But they won't respond by listening to the public; they'll respond by ratcheting up the menace.

“For Trump, the only freedom that matters in this election is his personal freedom. He’s conducted himself throughout the campaign under an assumption that he’d win. Imagine how destructive he’ll become if he starts to believe that he’s headed for defeat, followed by criminal trials, bankruptcy, and imprisonment.”

  • someguy3@lemmy.world
    31·
    2 months ago

    They will see only one option, and it will be to intimidate and demoralize the anti-Trump movement all over again. Mission critical for Trump and his allies now will be to resow the defeatism and fatigue that has marked liberal politics for well over a year now. They also have a ton at stake, but in their case it’s not the high ideals of democracy, freedom, and human decency.

    …

    As for the rest of the GOP [other than Trump], winning or stealing the election is the only way to stave off the recriminations that will follow if, after remaking themselves in Trump’s image, Trump is defeated once and for all. The suddenly leaderless party will be overrun by thousands of minions who mimic Trump’s cruelty and aggression but lack his celebrity and charisma. The only people left to stand in their way will be the remnants of the old guard that allowed them to take over in the first place. How’s that likely to go?