General Discussion

edhopper

(33,667 posts) Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:05 PM Apr 28

perhaps it's cognative dissonance

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. People tend to seek consistency in their attitudes and perceptions, so this conflict causes unpleasant feelings of unease or discomfort.

For all other GOP Presidents and candidates in my lifetime, I could see the rational reason to vote for them. I disagreed and thought those reasons were wrong, but I could understand the support on some level. Maybe that is why when they faltered, people in general would turn from them.
Reagan showed he was an out of touch old man with mental fitness issues at the end and his popularity fell. GWB showed himself to be incompetent, the veneer of a successful Governor and competent war leader fell away.

There is nothing about Trump to rationally support him. An ignorant, incompetent, corrupt narcissist with no redeeming virtues. So those who support him either accept they were completely taken in by a huckster con man, or they don't accept how wrong their judgement was and double down on their support for him. Ignoring everything about him and imagining things that have no basis in reality.

13 replies

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perhaps it's cognative dissonance (Original Post) edhopper Apr 28 OP

Another possibility might be... Think. Again. Apr 28 #1

That too edhopper Apr 28 #2

Because his values reflect their values - lack of empathy, desires for absolute power erronis Apr 28 #5

Trashy people liking a trashy man syndrome kimbutgar Apr 28 #6

Every conservative is fueled by the exact same false hope. DesertDemocrat Apr 28 #3

Good post edhopper Apr 28 #4

Agree - good post. But please try to condense and reformat the text. erronis Apr 28 #7

If presidents can pardon themselves why didnt he? He had the chance but what - forgot? Blues Heron Apr 28 #12

I think R's, like John Yoo, in love with Unitary Executive Model35mech Apr 28 #8

Cognative dissonance or, Disaffected Apr 28 #9

I don't know why it's hard for people to understand -- Trump either says things they agree wtih (racist, WhiskeyGrinder Apr 28 #10

In some cases... moondust Apr 28 #11

We've all heard it. Prairie_Seagull Apr 28 #13

Think. Again.

(8,902 posts)

1. Another possibility might be...

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:16 PM

Apr 28

...that they know exactly what a trash human being he is, and for some reason they like that.

edhopper

(33,667 posts)

2. That too

Reply to Think. Again. (Reply #1)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:23 PM

Apr 28

there are different segments to his support. And the bigoted Nazis like him for what he is.

erronis

(15,470 posts)

5. Because his values reflect their values - lack of empathy, desires for absolute power

Reply to Think. Again. (Reply #1)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:48 PM

Apr 28

All the wannabe's that have dreams of being just like trump in all his glory.

They don't see him without his clothes (rinse your eyes!)

kimbutgar

(21,285 posts)

6. Trashy people liking a trashy man syndrome

Reply to Think. Again. (Reply #1)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:49 PM

Apr 28

DesertDemocrat

(2 posts)

3. Every conservative is fueled by the exact same false hope.

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:23 PM

Apr 28

Every conservative is fueled by the same false hope. That if Donald Trump wins the election. He will be able to pardon himself. And make all of his crimes and legal jeopardy magically go away. And nobody will ever know or remember that he tried to illegally overturn the results of the election that he lost...But this is obviously not the case...---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The more intelligent people are fully aware that if Donald Trump is convicted of felonies in New York. He will not be able to pardon himself. Even if he wins the election. Presidents do not have the ability to pardon other people or themselves for state crimes. They can only pardon other people or themselves for federal crimes. Trump's current criminal trial only involves state crimes. If Donald Trump is convicted of felonies in New York. He will always be a convicted felon....If Trump's criminal election case in Georgia doesn't begin before the 2024 election. Donald Trump will still have to go through that criminal trial. After his term as president.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (This is not the point of this post. As most of us are already know this. The point of this is to help other democrats understand which messaging we should use) This is the key!!!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have to talk to and deal with conservatives every single day. Both in person and online. There is absolutely nothing that you can say to them. That discourages and disappoints them more. Than when they come to the realization that Donald Trump will not be able to pardon himself for any of his crimes in his New York and Georgia criminal cases. Their entire personality shifts when they learn this. Because it takes away the perceived power that they falsely believe they have. And it leaves them with a candidate who, if convicted. Will always be a convicted felon. And a candidate who is going to have to go through a criminal trial for trying to illegally disenfranchise a record setting number of Americans. Whether he wins the election or not......----------------------------------------------------
The key is in spreading this message. And informing conservatives that Trump winning the election. Would not be some kind of magical cure-all for all of his crimes and legal jeopardy. Most conservatives have no idea that Trump will not be able to pardon himself for at least half of his crimes. I have tried everything I can think of to reach them (None of these people mind or care that Trump tried to illegally overturn the results of the election that he lost. What they care about more than anything in the world. Is the idea of him not being held accountable, convicted, or punished for it) If he is convicted in New York, he will always be a convicted felon. If his criminal trial in Georgia doesn't happen before the 2024 election. He will still have to go through that criminal trial.
This is the simplest and most effective way to discourage conservative enthusiasm for voting in the 2024 election.---------------------------------------- You have to take away their false right-wing fantasy. And inform them that the record setting number of Americans who voted for Joe Biden. Are not going to somehow decide that they want to vote for the presidential candidate. Who has been arrested and charged with dozens of felonies. And is currently out on bail for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because he tried to illegally disenfranchise their votes. ..........See you all in the comments sections! Hopefully.

edhopper

(33,667 posts)

4. Good post

Reply to DesertDemocrat (Reply #3)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:26 PM

Apr 28

welcome to DU

erronis

(15,470 posts)

7. Agree - good post. But please try to condense and reformat the text.

Reply to DesertDemocrat (Reply #3)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:50 PM

Apr 28

Old eyes have a hard time separating your various thoughts.

Blues Heron

(5,955 posts)

12. If presidents can pardon themselves why didnt he? He had the chance but what - forgot?

Reply to DesertDemocrat (Reply #3)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 06:54 PM

Apr 28

Model35mech

(1,596 posts)

8. I think R's, like John Yoo, in love with Unitary Executive

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 05:54 PM

Apr 28

Would see trump as a guy that could supplant that half-step to autocracy with the final leap.

Rs values re-governance are often not reasonable.

Disaffected

(4,574 posts)

9. Cognative dissonance or,

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 06:07 PM

Apr 28

perhaps more frequently, cognitive absence.

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,525 posts)

10. I don't know why it's hard for people to understand -- Trump either says things they agree wtih (racist,

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 06:15 PM

Apr 28

mean) or they enjoy the chaos he brings. It's pretty straightforward.

moondust

(20,028 posts)

11. In some cases...

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 06:25 PM

Apr 28

Future Shock

~
(In 1970) Alvin Toffler argued that society is undergoing an enormous structural change, a revolution from an industrial society to a "super-industrial society". This change overwhelms people. He argues that the accelerated rate of technological and social change leaves people disconnected and suffering from "shattering stress and disorientation"—future shocked. Toffler stated that the majority of social problems are symptoms of future shock. In his discussion of the components of such shock he popularized the term information overload
~

Overwhelmed by too much information and lacking the critical thinking skills to sort it all out.

I read the book in the 70s but haven't watched the documentary yet:

Prairie_Seagull

(3,350 posts)

13. We've all heard it.

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sun Apr 28, 2024, 07:45 PM

Apr 28

Locks (laws) only keep an honest person honest. People for whom dishonesty/badness is just below the surface, Tsf had the right key to unlock much of the bad. The rest of us just know the correct way to be.

IMO

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