This is why they will NEVER abandon him.

[kpete]

Trump's supporters don't measure his success by what he does FOR them, they measure by what he does AGAINST people they don't like. That's why they see him as being successful." This is why they will NEVER abandon him. His tormenting of the "others' sustains them.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. I have never seen truer words

[mitch96]

41. +1.. explains why these fecknEjits back him...uff. nt

[lapfog_1]

2. Hate is a powerful drug. - n/t

[dchill]

3. Real world ghouls and vampires.

[TDale313]

4. Yep. He hates the people they hate.

He hates them too, if we’re honest, but they can overlook that or convince themselves he’s on their side as long as he seems to be making “those people” suffer more.

[cilla4progress]

31. Great quality in

a Prez. Hating half your country.

[Grasswire2]

47. more than half

GOP is only 25 percent of the electorate
And MAGATS are about 44 percent of that 25 percent.

This means that only about 12 percent of America is MAGATS.

The hate is concentrated there, toward the rest.

[cilla4progress]

49. Thank you for providing that stat, G!

I was reminded of it yesterday and wanted to confirm the numbers, so, thanks.

[True Blue American]

69. Trump/ Riley tour a flop.

https://news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-bill-oreilly-event-044515232.html

[Demovictory9]

55. they worship him. they never give concrete reasons, other than the border wall, which relates

to hating a group of people. I recall his harsh words against football players taking a knee also drew them close.

[panader0]

68. Black football players.

[MontanaFarmer]

5. Spot on.

These people love to hate, so does he, and they love him for it. The fact that they're all being strangled to death by bad policies and by a corporarocracy that he gladly enables matters not one whit.

[CrispyQ]

6. I'll never forget the republican woman, crying on national TV, after Trump's soybean fiasco,

"He's not hurting the people he's supposed to be hurting."

[keep_left]

21. Yes, that was also featured prominently in a newspaper article.

It was posted on DU at some point. I have it saved on a flash drive somewhere. The quote came from a woman who worked at a prison. She was pissed off because Drumpf wasn't "owning the libs" enough for her tastes.

[crickets]

28. Bingo.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/8/18173678/trump-shutdown-voter-florida

“I voted for him, and he’s the one who’s doing this,” Minton told Mazzei. “I thought he was going to do good things. He’s not hurting the people he needs to be hurting.”

He’s not hurting the people he needs to be hurting.

Think about that line for a second. Roll it over in your head. In essence, Minton is declaring that one aim of the Trump administration is to hurt people — the right people. Making America great again, in her mind, involves inflicting pain. [snip]

The president’s particular brand of identity politics — the racist attacks on blacks and Latinos, the Muslim ban, his cruel treatment of women — similarly depends on negative rather than positive appeals. Antoine Banks, a political psychologist at the University of Maryland, wrote a book on the connection between anger as an emotion and racial politics. When politicians gin up anger, an emotion that necessarily has a negative target, voters tend to think about the world in more racial (and racist) terms. Trump makes his voters angry, he centers that anger on hated targets, and that makes them want to take his side.

This is what makes Trumpism work. This is the dark heart of our political moment. Even people who are tremendously vulnerable themselves, like Crystal Minton, support Trump because of his capacity to inflict pain on others they detest. The cruelty, as the Atlantic’s Adam Serwer says, is the point.

[ShazzieB]

35. The reporter who wrote that story later tried to claim that's not what Minton meant.

It seemed clear when I talked to her that she didn’t mean she wanted to literally “hurt” anyone. And she reiterated in a conversation with me today that she doesn’t. She’s just angry at politicians in power. And that’s how she expressed it.

More here: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1082691634184310784.html

Personally, I think it was a Freudian slip. TFG is and has always been ALL ABOUT hurting those he sees as enemies. His entire 2016 campaign was ALL ABOUT hurting people, and whether his supporters are or were consciously aware of it or not, that is what a large percentage of them were and are attracted to.

