"How Can This Country Possibly Be Electing Trump Again?"

[Jrose]

By Eric Alterman, The New Republic

https://newrepublic.com/article/181287/can-america-possibly-elect-trump-again

"With democracy itself on the line, the 2024 election will almost certainly be the nation’s most consequential since 1860. It will also be the weirdest.

There are two fundamental facts about this campaign that do not appear to be making much of an impact on what, at least today, seems to be close to a majority of the electorate. The first and more obvious one is that few people in history have ever been less qualified to hold a position of any responsibility, much less the most powerful position in the world, than Donald Trump. If elected, he will certainly deploy that power to destroy virtually everything Americans have historically held dear about the nation’s democratic traditions"

[JohnSJ]

1. If the polls are to be believed, they show that African American males, and young people would be a major reason why.

[Freddie]

2. Because Biden didn't wave his magic wand and stop SCOTUS from ending Roe and student loan forgiveness

[mucifer]

5. I think it's that despite decreased

Unemployment people can’t afford housing and food insurance etc and they are blaming the democrats.

These issues are more important than democracy to most people.

It sucks. They don’t care about or even know about the insane tax cuts to the billionaires under the republicans.

I feel like this is the main thing that is destroying our country.

The press just keeps focusing on the price of everything and ignoring the fact that the republican politicians are both insane and evil

[pandr32]

42. ...and corrupt.

[RandomNumbers]

69. Also unrealistic expectations, perhaps, of what early-20s life should be like.

I couldn't afford my own apartment until well into my 30's, after serving in the military no less.

I always wondered about young people who married and started having kids before they even could afford to take care of themselves.

(realizing that "having kids" is becoming less and less a matter of choice these days.)

I think social media fuels expectations about "what life should be like" but the reality is that it was NEVER like that for those of us born to less than mid- or upper- middle class families.

[poozwah]

22. civics

further proof that civics courses should be mandatory in our schools.
an ignorant electorate is an easily fooled electorate.

[Fudster]

26. I agree,

I work in a factory and almost everyone is a Trumper. Try to discuss how the congress works with them and they clueless . None of them had civics classes. I also wonder how much the huge amount of home (non)schooling is having effect.

[Traurigkeit]

56. or even opened a book, or saw Schoolhouse Rock! on Youtube

[Ray Bruns]

23. And I would like one of these people to state which policy Trump has that would make things better for them.

[slightlv]

41. No, I don't think it has much to do with a magic wand.

I do believe it has to do with the I/P situation. This has divided this country even more than the SA Apartheid did. Add into that, you'll find agitators and propagandists on both sides trying their best to make this split between the country as large and deadly as possible.

And while we may know there was no magic wand to change SCOTUS' direction from ending Roe, we DO know we've been yelling for years about the danger, to no one's listening ears. That is pretty much the way it is today, as well... yes, SCOTUS ended Roe. They ended bodily autonomy for as well as women's human rights, as per the UN Charter. While women are, for the most part, fired up about this, too many others are just being kind of blase about it, once again. Where one right is stripped, others follow. For example, now they're getting ready to strip contraception from our grasp, they're also seriously talking about getting rid of no fault divorce. Too many state and national reps are talking about how the country would be much better off if women did not have the vote. I'm sorry you feel like the issue with the young and POC are simply a matter of not waving the right wands. But some of us out here are fighting for our very right to exist, as well as travel like any male. We do not want to live in a xtian taliban country.

And this country, ALL of the country, has such high powered ideas about religion, that anything that touches on it is seen through a personal prism. God knows, the I/P problem is a problem on BOTH sides of the coin.. and both sides are being recalcitrant and deadly in their refusal to sit down and come up with even a short term resolution. Although Bibi does want everyone off Gaza so they can develop it... most likely with Kushner's plan to build resorts. But it also has resources they'd like to extract. But that calls for basically either driving a people into the desert with nowhere to go, giving up their ancestral homes; or blow them all off it. Hamas is just a terrorist organization that's taking it's cues and assistance from Russia/Putin and Iran. The whole thing is a hell of a lot more complex than the protestors are making it out to be. But, again because it touches on the almighty religion, no one can see past their nose. Biden is trying to walk a very fine line. I may not always agree with what he's doing about it, but I can appreciate how hard it is... especially with our own Communist faction of Repugs fighting him every step of the way.

