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| Trump addressing the rally turned insurrection on January 6, 2021 |
The idea that he thinks the election was rigged against him and that he actually won in a landslide shows that he is either delusional or the most deceptive leader in American history. He is indeed a real danger to our democracy in the sense that he inspires right wing radical extremists (who are mostly racist and antisemitic) to actually attempt to overthrow the government and reinstall Trump as President. Which they tried to do on January 6thof 2021. Recent events have cast an even bigger pall on Trump. Unfortunately his base is more energized than ever and it is quite likely that Trump will seek – and receive the Republican nomination for President in 2024.
Trump’s popularity among his base is so strong that even the rising star of the Republican party, Ron Desantis - whose views on the issues of our day mirrors those of Trump – has apparently put his campaign on hold. He knows that he has no chance of winning the nomination if Trump enters the race. In my mind, there is no doubt that he will and that he will get the enthusiastic support of his base – even if (and perhaps even more so because) their hero is facing a trial after being charged with serious crimes (should that happen).
The question is why his support is so strong? I have asked this question before but as reports about his misdeeds keep getting worse- one would think his supporters would have reservations about him. Instead the opposite seems to have happened. His supporters have been galvanized and have become more supportive than ever. That should be obvious from fact that so many of Trump endorsed candidates who parrot his claim that the election was rigged - have won the nomination of the Republican Party to run for congress and for governor this fall.
Trump’s support among Republicans is huge. It can’t be that they are all just stupid. There has to be a better explanation for that support. And yet many of the seem to actually buy into Trump’s insistence that the election was rigged. Or they don't care if it was or not. Despite the massive evidence that it wasn’t rigged - testified to by Republican election officials that supported Trump and even voted for him.
So I ask again. How is it possible for a man like this to have so much support from people who love America so much? People that have benefited tremendously from the opportunities the American democracy has given them? How can they support a man who so obviously has done and continues to do so much to undermine that democracy?
Despite the left’s assertion that his supporters are just as evil as Trump, I do not accept that. They are called MAGA Republicans – which they consider a derogatory term. In their minds the word MAGA is just another word for evil. They consider MAGA Republicans bigots and racists - and deep down even antisemites. While its true that some of them are – such as those that tried to overthrow the government that fateful January 6thday, the majority are not racist, bigots or antisemites. Their motivation is as follows.
They see a country being taken over by a Democratic party so strongly influenced by the left that they have succeeded in turning immorality into virtue and virtue into immorality. Where their tax dollars are being used to support immorality. Where the heroes of the American revolution (the founding fathers) are vilified as racists and bigots who built this country on the backs of slaves. The see a country that seems to treat violent criminals as victims thus unleashing them to kill or maim innocent people.
They see a growing bureaucracy that forever keeps intruding into their private lives with rules and regulations that make life harder on them. They their taxes going into a back hole to support things they do not believe in or want They see their country turning into a morass of depravity funded by tax dollars. They see massive illegal immigration that allows unchecked entry of violent criminals into the country.
Until Trump, it was business as usual. Politicians on both sides of the aisle did not do much to change the system as it existed. Along comes a man that speaks their language. They saw in Trump a man that would finally change a trend that was slowly eating away at the fabric of a country they knew and loved. A fabric that in their eyes made this country great. After he was elected. Trump did the kind of things they had all hoped for. They saw a man that would restore America to the way it was - before it started descending into depravity. Which they blamed on the influence of the left on both parties.
That he was anti establishment was a big plus for them. That his character was – shall we say - less than honorable or moral – didn’t matter. He was doing the things they believed the country needed that would restore it to its former glory.
So they cheer him on ignoring his substantial character flaws - and even the possible crimes he committed before, during, and after his time in office. They ignore the insurrection and his false claims of a rigged election – whether they believe them or not. They see the greater good of a Trump Presidency because in their minds he actually did ‘Make America Great Again’. Even if only by turning an ultra liberal Supreme Court into an ultra conservative one. Truly a major accomplishment.
They want the country to continue in that direction.
What about undermining America democracy? I guess they see restoring the American value system they had come to know and love back to the way it was in the past as more important!
Does that make them evil? Not in my mind. That said, I absolutely do not agree that our democracy should be sacrificed . It is too precious – too valuable to do away with – even in the cause of restoring the values they hold so dear. Values with which I for the most part agree with.
It is that democracy after all - that gave us the ability to live those values in the first place. Once you get rid of democracy, you get rid of freedom. Benevolent dictatorships will inevitably give rise to not such benevolent ones. Trump should therefore never be allowed to return to office.
Unfortunately that is not how MAGA Republicans think. They see a greater good being served by supporting a candidate that will implement their values. Assuring our democracy survives is of secondary importance to them. Although I doubt they will admit that - even to themselves! That doesn’t make them evil. Just very short sighted.
That said, I don’t think there is much we can do about it.
On the other hand, the loyalty to Trump by MAGA Republicans may end up doing the opposite of their intent. Because even though the number of MAGA Republicans are huge, they are nowhere near a majority. Furthermore there is some evidence that those numbers are eroding somewhat because of the negative publicity about January 6th and Trump's current troubles.
My hope against hope is that when Republican voters vote during the 2024 primaries they realize that their candidate cannot win the general election. And choose someone else that supports their values. If they come to their senses and do that, the White House could return to the conservative Republicans in 2024
On the other hand if they choose Trump, I believe he will ultimately loose – as he should. Perhaps the midterm elections will convince them of their folly. In what should be a landslide of Republican victories this the fall, there is a good chance that most of the Trump endorsed candidates will lose and that congress will remain divided at best if not turn entirely Democrat. One can only hope.