Currently in the midst of "Grant" (Chernow) & can't help but think about Trumpers

Lets hope the system works as intended; however, McConnell is proving how "total warfare" in the Senate can subvert the Constitutional guardrails we've long been accustomed to protecting the system from imploding and having something other than a Republic entrenched and weilding power.

Are you willing to accept Mueller's findings, or does he have to "prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt" as Bryen had mentioned in another thread?

What concerns me about your thread is how you got to a place where you consider the potential outcome of the Trump presidency to be armed conflict. That's pretty ridiculous.<<<

Are you suggesting the two competing "narratives" are compatible and are able to co-exist indefinitely?

Of course, this country already had one civil war and it wouldn't do anybody any good to have another<<<

I agree wholeheartedly, especially being at the stage in the book after Cold Harbor and as the siege of Richmond begins -> the slaughter goes up exponentially.

Definitely not routing for it, not hardly ... but at this point I can't help but wonder how in the world Trumpers will EVER be swayed with words?  Their "narrative" (i.e. deep state silent coup) is being leveraged as a sort of "conspiracy backstop catchall" that can always be twisted to accommodate new developments that might otherwise run contrary to their predetermined conclusions.

Looking to the future, in terms of a logical convergence:  unless there's a grand realization moment with irrefutable proof  (i.e. Face in the Crowd w/ Andy Griffith), Trumpers are going to continually move the goal posts pertaining to facts in order to preserve their original platform.

I'm suggesting irrational people should take their meds and STFU so the rest of us can get on with our lives.

My next door neighbors voted for Trump, I voted for Hillary. We still say hello and talk about how much the Broncos suck this season. They look out for our shit, and we look out for theirs. That's how this works.

That's how it works, "now".

I give you slack for telling to STFU, because I understand it's a difficult thing to digest; for if you did go about your "everyday life" with a sober assessment of the future in terms of the logical outcome playing out ... it'd be difficult to go on as if everything is OK.  

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I've been "laughing at the alien life force" all this time, but have met very few (if any) Trump supporters are willing to join in.

There's no hate, but definitely a lot of frustration.

Likewise, I have no real ideological political opinion at stake; other than looking out for the Rule of Law.

Many are still willing to provide political support / cover to representatives who continue to abdicate their executive oversight responsibilities by not opposing seditious language that is being generated ad nauseum and may ultimately assist in subverting the Rule of Law.

None of us really knows the entire story at this point, but to not even consider the possibility that the POTUS may have been compromised by a foreign adversary is more than reckless.   IMO, there's a form of a "mental illness" at play ... it's just an observation, not a judgment.   We're all "guilty" of having the same decision making apparatus that swings to various extremes (or maybe even stays on center "too much").   But the point being:  make no mistake, what's going on with Trump supporters will only end when their constructs are either entirely broken down by utter and complete defeat (which will likely involve both "sides") or they succeed.   Logically, I don't see much in the way of middle ground ... unless the evidence is just so overwhelming / convincing ... and even then, there will still be true believers who will re-frame the narrative and deepen the conspiracy.

The tRumpsters will get over the conspiracy theories in due time, especially if they have new targets to aim at (Pelosi!).

Remember, the same crew was convinced Obama was going to take their guns. So, now they're wringing their hands about the Derp State Conspiracy. They'll get over that, too, once the trumpster is voted out (or gets to 2024...who knows).

FOM...haven't you spit-balled the theory that tRump will declare Marshall Law and halt elections etc? Aren't you as guilty of fanning the flames as anyone?<<<

ned, I believe your analysis has some truth; in so far as if we somehow get past Trump, there being a very large percentage of "internet tough guys" who effectively go silent in terms of not taking any action.  In a certain sense, these people will be the biggest "cowards" in so far as having been willing to accept the deep state narrative for opposing the Rule of Law, yet when the chips are down, they'll simply fold their hands and slip in to the shadows.

However, your calculation appears to omit the possibility of the regular stream of BS / propaganda from Trump and this glorified megaphone to have an effect on at least some of his followers (much more so than when Trump was just the "lead birther on the sidelines").  Thousand Oaks, Pittsburg, FL, etc. etc. (and etc.) might look like a drop in the bucket compared to what could materialize from even the smallest percentage of the "diehard true believers" who are willing to act upon their pent up anger and hate; AND who retain the misguided belief that there is a "deep state" working behind the scenes.

Is it fanning the flames to try and show the Thom's of the equation what the "ghost of christmas future" might look like on this front if they continue on their trajectory of complicity?   Not looking to double dare him, but I believe he'd ultimately be one to creep back into the shadows ... yet I've read many non-political posts that indicate to me that there is a "good person" inside of him; and in turn, I can't help but believe there's a part of him that struggles with the political questions at some level (even if it's deep in sub-consious). 

Or, to metaphorically illustrate the "ghost of christmas future" with a picture:   what happens when the (internet tough guy) "narrative" intersects with "reality"?