Unfortunately, none of that fits on a bumper sticker.

[Freddie]

46. It's a nuanced problem and most people can't do nuance

Like my son (who has an MBA!) blaming Biden for the failure of student loan forgiveness.

[slightlv]

59. My daughter was in the same boat...

and with three kids to support on her own, it really would have made a difference. But even she told me she doesn't blame Biden. She put the blame where it needed to be... as she said to me, "Damned Republicans!"

[SWBTATTReg]

49. What is I/P?

[usonian]

50. Israel and Palestine. n/t

[SWBTATTReg]

52. Ah, thanks. I knew it wasn't Internet Protocol, ha ha heh...

[usonian]

55. nor Intellectual Property not any raft of acronyms

They will drive you crazy, especially as a techie (which we both seem to be)

Old ones get recycled in seemingly bizarre ways.

The old Perl motto (thanks, Larry Wall), TMTOWTDI seems safe.

There's more than one way to do it.

Say, do you remember when a heart attack was an MCI (myocardial infarction)?

Well, a certain company was unhappy with that, and ( I don't know how ) it was changed to MI (poor folks in Michigan get too many heart attacks? )

And the best of all? Renaming genes because Excel mangled them.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/6/21355674/human-genes-rename-microsoft-excel-misreading-dates
Scientists rename human genes to stop Microsoft Excel from misreading them as dates

Update October 24th, 2023, 11:25AM ET: Microsoft has updated Excel on Windows and macOS, adding a toggle to turn off automatic data conversion. The original version of this article continues below.

It was that freaking simple. And how many years did it take, and how many wasteful and unnecessary workarounds AND ERRORS did the lack of this simple fix cause?

And there is a separate forum for I/P issues, but the rules have been overridden.
I use a giant trash list to keep my reading streamlined and calm.

If you go the the home page, your trash filters are ignored and you can read about things you might not normally want to see.

It's called FOMO

My favorite 4-letter acronym is YOLO.
I, like, grew YOLO peppers, named for a very large county (Yolo) in California, no doubt from U.C. Davis.

[slightlv]

60. Now that I think of it,

that's probably where my mind would have first gone, too, SWBT! Too many decades in the IT field! (LOL)

[calimary]

51. Excellent rant.

So says this lapsed Catholic.

[Mister Ed]

57. Thank you.

Your extremely thoughtful and cogent reply contains enough material for four or five good OP's.

[slightlv]

61. Thank you! :)

[OrlandoDem2]

4. But as a white male, I have to point out that white people are also a major reason why.

Black people, especially Black females, saved us in 2020 when they broke for Biden in the SC primary.

[Solomon]

71. Thank you!!! How the fuck do black people get blamed when so many white people are voting for the fucker?

Lot of posts on this thread are ridiculous.

[quakerboy]

17. well that's backward

So if 15% of African American males might vote for trump, and 65% of Caucasian American males will vote for trump.. it's on the African American males?

[ismnotwasm]

25. Exactly.

Thank you

[stollen]

18. MTG just lost young females

as most wear false eyelashes.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Well, we re-elected Dubya...

[Ohioboy]

7. I know what you mean, but at least Dubya hadn't sent a mob to attack the Capitol

Trump lost his second term only to whip up a mob based on lie. The idea of electing Trump again makes no sense at all, way less sense than Dubya getting a second term.

[Wounded Bear]

11. Indeed, trump is way worse than Dubya was, but another step on the decline...

of the repub party and the general intelligence of the America public.

