I just read through all of the new set of predictions and I am heartened that as a collective, we are seeing a return to stability, albeit after some more unrest, but the goal is in sight. What surprises me is the lack of vision at this point into the preservation or destruction of the ACA and the other SCOTUS cases pertaining to LGBTQ rights. Or is it just to early to see that yet? I hope that the reference to wrongs righted include those issues...
@jovesta I think it's because we are focusing on the immediate root problem. Since the the attacks on the ACA and LGBTQ rights are are manifestations- i.e., symptoms - of the Orange One's administration, the focus is on ending that administration, the cause of those symptoms. Once that's done, the other issues can be corrected and dealt with appropriately and fairly, even if the SCOTUS rulings are not what we would hope them to be.
I have trouble understanding Trump supporters through all of this stuff, especially this year. They can see all the concerns, the fears of loss of life, the fears of loss of rights, and just flat out criminality in this administration but they turn a blind eye to so much. Just since the weekend, I saw interview with Lara Trump where she mocked Biden's stuttering, interviews with Trump followers who didn't really know what QAnon was but decided it was true because he said was, a ralley with Trump saying Biden would cancel Christmas this year and on and on and on.... There are really some days I feel like I'm living in a different reality than they are. I feel like a lot of the devotion is fed on fear. Trump plays to their fears and they grasp onto that with fervor. At a certain point though, when does reason and truth clear the way. I used to work in social services and often had my people that would come in with lots of unrealistic or unfounded fears. I would take the time to talk through with them about what was a valid worry and what we could work through and what just wasn't true. Most people would be reassured when they had the facts and could put some measure of control on their life and what decisions to make. But with this group, I just don't understand. I saw interviews this weekend where even when the reporters fact checked Trump to his supporters they would just justify it with another myth. They just couldn't see anything beyond their own clinging to supporting him even when presented with information that showed what he said made no sense. In some ways they remind me of some of those clients I used to have, I wanted them to have the information to make the best decisions for themselves but every so often I would get someone who just couldn't hear anything or were so closed off they would make choices that would do themselves harm. It makes me frustrated to watch his supporters now because they are hurting both those around them but also themselves. It's so needless and destructive. At this point, I just wish they would stop going to a ralley and truly think of their friends, family and themselves (both mentally and physically).
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but Trump's campaign manager sent a letter to the Debate Commission insisting that the topics for the debate should be changed to only focus on Foreign Policy.
My hunch is that Trump is either (1) looking for a way to get out of doing the last debate (again) so he can keep doing his multiple rallies or (2) the demand was made so that he can use "foreign policy" as a way to attack Biden about Hunter and Ukraine. Maybe both.
I'd put 50-50 odds on Trump not showing for the last debate and blaming it on the questions.
By the way, here are the already scheduled topics for the debate:
- "Fighting COVID-19"
- "American Families"
- "Race in America"
- "Climate Change"
- "National Security"
- "Leadership"
The debate doesn't matter to me or the rest of my family. We're all among the 30 million voters who have already cast our ballots. I got my notice this morning that my ballot has been received and verified and will be counted. So relieved to have it done!
The microphones will be muted so now he will def drop out
This article can explain some of the reasons people support the moron. Interesting read.
The Psychology Behind Donald Trump's Unwavering Support | Psychology Today
The microphones will be muted so now he will def drop out
LOL. ? Although if he's riled up enough, he won't really need a mic.
This article can explain some of the reasons people support the moron. Interesting read.
The Psychology Behind Donald Trump's Unwavering Support | Psychology Today
Great article, @lenor. My favorite takeaway line: Essentially, they’re not smart enough to realize they’re dumb.
But in all seriousness, after reading it, it seems clear to me that Trump, at least on some level, is aware of these psychological forms of manipulation and knows how to use them. It's not happenstance.
It may just be that these are things that worked for him throughout his life, his "tried and true" methods to control others. But reading the article, I found myself wondering if someone isn't actually advising him to use these tactics to control his followers.
Also, this article helped me to better understand why the entire GOP has seemingly been so unwilling to reel him in. He no doubt uses some of the same tactics to control them.
Interesting stuff.
I have trouble understanding Trump supporters through all of this stuff, especially this year. They can see all the concerns, the fears of loss of life, the fears of loss of rights, and just flat out criminality in this administration but they turn a blind eye to so much. Just since the weekend, I saw interview with Lara Trump where she mocked Biden's stuttering, interviews with Trump followers who didn't really know what QAnon was but decided it was true because he said was, a ralley with Trump saying Biden would cancel Christmas this year and on and on and on.... There are really some days I feel like I'm living in a different reality than they are.
Besides the good points already mentioned, I just want to add that probably most of these people -- unwavering Trump supporters -- are the products of decades of right-wing propaganda media including the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, etc. They are constantly being bombarded with messaging about "those evil liberals", the "us against them", and so on. They live and breathe this world view, which is further entrenched by politicized pastors in evangelical churches as well as the peer pressure/societal norms of their families and right-wing communities. I hear with much sadness about those of you who have been forced into estrangement from brainwashed right-wing family members who forcefully reject your perspective because they have been programmed to unconditionally hate "liberals" and the values they stand for.
@lenor Thanks so much for the article. It is interesting but still strikes me as sad too. Most of my family (as many here have) are combination Trump Supporters and hard core republicans. My small immediate family is about the only ones in the family that don't believe that way. I literally have gotten to the point I just can't talk about much with them anymore (any subject). I can't even blame it on Trump though as it has been that way for awhile but its just worse with this administration. When I was in social work years ago, I fought with them about things like people who were homeless, child care for working mothers and health care. I'm not a very loud or outspoken person in most ways. I rarely get in arguments but yet I would find myself yelling when I talked with them...that truly is way out of character for me. I usually try to do things that keep the peace and calm things. I hate confrontations. It takes a lot to get me to yell (although yelling at the tv this year at politicians has become a cathartic experience). To be honest that is why I got out of social work, it just took too much of me and out of me. I would be exhausted every day and after many years of doing it, I didn't like the person I was turning into as I got more jaded so I had to make a change.