still, I am going to ignore the polls, but not trying to understand the people I share a country and planet with who are so filled with hatred, and that fascists stand for.
A person posted this X-video that is a compilation of hateful people spewing hatred. I think the American Psychological Association should make it illegal for anyone under 18 to view these sights. If I had my druthers, anyone under 30, when the frontal lobe is fully developed in most people's brains, and you can exercise some judgement. After seeing this clip by Mrs. Butters,
https://x.com/MrsButters/status/1832795696497373530
which already has 471,000 views, and 8,629 likes, I am certain that we need to protect our youth from this of all genders. It is either terribly frightening, or might trigger off some gun accessing youth to go to it. Even if the likes are just people agreeing with her that it is terrifying, I have to say, it is terrifying but I don't like it. These people, and other MAGAs should have ratings put on their material. Yes, it is not censoring per say, but it is saying no one under 18 should be able to access this. I think we need a rating scale for the internet content. Don't know how to introduce that, but it starts with using the research on it, and then some politicians getting together to do this.
If Trump wins, the book title telling the story should be US Corporate Media: The Making of President
This makes it even more difficult to understand because if the criminal becomes the dictator he wants to be the media will cease to be allowed to air anything except what the dictator tells them to. Many will lose their jobs and that entire landscape will change drastically. The money the greedy make now will slowly fade as they become "state owned media". It's shocking they haven't grasped that.
I find this a problem too. I am wondering how they could study journalism or writing without history. Perhaps too much American history, and not enough other histories. Like the many different fascist times in countries of the last century starting with Mussolini. They seem very insular, both the owners and many of their political reporters.
re: "If Trump wins, the book title telling the story should be US Corporate Media: The Making of President"
If we believe what Agolf is saying, if he 'wins', there won't BE ANY books about how it happened, other than those written and approved by the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025. Stephen Miller and his new Civil Service, all replaced by Trump "loyalists.
I fear that far too many people are not realizing what is planned for us under the Trump Reich.
We could be, right now, the 21st Centry version of 1939 France.
That book would not be able to be published if Trump were to win.
I get it, although, it could be published in another country, where all of our media even if they have supported him, should have other houses to escape massive retribution. It can be published in another language as well. He has tried to block the unflattering film "Apprentice" that is coming out right before the election about him. It is going to be playing in other countries though.
If Trump wins, the silver lining is that my book will have 4 more years worth of shelf life. Meaning that I’ll eventually recoup my investment.
Quite honestly - getting rid of "media" will likely be the one of the first steps - altho since there is very few that are not pushing Trump in one way or another - the whole horse race title - maybe they will just continue on the same way - who knows.
Are you kidding? The Democrats love Corporations - Big Pharma, Wall Street, Military Industrial Complex.
They are their biggest supporters.
Go away.
Those groups play both sides. No-one supports unilateral disarmament, but remind yourself which party wants Citizens United revoked and which one doesn't. I hope that clarifies that issue for you.
I fear the electoral college numbers more than the popularity ones.
I hope, of course, that Kamala Harris gives the "undecideds" a clear choice in her favor for their vote in tomorrow's debate.
Exactly. I thought that was where the challenge lies. Not the popular vote so much. How did we end up with so many red states?
I think as we heard from lots of folks at the Convention and before, they'll throw distractions at us. We just need to keep our heads down and keep doing the work of calling , canvassing, writing postcards, supporting candidates, putting up signs, hosting events, putting up flags and fence posters, working as hard as we can. "We can sleep when we're dead." Coach
News programs are like polls....someone's idea of what it is.....we won't know until every vote is counted. So let's get ourselves and everyone we can talk to, TO THE POLLS! Registering 18 year olds in school, as Joyce posted about, is really one of the easiest ways to make a difference. If you recall YOUR first voting experince it can be intimidating and nerve wracking. I'm offering kids rides who don't have them (obviously with parental permission) and that also helps a LOT. Vote early and spend the time you have helping others vote/register. WE CAN DO THIS. And we must.
Watching the interview of Michael McCaul regarding the Afghanistan withdrawal - he got to say his piece - his opinions - but not much pushback on WHO set up the timeline in the first place. I have to say - yes, it was a disaster by both parties BUT there didnt seem to be much choice in the matter at the time. Its so very easy for these politicians to nitpick & undermine things - but its also so partisan!
Sobering and helpful framing. How can we use this insight to increase our lead?
