One of your points, somewhat implied, is the scariest thing (to me) about another Trump Administration: not so much him, specifically, but the cast of characters he'll be bringing in. They'll be working 18-hour days, 7 days a week, to undermine our country, and won't care a whit about Trump watching TV and fake-tweeting away his days.
Agree 100%. Repeating a comment I wrote elsewhere....
I'm normally charitable towards my fellow voters, but honestly Trump, with his reptilian survival & maneuvering instincts, has managed to expose and exploit how lazy, pampered, uninformed, unserious, apathetic, and somewhat stupid we have become as a society at large ("fat, dumb, and happy" as the old phrase goes - no intention to shame anyone's body shape here). 'Apathetic' because we can't even crack the 70% mark on eligible voters bothering to vote - shame on us! We'll get the President we as a society deserve. My PhD advisor used to say that the final thesis defense was more of a test of the advisor (the professor) than the doctoral candidate - it's a bit like that here, where our elected choice for President reflects more on us as a society rather than solely on the candidate elected POTUS.
I attempted to have a conversation with my Trump voting-Fox brained sister and I got to watch a smart accomplished woman scientist completely melt down into hysterics about Democrats mutilating little children and men ruining girl sports. There was no getting to any part of a conversation. She completely came apart at the seams from a simple question about the election not even related to anything trans or lgbt. I appreciate your request that we engage with our Trump voting family but just know what you might find out about your family members.
These exact reasons have been spouted by fam and people close to me. Couple that with the notion democrats “give money to illegals” and republicans are always “better for business and the stock market” and I just want to scream my head off.
When I was co-editing a weekly newsletter for a progressive rule-of-law group during the last 2 1/2 years of the Trump administration, we focused not on his immature behavior, but on the corruption, cronyism, and incompetence of him,this family, and his appointees. We never - NEVER - lacked material for our weekly issues.
Agree with your headline as synopsis, and have for some time. Regardless of who we are, we've mostly been quick to blame someone other than ourselves for, well, everything for quite a while now. But if Trump, after all he has said and done, IS reelected in six days? Look in the mirror, America and try not to punch it. I'm a part of it too--clearly I haven't done enough. And regardless of whether we avert total disaster or not, it won't be OVER in a week either (we have a disturbing tendency to look for the first opportunity to "get back to normal/relax" as well. This IS our normal now).
Queue the "shit sandwich" line from Full Metal Jacket. Still hoping I don't have to play it.
Well said, Dan. I've noticed a number of writers have now gotten to the point where they're accepting that the voters have agency, and that it's almost a certainty that 45% of the voters will choose Trump no matter what. That fact is rather important, it seems to me! Claiming that somehow it's the Ds fault if this happens, as if all the Trump voters are doing is responding to D actions, is more madness. If someone goes full MAGA I feel like I have some sense of what's in their head. Presumably - so I hear - a big chunk of Trump voters aren't full MAGA. I hope that's true, although if they still vote for him does it make any difference, ultimately? But I just don't understand what someone who's not deep into MAGA is thinking they're getting when they vote for Trump. Is it really just a tragic misunderstanding of what Trump is that could be cleared away with some incantation if that could only be found? I find that difficult to buy into.
One of your points, somewhat implied, is the scariest thing (to me) about another Trump Administration: not so much him, specifically, but the cast of characters he'll be bringing in. They'll be working 18-hour days, 7 days a week, to undermine our country, and won't care a whit about Trump watching TV and fake-tweeting away his days.
Agree 100%. Repeating a comment I wrote elsewhere....
I'm normally charitable towards my fellow voters, but honestly Trump, with his reptilian survival & maneuvering instincts, has managed to expose and exploit how lazy, pampered, uninformed, unserious, apathetic, and somewhat stupid we have become as a society at large ("fat, dumb, and happy" as the old phrase goes - no intention to shame anyone's body shape here). 'Apathetic' because we can't even crack the 70% mark on eligible voters bothering to vote - shame on us! We'll get the President we as a society deserve. My PhD advisor used to say that the final thesis defense was more of a test of the advisor (the professor) than the doctoral candidate - it's a bit like that here, where our elected choice for President reflects more on us as a society rather than solely on the candidate elected POTUS.
I attempted to have a conversation with my Trump voting-Fox brained sister and I got to watch a smart accomplished woman scientist completely melt down into hysterics about Democrats mutilating little children and men ruining girl sports. There was no getting to any part of a conversation. She completely came apart at the seams from a simple question about the election not even related to anything trans or lgbt. I appreciate your request that we engage with our Trump voting family but just know what you might find out about your family members.
These exact reasons have been spouted by fam and people close to me. Couple that with the notion democrats “give money to illegals” and republicans are always “better for business and the stock market” and I just want to scream my head off.
"Trump voting-Fox brained sister". This term alone makes your comment worthwhile : ) However, maybe your sister picked up on the attitude?
The polls are mostly nonsense by right-wingers throwing crap numbers in to make trump seem more popular than he is.
When I was co-editing a weekly newsletter for a progressive rule-of-law group during the last 2 1/2 years of the Trump administration, we focused not on his immature behavior, but on the corruption, cronyism, and incompetence of him,this family, and his appointees. We never - NEVER - lacked material for our weekly issues.
So, about that maturity...
But we already know, though. It's a tie in terms of voting intentions, so no matter the outcome half of American voters are supporting a toddler.
Agree with your headline as synopsis, and have for some time. Regardless of who we are, we've mostly been quick to blame someone other than ourselves for, well, everything for quite a while now. But if Trump, after all he has said and done, IS reelected in six days? Look in the mirror, America and try not to punch it. I'm a part of it too--clearly I haven't done enough. And regardless of whether we avert total disaster or not, it won't be OVER in a week either (we have a disturbing tendency to look for the first opportunity to "get back to normal/relax" as well. This IS our normal now).
Queue the "shit sandwich" line from Full Metal Jacket. Still hoping I don't have to play it.
Our anti-Trump journalists go back and forth between ruthless Nazi and easily-manipulated child. Make up your dang minds : )
Sorry, but inept Nazi and oppositional toddler are entirely consistent.
I was joking, of course one could be both. But calling the two terms consistent is a stretch, especially entirely consistent.
Professor Daniel W. Drezner: Awe, come on -- you made us curious about Tucker Carlson's psychosexual disorders . . .
Well said, Dan. I've noticed a number of writers have now gotten to the point where they're accepting that the voters have agency, and that it's almost a certainty that 45% of the voters will choose Trump no matter what. That fact is rather important, it seems to me! Claiming that somehow it's the Ds fault if this happens, as if all the Trump voters are doing is responding to D actions, is more madness. If someone goes full MAGA I feel like I have some sense of what's in their head. Presumably - so I hear - a big chunk of Trump voters aren't full MAGA. I hope that's true, although if they still vote for him does it make any difference, ultimately? But I just don't understand what someone who's not deep into MAGA is thinking they're getting when they vote for Trump. Is it really just a tragic misunderstanding of what Trump is that could be cleared away with some incantation if that could only be found? I find that difficult to buy into.
What is the current thinking about how we ended up this way? The overboard immaturity feels like a recent thing.