Posted by contrarian23 on 6/2/2024 10:57:00 PM (view original):
The devastating truth for Rethuglicans is that this the path the party has been on since (at least) Goldwater. The delusion of Reagan was just that, a delusion. The GOP has been on a path to fascism since at least the early 60s. Trump is not an aberration. He is the true identity of the American right wing. This is your rethuglican party, America. The worst traits of all the 20th century dictators and genocidists come to fruition
I think mainly since Reagan the religious right incrementally gained power and influence over the party and in lower court judiaries. Also state government. The group organizing the disgusting attempt to erode the secular state clothed in the first amendment and any other means has never been neutered.
Even after Bush 1 the Supreme Court was getting to be a religious choir steadily and the pernicious weeds were popping up everywhere.
Gingrich with the tea party was the one who weaponized his party and alienated moderate republicans who were normal on domestic policies but gop on fiscal issues. Guys like Arlen Spector and like Michael Steele today found that they had to become Democrats or independents. Today the Lincoln Project is leading the resistance.
By the time Trump came on the scene I believe that the ultra conservative voters who were mainly fearful of secular reasoning in any area had hijacked and evolved the party formerly called the GOP and they were groomed and trained and stirred up to a frenzy and ready willing and chomping at the bit to push its angry agenda down everyone’s throat and willing to accept an autocratic who was more then supportive of their aims was the messiah.
He is clearly a religious figure to them placed in the seat of power by God. If God put him there then God forgives him for his flaws and trusts him.
When religion gets too much power and leverage in government you get autocracy. It is a dominant way for authoritarian regimes to take hold.
So bottom line I think that Trump is the de facto religious leader of a messianic cult called MAGA.
He was the messiah they were waiting for.
Yes there are normal people tax break voters but they vote Trump for that alone because they are single issue voters. They find themselves trying to rationalize the things Trump is trying to do.
6/3/2024 2:51 AM (edited)