Considering what many loyal Trump followers believe about what is being reported by the mainstream media, one wonders how the fictional Ted Baxter could be considered an idiot - when these people get their "news" from an outlet (Fox News) whose viewers test as knowing less than if they didn't watch any news at all.
Last night, as I write this, a New York judge ruled that the Trump Organization's finances were fraudulent, and that this fact need not be tested before a jury. So, what does this mean fr the rest of us? If one watches the "liberal" news outlets, this is painted as Trump finally getting his comeuppance in business. By distorting financial information, he has defrauded both the state, his banks, and the public. If one watches the right wing news outlets, this is painted as our ex-president being attacked by the "deep state." What I see is that a cult leader's corruption is being exposed to the public, and that its followers are fighting the cognitive dissonance that occurs when one truth competes with another in their minds.
Trump, simply, is a two-bit grifter who got lucky for a while. If it weren't for "The Apprentice" show, he would never have been portrayed as a successful businessman on TV. All of these shows followed a loose script, with Trump making judgements on whether someone succeeded or failed, usually ending one contestant's run with the phrase: "You're Fired!" If an uneducated person were to see this show, s/he might think that he is the model of a successful businessman, and someone who could run a country if given the chance.
Think of the phrase: "I, alone, can fix it." His loyal followers never will ask the simple question: "Did he do it, alone or not?" They see others getting in his way, and blame his (and their) failures on his opponents. The rest of us know he's unfit even to work as a carny. But the Dunning-Kruger effect has kicked in. Those who know the least about a subject will think they know much more than they do about that subject. They will follow people who shout loud and project confidence, not people who speak softly and know how much there is yet to know about things. This is simple, but a sad part of our human nature.
Why am I worried?
Right now, Trump is ahead of Biden in preliminary polling. If Trump regains the presidency, we will again see political chaos, and the erosion of human rights. As a transgender person, I fear what forces he will unleash to cement his hold on power. But what happens if Trump is convicted in one of his criminal cases, and is unable to serve? Virtually all other GOP candidates are likely to win against Biden. Bailing out for the good of the Democratic party's chance of winning the 2024 election may not be on Biden's radar right now.
I fear a competent GOP leader in the White House, as s/he would be beholding to many of the same people who supported Trump. But being competent, this person may do much worse than Trump ever could do. Unlike Trump, this person knows that s/he alone can't do it. But s/he with others can do it. And we already know that they want to do to us transgender people....
