Trump More Controversial Than Ever
I’ve been wondering why discussion about politics have gotten so toxic, so unapproachable. Doesn’t it seem that, even while Trump was president, civil people could have some sort of peaceful conversation about him? Why is everyone so tense about this now?
My current theory:
Until very recently, most Americans were in one of two polar opposite places: progressive or pro-Trump. Now, in a period of just a few months, the “pro-Trump” crowd has fractured into dozens of different pieces:
The first group is the MAGA base; it certainly hasn’t gone away, though it’s smaller: Trump alone can fix it, the election was stolen, the insurrection was a good thing, and wait till you see the civil war that breaks out if Trump is indicted.
But then we have:
• Trump has good ideas, but is no longer good for the Republican party.
• Trump was never a good person or president, and now he’s gone, but his values of putting America first, closing the borders, and defending gun rights are important.
• DeSantis is equally right-wing, but without all the drama, the vindictiveness, and the lies.
• Anyone who stands behind a full and complete ban on abortion, regardless of circumstances, is OK with me.
• Anyone who isn’t Biden, a senile old fool, is OK with me.
Moreover, the sands here are shifting with each passing day, as Trump’s legal woes continue to grow.
FWIW, I see no mechanism by which this trend can reverse its course. Most conservatives are not card-carrying morons, staking out polling places with assault rifles, attempting the kidnapping of top Democrats, or storming the Capitol.
Yes, they may be tragically misinformed by virtue of a steady infusion of Fox News, or whatever else along this line. But even a solid contingent of Fox commentators is pointing out that Trump cost the Republicans control of the U.S. Senate not only once, but twice.
What last week was still the refrain of “massive voter fraud” a full two-years after the Lie was manufactured, is now, “people are sick of hearing about massive voter fraud,” and certainly adherence to a cult leader who is leading the Republican party off a cliff.