[stollen]

20. Obama thought it was best to move on

while dem voters wanted accountability for the Iraq debacle. I'm very surprised what's his name (R-UT), Romney, wants Trump pardoned. WTF. These acts of forgiveness are what has built to this crescendo of losing our democracy.

[slightlv]

62. I hissed at Romney's words...

he knows what took them to this place, and as much flak as he and his family have gotten, you'd think he'd think better of it!

I wonder if pushing what should have been done to Bush/Cheney was too dangerous for Obama. We know a lot of the threats and mistreatment he and his family got while in office. If that was the case, I wouldn't blame him. If it was just because he sincerely thought moving on would calm things down in the US, it just doesn't cut it for me. Everytime we let them off, the R's come back by taking a mile over the line. Every parent knows how to deal with this type of problem.

[ScratchCat]

15. Exactly

Trump lost his second term only to whip up a mob based on lie. The idea of electing Trump again makes no sense at all, way less sense than Dubya getting a second term.

And if the MSM would frame it this way he would have been gone already. The question for any and every (R) from the media should be "what sense would it make to run this guy again?" But they refuse to frame it that way. Refuse to view a man under indictment for 91 felonies as a serious Presidential candidate. It's that simple.

[Butterflylady]

21. We didn't elect bush the first-time.

After all was said and done, Gore won, bush was forced upon us.

[spanone]

6. They won't.

[MustLoveBeagles]

8. I hope you're right

[spanone]

10. 👍🏼

[Johnny2X2X]

9. Trump owns the media

The Haberman Tur news should have sent a chill down the spines of all the country. Trump has key plants in every part of the media working for his campaign.

I was listening to NPR the other day and they had 3 stories in a row that had nothng to do with inflation, but they tied it to inflation. They actually tied a honeybee story to inflation. Then they tied a car story to inflation. Then they had a story about teachers that they tied to inflation.Is the NPR news director working for the Trump campaign.

I cannot believe the Tur, Haberman news isn't the lead everywhere today. It's a massive scandal that threatens our democracy.

[John Shaft]

12. He's a manipulator

cf. "John Barron"

[Johnny2X2X]

13. Not as innocuous as that

Trump has key people at the NY Times and MSNBC literally taking orders from his campaign. This goes way beyond manipulation, it's total corruption and I think it goes much deeper than just a few key players.

[betsuni]

14. If Trump wins everyone will fall all over themselves saying it's because Biden was a "flawed candidate"

with a bad campaign, bad messaging, failed policies, didn't knock on every single door in America and convince people to vote, didn't do this and didn't do that and didn't listen and ignored everybody. NOT PERFECT. Insinuating that Republicans have fabulous candidates running excellent campaigns with wonderful messaging and policies and The People just can't help voting for them or not voting to teach those horrible Democrats a lesson for not being perfect. As always, Blame Democrats!

[Justice matters.]

16. If a slim majority of voters in swing states think electing TSF will lower prices...

they're in for a real deceptive awaking!

And if young women who can have children don't wake up to the fact that their own lives will be put at risk anytime they'll get pregnant with a national abortion ban from the criminal-defendant hitler2 wannabe's maladministration, they are deluding themselves. He effin brags about overturning Roe FFS!

They all better wise up before going to cast their vote!

[Walleye]

36. They'll still blame Biden

[617Blue]

19. Men of all colors want to be able to grab them some pussy

And not enough white women give a shit about being treated like second class citizens.

Hence Trump II.

[WarGamer]

24. Eric... and most others either don't understand the situation or it doesn't fit their editorial narrative.

This election... and the MAGA movement itself (or call it tea party if you will)

Are ALL about the basic divisions in US culture and governance.

Trump is nothing more than a tool... if he evaporated tomorrow, they'd coalesce around DeSantis or whoever.

We're talking about deep, deep differences... this isn't just policies and taxes or abortion and oil/economy...

This is an era where the US population is divided about HOW the US population should LOOK and ACT.

