How can one person be seen as an existential threat by half of the country but...

[kentuck]

...is seen as harmless by the other half?

One half feels threatened. The other half feels emboldened and encouraged.

One half sees a dangerous threat to our way of life. The other half sees a success in everything he does.

One half hears nothing but lies. The other half hears nothing but truth.

One half sees evil. The other half sees the Messiah doing good works.

How is that possible?

[Firestorm49]

1. Relentless brainwashing.

[CottonBear]

2. Elimination of Fairness Doctrine + RW talk radio + no civics education.

Add in GOP takeover of NPR and massive underfunding of public education.

[dawg]

3. The fact that he is an existential threat to *our* way of life ...

is the main reason *they* love him in the first place.

[lunasun]

4. There are others. The I don't care I have a job and making stock money & extinction anxiety crowds

are two that will not vote dem imo
They may not see him as good, a messiah, or even sane

[Duppers]

13. "extinction anxiety crowds"?

Sorry, luna, I'm not following that in the context. Explain to my dumbass. Thanks, dear.

[lunasun]

15. As opposed to economic anxiety, which is always purported as a reason for voting trump

White extinction anxiety Unreasonable fear of demographic changes in US
Panic over White loss of power browning of America

The ones not loud not proud and not walking around in trump hats
He is just a necessary means to an end for some.

They may not think he is truthful,harmless,successful or the messiah as the OP highlighted is what I meant

They just do not care what or how he does it as long as he protects the white race over others they will vote trump even if they don’t like him.

[Duppers]

16. Got it, thanks.

There for a moment I was thinking how would we "environmentally concerned" ever vote for tRump. Since I've read a lot of Michael Mann's works, my brain automatically translates "extinction anxiety" into real environment extinction of forests, critters, & humans. I'd say I actually have that kind of "extinction anxiety."

But now I get it; this was about pure *racism.* F' them.

[mopinko]

5. lies.

and fools who believe them.

[backtoblue]

6. A quote from a labor documentary I recently watched

"I could hire half the country to kill the other half"


The modern divides are deep, personal, and intentional. We can't even agree on a name (laurel or yonnie) or the color of a dress.

Human emotions have been exploited for corporate advertising, profits, and a misinformation political psyop war. Unhealthy and hateful personality traits are being picked at like a scab.

Half the country either lack basic empathy or compassion.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. I know the answer!

It's because we are living an existential threat from the same half that supports Trump. These people are devious and have learned to two-face their way through life. Hiding behind the flag, church, military experience, you name it. If it has any teflon value they will use it to protect themselves from the fact that they will bend or break the rules to maintain their dominant positions.

It's all about winning.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Not just "harmless" they think he's God's gift...

and I guess he is to the Talibangelists and the 1%-ers.

[rownesheck]

9. It's all about

owning the libs. They hate that we read books, feel empathy toward others, and aren't afraid of the demographic shift taking place in the country.

[Jamastiene]

10. Republicans are kneejerk reactionaries who will

believe anything that fits their warped view of the world. Facts be damned.

[lettucebe]

11. Fox News and Facebook is how

[Claritie Pixie]

12. About 80 million adults are oblivious, don't care.

Looking at statistics, it's probably a third of US adults - that pesky 30% - who can be convinced of anything and are essentially a cult.

Still too many. At the moment, they are an empowered minority, clinging to the con man they adore.

I'm tired of hearing the narrative that this country is evenly divided.

[lame54]

14. Their reps know he's trash - but they getting what they want...

Complete selfishness

Ayn Rand would be proud

[smirkymonkey]

17. Mass hysteria.

These people who support him are deranged and living under a mass delusion.

"In sociology and psychology, mass hysteria (also known as mass psychogenic illness, collective hysteria, group hysteria, or collective obsessional behavior) is a phenomenon that transmits collective illusions of threats, whether real or imaginary, through a population in society as a result of rumors and fear (memory acknowledgement).

A common type of mass hysteria occurs when a group of people believe they are suffering from a similar disease [liberalism,my addition] or ailment, sometimes referred to as mass psychogenic illness or epidemic hysteria."

[uponit7771]

18. K&R, MAGAts are told non whites are bad by people they respect

[Fyrefox]

19. Divisiveness sells, and Trump's a master of that game...

Trump doesn't exactly bring out the best in his followers, but rather panders to their baser instincts. In him, his followers see a reflection of their own misogyny, racism, xenophobia, and anti-intellectualism. Trump simply gives false legitimacy to undercurrents that have been simmering under the surface for decades, and finds ready buyers...