It's inconceivable to me that anyone could rationalize....

[kentuck]

the name-calling, the racism, the lying, the cruelty, the criminal behavior, the grifting, the corruption, the narcissism, or the greed for anything than what it is?

Then, excuse it all because they like his "policies"? What "policies" do they like? Do they like the huge taxcuts to the wealthy or the cuts to the food stamps for the poor? Do they like the war in Iran or do they like cutting people off their healthcare? Do they like being hated around the world or do they believe we are respected more now, with the moron in charge?

It is hard to believe that so many people will accept so much shit.

[rampartd]

1. 'you can fool all of the people some of the time

and all of the people some of the time....

but you can not fool all of the people all of the time" lincoln

"hold my beer" trump

[Grokenstein]

31. "I firmly believe that if you can't fool all of the people all of the time..."

"you should start breeding them for stupidity." -- the character "Weisshaupt” in Cerebus

Dave Sim was (is?) a creepy prick, but he understood the rightwanker agenda even way back then.

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. True MAGAT's are a breed unto themselves. Walking advertisements for population control.

[R. P. McMurphy]

14. True MAGAT's are an inbreed unto themselves. nt

[Goonch]

3. ;-{) THIS

[dave99]

9. what a fucking lie. Republcians aren't actual men or women.

[sakabatou]

4. To the Maggots, it's only until something bad happens to them personally, will they start to care

[Whyisthisstillclose]

29. Even then many are fine with it as long as it hurts their perceived enemies as well

[cachukis]

5. It is an identity crisis.

Freud described the id as our internal fragile self.
As we matured we developed an ego that shielded our id. We spend a lot of time on that ego. Should we attain a measure of wisdom we develop a super ego; the ability to do the right thing, regardless of circumstance.
The MAGAt cult is still working to connect with those whose ego is in a fledgling stage as they are not able to deal with those who present a super ego. They found a sand box success in trump.
We are being led by children because some of us are still children and haven't figured that we have an influence to keep those children in the sand box.

[kentuck]

6. "The old man is just another child that's grown old"...

John Prine

[cachukis]

8. Been there. Just trying to break out of another shell.

[canetoad]

7. You would expect

The nominal leader of over 300m people to conduct themself with a bit of dignity, especially on the world stage.

[kentuck]

11. That seems the least we should expect from the President...

...to not embarrass the country on the world stage. Not to be a jerk. Not to make threats to our allies. Just a pinch of dignity would be more than we have seen.

[Attilatheblond]

13. Bit of a reach, or delusion, to think current leader of over 300m people gives a rat's ass about any of us.

I got old, have seen too much, and know some people just aren't human

[Orrex]

10. They are an irredeemable kkkult of ignorant racist fuckheads

Trump glorifies their ignorance, praises their racism, and validates their fantasies of victimhood.

As a group, they are beyond the reach of fact, logic, evidence, reason, and even personal hardship. They will worship him until the last of them has died, and the world will be no worse off for their departure.

[paleotn]

12. See LBJ's take on this. He knew them well.

They don't mind the names, overt racism, lying, cruelty and crime because they'd do the exact same thing if they were in his shoes.

American politics has sorted itself into the psychopaths, sociopaths, and generally unsavory people (Republicans)....and everyone else. I said years ago it's like some giant tipped the country and every asshole you've ever met slid to the right and became a Republican, if they weren't Republicans already.

[warmfeet]

15. It's inconceivable to me that anyone could rationalize....

I am at a loss as well. What the hell is going on?

[Figarosmom]

16. When they are asked to name a policy they like

Every single one of them that I have seen, say immigration. We know what that's about.

[hookaleft]

17. I will tell you why

My parents live with me. They are elderly, but they vote. They blast FOX news 24-7. I just went to get some ice and they had some stupid bastard ranting about how the Democrats hate God. They eat it up. They are irrational, they think Trump is a God and if you try to tell them he is at a 30% approval rating they go completely sideways. You would think they would want to find out why. But, alas they don't. There is absolutely no way that you can get through to those people. Just give it up.

