First, there was very strong voter suppression in 2016. The Cambridge Analytica case shows this clearly.

Second, people project their fears and weaknesses onto others. Handy target for insecure men - women.
They want to exploit the weak and fear the strong.

Why they get in this frame of mind is food for philosophical, religious and societal discussion. Some other time.

But in short, weak people project their weakness by trying to cut others down to their size.
Strong people project their strength and integrity by lifting others up.

The GOP has entered a cult world, and that's another matter for discussion. Again, in short, their behaviors mirror cult behavior, and even addiction.

Here are some reference books that show the similarities.
https://democraticunderground.com/100218639582

Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia (real life: Joe Pistone)
Anne Wilson Schaef: The Addictive Organization
Anne Wilson Schaef: When Society Becomes an Addict
WILLARD GAYLIN, M. D.: Hatred - The Psychological Descent into Violence
David P. Barash, Judith Eve Lipton: Payback: Why We Retaliate, Redirect Aggression, and Take Revenge

Thank you for this.

A significant factor is what is known as "locus of control." I'm confident from reading your response that you are familiar with this, but for others, it is the way an individual believes in their ability to deal with life. An external locus of control means the person views themselves as a victim of circumstance, largely not responsible for dealing with the issues confronting them, and looking for someone else to do for them what they should do for themselves.

As individuals of this nature experience what they deem as prolonged dread, they tend to become more superstitious. We see this in the religious right's activities. If one has a cluster of these people gathered together, the synergy allows that same religious right to embrace the defendant as an "imperfect" man of their god. Interestingly, last December I watched a reporter interview a group of "christian militia" members who actually said the Sermon on the Mount exposed Jesus's weaknesses, and that they preferred the defendant.

A person with an external locus of control may not share these same qualities as those with moral/ethical rabies, of course. There are many good people who were not raised with the basic building blocks thatall children should have instilled by the age of five. And the majority of people are some balance of external and internal.

Those with internal locuses of control recognize they can't control virtually everything in their lives, but are not intimidated by life. And a group of them working together for the good af all can accomplish miracles -- in the sense that my late friend Rubin Carter spoke of in DC on July 4, 1976, when he said that miracles do happen, they just take a dog-gone lot of work.

External locus of control in college. I was interning at a women’s shelter at the time and “studying” abusive men and their effect on their partners.

The defendant fits classic abuser profile. Nothing is ever his fault, any time he doesn’t prevail there’s a conspiracy against him etc. “Look what you made me do” is probably the favorite line of most abusers.

Online I can see that male followers of the defendant almost always follow a similar pattern of “poor me” and conspiracy nonsense. And the misogyny is so intense it makes me wonder how some of them stay married.

The defendant definitely believed and still does that he has some sort of God given right to rape and/or molest E. Jean Carroll or any other woman he comes across.

The $83 million settlement definitely got to him. He’s apoplectic with anger and it can only get worse. I actually look forward to his tantrums now.

I secretly feel he won’t be the nominee. I know GOP leadership has been pretty stupid lately (looking at you Ronna McDaniel) but surely they’re not that stupid are they? The defendant as their nominee will sink their party for a good number of years. So either they are putting a lot of faith in election interference or they are just plain stupid and willing to flush power right down the toilet with the defendant.

I know the answer might well be stupidity but I just find it so hard to believe GOP leadership can be this stupid.

the majority of the republican elders know the defendant is a ball & chain on their party. They recognize the pattern of 2018, 2020, and 2022. And they know that if he is the nominee, he will not only lose, but sink other republicans down the ticket.

The reason they don't speak up is because they are petrified with fear. They've seen the maga people destroy people like Liz Cheney, at the defendant's command. So, as cowards do, they remain silent in public, and complain about him in private.

I remember us discussing this general topic back when a few republican leaders thought they could exploit the tea party for republicans' benefit. But it created a force that beckoned the sexism and racism and other forms of hatred to come out from under the rocks. Some people think they can control hatred, but they can't. It always will eventually control them, as we see today.

You write: As individuals of this nature experience what they deem as prolonged dread, they tend to become more superstitious.

