Well... Schitt.

[Dill]

(11-19-2018, 03:36 PM)hollodero Wrote: Making liberals heads explode. In this simple world, it often might just be that simple. How much more is really to it. I agree, some probably just enjoy sticking it to those libtards, no matter how.
How actual ideological conservatives can possibly find a way to not detest Trumpism and that whole Schittshow... well, that I don't know. Judges, probably.

Many "ideological" conservatives emphatically and publicly DO NOT like Trump.  Hence the Never Trump movement and the prominent social critics of unimpeachable conservative credentials such as George Will and Bill Kristol, not to mention Republican stalwarts like Michael Steele, Steve Schmidt and Mr Kellyanne Conway. Once Trump drew big poll numbers during the primary, all of these people recognized that even Trump just winning the primary would damage the party over the long term. Since Trump assumed office, you can throw in a basket of Republican generals and ex-CIA and FBI directors who normally remain silent about a sitting president. The conservative foreign policy establishment is in fits because they understand how his behavior impedes diplomacy degrades the U.S.' massive international soft power accrued under previous presidents.

Some, like Romney, cooperate in policy matters, but hold degrees of silence about Trump's constant missteps and embarrassments to maintain party unity. That may be putting party before the nation, but it is not a personal endorsement of Trump. Others INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE do their best to control the damage--though less effectively week by week. (As one pundit recently put it: In the Trump administration there are "arsonists" and "fire fighters," and the fire fighters are being weeded out.)

I do see Trump ramping up the conflict between principle and party that his presidency represents for conservatives/Republicans. It is possible that the dam will eventually break a majority of Repulicans will be on the anti-Trump bandwagon. 

All this begs a definition of "conservatism." Principled conservatives can usually provide something consistent with tradition, their principles, and current political goals.  Many Trump supporters seem either unable to do this (beyond the frisson they feel at liberal heads exploding), or, if they explicitly identify as conservatives, busy themselves working up elaborate rationalization-- "I value Trump's policies but detest his 'tone.'" Whataboutery no longer works well, so they eschew it. (No WhattaboutObama/Hillary can manage "horseface" "Schitt" and "bleeding from her wherever"--not to mention a public statement, as leader of the nation, that we are going to overlook a murder to continue doing business.)