These are people who see themselves as victims, and they were thrilled when this big bully told them he was going to come in and (metaphorically) beat up all the other bullies on the playground that were picking on them. They felt betrayed when he did something that hurt them (i.e., the 2019 government shutdown), but they quickly forgot about it when he went back to hurting the people they thought "deserved" it (like immigrants and asylum seekers), and they voted for him again in 2020. Why? Because they like the feeling/delusion that they've got this big bully supposedly looking out for them. They know full well that he's a big, mean, nasty bully, but he's THEIR big, mean, nasty bully.

[crickets]

37. It's a shame the author tried to walk it back.

It's a powerful journalistic piece, and there's no doubt Crystal Minton meant exactly what she said. Perhaps she later regretted saying it out loud and being publicly quoted, but her words and their meaning were clear. She's not the first to say such things and, sadly, she won't be the last.

[napi21]

48. I heard a comment this morning that said the extreme hatred between political parties began

in earnest with DT. I hadn't thought about it, but after mulling it over, I believe it's true. I do remember some people saying DT has enabled as lot of people to say the things they've been thinking for years. Short of wishing evil things on him, I don't know what to do to force4 that to change. I never do that sort of thing, but I must admit, I'm constantly fighting with myself to suppress measn & evil feelings I have every time his image or even mentioning his name appears on TV or radio.

[crickets]

52. True, tfg has inspired many to say and do things that were unthinkable

to say out loud or actually follow through on before he came along. Newt Gingrich wins the prize for rampaging through Congressional norms and civility years before tfg, however. Newt got the ball rolling, but he just couldn't capture the public the way tfg managed to do. He lacked the charm (and the perception of wealth) needed to get people to follow him all the way off the cliff.

Like tfg, he's a complete nutbar and entirely too pleased with himself.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/11/newt-gingrich-says-youre-welcome/570832/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-inside-story-of-how-newt-gingrich-single-handedly-destroyed-congress

[napi21]

56. So true. The newster is the one who started the uncivilized behavior in Congress & he's very proud

to have done so! I'm ashamed to say he's from the same state that I live in. I haven't heard his name or seen his image in quite a while. He's getting pretty old so I'm hoping he just isn't up to the task of spreading hate any more. As much as I detest the newtster, it doesn't come close to how I feel about dt. Ya know, I never used to use really rough cuss words until dt appeared on the political scene. Using the "F" word never crossed my lips! I'm old, 78, but I can't say that anymore. When alone, I've been known to let out a string of words that would get me thrown out of most local bars. All thanks to dt. What a legacy he has!!!

[True Blue American]

70. Getting even with

Anyone or everyone was the goal of Trump and his supporters.

Insecure, easily led, many Religious fanatics saw Trump as their white knight. But millions are waking up to the fact he is not omnipotent. His followers are getting smaller all the time.

[Captain Zero]

62. His supporters are sado-masochists

He is sadistic.

[machoneman]

71. Wow, missed that clip way back then. Glad you posted it. Never thought of trumpers that way.

Sure, own the libs is their mantra. But, hating things and people they don't like is a far better descriptor of why they follow the slobfather. Makes perfect sense as through him they see his and GOPer's efforts to hurt others (minorities, women, libs, Jews...fill in the blanks!) worthy of praise and $ donations.

Sad indeed but this one article sums up the true rationale' for why they slavishly support this dolt of a man.

[Hekate]

36. I'll never forget that, either: it's seared into my memory. I will never understand. nt

[DENVERPOPS]

59. Must have been a farmer

who, like a thousand other Trump supporting farmers, got creamed by his senseless tariff's on China.
Many lost their family farms to bankruptcy, and still were loyal to Trump.....go figure.......

Trump knew literally nothing about trade and other nations. He just decided to play international big shot, and mess with China. China screwed back big time in so many different ways......and we will be suffering from their retaliation for years. The farmers will get the worst of it, with Silicone Valley right behind them.........and of course all the manufacturing of products made there and sold here in the U.S.

[dalton99a]

7. How to fight back against such cruel and relentless sadism? Don't be a masochist.

Do not ignore.

Do not turn the other cheek.

Fight back.

[GoodRaisin]

42. Exactly. They are tactically using aggression to get their way.

Everywhere you look.
- TFG’s election lies and terrorism of election officials and workers.
- January 6 insurrection
- Congressional representatives family pictures with guns
- Mitch McConnell’s refusal to confirm Obama’s SCOTUS picks and hypocrisy to stack the court
- Passing aggressive state laws that will allow them to fix election results

The examples can go on.

