Why are so many Trump supporters attracted to the JFKA?

[John Corbett]

Imagine the state of this country if she had become president having never won a single primary?  That would have been the final straw.  Even the most deranged TDS sufferer must know that she was unqualified to manage a 7-11 much less be president.  Trump spared us that nightmare.  My beef with Trump is that while his policy decisions are sound, he often can't implement them.  And he is often his own worst enemy.  That's Trump, though.  A flawed person.  I'll take him over any these corrupt, incompetent establishment politicians any day of the week.

Do you think if Trump had been a typical play it safe politician, he ever could have defied the odds and become President in the first place. The reason so many people hate him is the same reason so many people love him. He says what's on his mind and he doesn't sugarcoat it. Trump took over the GOP because the establishment Republicans would talk a good game but would never stand up to the Democrats. As soon as the Democrats would start to call them racists or Nazis, they would wet the pants and fold their cards, even when they had a winning hand. I got fed up with them in the 1990s when they finally got control of both houses of Congress but let Bill Clinton play them like a fiddle. They did accomplish some things but there was so much more they could have done. Even when Bush 43 got elected, they still wouldn't press their advantage. I refused to vote for McCain and I had to hold my nose when I voted for Romney. Now I wish I hadn't. Ryan and Boehner were ineffective as Speakers. The continued the tradition of rolling over whenever the Democrats started talking mean to them.

When Trump entered the race in 2015, I had reservations. I didn't know what to expect from him. I voted Libertarian in 2016. But then I saw how he governed and realized the GOP had finally found a fighter. The rank and filed of the GOP figured that out too most of them even before I did. I enthusiastically voted for Trump in both 2020 and 2024. I would do so again in 2028 if he was allowed to run. He has shown the rest of the GOP how to fight the Dems. I want to see which of the expected candidates in 2028 shows he (or she) will do the same.

[Richard Smith]

Do you think if Trump had been a typical play it safe politician, he ever could have defied the odds and become President in the first place. The reason so many people hate him is the same reason so many people love him. He says what's on his mind and he doesn't sugarcoat it. Trump took over the GOP because the establishment Republicans would talk a good game but would never stand up to the Democrats. As soon as the Democrats would start to call them racists or Nazis, they would wet the pants and fold their cards, even when they had a winning hand. I got fed up with them in the 1990s when they finally got control of both houses of Congress but let Bill Clinton play them like a fiddle. They did accomplish some things but there was so much more they could have done. Even when Bush 43 got elected, they still wouldn't press their advantage. I refused to vote for McCain and I had to hold my nose when I voted for Romney. Now I wish I hadn't. Ryan and Boehner were ineffective as Speakers. The continued the tradition of rolling over whenever the Democrats started talking mean to them.

When Trump entered the race in 2015, I had reservations. I didn't know what to expect from him. I voted Libertarian in 2016. But then I saw how he governed and realized the GOP had finally found a fighter. The rank and filed of the GOP figured that out too most of them even before I did. I enthusiastically voted for Trump in both 2020 and 2024. I would do so again in 2028 if he was allowed to run. He has shown the rest of the GOP how to fight the Dems. I want to see which of the expected candidates in 2028 shows he (or she) will do the same.

No other person in US history could have withstood all Trump has had to deal with and become president. Twice. The media bias, establishment resistance, assassins, lawfare etc.  It has always been an uphill fight. His election was a miracle.  Breaking the establishment hold on power.  With that said, the same characteristics undermine him.  He is a flawed person always fighting invisible enemies.  While it is great to make the right decisions, they are undermined if you can't implement them or get derailed.  My fear is that Trump leaves office with more missed opportunities than accomplishments.  He often is baited into playing into the media traps and lots of time and effort is wasted.

[Benjamin Cole]

RS--

Somewhat agree, but then also---what the hell goes on when Trump tweets on Truth Social?

Trump in person, fielding questions from reporters and so on, makes a fair impression. He is no JFK or LBJ, but is OK on his feet. Anyone would say Trump is more in the game than Biden, for example. Or even Bush Jr.

Then Trump gets on Truth Social and appears to be a lunatic.

[Lance Payette]

No other person in US history could have withstood all Trump has had to deal with and become president. Twice. The media bias, establishment resistance, assassins, lawfare etc.  It has always been an uphill fight. His election was a miracle.  Breaking the establishment hold on power.  With that said, the same characteristics undermine him.  He is a flawed person always fighting invisible enemies.  While it is great to make the right decisions, they are undermined if you can't implement them or get derailed.  My fear is that Trump leaves office with more missed opportunities than accomplishments.  He often is baited into playing into the media traps and lots of time and effort is wasted.

A very rational perspective that I mostly share, Richard. Unfortunately, I fear Trump's megalomania has caused him to believe his election ACTUALLY WAS A MIRACLE and that his every thought and act has the divine stamp of approval. As I've said before, I voted for him twice and was prepared to do so the third time but messed up my mail-in ballot and said the hell with it. The Trump I see now is more unbalanced and frightening than the Trump for whom I voted the first time. For a long time, I was willing to chalk up his "eccentricities" to an act that he was mostly enjoying and having fun with. Now I see him as seriously disturbed and even frightening. I think what's wrong with Trump is much more psychological and serious than simply being baited into playing into media traps. It would be wonderful if there were checks and balances in terms of close advisers who were something other than cowed yes-men and yes-women, but Trump is seemingly incapable of tolerating any dissension.