Forgive the random thoughts, your phrasing caught my eye. They, the more incoherent MAGA Republicans, do seem to be experiencing a deep existential dread. Their "way of life" is dying and that unavoidable fact is plain to see. The "white majority" in Texas, for example, is a thing of the past. Their religious values are being supplanted. Their paternalism is defunct. The lunatic fringe of the Republican base is arguably experiencing a mass psychosis brought about by unconfronted and uncontrolled existential dread. It might be easier to find sympathy for some of the Republican membership if their behaviors weren't so entwined with bigotry.

Terror Management Theory may explain some of the more extreme behavior. The only thing I've been able to glean from that vein of thought is that they ultimately have to confront the fact that their way of life is antiquated and fading into the past (as it should).

Nice OP, a pleasure to read.

And what a great reply! Very interesting!

We are witnessing a semi-disorganized attack of science. If you keep the schools from teaching science and history -- including banning books from school libraries -- you can stir gear and hatred among an oppressed group by convincing them that other groups are posing a dangerous threat to them. That increases when, as throughout human history, groups migrate during times of environmental changes.

I had mentioned on a post somewhere above that my cousin called me to ask for me to participate on facebook. That he usually posts pictures of dogs, artifacts, and the largely hidden issue among "missing" and murdered Native American women. He is in a group with relatives seeking justice. He posted a picture of Taylor Swift. Most of his friends liked it.

One person he doesn't know opted to get on and say Ms. Swift is "demonic," and attack everyone else ..... and noting that his god would surely send the others to hell. I made a few comments to my cousin, and the fellow attacked me. I'm not concerned with it if strangers don't like me. Heck, enough people that know me don't! So while others reacted with insults to him, I didn't go there. I did talk to him about some of his personality factors, and how they make his life less pleasant.

I recommended that he read Mark Twain, and especially Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark." Then others said they thought being polite but firm was better than insulting him. One even said to the guy that he should listen to what I was saying, that it wasn't an attack. I doubt that he will, but that's his deal.

on the part of both genders in your mention, the adjective is nevertheless reserved for women

Great post

I find it interesting that if one questions one of the older sexist white men, they still trace the majority of social ills to the pill becoming available. Few things illustrate their fear of female sexuality more than this. And it exposes a degree of racism, too ..... not only rooted in the white male concepts of differences between black, red, and white women's usefulness for the white male's passions, but also their blaming a pill for the break-up of the family unit -- meaning white families.

They are ignorant of the manner in which the economic system has changed family structures in the last 175 years in particular in America. And, of course, ignorant of many, many other things.

This morning, my cousin called me to recommend I look at his page on facebook. He usually posts pictures of dogs or artifacts, but yesterday he posted a picture of Taylor Swift. Some ass clown opted to attack her, saying she was "demonic." I responded that, in that case, I think Mark Twain was correct when he said heaven for the climate, hell for the company.

The clown responded by incorrectly attributing a Twain quote to Ronald Reagan, which struck me as hilarious. I pointed that out. He responded by telling me which Taylor Swift videos to watch, and posted 12 pictures of her to "prove" she dances with the devil. I responded by saying that, as a retired psychiatric social worker, I find it curious that he seems obsessed with her. I said I had a couple ideas why that might be, but would prefer to let him explain. He hasn't yet.

I'm an old man, prone to listening almost exclusively to the Beatles. I do enjoy some newer music, such as the Plastic Ono Band. My daughters did go to a Taylor Swift concert, and they tell me she is a good artist. I respect their opinions. However, being this old, I am far more interested in Grace Slick and others in the 60+ age range. From life in the 1960s, I know not to allow the opposition to steal symbols. Thus, I embrace and honor all of the nasty women I have known. And I still enjoy when I'm in public and some of them still come up and embrace me!

God bless her for using it for the greater good

Thanks, H2O Man. As always, you give me hope.

Even the number of republicans currently supporting Nikki Haley, who have said the will never vote for the defendant, would prevent him from winning. It's not limited to states that President Biden will carry anyhow. It's enough that some republican strategists are upset now.

That’s it…no insights.

of her with my friend Oren Lyons, the Faithkeeper of the Onondaga, when they went to Wounded Knee. Those were strange days.

My thinking is much closer to that of Oren's than Angela's, but she is an interesting person.

Great OP

I thinking a 12 million vote win in November.