Trump's Axios interview

[BmorePat87]

(08-05-2020, 11:05 AM)Dill Wrote: This.

The continued support for Trump has a lot to do with how Trump and GOP allies have manage conspiracy theories about "hoaxes" and the like to make enough Americans feel their way of life is threatened if anyone but Trump wins the election. They don't care any more about judges and free trade. They are not just sitting back and comparing party platforms to go with the one that seems best, political rhetoric aside. Political rhetoric decides the issue for them, not actual policy results.

What I find shocking is that Trump's abuse of power matters so little. It looks like his supporters don't care about that because either they don't know how to recognize it or the think it a good thing because the Dems are so partisan and evil bending or breaking the law is the only way to stop them.

Certainly it is ok to be "shocked" by all that. It means bad things for the nation, e.g., that bad leaders and conspiracies will be a big part of our future, making the country ungovernable.

Trump is the product of years of the GOP questioning the legitimacy of the media, demonizing Obama, and declaring that they were victims in a culture war. Many people support him because he is that rhetoric personified. 

For that group has little to do with ideology. He is the antithesis of Christian values. He is a populist first and foremost. He promotes authoritarianism over democracy whenever he gets the chance. But he tells people that the media is the enemy, that Obama was born in Africa and the most corrupt President, and that minorities are criminals that are trying to ruin the country.

There are some Republicans who do not buy this but accept it as it means conservative judges. Regardless of their motives, we should be shocked, as you said, that they continue to be complacent in unprecedented abuse of the office.