• Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I am European. I seriously can’t understand why USA conservatives (referring strictly to republicans in this case) are so extremely regressive to the point of hurting themself.

    Because Trump ushered in an era where the only “strong” Republican is one willing to hurt “Others”. One who never apologizes when they’re wrong, but instead doubles down. One who is willing to step on whoever it takes to get to the top, especially if the people being stepped on are “them”.

    The entire party is all Trump all the time, and the only way to survive in today’s GOP is to either (a) Be Trump, or (b) be willing to openly ratchet up the cruelty. And while I disagree with people like Liz Cheney on just about every policy issue in existence, she at least tried to bring the GOP back to what it was before Trump, and look what happened to her and others who tried to do the same thing.

    These Republicans are so regressive to the point of self-sabotage because the MAGA base is still large enough to dictate their political careers and they’ll accept nothing less. MAGA may only be a portion of the GOP voting base, but that portion is large enough where it’s nearly impossible for a Republican to win without them.