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How Donald Trump reduced the GOP to groveling sycophants
(www.salon.com)
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this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2024
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Nah. Trump is a pretty bad symptom, but the whole party had been infected for a while. Hell, there could have easily been a Trump like candidate in 2012 if one of those candidates understood media like Trump did.
Trump doesn't understand shit. He just loves attention and will say things that get a reaction.
So in other words; he understands media.
No, he's a malignant narcissist idiot savant self promoter.
Having the combination of a constant need for self-promotion, no self-awareness and absolute shamelessness is ideal for a cult leader, but it doesn't make him smart.
To quote one of the people who know his level of intelligence and understanding best, he's a fucking moron.
We aren't saying he is smart, just that he understands media, especially compared to other Republican presidential candidates.
I think it is sort of like how toddlers "understand" how to manipulate parents. Or cats and owners.
That would be a good analogy. It isn't a great higher level understanding, but it is effective.
Understanding requires conscious reflection and analysis. He hasn't done either since the 80s at the latest.
That's what understanding media is, though.
No. There's no "understanding" about it. It's as instinctive as a fish swimming or a wasp (either kind) ruining someone's day.
I mean none of this happens in a vaccuum so of course Trump doesn't happen if the GOP hadn't aligned this electorate through fearmongering and culture war BS for decades. But the identity of the party today also depends on Trump - like, can you name one person in the GOP with the kind of sick charisma he has that could stoke the base the way he has? There are many that try but apparently Trump's ability to rile up the base is not easily replicated so without him around they have less influence over the base. That is why I think without him they would be weakened.
I agree with you and think infected is the correct term. Republicans are infected with dark money and Kompromat.
I think Trump is a nothing more than a hammer, a dull blunt instrument.
Putin is wielding the hammer.