+4
Just a limited perspective of where I live:
Here in Alabama, I have several old high school friends, family, and even coworkers that are emboldened by it. Hell, even my dad has started posting Trump support on his FB feed. They, like Trump, believe the Russian investigation is tactical and without merit. That it is a side-effect of the "swamp" culture. I'm only speaking of the vocal few btw. I feel uncomfortable even just using these anecdotes as example, but these guys are pretty vocal and direct on their own so maybe it's fair game? They have already turned on McCain and other Republicans that are critical of him.
As I read their reactions, I believe they are proud to have someone like Trump bucking the system. While some seem to be pretty hardline, many are enjoying the circus of it all. They all are kind of trollish smart asses (myself included, from time to time so I'm not faulting that!) and are enjoying seeing someone posture and push back against a perceived weak liberal walk-on-eggshells culture fearful of offending anyone. It is exciting to watch a bull kick through the china shop as if watching an episode of Jackass. I worry that is as far as it goes though, because, in my opinion, everything is immediate gratification. There seems to be no reflection on past or future events that may contradict current opinions. It's all here-and-now and the IMO morbid excitement of watching someone else burn things down in your name.
Football is life here and everyone has sided with their home team. Both in politics and religion. Regardless of how clean the other quarterback's passing technique may be, it doesn't matter because he's still a p****. Regardless of how many times their quarterback fumbles, he's home team and is the hero taking the hot cheerleader to the pickup truck.
*EDIT*
I don't mean that to be a judgment, but I guess it reads as such. I can sort of understand a Christian conservative tolerating Trump as a means to an end regarding SCOTUS picks that may shift the balance to more conservative rulings and possible overturning of past rulings, short-term economic gains, immigration, and a more nationalistic world posture. I believe most of my friends are probably in this group and while I don't agree (because it suggests faith in man and politics over faith in God's will), I can at least connect those cultural dots from that point of view. What I cannot understand though, is the glee I see in so many around me wrapped in a "we win" flag actively trolling others for their opposing view. Not at least while claiming Christian values. It's very surreal to me.
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"My Dionne Warwick understanding of your dream indicates that you are ambivalent on how you want life to eventually screw you." - Joel
"Ever try to forcibly pin down a house cat? It's not easy." - Captain Steel
"I just can't get pass sticking a finger up a dog's butt." - John Dumbear
Last edited by ynwtf; 07-17-18 at 01:06 PM.