The Soapbox

Joined: 09/19/2008 Posts: 3846
Likes: 6800

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Thanks for a nice response

I really do appreciate that you take the time to listen to my comments here and respond respectfully, even if we disagree on almost everything. I could write a very long essay on why I view Trump that way and cite sources on all of the corrupt things he's done, etc. I imagine you would point to counter examples of things Clinton or Biden have done that were bad (and I certainly acknowledge neither is perfect) as a reason for why Trump isn't uniquely awful. Probably not worth the effort for either of us.

Fortunately, those essays have been written many times over by others, including those who experienced autocratic governments elsewhere. I'll link you to 3 Garry Kasparov essays for CNN instead, because they sum up my perspective really well (try to look past the website; they're just hosting his essays since he's appeared on the network). Kasparov is an incredibly intelligent guy (chess grand master, chair of the Human Rights Foundation, and very interesting Twitter follow) who was exiled from Putin's Russia and was also critical of the communist USSR in its late stages. Historically he was fairly conservative by US standards, but he saw the threat that Trump posed to the US government. Re-reading his pre-election essay, it was striking how perfectly he predicted what would happen after the election (he was far from alone there). It's that chain of events and their inevitability from the 2016 election onwards that I view as devastating for both the history books and the willingness of Americans to trust future election outcomes. Trump's reelection would have prompted me to look for jobs in other countries, but I'm still not sure our democracy survived the damage that he did to it. If you have the time to read them and are open minded to what Kasparov says, I think you can get a sense of where I'm coming from.

On truth: https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/04/opinions/kasparov-trump-america-post-truth-world

Before the election: https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/31/opinions/trump-after-the-election-prepare-for-unimaginable-kasparov/index.html

After Jan 6: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/12/opinions/battle-against-anti-democratic-extremism-kasparov/index.html

(In response to this post by Los Angeles Hoo)

Posted: 05/10/2021 at 08:33AM

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Current Thread:

What is the key reason for GOPers to remain Trump loyalists? -- orangenblue 05/09/2021 3:23PM

I have been reading the responses with great interest... -- Slider 05/10/2021 08:04AM

Oh I think he has a filter. It’s WIBFD. What is best for Donald -- 111Balz 05/10/2021 09:36AM

That question might be better asked to someone who studied Jim Jones. ** -- GoochlandHoo 05/10/2021 06:39AM

He is literally Hitler and they are literally Nazis!!!! ** -- ResistHoo 05/09/2021 8:57PM

Viewed purely on policies he is a decent GOP president -- JohnHoo2 05/09/2021 8:10PM

Why were the branch davidians loyal to -- BocaHoo91 05/09/2021 7:16PM

Same reason they drank the Kool-Aid in Jonestown. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 05/09/2021 7:30PM

Judging from the meager responses from Trump loyalists..................... -- Chuck Taylor 05/09/2021 6:58PM

What did you expect? These threads turn into yet another circle jerk as -- Hoodafan 05/09/2021 9:26PM

So I guess we can add shared victimhood to the reasons? ** -- Beerman 05/10/2021 09:30AM

I expected you all to clam up, just like you did. -- Chuck Taylor 05/09/2021 11:38PM

Your answer only further confirms my point. Thanks. ** -- Hoodafan 05/10/2021 07:56AM

Perhaps you should try to be more convincing. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 05/09/2021 10:19PM

No, just stick to telling yourself it's just like the Jonestown cult. ** -- Hoodafan 05/09/2021 11:10PM

“Cuz he’s jest like us!” -- 757 05/09/2021 6:42PM

Excellent discussion...very much on point without the name-calling -- Newt 05/09/2021 6:31PM

True, having the Russian KGB helping you out, has helped Trump. Anyone.. -- GoochlandHoo 05/10/2021 06:40AM

Trump has the heart of -- DTsBicep 05/09/2021 6:02PM

I doubt many in leadership think it is good but candidates can’t get out -- KCHoo 05/09/2021 5:38PM

