U.S. Politics

[Tom Graves]

   Good to have you aboard the Trump Train.

The only one crazier than Ozzy Osbourne's, Comrade.

[Royell Storing]

 That would be Now that you're aboard?

[Tom Graves]

That would be now that you're aboard?

No, but I am thinking about driving my car to Arkansas to visit my relatives in Parkin, Harrison, and Heber Springs. Maybe I'll drop by and visit you while I'm there!

[Richard Smith]

Either that, or, more likely, he knows there's oodles and gobs of footage showing him banging the heck out of 14-year-olds.

And the corrupt Biden DOJ sat on that?  The same DOJ that conjured up every dirty trick to derail his campaign.  LOL.

[Lance Payette]

Just my morning musing, but I am struck by how cult-like this has all become. Discussions of actual issues ("Is this a good or bad idea?") seem almost nonexistent. It's all either "Messiah Trump wants it, and therefore we love it" or "Antichrist Trump wants it, and therefore we hate it." It's quite bizarre, isn't it? As my Trump-loathing best friend said long ago, the GOP could have elected someone with essentially identical ideas and policies who would not have instantly divided the country into two warring cults. (One reason many Democrats are part of a Trump-loathing cult, of course, is that this is the best they can do at the moment; they have no Trump-alternative Messiah of their own.)

[Royell Storing]

Just my morning musing, but I am struck by how cult-like this has all become. Discussions of actual issues ("Is this a good or bad idea?") seem almost nonexistent. It's all either "Messiah Trump wants it, and therefore we love it" or "Antichrist Trump wants it, and therefore we hate it." It's quite bizarre, isn't it? As my Trump-loathing best friend said long ago, the GOP could have elected someone with essentially identical ideas and policies who would not have instantly divided the country into two warring cults. (One reason many Democrats are part of a Trump-loathing cult, of course, is that this is the best they can do at the moment; they have no Trump-alternative Messiah of their own.)

   To claim that the, "....GOP could have elected someone with essentially identical ideas and policies........", only displays full blown political naivete. The GOP all by itself is Not capable of electing a POTUS. Trump got a ton of Dem votes and that included the Black Male Voters that told Obama to go fly a kite when he slummed it and dropped into into a couple of Black Barber Shops. They showed him the door and voted Republican. It is now a New Dem Party and a smaller Dem Party too. Voters are currently leaving the Dem Party by the Millions. Just like the general population of Calif & New York. If you notice, Florida now has more electoral votes than NY. A state's total electoral votes are based on their population. This is why Calif currently wants to redistrict and ensure more Dem Reps in congress. With ICE now arresting/removing Illegal Aliens from Calif, that state's population is currently in even further decline. This will soon be reflected in their declining number of votes in the Electoral College. Exactly as we saw in NY.     

[Richard Smith]

Just my morning musing, but I am struck by how cult-like this has all become. Discussions of actual issues ("Is this a good or bad idea?") seem almost nonexistent. It's all either "Messiah Trump wants it, and therefore we love it" or "Antichrist Trump wants it, and therefore we hate it." It's quite bizarre, isn't it? As my Trump-loathing best friend said long ago, the GOP could have elected someone with essentially identical ideas and policies who would not have instantly divided the country into two warring cults. (One reason many Democrats are part of a Trump-loathing cult, of course, is that this is the best they can do at the moment; they have no Trump-alternative Messiah of their own.)

I'm not sure why there is a need to characterize Trump supporters as a cult.  They are certainly more diverse in their political opinions than Dems who are like bees in a hive always voting the party line.  In my own case, I can only say that I agree with almost all of Trump's policies.  Closing the border, ending wars, fair trade deals, looking into why we spend the most money on health care and education and get the worst results, making cities safe from crime.  Those are important and obvious concerns.  That is why I support him.  The establishment politicians on both sides have created and ignored these problems for decades.  Trump doesn't have all the solutions but at least he has identified the correct problems.  There is nothing fanatical about that.  Every politician has supporters.  The media has attempted to brainwash the public with something that borders on a psych-operation into believing that there is something different and unhealthy about those who support Trump.  And they have done an effective job.  Which is why so many folks have become completely unhinged on the topic.

