But they won't respond by listening to the public; they'll respond by ratcheting up the menace.

“For Trump, the only freedom that matters in this election is his personal freedom. He’s conducted himself throughout the campaign under an assumption that he’d win. Imagine how destructive he’ll become if he starts to believe that he’s headed for defeat, followed by criminal trials, bankruptcy, and imprisonment.”

  • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
    281·
    3 months ago

    They will see only one option, and it will be to intimidate and demoralize the anti-Trump movement all over again. Mission critical for Trump and his allies now will be to resow the defeatism and fatigue that has marked liberal politics for well over a year now. They also have a ton at stake, but in their case it’s not the high ideals of democracy, freedom, and human decency.

    …

    As for the rest of the GOP [other than Trump], winning or stealing the election is the only way to stave off the recriminations that will follow if, after remaking themselves in Trump’s image, Trump is defeated once and for all. The suddenly leaderless party will be overrun by thousands of minions who mimic Trump’s cruelty and aggression but lack his celebrity and charisma. The only people left to stand in their way will be the remnants of the old guard that allowed them to take over in the first place. How’s that likely to go?

      • krashmo@lemmy.world
        8·
        3 months ago

        I can’t stand it when people use that descriptor for Trump either. I have no problem making the blanket statement that if you find that asshat charismatic then you’re just as big of a piece of shit as he is.

        • Machinist@lemmy.worldEnglish
          21·
          3 months ago

          He’s a terrible person. Selfishness promoted as self interest. Charisma isn’t an inaccurate description. I don’t understand how people fell in love with Hitler either. Fascism is some bad shit yo, seems to run around cults of personality. Feel bad for the ones drug into it.

      • OhStopYellingAtMe@lemmy.world
        7·
        3 months ago

        Oh definitely some of that. Or revenge for electing a black man president. Can you imagine what the revenge would be if Harris is elected?

        • Vanon@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          3 months ago

          A whole bunch more of the cult jailed for whatever terror they unleash? Fuck their threats. Maybe prison will deprogram some of them. Maybe a few others will notice the anti-cult working thanklessly to make American lives a bit less miserable. Hopefully others notice T**** is a complete failure and loser. It’s not much, but it’s progress.

  • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    3 months ago

    I doubt the qons ever can correct themselves at this point. Either they win with someone like donnie and completely destroy this country, or they lose and either find someone even worse to rally around when he kicks off, or they just implode.

    The magabrained crave the pure rush of mainlining someone as awful as the China white that is donnie. Imagine them trying to dial back the temperature to someone who is still certifiably right wing and with all the awful polices to go with it, like RMoney. RMoney is not even a Red Bull in comparison to mainlining the China white that is the convicted felon.

    • Machinist@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      3 months ago

      I’m hoping the Republican party breaks up while eating itself. Maybe we’ll get a centrist party and a left pary out of the Democrats. Hoping for a return to sanity. Historically, parties have broken before.

    • JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca
      1·
      3 months ago

      China white is heroin, the comparison to Red Bull bothers me.

      It’s like the Benadryl to chase away withdrawal symptoms

  • Doubletwist@lemmy.world
    39·
    3 months ago

    Since Trump is obviously willing to do just about anything to avoid paying for his crimes, I wonder if there comes a point where it makes sense for Biden or Harris to just offer him a pardon (knowing it only covers federal crimes) if he’ll just drop out of the race.

    Is it stupid and sad? Yes, yes it is. But I’d rather Trump get pardoned for some of his crimes than somehow get elected president again. I’d say that’s a small price to pay.