'Let’s get something straight: it has never been about Trump, not for one second.

Trump is just the mascot.

The real story is the people who finally saw themselves in him and felt validated by what they saw.

I actually believe most of them will drift away when the cult collapses, like embarrassed fans of a one-hit wonder. Many of them will swear they were never really into him at all. The MAGA amnesia is going to be epic.

I used to wonder how it was possible that Trump could have won in 2016 and then again in 2024, given how emotionally toxic, morally vacant, and psychologically mangled he is.

I don’t wonder anymore.

I think he won for that exact reason.

He wasn’t a candidate. He was a mirror.

If you were a racist, you found your guy.

If you were a misogynist, you found your guy.

If money was your only religion, you found your guy.

If your heart was armored shut, you found your guy.

If you mocked disabled people, you found your guy.

If you hated intelligent people, you found your guy.

If you were a rapist, you found your guy.

If you’d done absolutely nothing to confront your emotional wreckage, you found your guy.

If you were a serial cheater, you found your guy.

If you were a perpetual bankrupt, you found your guy.

If you stiffed honest workers, you found your guy.

If you were a conman, you found your guy.

If you mocked people’s appearances, you found your guy.

If you longed for a toxic Daddy, you found your guy.

If you were dissociated and disembodied, you found your guy.

If you were unconscionable in every economic dealing, you found your guy.

If you lied as naturally as breathing, you found your guy.

If you’d never eaten a green vegetable, you found your guy.

If you were a white supremacist, you found your guy.

If your ego contained a hole so large not even the presidency could fill it, you found your guy.

If you were a sociopath who cared not one molecule about other humans, you found your guy.

If he had only two of these traits, he never would have won. He won because he had hundreds of them, and millions of people recognized themselves in at least one.

This has never been about Trump. It has always been about the people who finally had their worst instincts validated.

Trump didn’t create the cruelty; he licensed it. He handed out permission slips for hate.

He is merely a symptom of a far deeper disease: collective toxicity.

If there is one sentence that explains Trump’s power, it is this: “He says the things I’m thinking.”

That’s the part that should chill the spine.'

Feel better getting that off your chest? Now you can concentrate on getting him out of your head.

15 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

'Let’s get something straight: it has never been about Trump, not for one second.

Trump is just the mascot.

The real story is the people who finally saw themselves in him and felt validated by what they saw.

I actually believe most of them will drift away when the cult collapses, like embarrassed fans of a one-hit wonder. Many of them will swear they were never really into him at all. The MAGA amnesia is going to be epic.

I used to wonder how it was possible that Trump could have won in 2016 and then again in 2024, given how emotionally toxic, morally vacant, and psychologically mangled he is.

I don’t wonder anymore.

I think he won for that exact reason.

He wasn’t a candidate. He was a mirror.

If you were a racist, you found your guy.

If you were a misogynist, you found your guy.

If money was your only religion, you found your guy.

If your heart was armored shut, you found your guy.

If you mocked disabled people, you found your guy.

If you hated intelligent people, you found your guy.

If you were a rapist, you found your guy.

If you’d done absolutely nothing to confront your emotional wreckage, you found your guy.

If you were a serial cheater, you found your guy.

If you were a perpetual bankrupt, you found your guy.

If you stiffed honest workers, you found your guy.

If you were a conman, you found your guy.

If you mocked people’s appearances, you found your guy.

If you longed for a toxic Daddy, you found your guy.

If you were dissociated and disembodied, you found your guy.

If you were unconscionable in every economic dealing, you found your guy.

If you lied as naturally as breathing, you found your guy.

If you’d never eaten a green vegetable, you found your guy.

If you were a white supremacist, you found your guy.

If your ego contained a hole so large not even the presidency could fill it, you found your guy.

If you were a sociopath who cared not one molecule about other humans, you found your guy.

If he had only two of these traits, he never would have won. He won because he had hundreds of them, and millions of people recognized themselves in at least one.

This has never been about Trump. It has always been about the people who finally had their worst instincts validated.

Trump didn’t create the cruelty; he licensed it. He handed out permission slips for hate.

