About that cult...

[theneworiginal]

Trumpsters have been deriving power and identity thru his hate, his arrogance and dominance and his impenetrable political resilience. In the aftermath of the failed coup, their leader has been emasculated by losing his social media pulpit, by worldwide outrage and by impeachment. Despite this, 95% of GOP pols voted against impeachment and nearly 45% of Trump voters support the coup attempt. That’s because Trump has been preparing them for this very moment, using COVID lies to gauge their willingness to risk their own safety for The Cause, by battle-testing their loyalty with increasingly far-fetched fraud claims and by showcasing his dictator-level fear-mongering. Call it conditioning.

Historically, the resilient power of a cult leader transcends the rational and intuitive thinking of its members. Look no further than Warren Jeffs, convicted child molester who still runs his cult from inside a jail. And just like domestic violence victims, GOP pols remain under the fear and psychological control of their abuser regardless of changing circumstances or apparent safeguards. Escaping the spell of fear and manipulation of a leader who has had such radical, longstanding and far-reaching (80m strong) doesn’t happen easily.

Cult leaders prey upon those who lack conviction, who feel left out, who are angry or depressed or feel alienated by lifelong disenfranchisement (which Trump repeatedly taps into.) These leaders offer a sense of belonging for followers who are united and energized in their unwavering belief in their leader’s message. Remember Heaven’s Gate where many members castrated themselves before committing suicide to meet the mother ship? It’s about us-against-the-world and the unification of unquestioned loyalty, not facts or independent thinking. Cult leaders thrive on the fact that their followers’ own identity is dependent on their own. Trump loyalists display generalized, unrestrained anger, condemnation and dismissal of those who disagree and a willingness to trample societal norms to further The Cause—just. like. Trump.

The sedition was comprised of the Who’s Who of Haters, some of whom proudly represented their leader’s hate, anger and oppositional philosophy, others who had competing interests and some who couldn’t figure out whether to hug or kill the cops. Consequently, the coup ultimately failed to meet its objectives, from overthrowing the government to killing Pelosi and Pence to convincing non-believers in a show of strength. This, despite the advantage of their Leader’s blessing, inside help from Congresspeople and the Pentagon and likely more, and months of planning by countless loyalists up against inadequate police protection. Their chaotic, unrestrained violence was their undoing. Now it is looking for a new home.

If Trump followers were to acknowledge his guilt or the fact that he really did lose the election, they would have to acknowledge that they got played. And used. That’s why it’s so hard for GOP’rs to just flip; they would have to admit that what defined them, that what they crusaded for and put themselves at crazy risk for, that the man they went all-in for over the last several years was all a lie. A Fraud. If they did, then they would lose their cause, their identity, their credibility and their cross-validating loyalists. Then the League of Haters would have to find something else to blame their anger on. What do you want them to do—admit they were fools and quietly go back to being marginalized members of the lunatic fringe? That’s why they cling to their narrative. That’s why they are now relying on fear of violence to give them power and relevance. And that’s why they are dangerous.