It’s a double-edged sword, even for the GOP. Trump’s followers are a cult, and cultists follow one person. So without Trump as the godhead, there’s no one with enough (ugh) charisma and panache to unify the GOP rabble.
Until a new strongman pops up. I’ve been watching this movie for 30+ years.
They’re not going to seize power and then fuck it up. Project 2025 will go forward. There is structure behind this movement. I’d like to believe that Trump dying or going away would fix the problem too, but it won’t.
You might be right. I’ve also been watching this debacle for 30 years, so I can’t say you’re wrong, but I am hoping the high level marionettes die off (as so many are incredibly old) before the new crop of would-be-Confederates has a chance to reorganize.
Of course, the Dems would assuredly bungle that opportunity as well, since I have been watching this play out, act after act.
Joe Rogan, Aiden Ross, Theo Von, Andrew Tate, etc. will have Gen Z men in lockstep with whoever rises to the top of the shit pile. It’s like Rush Limbaugh on steroids. Coordinated, algorithm driven, and a pipeline ready to take any young man without critical thinking skills down the slippery slope to the alt-right.
That’s what scares me the most and feels different about all of this.
I was worried Bush 2 would cancel elections to continue presiding over his War on Terror. This feels so much worse.
Can’t argue against those points, though I still think that the figures listed lack the broader weight and gravitas required to successfully hold together a cult following. Trump succeeds because he’s also an old Boomer, and old Boomer white men like to imagine they are him- a weak man’s idea of a strong man.
As to the young men of America, we have essentially left them behind for 25-30 years as the cultural focus pivoted to ensuring that girls and young women have a seat at the table. So now young women are graduating college and going into advanced education and growing professional careers, but boys and young men have been handed the remnants of toxic masculinity, without any real, positive modeling. My father predicted this outcome in the late 90s and it’s been heartbreaking to watch it play out.
It’s a double-edged sword, even for the GOP. Trump’s followers are a cult, and cultists follow one person. So without Trump as the godhead, there’s no one with enough (ugh) charisma and panache to unify the GOP rabble.
The right wing always galvanizes behind someone new if it means they get to hurt their enemies.
Sure, but understand basic Followership: a cultist will allow any action, any cut, so long as they believe it ingratiates them with their Leader.
No culthead, no cult following. The GOP reverts to a mob.
Until a new strongman pops up. I’ve been watching this movie for 30+ years.
They’re not going to seize power and then fuck it up. Project 2025 will go forward. There is structure behind this movement. I’d like to believe that Trump dying or going away would fix the problem too, but it won’t.
You might be right. I’ve also been watching this debacle for 30 years, so I can’t say you’re wrong, but I am hoping the high level marionettes die off (as so many are incredibly old) before the new crop of would-be-Confederates has a chance to reorganize.
Of course, the Dems would assuredly bungle that opportunity as well, since I have been watching this play out, act after act.
Joe Rogan, Aiden Ross, Theo Von, Andrew Tate, etc. will have Gen Z men in lockstep with whoever rises to the top of the shit pile. It’s like Rush Limbaugh on steroids. Coordinated, algorithm driven, and a pipeline ready to take any young man without critical thinking skills down the slippery slope to the alt-right.
That’s what scares me the most and feels different about all of this.
I was worried Bush 2 would cancel elections to continue presiding over his War on Terror. This feels so much worse.
Can’t argue against those points, though I still think that the figures listed lack the broader weight and gravitas required to successfully hold together a cult following. Trump succeeds because he’s also an old Boomer, and old Boomer white men like to imagine they are him- a weak man’s idea of a strong man.
As to the young men of America, we have essentially left them behind for 25-30 years as the cultural focus pivoted to ensuring that girls and young women have a seat at the table. So now young women are graduating college and going into advanced education and growing professional careers, but boys and young men have been handed the remnants of toxic masculinity, without any real, positive modeling. My father predicted this outcome in the late 90s and it’s been heartbreaking to watch it play out.