Clearly these people's quality of life is not about the things you or I think about. I think they have low expectations. I once knew a family who ended up on Welfare. It was a White working class family. The father had worked in oil fields in Saudi Arabia at one point, but they had free rent in a building he took care of, and he also took care of some other buildings. They had 7 children, but were living in an affluent community where the family was kind of outcasts. The parents were alcoholics. The father was really racist. His kids were not. I don't know how they are now. Anyway, the mom told me when they went on welfare, that at the first of the month she spent money on treats, and then at the end of the month they had to live off of bread and peanut butter. She explained that having one time in a month where you had treats was better than having nutritious food all month, but no variety, and nothing to look forward to. It made so much sense from a psychological point of view. I imagine, that a lot of Trump voters live paycheck to paycheck, and their fun moments is what they live for, in a life that might have a lot of stress and struggles otherwise.
Linda, Sad, depressing and true about trump supporters.
In my childhood, I remember a family without a father figure, on welfare. They were white but I wouldn’t call them working class because the mother didn’t work. They lived in a 6 family rental. Marty once described the new neighbors that had moved into the neighborhood using the “N” word and at first I kindly told him not to use that word. My mama taught me as best she could right from wrong. So Marty began shouting that word at me until I lunged at him and we commenced a terrible skirmish. I almost killed him that day. I had to release him from the headlock I had placed him in and as I walked home, he continued screaming that word. Funny, I can still hear him screaming that word today.
I want to answer this question that Joyce posed; Why is this so close? I have repeated the answer but no one gets it. The Biden administration has been on the wrong side of the border issue for 3 years. He virtually ignored the issue until deep into his administration. When his Homeland secretary was asked why Biden never invoked an executive order, Myorka responded ,”Because it wouldn’t hold up in court.” I was frankly dumbfounded with this remark. And if you think for one moment this kind of response doesn’t have repercussions, think again.
There is another push button issue that we have been on the wrong side (of course in my opinion) which is allowing however one wishes to call them: Trans women or boys in girls clothing in girls shower stalls. But you don’t allow balls in the shower stalls. No. No. No. unless you want to lose elections. If this were the case and I had a daughter in such a school, I would home school her. Im an avowed democrat but I’m a centrist. It is exactly what it means; center. I have supported women’s issues all my life and I’m not about to stop now because some new fangled fad has risen from the poisoning by social media that has now affected not one but two generations of children. Social media has caused a massive split in our society. It was never sufficiently regulated.
People are pissed off and they will vote for the stupidest, most ignorant self-serving traitor slob-farting autocrat and they simply don’t care that the lever they are about to pull is tethered to the platform they stand on with hinges and a rope around their necks. They will pull that lever and draw their necks in a noose because voting for a president is rarely done using reason and logic. It’s pure emotion and people are pissed off. Now do you understand why I have repeated this mantra for months?
Answer: No, of course not. You’re democrats, lol.
When my daughter went off to college 10 years ago, in Oregon, her assigned roommate was a transitioning boy. I am very liberal, but I made that phone call. Could she change roommates?
She was fairly unperturbed, or perhaps hid concern. It was as ok as any assigned roommate was, and the biggest problem was the emotional crap of transitioning, and the fact that she was a night owl and my daughter had morning classes.
I try to remember that when I run into the people terrified by trans folks.
The others I meet are just haters, hate the "libs", think we need a bidness man in power, and are misogynists.
See my remarks below. Excuse me for being naive a bit here, but does transitioning imply having male genitalia removed as the final act? I’m serious. I guess I should ask AI Chat,lol.
Bill, your arguments today really disturb me. I wonder just how much contact you’ve had with the LGBTQIA community, and what you know medically about transitioning? As the mother of a gay son who has dated trans men, and the aunt of a gay niece who is married to a trans woman, you appear to be ill-informed on a lot of things. Even genetically things aren’t as simple as x and o. Jon Stewart had a geneticist on who explained a many people are more than just x and o. But if Kamala Harris loses the election, it’s not because of 10% of the population who are LGBTQIA. I’ve replied to you before, but right now I completely disagree with your posts today. And my son had a woman roommate for six years of pharmacy college. Balls weren’t an issue. Not once.
It’s all ok to disagree. That’s why we are democrats. And you are correct I don’t know that much about said topic. It’s just not one of my interests. But you didn’t answer my question because you probably think it’s not germane. I will however repeat a million and one times , leave the children alone and stop opening doors in early developmental stages. They shouldn’t be exposed. But really besides that, this issue this trans gender battle may be the crucible that ends democracy as we have known it. Fortunately I have a nough asset base to get myself out of this garbage dump if need be.
Bill, I had an encounter back in 1973 with a male who was transitioning. The first thing they do is change the hormones so they grow breasts. The removal of genitalia is more complex than simple removal. They do things with the skin so at least some of the sexual sensation remains, and they would also have to reroute the urethra.
