Getting Trumped

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

There was a "yipes" MSN article a couple of days ago that should cause concern for Trump and the MAGOP.  It’s a silly topic, but I think it’s actually very problematic despite that silliness – or perhaps even because of its silliness.

We all know that Trump has flourished by creating and encouraging a base that exists on conspiracy theories. But now this MSN article notes that those very same conspiracy "theorists" in MAGAworld are pointed against  Trump – and not just the base, but also some really major MAGA public figures – like Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes and others -- wondering (among many conspiracy theories) if the Butler assassination-attempt shooting was staged!  And if Trump is the antichrist!

Yes, all the conspiracy theories together are loony.  But remember, this is the MAGA base.  This is the group that believed in Pizzagate, and that JFK was going to return to life and run as VP with Trump, and that Anderson Cooper eats babies.  Their conspiracy theories against “The Libs” is what helped drive Trump’s success.  If these same conspiracy-minded people are now focused against Trump, that is no small thing, no matter how loony.  That’s his base!  And (as always) if only 3% of them – his most devout base – split from him (because he’s not only not the incarnation of Christ, but is…the antichrist!!) they are not going to vote.  And that’s a massive disaster for the party.

And, yes, I’m just guessing, so it could be less than 3% -- but it could be more.  And if less, it can only be 3% less.  But if more, it could be…I don’t know, but a lot more than just 3%.  And keep in mind, this isn’t a case of being that all these people (however big or small the percentage is) will believe all or any of these conspiracies and not vote – it could just be that none of them believe any of it (as unlikely as that is, since these are the same people who believed JFK would come back to life), but with all these conspiracies and all the arguing and all the anger and all the noise, it just becomes much too annoying for people who don’t care about politics in the first place, they just love Trump (who won’t be on the ballot in the Mid-Terms), and so “Screw it all, this is why I hate politics, I hate it all, I’m going back to not voting.” 

Now, to be fair, I don’t know how deep this runs in the MAGAverse.  But as I said, there are the major names involved, very popular favorites of the MAGA base who Trump has now slammed as stupid people.  And though these big names aren’t claiming the conspiracies are true, what they say they are doing is “just raising questions” – which is exactly Trump’s own tactic.  Which is his companion piece with "Many people say..." 

Pro Tip:  Whenever you get the chance to use the phrase "Hoist on your own petard," you leap at it.

By the way, after writing this article last night, just this morning there is another article on the subject for The Hill.  And as it notes, there is an old truism, "What goes around comes around."

The concern within the MAGOP should not be that these conspiracies will be believed (and there are a lot of them in the article) – and troubling as that should be within the party – but the division and fraying in a party that relies on loyal, devout unity.

And further, we know that conspiracy theorists don’t give up their theories easily…or at all, ever.  And this fits why my own perception I’ve long written here – that when you’re popular and screw up, people are apt to dismiss it as just a screw up because they like you.  But when your poll numbers drop and you screw up, people tend to look at it as confirming why they don’t like you.

It’s just one thing, and perhaps even small, ludicrous conspiracy theories – but even if so, all the little things add up. Especially when they come from your own loyal base, and it's what you taught them.

You can read the MSN article here.  

You can read The Hill article here.