The only way to defend your turf against aggression is with more aggression. Taking the high road against this kind of aggression doesn’t work.

[DENVERPOPS]

60. Most psychopaths

are also deep seated sadists.....they take great glee in hurting others. Can't remember the spelling of the German word for it........
Sharenfreude? or something like that......

[ck4829]

8. And then they get to the play the victim when the "other" outsmarts them

“Cancel culture”, “liberal bias”, “white genocide”, “Soros-funded”…

When the ‘tormenting of the “others”’ begins to blow up in their faces, they make this stuff up to rationalize their behaviors instead of getting along with others.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. They don't want a level playing field. White privilege is the tilt they are fighting to retain. . nt

[KentuckyWoman]

15. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you

and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:10-12

https://mybibleverses.org/persecution/

If they aren't actually being persecuted they'll either make it up or be such jerks that they get slapped down as a result. Think about the Jan 6 criminals whining about how abused they are by the very justice system they created to do exactly what it is doing.

[keep_left]

23. As has been said here many times...

..."cancel culture" is really "consequence culture".

[Cracklin Charlie]

9. It's not about him.

It’s always been about them. He gives them a license to hate, they do the rest.

[uponit7771]

10. K&R, people swore up and down Putin's Whore wouldn't be a factor in the GQP

[radius777]

11. Trump is worse, but Nixon and Reagan

also used this same playbook but were just more classy about it.

[SergeStorms]

58. There's two words I never thought would be used....

in the same sentence; "Nixon", and "class". Nixon was one of the most loathsome creatures on the face of the earth. A true misanthrope.

The Reagans could at least fake it, but not the Nixons. Dark, brooding sociopaths, the entire lot.

[Martin Eden]

12. Cruelty sustains these God fearing Christian folk

Who would Jesus torment, other than the money changers in the temple?

[KS Toronado]

16. And today's GOP/RNC/Evangelicals

Believe the money changers should be rewarded with huge tax breaks.
And they really believe they're true Christians. They have no clue.

[Martin Eden]

33. "And they really believe they're true Christians."

Just like the neofascist TFG supporters chomping at the bit to overthrow our democracy believe they're true patriots.

[FM123]

13. Yep. They are constantly in a state of trumpy road-rage against folks

that they believe have given them the finger.

[keep_left]

17. "Owning the libs"...

...that's all that matters. How many times have we all seen news stories about people dying of COVID because they wouldn't wear masks or get vaxxed? They're just following Dear Leader, who wouldn't wear a mask and sure enough, contracted COVID. Unlike the rubes, however, he got a 16x dose of Regeneron. (These days, Drumpf is going on Maria Bartiromo's show and dissuading people from getting vaccine boosters).

[CaptainTruth]

26. Interesting that they still want to "own" people.

[patphil]

18. They like him because he can hurt the people they want to hurt.

Because he can destroy the things they want destroyed.
Trump's supporters don't care if what he does ultimately hurts them, they don't even think about that.
Their belief in Trump is religious.

[secondwind]

20. 67 indictments being opened on January21st....

I really believe that Trump will not survive this.

[Ford_Prefect]

22. I know they are out of their minds with fear and anger. I wonder just how those junkies are

gonna deal with the withdrawal symptoms when TLG and his enablers are in Prison. For that matter how's Mitch gonna manage Congress with 2-4 less Senators and several fewer GOP representatives.

A number of states require special elections to replace such people rather than allow appointment by Governor so it is likely there will be gaps in the fabric of the GQP.

[Alice Kramden]

67. I like the scenario you painted here

Fewer Congressional Republicans, due to their removal, prosecution, and incarceration. This is the picture I will hold in my mind.

[Evolve Dammit]

24. That absolutely nails it! No doubt at all.

[moondust]

25. Sociopaths and psychopaths.

Live to hate; hate to live.

