OK, someone has to tell me what the hell the "deep state" IS...

[CTyankee]

I don't understand what DT is talking about...

[SamKnause]

1. Anyone who doesn't agree with him, or repeat his lies is the deep state.

[CTyankee]

3. Oh. Thanks. I was thinking it was the "bureaucracy."

[SamKnause]

7. I don't think Trump knows what that word means.

He has a very limited vocabulary.

Anyone who opposes him is the deep state.

I am the deep state.

You are the deep state.

[blogslut]

2. It's a fantasy cooked up by the alt-right

Basically it's anyone in government that acts decently.

[handmade34]

4. shadow Gov't

out to get #notmypresident

[hedda_foil]

5. I think it refers to permanent (ie., not politically appointed) government employees

And anybody else the traitor hears conspiracy theories about from his "friends," Russia, or his favorite shows (including InfoWars crap).

[MythosMaster]

12. Linda Tripp

would be someone that is part of the deep state. A bureaucrat that cannot be fired by incoming president who is loyal to the other party. Who works actively in their department to undermine the new presidents agenda.

I think I first heard that during the Monica trials.

That is the way I understand it.

[Glorfindel]

6. No such thing exists. It's a concept he made up to attack career civil servants

who ensure continuity in government and provision of services regardless of who is president. That kind of honor (and devotion) is inconceivable to trump and his worshipers. They want to dismantle and destroy the government and share the resulting loot among themselves. Therefore, anyone who continues to do a good job while working for the government is an enemy, the "deep state."

[LiberalArkie]

8. I don't know what is is now but it used to mean the lifers in the State, Justice, DOD etc

Generally the government workers that spent their entire lives working the the government.

In any line of work where a person. has been there forever, they know things and know people. Even if they are a administrative secretary for the last 30 years. They have seen shit and heard things and know things.

[marybourg]

9. The Federal Civil Service

[ck4829]

10. See also: Emmanuel Goldstein and his Brotherhood (1984)

[Thomas Hurt]

11. Deep State is just another far right whackjob conspiracy theory...

that has existed in the far right's addled group think since the Birchers.

New world order, illuminati, Jews, Liberals, Communists...now muslims and illegals.

fascist scapegoating to prop up the Pig's populist agenda.

[peggysue2]

13. For the Trumpster . . .

and his acolytes, the Deep State is the Rule of Law and a functioning judiciary which will hold their asses accountable.

These people are criminals and traitors who are now sweating bullets because the walls are closing in and the evidence against them is sky-high.

Deep State = Accountability.

[Saboburns]

14. Just another Republican conspiracy theory

Like George Soros, Benghazi, pizzagate, Hillary's emails, mainstream media, and all the other bug shit crazy shit they believe.

[H2O Man]

15. Good question.

I have been thinking about writing an OP about the distinctions between the "deep state" and the "shadow government." One should start with the wording of the majority of rough drafts of President Eisenhower's famous "farewell address." Then fast-forward to Reagan, and then to Bush-Cheney (with an emphasis on Cheney.)

Briefly, it involves the military & related industry, the intelligence community, non-elected officials, and other large corporations that influence the election process. Trump does not know the meaning.

[Yavin4]

16. It's an emotional appeal to conspiracy minded right wingers

The purpose of which is to get White working class and poor voters to vote against their economic interests.

[jpljr77]

17. When someone more knowledgeable than Trump on a subject says something that he disagrees with,

that's Deep State.

It's shorthand for, "Oh, fuck...I didn't really think this through. I have to find a boogieman -- oh, hey, DEEP STATE!"