THE LEGACY OF TRUMP

One of the best descriptions of Trump, Trumpism and the Trump legacy come from the final paragraph of “The Cruelty Is The Point” by Adam Serwer in THE ATLANTIC -

“Trump’s only true skill is the con, his only fundamental belief is that the United States is the birthright of straight, white, Christian men, and his only real, authentic pleasure is in cruelty. It is that cruelty, and the delight it brings them, that binds his most ardent supporters to him, in shared scorn for those they hate and fear: immigrants, black voters, feminists, and treasonous white men who empathize with any of those who would steal their birthright. The president’s ability to execute that cruelty through word and deed makes them euphoric. It makes them feel good, it makes them feel proud, it makes them feel happy, it makes them feel united. And as long as he makes them feel that way, they will let him get away with anything, no matter what it costs them.”

Donald T Rump’s core cult of ignorant and racist deplorables have always been on the fringes of the Republican Party, but they have never before had an alleged Republican politician personally low enough to pander directly and almost exclusively to them.

What Trump has done, and what is the most damaging and dangerous legacy of Trump, is to organize them in support and defense of his legitimacy and create an actual voting block within the Republican Party to whom, unfortunately, the Party is listening and responding.