Prof Kathleen Belew discusses the Anti-immigration planning of the Global White Right in the last 1980s early 1990s to replace their more overt racist rhetoric, just as they planned to enter mainstream politics in her book Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America. However, I do not fault the Biden administration for following international law, I fault the Democrats for not messaging differently on Immigration years ago. Instead of messaging how it is morally right to help immigrants, they should have been teaching the population through ads how immigrants are vital to our economy. That is what Democratic governments everywhere should have been doing, and now it is too late to credibly do this in a short time. That does not mean they should not start now. Also, look at how a meaningful bill was passed but Trump blocked it. Perhaps Biden should have made it an executive order, or whatever powers he has, it might have gone a long way to say this is a bipartisan government.
I’m not against immigration legal immigration. I am fully agains hundreds of thousands rushing the border. And now because of this, we are in danger as never before of losing the nation. So which side are you on? Letting immigrants rush the border and losing the country of placing enough obstacles in the way. And sole helping to develop Marshall like plans for Central America.
I think we're going to have to accept the fact that there are a lot of morally bankrupt and ignorant people who walk among us.
Well, at least 5 people agree with me.
I agree with most of this analysis. Not the trans aspect, I believe that POV stems from a lack of knowledge about the issue, but we'll agree to not agree there.
Another one is the Dems ideology that dictates the instantaneous and irrational position that weapons cause violence.
Nobody would blame cars for drunk driving, but for some reason alienating another 1/3 of potential voters with their/our blame the weapon philosophy is beyond question. Gospel.
If Dems would lay off that one, we'd probably never lose another election, and could then prioritize brain health to be even with, or above physical health, starting with the insurance company monopoly that refuses to fund adequate treatment options.
Doc, if we are to believe some polls, it seems that the overwhelming %of the population wants major gun control. So I don’t think we lose on this issue. There should be strict regulation of firearms the 2nd never gave us this right but the NRA did its damage by repeating the lie. We are an outlier in this world of nations with our lax gun policy.
The rest of us were too polite to say anything. You're entitled to comment and your opinion. Thank you for sharing it, But your follow on comment prompts me to say that I think you are wrong on all three issues. Many trans athletes are welcome on their sports teams by their teammates. And, if a president thinks a court will rule against them, that is essentially admitting the action is illegal. And social media, like all other expression, is protected by the first amendment.
Ok so go scream firing a theater. Society and Congress always plays catch-up to needed legislation. So you want 1st amendment? Then corporations are individuals that have a right to influence candidates to the tune of multi millions of dollars. Foolish notion. We need regulation unless you are a Trump supporter in disguise. In China in case you were unaware, Tik Tok, a Chinese-owned company, cannot put out the same crap that they put out here in America. Only educational products maybe we should begin learning from the Chinese government for a change. Yikes.
And for those women who play sports and need to compete against frequently but not always, a stronger trans female, and object to that competitive edge, I am supportive. And btw, unless anyone thinks I’m homophobic, I’m quite the opposite and have been my whole life way before it was so popular to be supportive of alternate lifestyles. (I most identified as a hippie back yonder, another marginalized and crazy group) just don’t and will ever think young kids should be exposed to the crapola found on social media. Parents who who gave these mobile devises to the youngest of kids have found now all the negative that accompanies addiction to mobile devises including isolation, depression, you name it. I have no care if I am critized for my opinions. If Trump wins, you heard my rationale.
Most trans are welcomed on their teams? What delusional world do you live in? Are they welcomed in boxing, martial arts, soccer, weightlifting, swimming? et cetera.
Hell NO. They steal achievement and opportunity for girls/women.
You are delusional
Read the stories they are out there. You seem to have blinders on.
And please don’t make me a person who despises them. I only stated that I support cis women on sports teams and will continue to support them regardless if it’s not the cool thing to do. Stop it.
When contemplating this phenomenon of voting against one's interests by casting a ballot for the former President, I wonder whether these people in the M.A.G.A. base have lost hope of benefitting by the 'democratic exchange' between the leader and his or her constituents.
Sorry they can’t think that far ahead. And they are acting out of spite and hatred.
ALMOST every-time I ask a Trump supporter if they watch Fox "news" the answer is "no" right before they reference "Sean" in explaining themselves. I asked an 83 year old man (who I consider a dear friend but says "I've been a right winger my whole life") that question the other day and he said, "No, I watch Newsmax." I don't frequent right wing media but people get defensive I've talked to as if they're programmed into a state of denial. I explain, I'm just trying to understand your thinking" and often times the reply is "You're not going to change my mind." Right wing media and republicans use the propaganda tactics of the Third Reich and it works.
"Trump hates dogs" and Trump stole from kids with cancer" repeated daily works.
https://rvat.org/
Yes, the propaganda tactics work. My son believes the dumb sh*t Republicans put out. His military career facilitated this stupidity, sadly.
