Man. This is a lot to unpack.
Escalator Day cemented to me that when populism prevails with the American electorate majority, political parties are no longer important anymore. Even the current democrat administration has leaned into it. I believe populism sucks. I don't support it. It is a repulsive way to run a country. Politics is not a ******* football game.
Escalator Day also cemented to me that the GOP gave up on their usual stable of milktoast political candidates because their policies were proven in the past to not be very popular with the majority electorate, and simply gave up, deciding to promote a fantasy candidate (actor) instead. A con man with a grasp on branding due to his Hollywood ties who could sell the same old said
policies talking points with exciting new wrappers, from authoritarian to flat out non factual. Didn't matter to his supporters. As long as they had an as you say, 'strongman' using rough talking rhetoric distilling 'their' message, they didn't care.
If Trump is a symptom of Obama, then Biden is a symptom of Trump. 'Woke' (formerly: cultural awareness) has been introduced to the political lexicon as a way to do the opposite to one's perceived political enemies. Trump pushed the 'Biden is old' complaint, and it stuck. Biden is old, sure. He's also a career wormy professional politician, and I believe the democrats were so repelled by the prior gutting of their candidate (Hillary) as well as the previous administration that they pushed Biden only to remove themselves from it.
They probably weren't expecting the Biden administration would cause the woke dial to go to 11. There is so much unimportant shit we are now supposed to be 'aware' of. Depending on the party, we're supposed to love or hate this unimportant shit for, reasons. Completely binary, as if apathy suddenly stopped existing (hint: it didn't). You say men can have babies? Insanity. You say the democrats are grooming kids? I say no more than republicans. What are my pronouns? Go, **** and Yourselves. I say, get the **** out of here with all of it.
I've been a NeverTrumper practically my whole life for good reason. Ever since he showed up on
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in the 80s. He came off as an isolated, entitled douche bag even back then. Then came
Howard Stern, where he came off as a creepy, isolated, entitled douche bag. But that program launched his popularity as that program could be compared to
Joe Rogen in listeners on terrestrial radio back in the day even before streaming. Even then the show was geared around the dregs of society. The kind that embraced extremism and anti-establishment types. It certainly wasn't for everyone, but it was popular in its day. I was hoping
The Apprentice would keep him satisfied to stay within his station, but unfortunately, narcissist.
His first presidential runs were fairly non-serious, but he used manipulation to run with 'Birther Gate', originally concocted by another populist, Hillary Clinton, to try and wreck Obama's campaign. A failed conspiracy in terms of facts, but entirely successful in terms of spreading a message. And on, and on and on. Because, like a mobster or a conman, Trump purposely selects bottom tier yes men to spread it, therefore isolating himself from accountability, as said yes men are expendable should shit go sideways. Never fully commit, never admit mistakes and of course,
never apologise. The selective political amnesia in this country is powerful. He manipulated that to his advantage too.
The message was/is GRIEVANCE:
The 'other' group/party/race/religion/identity/sexual persuasion is responsible for your lot in life, they are trying to take away all your freedoms and shit, and you'll never get ahead unless you fight and vote for ME. Only I can take back those things for you. And give me your money, please.
It's a powerful message. Powerful enough to forget one's principles should they fall out of favor in popularity. Change my mind. The way I see it, he ran a whole presidential administration that way.
Facts have no longer become important to wingers.