One thing that might save us is if Trump dies without managing to get elected. A sizable chunk of the GOP’s base are people who worship him specifically, and if he were gone it might splinter them. But it’s hard to know how that would play out for sure. The situation is definitely very, very grim.
He is indeed a symptom, but he’s also something more, a cult leader. You’re right that the rot will be there regardless, but the GOP needs every single person willing to support them to vote to stay in power. There are a lot of people who specifically worship Trump, not the GOP.
He’s also a complete moron, therefore easy to control. And lord knows there no shortage of fools that’d line up to replace him. No, the problem runs much deeper than Trump.
Yes and no. Do you honestly believe that the GOP likes being attached to him? By all accounts, most people who have to work with him hate him. But they just can’t get rid of him. If he were that easy to manipulate and replace, they would have done so long ago, to get a more predictable stooge. No, there’s something about him specifically that they need, or at least, they think they do.
It’s the chicken/egg of politics, really. Does Trump represent his base or does his base represent him? Do politicians campaign on the wishes of their constituents? Or do their constituents develop their views based on their politicians?
Cults of personality don’t work that way. They don’t get replacements. They can try, but they’re not likely to reach a critical threshold of votes. They may not even reach a House or Senate majority, and Project 2025 can’t go ahead at the federal level without all three.
And while asshole despots like DeSantis are a dime a dozen, Trump is unique in his absolute lack of shame or any kind of self-awareness whatsoever. He won’t stop, ever, unless someone physically makes him.
Exactly this.
Also, MAGAs are weak-minded followers types. If their leadership falls, they fail permanently. They are still scum, but they are as they have been for years, squirming under rocks…where they belong.
Best-case scenario is when Trump’s gone, the MAGAts can’t agree on a replacement to get behind. A lot of Trump’s base are people who hate the government, including the GOP, and only vote because of him. We’ll see what happens with them eventually.
DeSantis flopped miserably the last time he tried. The ones that are diehard GOP supporters will indeed flock to whoever is thrown at them, but the GOP has tied themselves to Trump because he has a cult that they rely on to get enough votes to win. It’s been 20 years since they’ve managed to get someone other than Trump elected.
Regardless of his importance, Trump is very much the enemy, as are the other things you mentioned. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to find out just how important he was after he’s gone.
Trump won’t be so easy to replace - if you want proof, look at how the GOP stuck with him even after he lost an election. No political party has ever done that in modern times. There was a (sorely missed) period where we didn’t hear from him for quite some time. You’d think during that time a big, evil organization like the GOP could have found a better replacement that’s smarter more predictable, but no, they desperately want his cult for their votes. Replacing a cult leader can be difficult, especially since Trump is such a uniquely horrible person. Usually, the leader has to give their blessing to someone else to transfer leadership, and that’s something Trump would never, ever do.
One thing that might save us is if Trump dies without managing to get elected. A sizable chunk of the GOP’s base are people who worship him specifically, and if he were gone it might splinter them. But it’s hard to know how that would play out for sure. The situation is definitely very, very grim.
Trump is just the face of the problem. The real threats are the organs; much deeper inside and far more protected than the face.
He is indeed a symptom, but he’s also something more, a cult leader. You’re right that the rot will be there regardless, but the GOP needs every single person willing to support them to vote to stay in power. There are a lot of people who specifically worship Trump, not the GOP.
He’s also a complete moron, therefore easy to control. And lord knows there no shortage of fools that’d line up to replace him. No, the problem runs much deeper than Trump.
Yes and no. Do you honestly believe that the GOP likes being attached to him? By all accounts, most people who have to work with him hate him. But they just can’t get rid of him. If he were that easy to manipulate and replace, they would have done so long ago, to get a more predictable stooge. No, there’s something about him specifically that they need, or at least, they think they do.
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It’s the chicken/egg of politics, really. Does Trump represent his base or does his base represent him? Do politicians campaign on the wishes of their constituents? Or do their constituents develop their views based on their politicians?
really? you’re really not sure if a bunch of protestant christo-fascists are cruel and oppressive by nature?
They will just turn to DeSantis or whomever. If you can be sure of anything, be sure that Project 2025 has a list of contingency candidates.
Cults of personality don’t work that way. They don’t get replacements. They can try, but they’re not likely to reach a critical threshold of votes. They may not even reach a House or Senate majority, and Project 2025 can’t go ahead at the federal level without all three.
And while asshole despots like DeSantis are a dime a dozen, Trump is unique in his absolute lack of shame or any kind of self-awareness whatsoever. He won’t stop, ever, unless someone physically makes him.
Exactly this. Also, MAGAs are weak-minded followers types. If their leadership falls, they fail permanently. They are still scum, but they are as they have been for years, squirming under rocks…where they belong.
Best-case scenario is when Trump’s gone, the MAGAts can’t agree on a replacement to get behind. A lot of Trump’s base are people who hate the government, including the GOP, and only vote because of him. We’ll see what happens with them eventually.
DeSantis flopped miserably the last time he tried. The ones that are diehard GOP supporters will indeed flock to whoever is thrown at them, but the GOP has tied themselves to Trump because he has a cult that they rely on to get enough votes to win. It’s been 20 years since they’ve managed to get someone other than Trump elected.
My friend… My poor confused friend.
TRUMP IS NOT THE ENEMY, simply a symptom of a greater disease: the FEDERALIST SOCIETY in addition to our FASCIST OLIGARCHY.
When Trump dies, none of this will go away. NONE OF IT.
Regardless of his importance, Trump is very much the enemy, as are the other things you mentioned. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to find out just how important he was after he’s gone.
Maybe, but Trump unifies the left just as much. If Trump died, how many on the left would continue to hold their noses and vote Biden?
the supreme court just confirmed that the castro, allende, etc. style assassinations are publicly legal so maybe biden should consider it. lol
but i’m sure that another will take his place if trump fell.
Trump won’t be so easy to replace - if you want proof, look at how the GOP stuck with him even after he lost an election. No political party has ever done that in modern times. There was a (sorely missed) period where we didn’t hear from him for quite some time. You’d think during that time a big, evil organization like the GOP could have found a better replacement that’s smarter more predictable, but no, they desperately want his cult for their votes. Replacing a cult leader can be difficult, especially since Trump is such a uniquely horrible person. Usually, the leader has to give their blessing to someone else to transfer leadership, and that’s something Trump would never, ever do.