[CaptainTruth]

27. Truth

[nowforever]

29. Victimhood

Also, one of the keys to Trump's popularity is the identification people have with his victimhood. He is never to blame for anything that goes wrong and consistently shifts responsibility to the other. I believe a good number of his supporters are of the same mindset and often perceive themselves as victims of whatever in their life is not quite what they want or need. Unfortunately, this personality flaw is endemic to the GOP.

[Paladin]

30. Perfectly expressed.

Such stupid, pathetic, lethal people...

[Joinfortmill]

32. True, sad to say.

[karin_sj]

34. Ugh

This is some pretty sick shit. Imagine being such a miserable person to have so much hate towards people you don't know just because they are different than you. All I can say is I'm happy that I'm not like them.

[GoldenMezzoDiva]

38. Which is why we ignore these degenerates at our peril...

By and large, this is not a nuanced, metaphor-minded demographic When they
say "own the libs," they mean OWN the libs. As incredible
as it seems to you and me, they are
indeed preparing to fight the
Civil War and WWII
all over again.
Pay attention, folks!
It's our only choice.

[dwayneb]

73. True - but the Civil War really never ended

Fascism thrives when it it has well defined "enemies" that can be used to focus the proles. Jews, Liberals, Mexicans, Muslims, gay people, brown people, immigrants - in a way it does not matter. This is not anything new.

Unfortunately "paying attention" is not something that Americans have a lot of capability for. Hell, even within the Democrats, only about a third believe our democracy is under attack. Then you look at the apathetic 1/3 to 1/2 that don't even bother to vote.

We are in deep trouble here and in my opinion the degenerates are going to win this war. The real question will be what happens AFTER they establish their one party authoritarian rule. From what I can see right now, Americans are liable to meekly go under the boot. But you never know.

[Pepsidog]

39. Explains a lot.

[RussBLib]

40. vindictive bastards?

why would they be so pissed at liberals in the first place? What have we done to them? Really?

Oh, I keep forgetting: Fox News, Newsmax, OAN.

[roamer65]

43. Ah...the stench of an empire in its final death throes.

People too stupid to realize the one they love really hates them. And they will follow him to the bitter end.

[58Sunliner]

44. Reminds me of Newsmax with the psychopath murderer Putin on the cover.

Vlad the great, , who would do to DT what DT did to us in a heart beat if it was a means to an end. They can't wait to give someone their power if it means giving power to someone who will destroy what they fear and hate. Narcissistic rage.

[zaj]

45. Sado-Populism: He inflicts pain on THEM. They view it as a loyalty test

It's deeply messed up.

[Duppers]

46. Misplaced hate.

My brother is one of those.

[Skittles]

50. isn't that pretty much true of the repuke party?

they stand for nothing, they stand against a lot

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

51. That, and the fact that he is them. Belligerently ignorant,

hateful and cruel. He validates them & vice versa.

[Poiuyt]

53. I guess that says it all.

[hay rick]

54. "Haters gonna hate."

About 15 years ago I got used to some of my friends injecting the phrase "haters gonna hate" into their conversations. I thought it was just the latest shallow argot at the time. Now I recognize it as deep truth.

[JanMichael]

57. It is funny how something so trite sounding turned out so preseient....

[ItsjustMe]

61. Conservatives have always been this way

I've had Conservative friends laugh at my bad Luck because it made them feel better about their own miserable life.

Catholics are the worst, It seems the more I suffer, the happier they are.

[Kablooie]

63. They were taught that government will never do anything FOR them.

That's why issues don't matter and they will vote against their own interest. They don't believe the government is EVER in their interest.

They only vote to gratify the hatred they were taught by right wing media. Hatred of anyone who believes that government can work FOR the people.

[calimary]

64. Yep. That's about it.

Good Grief it must suck to be them.

[C Moon]

65. 100%. This is my ex-marine neighbor with anti-Democratic party placards all over his walls.

He's not so much a republican, as he is a hater of the left.

[hlthe2b]

66. They freaked when HRC called them "deplorables." Imagine if she'd truthfully called them SADISTS

(more to the point).

[twodogsbarking]

72. Trump proclaims to hate the same people.

I think he hates everyone, including himself.

[marble falls]

74. I think you're right. They expect continual misery, they believed they are cursed ...

... and all they want to do is inflict misery on everybody else.

[llashram]

75. ++