This has been my experience as well. Trump supporters are very right wing with not really cogent arguments for why. They just continue to state the "given words" of the ultra right. And the Republican Party has been complicit in this by using those authoritarian propaganda tactics to gain power.
David, makes me want to cry and that doesn’t help but people are so stupid to thing trump will care about them.
It seems like we’re talking about a whole subculture that has been programmed to be preoccupied with being at war with someone they cannot identify with. Their belief system about their fellow humans has become so polarized and narrow that they see their world as a battleground of sorts.
They require constant validation and assurance that they are on the winning side and thus are vicariously winners, themselves. This sadly is more important than even life improvements, peace or seeing a viable future for the human race. In their minds winners literally take all.
"We need someone to blame for things being bad"
-Adolf
One of the best simple explanations I've heard.
It's really too bad these people don't crawl out of their holes long enough to meet some "others". We have traveled the world and met all sorts of different people - of different skin color, different culture, different religion - and if you talk to them, even a little bit, you find out that they are really just like you. They have the same needs and desires as we do - except for the need to be better than everyone else.
Robert, excellent assessment of the cult of Trump. Trump is the big bully who will supposedly take on the rest of the playground for the kiddies even though he talks a good game but does nothing to actually help or really protect them. As long as they stand behind him, never beside him, he is happy and will keep pumping out the hatred, fearmongering, resentments, etc. and direct them properly. White people have been trained well to believe they/we are better, smarter, more of everything positive than THOSE OTHER PEOPLE, so when opportunities arise for that set of beliefs to be proven untrue or that others are just as good, white fear and anger can be whipped up into a kind of frenzy where there is no longer the ability to think clearly about much of anything. Then, there is their churches, the conservative ones, the fundamentalist ones that tell those scared angry people that they are right and doing god's work. There is no incentive for them to stop the hatred and their allegiance to a totally inappropriate leader like Trump. Republicans have been looking for a leader like Trump for a long time and found him and shaped him into just what those authoritarian oligarchs want ruling our nation. The Trumpers and Trumpettes don't even realize they are being used. Maybe they are OK with it as long as they are taking down the "libs" or "the woke." It's a dilemma We the People really do need to work on, much more seriously than anyone has done so far.
Appreciate you
Thank you. This explanation helps answer some of the questions I have about the tfg cult.
Very good post!
And why do they have grievances for Trump to capitalize on?
Reagan. He got rid of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. It opened the door to inflammatory one sided broadcasting.
What was the Fairness Doctrine? "The Fairness Doctrine mandated broadcast networks devote time to contrasting views on issues of public importance. Congress backed the policy in 1954 and by the 1970s the FCC called the doctrine the “single most important requirement of operation in the public interest "
Its demise was the canary in the mine shaft of democracy.
Very interesting. Something I didn't know (or possibly didn't remember because it wasn't important to me at the time. Clearly the media have run with that one.
Given that rescinding the Fairness Doctrine is the only reason Fox and others can do what they do, it seems like a cruel joke that Fox refers to itself as "fair and balanced" when it is of course anything but.
Reagan was a far less volatile and uncontrollable hired clown than Donny the Dope, but certainly an important cog in the wheel of the overall scheme to rid the 1% of the tediousness of democracy.
He fast tracked Murdoch's citizenship in 1985 so Murdoch could buy TV stations in the US. Murdoch then bought Metromedia which owned major station in NY, LA, DC, Houston, and Boston along with a wide variety of smaller stations which actually proved to be at least equally important in the scheme of swaying rural folks. Where all that cash came from seems obvious.
Those holdings became Fox Broadcasting Network in 1986.
In 1987 Reagan rescinded the fairness doctrine which opened the door for Murdoch's propaganda empire, along with peripheral clowns like Rush Limbaugh etc.
By then Fox was on the TV's in every airport, bus station and waiting room in the country. I don't doubt they even paid the cleaning crews or some such to make sure Fox was on those TVs 24/7/365.
Slowing mixing in its outrageous lies with cute stories drew in converts like a train wreck. It was/is the best and most effective fascist propaganda network ever assembled.
The rest is the inevitable pathway to the intentional destruction of our democracy, orchestrated by the greedy 1% holding the purse string of the nation.
Without the Fairness Doctrine, which you are not alone in not recalling, we're screwed. Unfettered national propaganda beats truth everyday of the week as without restriction it fuels fear like the plague it is.
If I could piss on Reagan's grave I would, but I've got an inkling that wicked witch Nancy was pulling addled Ronnie's puppet strings at that point at the behest of our dear vile 1%ers. You can see the greedy evil minded vicious viper in her sneering little eyes.