The author makes "loser arguments" blaming the media and such nonsense... ignoring the basic facts.

This isn't about "convincing" voters...

[Marcus IM]

32. Yep. There is little to no chance to change authoritarian disorder.

Can't plant a seed in a closed mind.

America is the greatest nation on earth... nothing will change that notion in the US. It's repeated so much that it's propaganda use has clearly worked. And, if it's the greatest nation and they select the most powerful person on earth, what is there to fix?

USA USA USA

[Ponietz]

27. One reason: It's what the billionaires want in their neoliberal state

[mn9driver]

28. Propaganda works.

About half of the people who are exposed to it over a long period of time end up believing whatever alternate reality is being promoted, no matter how insane.

Countries with authoritarian governments have known and practiced this art for decades, or even longer. The Internet now allows these bad actors to inject it directly into people’s computers and smart phones. Without enough educated and politically engaged voters, it will be game over. Quite soon.

[markodochartaigh]

29. Exactly.

"Without enough educated and politically engaged voters, it will be game over."
Ignorance and apathy are the Achilles' heels of democracy. And for much of the US political ignorance and apathy are considered virtues.

[Emile]

30. Because Republicans are Weak on Crime!

[quickesst]

31. I'll tell you part of the reason..

Concerning his willfully ignorant maga base, that very same willful ignorance has led them to believe that with the election of Donald trump, it will give them license, and justification to attack anything on the left with impunity, falsely believing they will be vindicated by the very people who fed them the poison in the first place. What they do not understand is that once their role has been filled by electing a dictator, they're usefulness will be at an end, and perhaps only then will they finally realize the damage they have done. They will be abandoned by the very people they helped to destroy democracy.

[Demsrule86]

33. I fail to see the point of all the doom and gloom...

We are going to win in November.

[Walleye]

38. Good answer. In general elections Joe's record is 9 and 0

He’s not gonna take panicky advice

[LiberalFighter]

64. There are many reasons that Biden will win.

All created by Trump Republicans.

The magas won't but they are at best 16% of 2020 voters. The other 30% that voted for him in 2020 will not all vote for him again.

They will not vote for him because of January 6.

They will not vote for him because stealing classified documents.

They will not vote for him because he was found liable in theE Jean Carroll case.

They will not vote for him because of the Stormy Daniels case even if it is a hung jury.

They will not vote for him because of the Access Hollywood tape.

They will not vote for him because of his view of military dead.

They will not vote for him because he was responsible for over a million dying from Covid.

They will not vote for him because he supports Putin and the North Korean idiot.

There is much more.

It only takes one reason to not vote for him. And there are many.

If they don't vote at all or a third party it means Trump loses a vote for each one.

If they voted for Trump in 2020 and for Biden this election it means a two vote advantage for Biden.

[Jrose]

66. The abortion rights issue will certainly draw women to vote for Biden and Harris

[oldmanlynn]

34. If all dems voted in unity trump would not have a chance

But the Democratic Party is a big tent. Its hard to keep everyone happy. If Biden farts wrong some part of our party wont vote.

I still think we win but it all depends on Democrats turning out

[calimary]

53. THIS!!!!!

[Demsrule86]

35. Now trashing...Elections...specials, the midterm shows Trump losing as do some polls (early so all polls are worthless)

I refuse to read any more of this. Trump's base can't get him elected along...Listen to his rhetoric about not accepting the election. I believe he knows he will lose. I am sure he will act like the orange baby he is and sue everyone. But he will lose.

[ScratchCat]

40. I'll post it again

I refuse to read any more of this. Trump's base can't get him elected alone...Listen to his rhetoric about not accepting the election. I believe he knows he will lose. I am sure he will act like the orange baby he is and sue everyone. But he will lose.

He believed he would lose in 2016 and planned to use the loss to start some media company(different from TS), but an electoral fluke due to too many likely-Democrat voters "not liking Hillary" allowed him to win.

