colfax_m
Diamond Member
- Nov 18, 2019
- 38,988
- 14,843
Oh, I agree. Being captured by an ideology is not a function of intelligence or lack thereof.It’s easy to call them all nutters and I do that too.You can always tell when a nutter knows (at least at some level) that they're defending the indefensible: They change the subject and attack you personally.Being this disconnected from reality is dangerous. Being unreachable by any means is dangerous.
These deaths and injuries are a fucking disgrace, and the domestic terrorists (and those who willingly enable them) damn well know it.
But it’s different than that. They’re not stupid. Some of these nutters are very successful and insightful.
I don’t get it myself but there’s something different going on here. Something much more insidious.
I say it all the time: This is a a group pathology, and the world has seen it before.
Give Trump "credit": He knew exactly what to do, and exactly who to target.
Part of me wonders to what extent Trump has the same pathology. Not that it makes him blameless. The cynic in me thinks Trump is based in reality but decides to use his supporters maliciously.
But after listening to his call with Raffensperger, I’ve decided that Trump’s supporters have just as much effect on him as he does on them.