They are completely clueless about all of the corruption. They don't cover that on FOX. That is the only source of information that they have.

[Botany]

18. One word

Racism

[Mysterian]

19. One more word

Fascism

[love_katz]

21. Two more words:

Misogyny and greed.

[Botany]

23. 1 more word and some phrases

Sexism
Anti Intellectualism
Generational stupidity
Christo Fascism
Republicans own the media
Russian produced disinformation
Lack of development of critical thinking

[MadameButterfly]

28. Yes, I really think it's misinformation more than racism

Racism and sexism is exxacerbated by all the misinformation, that certain people are causing your problems. Their policies makes it harder for the working class and people at the bottom, so they have to get them blaming the wrong people (immigrants, minorities, women instead of Republicans, oligarchs) for their problems.

The lack of education and therefore critical thinking plus the information bubble make them vulnerable to lies that most of us wouldn't buy.

If they understood the truth, they wouldn't be voting against their self-interest whatever racist tendencies they were taught in their community and their youth. We all want a good life. We want our stuff. You don't sacrifice your economic needs/desires to denigrate others unless you think elevating yourself is otherwise hopeless and/or you believe the lies that they are keeping you from your stuff.

[AverageOldGuy]

20. He is owning the libs

And that’s all that matters. All. Nothing else.

[ybbor]

22. Yes, it boggles the mind

My in-laws are full on cultists, and when my wife asks her mom what she likes, her reply is, “You just wait and see!” All defiant and smug! I hate having to spend time with them, and they are closeted MAGA in their retirement community of liberal ex-professors, and wealthy professionals. They truly disgust me. And to top it off, they are Jewish, and lost family in the holocaust. Yet they love their fascist dear leader.

[ms.pamela]

32. Maybe your in-laws have dementia

In recent years I have witnessed how many older people can be easily swayed by nonsense, especially if they are viewing FOX, Newsmax or other right-wing media. The word is brainwashing and it is easier to do than most of us realize even for those who do not have mental issues.

[EdmondDantes_]

24. People can rationalize all sorts of things

Some things that have been rationalized include black people deserve to be slaves, Jewish people hosed Germany, white people had a right to everything in what became the United States. Smaller examples include a whole host of cults, gangs, etc.

Individually we all rationalize things that we do that cause harm to others either directly or indirectly.

[iluvtennis]

25. MAGAts love his "policies" on racism, misogyny,

anti immigrants, anti LGBTQ, anti environment, anti alternative energy, etc, etc, etc

[FakeNoose]

26. If all they ever see is Faux Noise, then all they hear are the lies

They don't know the truth about Chump and this evil, awful administration like we do. I stopped feeling sorry for them long ago. They are pathetic because they have chosen to live in their bubble. But I believe it explains why they accept this, because they know nothing about it.

As Democrats, our challenge is to reach out to the independent voters because there's still hope to bring them over to our side. many of them are waking up this year - finally - and they want to learn more. We have 4 months to convince them.

[a kennedy]

27. Exactly.....all I watch now is the faux noise, ya know until Nicole and Rachel come on......all the rest suck.

But faux noise…..IS WHAT ALL THE MAGA’s LISTEN TO AND WATCH. And now with this Socialist AND Communism shit being spread on ALL their networks……the Dems have got to learn to counteract them all.

[relogic]

30. My take on Four months

to reeducate these independents of what they already know/observed. We older folk are exhausted informing their conscience, moral compass and appeals to humanity. I’m not buying that an “independent” needs my further attempts to show them the practicality of voting against this fascism.

If they are truly that undecided after considering the travesty that is unfolding before them via maga, P2025, ICE, impeachments, and the rest, they are not undecided. They’re actually hiding their true allegiance or irredeemably incapable of instruction from me.

Rather than the exhausting entreaties to the “independents”, I will work my voice to hoarseness whipping up the honest voting enclaves that deserve my effort. However, if progressive members within my self-identified politics want to invest their hope to sway these folk to our side I would not stand in their way.