Trump resonates with many people because he applies common sense to most issues.  He is a flawed person in many respects, but that is less important than the results.  Many Trump haters are obsessed with him rather than his policies.  There simply is and has never been any individual in American politics who could break the stranglehold that the establishment has put on power over the last 100 years.  Trump did that which is why the establishment has pulled all the levers of power to stop him.  Nothing worked.  We would have had eight long years of Hillary and/or a Kamala administration but for Trump.  I honestly don't think the country could have recovered from either of those two.  If nothing else, we owe him a debt of gratitude for that.

[Lance Payette]

I'm not sure why there is a need to characterize Trump supporters as a cult.

I am, in general, a Trump supporter in the sense of supporting many of his policies and objectives - certainly in comparison to those of Kamala and her supporters. I am far from a Trump cultist. He is more than "flawed" - I am concerned that his megalomania borders on (or crosses into) insanity, that he is erratic past the point that should be acceptable in any leader, and that he is one step from becoming genuinely frightening. The checks and balances that should exist within our system of government seem to have vanished under Trump.

Here, from an article in Psychology Today that was written before The Donald ever ran for office, are the warnings signs of a dangerous cult leader. Not all fit Trump because this is talking principally about religious cults, but a lot of them are him to a T:

He has a grandiose idea of who he is and what he can achieve.
Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, or brilliance.
Demands blind, unquestioned obedience.
Requires excessive admiration from followers and outsiders.
Has a sense of entitlement—expecting to be treated as special at all times.
Exploits others by asking for their money or that of relatives, putting others at financial risk.
Is arrogant and haughty in his behavior or attitude.
Has an exaggerated sense of power (entitlement) that allows him to bend rules and break laws.
Takes sexual advantage of members of his sect or cult.
Sex is a requirement with adults and sub-adults as part of a ritual or rite.
Is hypersensitive to how he is seen or perceived by others.
Publicly devalues others as being inferior, incapable, or not worthy.
Makes members confess their sins or faults, publicly subjecting them to ridicule or humiliation while revealing the exploitable weaknesses of the penitent.
Has ignored the needs of others, including biological, physical, emotional, and financial needs.
Is frequently boastful of accomplishments.
Needs to be the center of attention and does things to distract others to ensure that he or she is being noticed, e.g., by arriving late, using exotic clothing, overdramatic speech, or by making theatrical entrances.
Has insisted on always having the best of anything (house, car, jewelry, clothes) even when others are relegated to lesser facilities, amenities, or clothing.
Doesn’t seem to listen well to the needs of others; communication is usually one-way, in the form of dictates.
Haughtiness, grandiosity, and the need to be controlling are part of his personality.
Behaves as though people are objects to be used, manipulated, or exploited for personal gain.
When criticized he tends to lash out not just with anger but with rage.
Anyone who criticizes or questions him is called an “enemy.”
Refers to non-members or non-believers as “the enemy.”
Acts imperious at times, not wishing to know what others think or desire.
Believes himself to be omnipotent.
Has “magical” answers or solutions to problems.
Is superficially charming.
Habitually puts down others as inferior; only he is superior.
Has a certain coldness or aloofness about him that makes others worry about who this person is and or whether they know him.
Is deeply offended when there are perceived signs of boredom, being ignored or slighted.
Treats others with contempt and arrogance.
Is constantly assessing people to determine those who are a threat or those who revere him.
The word “I” dominates his conversations. He is oblivious to how often he references himself.
Hates to be embarrassed or fail publicly; when he does he acts out with rage.
Doesn’t seem to feel guilty for anything he has done wrong nor does he apologize for his actions.
Believes he possesses the answers and solutions to world problems.
Believes himself to be a deity or a chosen representative of a deity.
"Rigid," "unbending," or "insensitive" describes how this person thinks.
Tries to control others in what they do, read, view, or think.
Has isolated members of his sect from contact with family or the outside world.
Monitors and/or restricts contact with family or outsiders.
Works the least but demands the most.
Has stated that he is “destined for greatness” or that he will be “martyred.”
Seems to be highly dependent on tribute and adoration and will often fish for compliments.
Uses enforcers or sycophants to ensure compliance from members or believers.
Sees themself as “unstoppable” and perhaps has even said so.
Conceals background or family, which would disclose how plain or ordinary he is.
Doesn’t think there is anything wrong with himself and sees himself as perfect or “blessed.”
Has taken away followers' freedom to leave, to travel, to pursue life and liberty.
Has isolated the group physically (moved to a remote area) to not be observed.

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spycatcher/201208/dangerous-cult-leaders