Even if the coup fails, Democracy loses

[Captain Crimson]

It turns out a lot of those folks don't want a democracy, they want a strongman dictator who never apologizes and shows no humility.

A lot of those folks would say the exact same thing of you guys. Some I know leading up this were and now are despairing believing democracy is now dead in America. The other side won't allow another legitimate election, blah blah, etc. Those few have convinced themselves the Left is so pervasively powerful they can do whatever they want and are crushed by the implications. It's why I sadly shake my head at comments in this thread and elsewhere. The same bloody sentiment is being expressed.

They wanted someone who'd actually fight for their position rather than comfortably enjoy always being second place for the benefits they'd get at the expense of their constituencies. They were always increasingly frustrated and angry with how the Left could attack the Right over things bit not feel beholden to the same standard. Trumps personal life and infidelities are an example of that. Whereas once a Republican would be destroyed for something a Democrat could brush off in public opinion, now the Right could laugh that off. And it's not as if that sort of thing isn't important, it certainly is for most Americans regardless of their politics, it's just that this time it would be laughed off with a cry of "It's not going to work this time!".

You're country is increasingly becoming a two headed men with each head convincing itself more and more that one body should only have one head.

Yeah, look at their language.

There is genuine cause to be upset and angry. But when some extremists are beating over "defund the police" and "abolish the police" as I've seen the extreme lefties do, you're not going to win over the majority of the population.

Minneapolis tried defunding the police. Look how well that worked out.

If they could just adjust their language, maybe they could win a bit more influence among the greater masses. But they can't, since they really do sincerely don't want police. To them, there's nothing law enforcement can do the average citizen can't do better! That's insanity on par with believing our gun culture will lead to massed uprising against a theoretical tyrannical government or military dictatorship.

It just ain't happening.

[TGLS]

Most knew he was a Democrat right up until he ran for the presidency, the issue was an element of pragmatism to finally balance principles and the appeal of finally having a fighter on their side again.

I dunno. Looking at the wikipedia article, it looks like he bounced around all over the place (Republican in 1987, Democrat in 2001, Independent in 2010, American Independence Party in 2000).

replaced by someone who again finally aligns with the Right's morals and values without allowing their hands to be tied by their principled timidness.

I think Trump's politics are fluid and self-aggrandizing. On the other hand, I think Trump's appeal is at least in part built on his nationalist rhetoric. I suppose whether there's been a political shift will depend on what the republican nominee looks like in 2024.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Most knew he was a Democrat right up until he ran for the presidency, the issue was an element of pragmatism to finally balance principles and the appeal of finally having a fighter on their side again.

I dunno. Looking at the wikipedia article, it looks like he bounced around all over the place (Republican in 1987, Democrat in 2001, Independent in 2010, American Independence Party in 2000).

My uncle was vibing on the birther stuff.

replaced by someone who again finally aligns with the Right's morals and values without allowing their hands to be tied by their principled timidness.

I think Trump's politics are fluid and self-aggrandizing. On the other hand, I think Trump's appeal is at least in part built on his nationalist rhetoric. I suppose whether there's been a political shift will depend on what the republican nominee looks like in 2024.

latent McCarthyism.

[Beastro]

Most knew he was a Democrat right up until he ran for the presidency, the issue was an element of pragmatism to finally balance principles and the appeal of finally having a fighter on their side again.

I dunno. Looking at the wikipedia article, it looks like he bounced around all over the place (Republican in 1987, Democrat in 2001, Independent in 2010, American Independence Party in 2000).

replaced by someone who again finally aligns with the Right's morals and values without allowing their hands to be tied by their principled timidness.

I think Trump's politics are fluid and self-aggrandizing. On the other hand, I think Trump's appeal is at least in part built on his nationalist rhetoric. I suppose whether there's been a political shift will depend on what the republican nominee looks like in 2024.

It's safe to say with Trump's ego Trump is out for himself first and foremost. It just so happens much of his self-interest on a national level lines up with many voter. And no, that has nothing to do with the focus the Left has on racism and such, but on things like a foreign policy refocused on US interests before others in proper, non-self-sacrificial fashion. They are frustrated with policies that seem to assume the US not only has to simply give to other nations at the expense of its own interests, but actively weaken itself while doing so.

Even then there is anger at the near universally ignored issues by everyone, such as the total lack of public talk over the degeneration and lack of overhaul of the country's infrastructure. Many I know are getting the hell out of Northeast because a bad enough hurricane could knock the entire region out without it coming back any time quick.

I do know I've been told by those I know up here in Canada not to road-trip past the Midwest (If not the Rockies). The roads are so bad past the Mississippi that they'll ruin your tires. I don't know how much truth there is to that, but there's enough talk from the Americans I know to make me think twice about it.

I will add most of the Americans I know online expressing these viewpoints are older ones my age (mid 30s) and above. They were welcomed by Trumps rhetoric and feisty spirit, but kept an eye out. The only ones I've seen that fell into worshiping him as a "god emperor" are the younger crowd, which up until about 6-8 years ago, were a wishy-washy mix of apathetic, edgy Leftists and Libertarians more concerned by appearing cool online than actually taking a principled stand for anything beyond the shared prejudices.

Surprise, surprise, they got over 25, their prefrontal cortex fully matured and they started to take thing seriously, if still immaturely.