He is merely a symptom of a far deeper disease: collective toxicity.

If there is one sentence that explains Trump’s power, it is this: “He says the things I’m thinking.”

That’s the part that should chill the spine.'

That's the best explanation i've seen!

It raises the question "Just how many ignorant losers have the vote in America?"

Answer: "All of them"

20 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

'Let’s get something straight: it has never been about Trump, not for one second.

Trump is just the mascot.

The real story is the people who finally saw themselves in him and felt validated by what they saw.

I actually believe most of them will drift away when the cult collapses, like embarrassed fans of a one-hit wonder. Many of them will swear they were never really into him at all. The MAGA amnesia is going to be epic.

I used to wonder how it was possible that Trump could have won in 2016 and then again in 2024, given how emotionally toxic, morally vacant, and psychologically mangled he is.

I don’t wonder anymore.

I think he won for that exact reason.

He wasn’t a candidate. He was a mirror.

If you were a racist, you found your guy.

If you were a misogynist, you found your guy.

If money was your only religion, you found your guy.

If your heart was armored shut, you found your guy.

If you mocked disabled people, you found your guy.

If you hated intelligent people, you found your guy.

If you were a rapist, you found your guy.

If you’d done absolutely nothing to confront your emotional wreckage, you found your guy.

If you were a serial cheater, you found your guy.

If you were a perpetual bankrupt, you found your guy.

If you stiffed honest workers, you found your guy.

If you were a conman, you found your guy.

If you mocked people’s appearances, you found your guy.

If you longed for a toxic Daddy, you found your guy.

If you were dissociated and disembodied, you found your guy.

If you were unconscionable in every economic dealing, you found your guy.

If you lied as naturally as breathing, you found your guy.

If you’d never eaten a green vegetable, you found your guy.

If you were a white supremacist, you found your guy.

If your ego contained a hole so large not even the presidency could fill it, you found your guy.

If you were a sociopath who cared not one molecule about other humans, you found your guy.

If he had only two of these traits, he never would have won. He won because he had hundreds of them, and millions of people recognized themselves in at least one.

This has never been about Trump. It has always been about the people who finally had their worst instincts validated.

Trump didn’t create the cruelty; he licensed it. He handed out permission slips for hate.

He is merely a symptom of a far deeper disease: collective toxicity.

If there is one sentence that explains Trump’s power, it is this: “He says the things I’m thinking.”

That’s the part that should chill the spine.'

Thanks for the morning laugh.

5 hours ago, VBF said:

That's the best explanation i've seen!

It raises the question "Just how many ignorant losers have the vote in America?"

Answer: "All of them"

You people are so full of yourselves.

Maybe not the right place, but appeared right now in my feed

49 minutes ago, Effective altruism said:

You people are so full of yourselves.

What people might "we" be then?

1 minute ago, VBF said:

What people might "we" be then?

People who love to virtual signal or cry about Trump all the time.

21 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

I used to wonder how it was possible that Trump could have won in 2016 and then again in 2024, given how emotionally toxic, morally vacant, and psychologically mangled he is.

Not difficult ......... nobody wanted Hillary or Kamala .......

1 minute ago, Effective altruism said:

People who love to virtual signal or cry about Trump all the time.

Actually if you read the post to which i replied, I was more commenting on the perspicacity of the electorate, so perhaps the boot is on the other foot here?

But as I know slanging matches are disapproved of here, i shall leave it at that.

A very good morrow to you sir.

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Not difficult ......... nobody wanted Hillary or Kamala .......

That's something that British and Americans have in common - voting a government OUT rather than voting one IN.

But then we're all faced with a lack of choice, aren't we?

19 hours ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Feel better getting that off your chest? Now you can concentrate on getting him out of your head.

Nooooo.... Now we concentrate on getting him out of office.

1 hour ago, FolkGuitar said:

Nooooo.... Now we concentrate on getting him out of office.

Just wait 3 years and he'll be gone.

8 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Just wait 3 years and he'll be gone.

Hopefully it will be sooner.

1 hour ago, FolkGuitar said:

Nooooo.... Now we concentrate on getting him out of office.

20 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Just wait 3 years and he'll be gone.

