i think it's a mischaracterization to paint all trump voters with the same brush, i.e., as "conservative."IlliniDave wrote: ↑Tue Dec 15, 2020 4:17 amFortunately for my peace of mind I share none of your misgivings surrounding Trump. I think the vast majority of the 74M that voted for him will quickly move on with life. That's the thing with conservatives that people discount--on the whole they support the Constitutional system and now that the College has met/voted, Biden will be their president. Many aren't thrilled about that. A few might support Trump if he were to opt to run again.
while obviously many conservatives voted for trump, for any number of reasons, also many other conservatives voted against him and organized against him because they didn't see him as a true conservative and felt he was a threat to the rule of law and the constitution. e.g. see: https://lincolnproject.us/ see also: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of ... l_campaign
because of this generalization i think you're failing to notice or acknowledge the existence of a significant sector of trump voters who are "right wing" and authoritarian/antidemocratic rather than american style conservative, ie., willing to bend the laws and institutions to carry out their will. and it's a significant number of people who are elevating an individual (trump) over principles (democracy, rule of law, etc).
i understand there is also an anarchist fringe on the left, which maybe wants things done their way, but they are few, hold no sway, and have not hijacked the democratic party for their own ends. so whataboutisms do not apply here--those people are truly insignificant.
trumpism, on the other hand, is serious business, and a significant political force that is destroying conservatism from within. whether one wants to admit its existence or not doesn't make a difference in the actual risk this objectively presents to the country. just like denying the existence climate change doesn't stop giant icebergs from breaking off antarctica and drifting into the south atlantic.
trumpism is not conservatism: it's a cult of personality with dangerous implications, and it's not going away. and many actual conservatives think the same. eg here's one republican on the road to damascus: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... ump-397918
i really hope you're right in your prediction, but i wouldn't count on it for a moment. sure, it's possible, but not highly likely, that trumpism could disappear after the inauguration. but i think trumpism will most likely go on, causing more damage.
still for all our sakes i hope i'm wrong and you're right.