And yes, I agree; his base did not elect him. Party-line Republicans who had voted for Romeny, McCain, Dole, A few Bushes and Regan elected him. And without those voters, he loses in an electoral landslide. If even a small percentage of those folks abstain from voting, Biden wins in an electoral landslide.

[Think. Again.]

37. K&R

[Walleye]

39. Question is, if he loses, will we be rid of him finally?

[mn9driver]

43. No.

He will not admit a loss. He’s said so. We may end up with a no kidding genuine coup attempt this time. We will be done with him only when he is in prison, or deceased.

[PufPuf23]

63. If Trump loses the next POTUS election, there are court cases that may take

years to conclude.

Just want the Trump reality show to end.

Trump has zero right to run for any public office in a sane society.

Think Trump will not end up the Fall 2024 GOP POTUS candidate.

Think Nikki Haley is the most likely GOP candidate at moment.

[Sky Jewels]

68. I hope he will quickly eat/Adderall himself to death.

Fingers crossed for a massive heart attack or stroke.

[BaronChocula]

44. If you've ever met people who make poor dating decisions

You can easily understand how people can choose trermp.

[RandomNumbers]

70. To be fair, I've made my share of poor dating decisions

but never in a million years would I fall for the cr*p Trump is selling.

But I think your point holds for at least a few out there.

[BaronChocula]

72. Poor dating decisions

would make for a good DU forum

[RandomNumbers]

73. LOL, true that! nt

[Norbert]

45. He won't win

He will get less of the Republican vote, no matter who they vote for. Biden will get the black vote and will overperform, especially of he sells it. The nodfather's mental acuity issues will only get worse.

[Jrose]

47. 'The nodfather'!! Very clever and apt!

[cilla4progress]

48. I'm sure the rest of the world is wondering,

as well.

SMDH

[usonian]

54. Apparently, another push by oligarchs to take over.

There was a post today about a Thom Hartmann article:
'The Last Time Oligarchs Tried to Take Over America It Led to Civil War' Thom Hartmann
https://democraticunderground.com/100218956595

So, think about it. The economy benefits when Democrats are in office, yet oligarchs feel robbed of power when they have to actually pay their fair share in taxes and treat employees like real human beings.

It must be some mad want of power, in spite of inferior results, that drives them, and may be related to the inability of management to balance the drive needed to scale a business with personal integrity and humanity.

I suspect that others have said this, and in more elegant ways.

In my readings in psychology, as an amateur, one thing among many pops up.

People often would rather be "right" than successful, sticking to opinions which may be flawed, or social theories such as white male privilege or the superiority of the wealthy, which ultimately give them no real benefit or even cause mediocre results, just so they "feel good".

The economy succeeds under Democratic administrations.

You can see this played out in the demonization of immigrants, who are needed to do the work that others won't do, and other scenarios.

The maga cult members get a "kick" from the "legitimazation" of racism, antisemitism, hate and violence, but ultimately they serve the oligarchs who took away their jobs, clean air and water, and opportunities.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

58. This can happen here

This is a powerful ad that has me scared

Link to tweet

[Torchlight]

65. I think a healthy Democracy requires an educated electorate

And as the GOP has been so successful in instilling both doubt and disprespect for education over the years that it's trickled down into the apolitical and nonpolitical voices of un-note, and even a few Dems I know (though they're both sanctimonious, mean, and humorless, so I discount them anyway).

The minimiation of education exemplified by that great quote by almost every American under-achiever since 1948, "I didn't learn aything in school I didn't already know, and secretly reading my Spaceman Spiff book in class when I should have been listening is not a factor. At all!" to be followed immediately by "they never taught that to us" while never once allowing for, "Yes. They did teach us that. You simply forgot. Again."

GOP has done an effective job at trivializing and minimizing public education. I firmly believe that is the fundamental reason trump still has a flock: his base is too busy arguing they are already smart enough, with the 'we don't need no education' chickenshit.

[Emile]

67. I do think that they'll try to steal it again.