And here we are at the precipice it has created with no telling what comes next.
What fun. Grrrrr.
I'm not as equipped as you are for decorating Reagan's grave, but it sounds like an excellent thing to do. I would be with you in spirit, because I have disliked him since his days as California governor. Reagan was also the first president to use the Mandate for Leadership in his administration, that wonderful document that today is known as Project 2025. That's probably where getting rid of the Fairness Doctrine came from - the Heritage Foundation. Thank you for giving me sound reasoning behind my dislike of the man.
Very helpful. It gives me insight into the dynamics of my exchanges with a Trump-supporting neighbor. When I make points she cannot refute she just changes the subject or says "I don't have time for this." Now I understand that her resistance to taking in new information, or in any way acknowledging the possibility of reasonable disagreement, stems from the emotional validation she is getting. The big question this raises is, what could ch
...what could change this dynamic? How can we build on the insight you offer to get more people to support Harris?
From my experience with folks like this, there is no, or very little, possibility for changing this dynamic. And that is truly scary, because they will not go away even when Trump is defeated. Something very dangerous has happened to many people in this country and we are going to live with the reverberations for a very long time.
absolutely... Antonia
Brene Browne writes on this subject. Sadly, the old adage, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' is an easy commodity to sell. The puzzling thing is that it seems to sell at every societal level, rich poor, educated uneducated, religious agnostic, regardless of gender identity, or political ideology from left to right, across the board.
Trump has the skill of othering down to a science.
Robert, this seems spot on. Last night I was watching a German documentary on Trumpland. The German journalist and his wife and two children were traveling in a camper around the US and talking to Trumpers in venues where one might expect to find them. They started in Texas where they went to a rodeo, a gun show, and a rally as well as interviewing people in several towns, and visiting several sites with border patrol. A man who looks "Mexican" and is named Garcia, his big issue is the border. He says his family members are life long Republicans. I don't think this was a fact based piece. He also went to Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia. In Georgia he interviewed a farmer who was "White" who is the only one who said that what they do for farmers matters. He is not tied to a party, he cares about policy. Hopefully Harris will address agriculture. Going after price gouging at the supermarket still does not explain what will happen on the farmer end. German foods are way more subsidized. It is so much cheaper to buy groceries here in Germany. So, why is that? Then, he talked to one Black man in Biloxi, Mississippi, who said that he does not support Trump. He felt that his city was for Harris. He also talked to two Latina women in Texas, who were against the border walls, and not for Trump. They were activist against it. Everyone else in the film says they are for Trump. They all seemed to feel he has their backs. It was not just White people, but Black and Latino/a. It was about values and being part of the group. The documentarian did mention only Georgia might not go for Trump as a state of the states he visited. Still, Texas used to have Ann Richards for their governor, so having a Democrat is not unheard of. Mississippi I don't have any hope for. If any of you speak German here is the video of this movie about visiting in "Trumpland" in the South. https://youtu.be/g-DPcKF294g?si=7xNFA_P-7XO698i2
fear is greater in conservative people. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3092984/
Thank you for this explanation.
Personally, I have found it impossible in the 8 + years since Trump infected my husband, twin brother and so many friends, to move them at all with rational arguments or even pleadings to trust me. Added to that are the people who have not experienced this with close friends and families . Those who malign them have no idea how much their “othering” hurts.
In the end I look at it as a mental disease passed on by Trump aided by the ancient tropes of a patriarchal society in which there “can be only one” and “he” must be the biggest baddest bull. To me there is little that can be done. They are caught in a web of fear, delusion and illusion.
It is also clear that there is a cabal who’s plan has been in place for over 30 years. One to turn us into an oligarchy of white males. They are extremely well funded and have executed a plan that has culminated in a totally corrupted Supreme Court. That corruption of our courts has brought us here.
In 2016 and 2020 the majority made clear their choice and yet because of a Civil War institution, the Electoral Collage or should I call it the council of the lords, decides. It is a horse race to win only 4 states instead of a majority of the people.
I am in despair, at least today. On good days I cling to a hope that Americans will come through in the end. That hate can’t be sustained. But lord I am weary. And the damaged done to my marriage and so many relationships will leave a major scar no matter who wins.
an excellent summary. The fear factor is huge, of course. Add in the fear of mortality, that research shows repressed fear of death drives people into authoritarianism. We are surrounded by reminders of death all the time. See this: https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/asap.12143
For more on this, read The Worm at the Core: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/170217/the-worm-at-the-core-by-sheldon-solomon-jeff-greenberg-and-tom-pyszczynski/
Thanks for this. I agree that it comes down to emotions. Yet what is in it for Trump? I think Howard Stern nailed it when he said Trump ran in 2016 as a marketing stunt. His interest is profit.