By then, there will be nothing left of the United States of America.

1 hour ago, VBF said:

Actually if you read the post to which i replied, I was more commenting on the perspicacity of the electorate, so perhaps the boot is on the other foot here?

But as I know slanging matches are disapproved of here, i shall leave it at that.

A very good morrow to you sir.

There is nothing wrong with the electorate. They know the Dems are losers.

23 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

'Let’s get something straight: it has never been about Trump, not for one second.

Trump is just the mascot.

The real story is the people who finally saw themselves in him and felt validated by what they saw.

I actually believe most of them will drift away when the cult collapses, like embarrassed fans of a one-hit wonder. Many of them will swear they were never really into him at all. The MAGA amnesia is going to be epic.

I used to wonder how it was possible that Trump could have won in 2016 and then again in 2024, given how emotionally toxic, morally vacant, and psychologically mangled he is.

I don’t wonder anymore.

I think he won for that exact reason.

He wasn’t a candidate. He was a mirror.

If you were a racist, you found your guy.

If you were a misogynist, you found your guy.

If money was your only religion, you found your guy.

If your heart was armored shut, you found your guy.

If you mocked disabled people, you found your guy.

If you hated intelligent people, you found your guy.

If you were a rapist, you found your guy.

If you’d done absolutely nothing to confront your emotional wreckage, you found your guy.

If you were a serial cheater, you found your guy.

If you were a perpetual bankrupt, you found your guy.

If you stiffed honest workers, you found your guy.

If you were a conman, you found your guy.

If you mocked people’s appearances, you found your guy.

If you longed for a toxic Daddy, you found your guy.

If you were dissociated and disembodied, you found your guy.

If you were unconscionable in every economic dealing, you found your guy.

If you lied as naturally as breathing, you found your guy.

If you’d never eaten a green vegetable, you found your guy.

If you were a white supremacist, you found your guy.

If your ego contained a hole so large not even the presidency could fill it, you found your guy.

If you were a sociopath who cared not one molecule about other humans, you found your guy.

If he had only two of these traits, he never would have won. He won because he had hundreds of them, and millions of people recognized themselves in at least one.

This has never been about Trump. It has always been about the people who finally had their worst instincts validated.

Trump didn’t create the cruelty; he licensed it. He handed out permission slips for hate.

He is merely a symptom of a far deeper disease: collective toxicity.

If there is one sentence that explains Trump’s power, it is this: “He says the things I’m thinking.”

That’s the part that should chill the spine.'

You should look up a guy called Keegan Tatum (https://www.youtube.com/@TheOneKeeganTatum) who talks about the Psychology of Politics. His take on MAGA (backed by peer reviwed studies) goes a long way to explaining why so many MAGA fans blindly follow Trump, irrespective of the facts that get presented to them.

Very interesting and worth a watch.

5 hours ago, johnnybangkok said:

You should look up a guy called Keegan Tatum (https://www.youtube.com/@TheOneKeeganTatum) who talks about the Psychology of Politics. His take on MAGA (backed by peer reviwed studies) goes a long way to explaining why so many MAGA fans blindly follow Trump, irrespective of the facts that get presented to them.

Very interesting and worth a watch.

Indeed. Before he even mentioned fear, the word entered my mind.

I would add the fear of losing face in front of one's peer groups is a strong motivator to avoid change. That's as distinct from just wanting to follow a particular herd....IMO of course.

Then of course the politicisation of religion.....

14 hours ago, VBF said:

That's the best explanation i've seen!

It raises the question "Just how many ignorant losers have the vote in America?"

Answer: "All of them"

This type of rhetoric makes me happy that Trump won.

Just now, TedG said:

This type of rhetoric makes me happy that Trump won.

I rest my case!

10 minutes ago, VBF said:

I rest my case!

I’m enjoying your tears.

On 1/6/2026 at 7:09 AM, Effective altruism said:

People who love to virtual signal or cry about Trump all the time.

Hilarious from a guy with your board name.

Talk about virtue signaling.

