Some observations

I went home to north-central Pennsylvania for Easter to see my family. Lock Haven is prototypical Trump country. Rural, working class, nearly entirely white, and in economic decline since Piper Aircraft took it's high paying manufacturing jobs to Florida in the 1970s.

At a gathering with my extended family politics came up, as it always does. My cousins were all enthusiastic Trumpers. I decided to listen more than talk. Their support was voiced nearly exclusively in personal terms. "Trump is strong, speaks forcefully, is a refreshing change, really shakes things up, puts those elites in their place".

There really was no mention of policy details, and only a rudimentary interest in facts. I asked about the deficit and was told that cutting "foreign aid" would address it, but that no one should touch SS or Medicare.

At one point I did gently suggest that Trump's Tweets were often unbecoming the office, and more importantly, not particularly helpful to advancing an agenda. A cousin replied, "I love his tweets. I hope he keeps it up. It drives liberals crazy". There was a general consensus in the room that the more outrageous the better.

I let that sink in. Then I looked at my Facebook page, which is dominated by liberals. Many of my friends are fond of posting what I would call "Liberal Clickbait" (I'm sure it comes in a conservative flavor too).
These are little video clips of a liberal politician or pundit ranting, and are entitled with things like, "Soandso Destroys Trump", or Soandso Shreds Ryan". They are highly personal, and devoid of policy detail.

Turn your attention to the cable shows, and notice that when Maddow or Hannity have a guest from the other team on the show they don't seek to interview. They seek to destroy.

We rarely utter a detailed  assertive argument  for something.
But, being  against  someone? That we can do.

These observations have lead me to an epiphany. Politics has changed. Yea, we still use language like big government or limited government, but we no longer think about what the terms mean.

Politics today is attitudinal, not ideological.

The reason to be for someone is that you do not like who is against them. What matters more than policy is your side’s winning, and what matters more than your side’s winning is the other side’s losing.

So, it really doesn't matter what Trump does in office. What is important is that he Drives liberals crazy. In other words, it matters that he insults, angers and defeats the people his people don't like.

Look at Trump's Executive Orders on Coal and the environment. They won't bring coal mining jobs back for the little guy. They will just make it easier for industry to dirty the air his son breathes, and the water his daughter drinks.
But, that's not important.

The EO's are the symbolic equivalent of giving the finger to the people his people don't like.
And that is what matters.
 

Last edited by Goose (5/04/2017 3:14 pm)