An interesting read is Joe Conason's new book The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds hijacked American Conservatism. This from the forward by George Conway.
"It turns out that lies sell. Anger sells. Hatred Sells. Conspiracy theories, libels, imaginary enemies, they all can be manufactured, at minimal cost, and marketed, from coast to coast, at a handsome markup, to the masses, including many people who probably cannot afford the price. You don't even have to be smart or skilled to get into the business: what economists call barriers to entry are low. Anyone can play the game, if they are shameless and greedy and dishonest enough."
Conason traces the thread of grift coursing through conservative American as early as the 1950s.
A friend gave me a letter he received in the mail from David N. Bossie, President of a group called Citizens United. It was pushing a DVD called "Trump's Rescue Mission: Saving America" from the creators of "Rigged: The Zuckerberg Funded Plot to Defeat Donald Trump" and 26 other critically acclaimed films..." You get the DVD for a minimum gift of $35 and he is "looking for a few patriots who can step up with a larger gift of $500 or $1000." Hell, I'm a patriot, sign me up!!
There is a Ukrainian anecdote of a man offered one wish with the proviso his neighbour got double. "I wish to be blind in one eye".
I do not understand the mindset but your post explains the situation very well. It is happening in Saskatchewan. The home of Medicare has become a home for division and hatred. When the war is over we are going back to Ukraine, not that it is better but I dont feel as bad about the corruption and hypocrasy there.
Jay Kuo reposted this earlier today on Facebook. The bottom line is that the polls, and poll aggregators, continue to appear extremely skewed toward Trump. I continue to ignore the polls and look at what has happened in elections over the past two years. The midterms were not the MAGA landslide that was predicted, and races that were predicted to be close, when the issues were abortion rights and basic defense of democracy, turned out to be progressive landslides, with 60+% of the vote supporting progressive positions. We just have to keep our heads down and keep working toward the outcome we want. https://www.facebook.com/nycjayjay/posts/pfbid02qxLbQsesUrUca1rh1zH3HcCuBH4yGnjpYEF45jZmujiKwvr8qRp8RUVDmJ9LgrvMl
AGREE! I do believe that there is going to be a tremendous BLUE WAVE! Donate, Volunteer- do whatever we can every step of the way. 💙💙💙💙💙🌊🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Remember they will cheat ! We must be aware and prepare to protect our votes. I live in Georgia and am acutely concerned over the state election board.
Apparently one of the first things Kamala did was put 100 lawyers on the job of anticipating their moves when Trump loses. So hopefully we won't be caught flatfooted this time. Same thing this time with the response to their violence. 1/6 won't happen again.
I am also a Georgia voter in a 90R/10D county and am very concerned!(I previously resided in a 66R/33D Georgia county. The difference in attitude is scary!
I agree! Look at the proof, not the polls! Trump has his base. What’s left of it anyway. Last year our neighbors and good friends told us they would not vote for Trump if he ran again. Not saying they’ll vote for Harris, which would be nice, but they can’t stand Trump. We had a neighborhood gathering last week and not one person brought up politics.
Every where I look now driving around my beet red county, it’s the same flags in the same yards. No new supporters, in fact, some just covered Pence’s named with duct tape (I love that!). And those numbers are down from 2020. People can’t give a legitimate answer as to why they’re voting for Trump. Because the answer is they’re filled with self doubt and racism. What are they gonna say to you? “I’m voting for Trump because I’m a racist asshole?”. Or, “I hate my daughter so much, I want to refuse the possibility of life saving healthcare if she should need it?” Because that’s what every yard sign, hat, flag, vehicle sticker says to women who don’t want to be second class citizens.
Notice the abortion issue is being buried by Republicans and there’s a very good reason for it. Sure, the usual will vote for Trump, he’ll win states of course, but we aren’t going back.
Agreed!
Definitely the polls have been historically wrong, but general momentum worries me, and it seems Harris' surge is tempering a bit. We desperately need Jon Tester to win in Montana, if you can spare something, contribute to his campaign.
Yes! Donate to John Tester!
I want to know who owns the different polling companies-their biases. The different owners of the media companies-even NBC and thus MSNBC/CNBC, ABC, CBS. WGN is owned by the Chicago Tribune. What their biases are.
Trump gives some folks permission (or cover) to be and say who they really are. He gives them permission to hate, openly, the people they hate. That is it; that is all.
One word - racism.
Yup.
Petein TX: And misogyny, and xenophobia, and plain old meanness.