On 1/6/2026 at 8:49 AM, johnnybangkok said:

You should look up a guy called Keegan Tatum (https://www.youtube.com/@TheOneKeeganTatum) who talks about the Psychology of Politics. His take on MAGA (backed by peer reviwed studies) goes a long way to explaining why so many MAGA fans blindly follow Trump, irrespective of the facts that get presented to them.

Very interesting and worth a watch.

On 1/6/2026 at 2:54 PM, VBF said:

Indeed. Before he even mentioned fear, the word entered my mind.

I would add the fear of losing face in front of one's peer groups is a strong motivator to avoid change. That's as distinct from just wanting to follow a particular herd....IMO of course.

Then of course the politicisation of religion.....

Yes, he makes some good points. But, and it is a big but, he does not seem to acknowledge that "conservativism" as such is not inherently wrong. The brand of British political conservatism which I espouse (note the small "c" - the British political party of that name has rather given up on the principle) believes that things which work and produce beneficial results for society, and individuals should be conserved - kept, it does not necessarily opposed change or reform; again if it benefits society and individuals.

PS - he could do with a haircut as well!

1 hour ago, JAG said:

Yes, he makes some good points. But, and it is a big but, he does not seem to acknowledge that "conservativism" as such is not inherently wrong. The brand of British political conservatism which I espouse (note the small "c" - the British political party of that name has rather given up on the principle) believes that things which work and produce beneficial results for society, and individuals should be conserved - kept, it does not necessarily opposed change or reform; again if it benefits society and individuals.

PS - he could do with a haircut as well!

I don't think he is really focused on conservatism 'with a small c'. I think he is mostly talking about the far-right and MAGA movement which could never be described with any 'small' letters.

Equally so, 'things which work and produce beneficial results for society' should, in my opinion be dominant in any political agenda but the far-right and MAGA are insular, selfish, myopic and tribal. The 'you're not in my gang' mentality is fueling an even greater political divide, with all sides struggling to find ANY compromise, much to the detriment of society as a whole.

6 hours ago, johnnybangkok said:

7 hours ago, JAG said:

Yes, he makes some good points. But, and it is a big but, he does not seem to acknowledge that "conservativism" as such is not inherently wrong. The brand of British political conservatism which I espouse (note the small "c" - the British political party of that name has rather given up on the principle) believes that things which work and produce beneficial results for society, and individuals should be conserved - kept, it does not necessarily opposed change or reform; again if it benefits society and individuals.

PS - he could do with a haircut as well!

I don't think he is really focused on conservatism 'with a small c'. I think he is mostly talking about the far-right and MAGA movement which could never be described with any 'small' letters.

Equally so, 'things which work and produce beneficial results for society' should, in my opinion be dominant in any political agenda but the far-right and MAGA are insular, selfish, myopic and tribal. The 'you're not in my gang' mentality is fueling an even greater political divide, with all sides struggling to find ANY compromise, much to the detriment of society as a whole.

I think i'm inclined to agree with @johnnybangkok more than I do with @JAG although you do make some valid points @JAG until that is you mentioned his hair, which is irrelevant.

If you let your opinions be swayed by personal appearance then I question the basis on which you formed those opinions. It would appear that you're thinking "just another hippy" Unless of course, I'm missing a sarcastic joke?

5 hours ago, VBF said:

I think i'm inclined to agree with @johnnybangkok more than I do with @JAG although you do make some valid points @JAG until that is you mentioned his hair, which is irrelevant.

If you let your opinions be swayed by personal appearance then I question the basis on which you formed those opinions. It would appear that you're thinking "just another hippy" Unless of course, I'm missing a sarcastic joke?

You are missing a joke I'm afraid!

Never mind!

On 1/5/2026 at 9:24 AM, FolkGuitar said:

Let’s get something straight: it has never been about Trump,

Wrong.

Just read TV.

Believe me....

It's about TRUMP.

26 minutes ago, JAG said:

You are missing a joke I'm afraid!

Never mind!

Just wasn't sure

If they didnt have Trump, they would have no life. With many Trump haters, its a psychiatric issue.

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

If they didnt have Trump, they would have no life. With many Trump haters, its a psychiatric issue.

Making it personal means you've got nothing.