100% this -- there is still a measure of legit diversity in the GOP -- fishhoo 05/09/2021 6:09PM

It’s feasible the dems are going to have the same problem soon with the -- KCHoo 05/09/2021 6:21PM

Money and power. Say what you want about Trump, but he is as -- hoolstoptheheels 05/09/2021 4:19PM

Great post. The VA GOP actually just nominated a "normal" guy -- GoochlandHoo 05/10/2021 06:42AM

Agreed with all of your post - and especially the point about being -- TomGlansAski 05/09/2021 6:04PM

Reminds me of Lincoln's Lyceum Address. -- Seattle .Hoo 05/09/2021 6:31PM

He won once... -- tchoo 05/09/2021 4:15PM

It’s this and nothing more. Trump is... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/09/2021 5:38PM

You realize that's a nonsense descriptor, right? -- Beerman 05/10/2021 09:35AM

Yes, of course. I'm using it to summarize... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/10/2021 4:10PM

When Trump took office, Republicans controlled the House, the Senate, and -- 00 Hoo 05/09/2021 11:53PM

You blame him for those losses just like... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/10/2021 4:12PM

For me, it's this and nothing more. Trump is not... -- Cav113 05/09/2021 7:26PM

“America First” is a dressed up description of white nationalism. I think -- WahooRQ 05/10/2021 08:03AM

I disagree, and... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/09/2021 7:36PM

Trump could have been a great 2 term president -- Oregon Hoo 05/09/2021 10:22PM

Agreed. His... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/09/2021 11:43PM

This is the great impasse/mystery w/Trump... -- Cav113 05/09/2021 7:57PM

I lived through both the Reagan and the G.W. Bush years and... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/09/2021 8:18PM

I think your analogy to the Bush and Reagan eras misses the point -- CMUHoo 05/09/2021 11:34PM

Let’s just say that... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/10/2021 12:55AM

Thanks for a nice response -- CMUHoo 05/10/2021 08:33AM

I'd like to think that I don't belong to a side... -- Cav113 05/09/2021 8:34PM

Yep, fair enough... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/09/2021 9:31PM

Totally agree on the glaring corruption within DC and the desire on both -- orangenblue 05/09/2021 11:51PM

I think they did foresee it, and did their best to... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/10/2021 4:24PM

Yep, he's a promoter and little else. -- Chuck Taylor 05/09/2021 7:46PM

He is a promoter... -- Los Angeles Hoo 05/09/2021 8:03PM

If by America First, you mean the xenophobic bigoted hatred of others -- WahooMatt05 05/09/2021 7:44PM

You’re even more of a sucker than I imagined if you view -- TomGlansAski 05/09/2021 6:07PM

That is where I stop reading "winner" -- VaTechie 05/09/2021 8:58PM

And "winning" includes losing both the House and Senate, too. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 05/09/2021 6:16PM

And yet he didn't get a popular majority either time. In fact, the GOP -- Seattle .Hoo 05/09/2021 6:05PM

Thanks...this is the type of answer I was looking for...just want to -- orangenblue 05/09/2021 5:53PM

I don't think they have a choice, see Liz Cheney -- Bacon 05/09/2021 4:07PM

I mean the voters...not the politicians...I know there is a % of the GOP -- orangenblue 05/09/2021 4:22PM

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The GOP has been branding itself as a white Christian identity culture war -- WahooRQ 05/09/2021 5:15PM

Religious extremism in the defense of Trump is no vice. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 05/09/2021 5:50PM

That is a complex question that ultimately comes down to the appeal of -- hoolstoptheheels 05/09/2021 4:44PM

That moderate GOP majority has had their minds poisoned by right wing media -- Bacon 05/09/2021 4:38PM

Some believe in what he stands for. I think most are just -- Plano Hoo 05/09/2021 4:30PM