I'm so lucky to live on Castro Street in San Francisco. I don't know a soul who would vote for Trump. If they would, they'd never admit that in public. If you need to get away from your MAGA environment, Joyce, come and visit us. Kamala is our home-town girl. We're psyched! I'll buy you a cocktail (or some bird seed to send home for your chickens.)
Amen, Mark!! I’m an East Bay girl. There had been a fella whose home was waving not one but two Trump flags. Today, I drove by the house and only the American flag was there. Progress? I sure hope so!
Greetings from coastal Maine, where we have our MAGAs but they are few in number. However, we do have Leonard Leo…and Tucker Carlson,,, both part time summer people. We tolerate anyone, apparently.
We are vacationing on the Maine coast right now . It is comforting to see many Harris/Walz signs with a few Trumps sadly.
Maine girl too! On a recent drive, there were more Harris/Walz signs than Trump. Very encouraged! Polls can get it wrong. Vote Blue!!!
Maine girl too! More Harris/Walz signs on a recent coastal drive and through some local neighborhoods. Inland, some Trump signs. I feel encouraged; I’m done amplifying anything about Trump by reposting it or commenting on social media. Polls can be wrong. Repost anything Harris/Walz and Vote Blue!!!
UGH! BOO! HISS!
My home neighborhood! I was raised at Castro and 23rd St, and now live in South City, right on the edge of SF. There are NO trump signs in my neighborhood, and honestly I've never seen any when I drive through the Peninsula suburbs. I fly my American flag right next to my "Democracy, not Dictatorship" and "Harris" signs in my window.
My uneasiness in this election is at an all time high. I, too, cannot understand WHY anyone with a working brain would EVER vote for trump, but one of the things that makes me damned mad is that former President Bush & his wife Laura, a former school teacher would tell us that they will either not vote for either trump or Harris or they write someone in. THAT KIND OF THING ONLY HELPS trump!! The man who was really running the country, Bush's VP just came out for Harris.....get some cohones for goodness sakes. With so much at stake, it is confounding. For me & my household both of us being retired & living on Social Security as our only income, we have a vested interest in trump NOT returning to the WH, because his threat to kill of Social Security, which is NOT the government's money because all of us workers & employers contributed from our paychecks and profits to build a fund that would provide income for us when we retired. Plus, Ronnie Reagan screwed us all over when he "borrowed" from the Social Security Trust Fund in 1986 to cover the tax relief he gave to the ultra rich & corporations....sound familiar??? The amount $2.4 Trillion was never repaid! I'm mad. I yield back my time.
W never had balls or brains. Give up on that twit
Bill, it's the power of cult thinking. Think of why people join cults/gangs-it's a sense of belonging.
Along with many other readers, I say thank you, Joyce, for giving us so much dependable information. I admit to being deeply disheartened to read that the race is this close and that Kamala is not pulling away to a clear victory. I just don’t understand how so many of my fellow Americans can apparently shrug off Trump’s immorality. I am 75 and close to retiring as a college instructor in philosophy and psychology after many happy years driving 18-wheelers. The ethical issues with Trump’s candidacy are huge—and right there in the open for all to see. I just don’t understand how morally derelict we are turning out to be as a country. Maybe after years of “Amusing Ourselves to Death” (thank you, Neil Postman) this is the moral poverty we find ourselves contending with.
If only the media would tell the truth…
Indeed, Ginny.
“If only the media could tell the truth.”
It seems the media is no longer the Freedom of the Press. The media has become a commodity purchased by those with the most money. Thus the money IS the power.
We lost a reasonably trustworthy media, and probably our democracy, when we lost the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, thanks to Reagan.
What was the Fairness Doctrine? "The Fairness Doctrine mandated broadcast networks devote time to contrasting views on issues of public importance. Congress backed the policy in 1954 and by the 1970s the FCC called the doctrine the “single most important requirement of operation in the public interest "
Its demise was the canary in the mine shaft of democracy.
If only the media would report the facts. This is a wild ride and the debate should help some. We'll know the answer in a few months meanwhile the AR's are selling like hotcakes. Never thought I'd see one again after coming home from Vietnam.
Thank you. I find this post sobering, but I am gearing up to write more postcards, talk to more people and do what I can. With hope, and with joy and community as my talismans.
Talk to more people, that should have read!
Yay to a fellow postcard writer! I live in a battleground state and decided to write Vote Postcards - 500 of them this election.
Yay! I need to go get some more going!
