I’m sorry. Huge hug for you. My father, a lifelong Democrat and labor organizer in the 80s and 90s… Was swayed by his second wife to vote for Cheeto. I hate telling this story. I was doing great with him for years, after a very troubling childhood under his care. And then this. It threw me and I hardly talk to him now because of it. The last thing I talked with him and my grandfather (his dad) about was DJ effin Trump.
Dad launched into this pro Trump, racist tirade about immigrants. Granddad, at 91 years old, wanted to hear nothing about it, “Are you all caught up on your sermon on immigration?” He asked my dad, basically poking him in the eye about his stupidity. Then he asked about getting his Life Alert to function properly. My dad did shut up after that, but fuckkkkkkkk, what a colossal asshole. Typical Trump fuckface behavior. A lifelong DEMOCRAT! WHAT THE EVERLIVING FUCKERY IS THIS WITCHCRAFT THAT TRUMP HATH WROUGHT ON OUR POPULACE?!?
I maintain that Trump appeals to two things (and not more) simultaneously:
- Thinly disguised racism, sexism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, etc., under a veneer of policy
- Early teenage… to fratboy age boorishness and a general nod to permitting and encouraging similar behavior, apart from anything directly, obviously policy.
Mostly, underdeveloped guys respond on these two levels. (A few women do as well, or women with a “stand by your man” mentality.) My dad, and I bet your dad, fit this type. Probably underdeveloped emotionally, easy to convince, and responds well to fratboy mentality.
My grandfather, who was not an underdeveloped manchild, and whom I miss very much and look up to, did not respond on these levels. Nor do his other kids, my dad’s siblings. Nor does anyone else in my blood-related family, both sides, except 1 cousin.
I love my dad and cousin, despite their Trump affinity. But I must say, it sure is a hardscrabble love these last few years. Everyone in my family is having a hard time with these two. Please let it end in 2020.
