I suppose my cynicism knows no bounds, where it concerns the whims of people who vote for the contemporary GOP culture. Time and again, when these "salt of the earth" folks have had a chance to make a choice for a mature, reasonable candidate-- relatively conservative or not-- they often make the choice of the hardline ideologue.
Despite the esteemed Pres. Obama's two great wins, they were of course, semi-pyrrhic victories: both terms were marred by GOP officials that decided to say "hell no!" from Day One, and once the 2010 elections hit, it was even more so full steam ahead with the crazy.
I’ve already reached my wit’s end. Entrenched cultural entitlements and casual racial supremacy views are at the core of this. People can rationalize all they want about why they voted for Trump- economic anxieties, dissatisfaction with "Washington gridlock", etc.. Despite The Orange Skull's atrocious lack of formal credentials, policy experience or even a professional demeanor, he became the darling of Make America Great (for white people) Again. Clearly his most ardent supporters are either capable of compartmentalizing to an obscene degree, at minimum, or are just plain dim-witted and defiantly ignorant. (I don't care. Just sent a letter to him outlining all my gripes, including my aforementioned choice of words). These folks seem to have no connection to empathy for vulnerable populations. (Yes, I know some dim-witted/'misguided' people of color voted for the dude-- I hope they're getting what they want, I don't see a blessed positive thing.) Trump's Caucasian demographics still hold on to the tacit racial promise of being morally superior to anyone who is not white and protestant Christian (of course, there are some "alt-right" Catholics out there, too, e.g, former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani). It doesn't matter whether they openly, consciously identify with the KKK and Nazis or not. Many don't. However, the antediluvian social attitudes and conclusions persist. This has historically filtered into the results of any number of elections at all levels, not just the President.
I certainly don't-- and will not-- endorse shooting at anyone or attacking folks unprovoked. However, the mainstream narrative concerning the "far left" is extremely dishonest. especially now in the Tea Party era. Republican social circles have lurched further into right-wing ideology for well over, what, 50 years now? It manifested in the white resentment vs. the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, which contributed greatly to the racial disinvestment and hollowing out of many major cities like Detroit, Gary, Baltimore and elsewhere; it manifested with the "Christian Coalition" groups that began gaining local influence in the 1970s (see: boards of education, county commissions, state assemblies, etc.); despite paying lip-service to faith-driven values in policy (which most reasonable people could find attractive), their conclusions were frequently myopic and hostile to non-WASPs, urban people of color and vulnerable populations in general; it manifested in the "Reagan Democrats" who signed on to GOP culture in the 1980s and the Neo-Cons who took power in the 1990s under former House speaker Newt Gingrich—and cemented their status under president George W. Bush.
It's all part of a chronology of hard right wing white animosity against "The Other". It isn't rational because it doesn't have to be. It justifies itself, regardless of lack of logic and lack of empathy. Trump and his entire regime needs to resign. But they likely won't. The entrenched racism, misogyny and anti-Semitism of today's GOP needs to be purged. But it likely won't. Its practitioners love it too much-- consciously or unconsciously. Further, those who benefit from it politically get to retain their status and influence. A tragedy and a shame.
So come 2018-- with the gerrymandered Congressional and state assembly districts-- I don't know what's going to radically change. I personally feel that most folks who are GOP candidates are going to double-triple-quadruple-quintuple-down on the Tea Party bullet points. Likely any "moderate" GOP (and what is really moderate now? Not calling for a muslim ban but basically co-signing on everything else including repealing the ACA? Sheesh....) is going to face scorched earth tactics from whoever feels that Trump is possibly too soft, lol. Democratic candidates? Well, we'll see-- Seems like, nationwide, the Dems are already poised to go chasing after "left-behind white middle America" at the expense of a progressive base AGAIN.... if the DNC nationwide can prioritize cultivating multicultural candidates, that is important in my book. Also, candidates need to articulate genuine progressive values and not reflexively going out of their way to prove their Law & Order bonafides and signaling their disdain for anything that smacks of "liberal", who knows, maybe some of them might have a chance. Expanding voting rights should be a priority- criminal justice reform should be a priority. Not dismantling the Affordable Care Act should be a priority.