I am no expert—but it seems to me that this odd support of such a demonstrably bad man as Trump is a weird combination of intellectual laziness (inertia) and lack of exposure to others (isolationism). Mix unsubtly with white supremacy and …
If we learn nothing else from the trial by fire through which I believe we will momentarily pass successfully, it is that we can no longer delegate our lives as we see fit to live them only to others. After all the legal and legislative efforts and protections, in the end, we --- we collectively --- each doing what they can to the extent of their abilities and resources --- is the strongest guardrail. Yes, more to worry about, as if life isn't often complicated enough. But it must be at the top of that life "to do" list; without it, the rest of the list becomes meaningless. "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." --- John Philpott Curran, 18th c. Irish statesman, barrister and wit (often attributed to Thomas Jefferson)
A fiftyish woman told me that the reason she, her family and neighbors were voting for CFDT was because they were tired of people cheating them, taking advantage of them. They want a tough new president who will crack down of grifters, non-supporting dads... "enough with due process, crap, just throw their ass in jail." I ask, "And you think CFDT will do that? "Oh yeah," she said. They want a Big Daddy, sounds to me like.
I had to look it up; CF is Convicted Felon...DT.
Pretty rich irony there with the Former Guy supporter thinking a grifter who has nothing but contempt for her would be the one she'd choose to "crack down on grifters."
Sounds like an individual who has not clearly thought through her position. But I'm only 67 and still gainfully employed, so what do I know? :D
Her position is shared by many women... husband off making more babies, none of whom he supports, while she struggles to feed and clothe their child. No one in 15 year has been able to stop him. Listening to her was interesting, given we tend to think MAGA are angry young men... possibly like her husband. She obviously is not considering what big daddy will cost in other ways. I was perplexed she didn't see the same behavior in CFDT. She kept saying, "I want someone whose tough enough to enforce the laws."
If people are looking for a leader who will be tough on the grifters, they need to take a look at Harris' career as a prosecutor!
You would think...
So why wouldn’t they vote for a prosecutor????
The weirdness of this view to me is that they are elevating this grifter criminal to get justice for them. I also believe that the support of this guy is all about racism and hate of the "other" .
Are they pro-natalist and not just pro-republican? Fans of Elon, etc.?
I often think that the power of corporate money, the interference of Russian propaganda, and a great deal of willful ignorance are the troika for Trump's success. If Trump can sell anything (and sometimes he does), it's his message that he is the avenging savior. It's beside the fact that he is a demented ol' coot; too many people believe him.
On the "interference of Russian propaganda' the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has identified six(6) persons, 5 men & 1 woman working on lucrative contracts for the Russian cut-out corporation, Tennessee based Tenet Media.
NBC News has identified those six persons as follows:
Benny Johnson
Tim Pool
Lauren Southern
Matt Chrstensen
Dave Rubin
& last but, not least, Tyler Hansen
Jen Psaki, MSNBC, specified the names & photographs of the six (6) foreign agents working for Putin on her Sunday show at noon Eastern today. Pool claims "I was deceived; I'm a victim".
However. Jen Psaki specified the pay received by one agent to make 4 videos a month at $400,000.00/month for the agitation-propaganda. That's a lot of rubles.
All six (6) foreign agents post on "X". Earlier today, I replied to Andrew Weissman on "X" and at MSNBC naming the six & demanding that "X" shut down the highly paid foreign operation.
Musk will just repost whatever they post.
I just checked & confirmed my morning post on X to @Weissman remains up with silence from Elon. Musk has other problems.
FYI, digital Platforms just took a major legal hit by a U.S. Court of Appeal last month by destroying digital Platform's get-out-of-jail free card which is Section 230 from the Wild, Wild West anything goes early social media era of non-regulation.
France has charged a lengthy list of criminal charges against Telergam's Owner, DUROV, who cannot leave France & cannot go back to Russia while under Prosecutor restrictions. All French action is based on French law. Fantastique.
Thanks Joyce for keeping me up to date on the legal events. I rely on your insights.
The Presidential Election can be summed up in two words- “Electoral College”. The voters in swing states have enormous power. I hope these voters understand that and vote based on facts. Unfortunately that is probably not the case so it is up to all of us to continue to champion the facts and call out any falsehoods on both sides. And yes, there is no excuse not to vote!
Don’t despair, Vote, and Encourage others to do so!
Re: Harris herself has said she’s the underdog. She understands the assignment. This was never going to be easy, but it’s still sobering to see half of our fellow citizens saying they will vote for Trump. Even Dick Cheney won’t do that. What could possibly be the appeal?
Here’s a link to the complete This Week: https://youtu.be/L9p1O7k8FSU?si=XZgG03nJZO0s2ZcL
Watch the first two segments. First John Karl interviews Liz Cheney. Next is Sarah Huckabee Sanders, child labor supporting RShit governor of Arkansas. This will give you insight to what Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Tim Snyder have been warning us about. My conclusion: violence is coming. The Christofascists are on a crusade, a mission from God.