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I almost spit out my coffee when I saw this meme posted by one of my old high school friends on facebook.  Really? I responded.  Another popular meme is "I am 34 times more MAGA than ever."  It just went on and on and on but I figured it was better not to respond to all of them.  These persons are more hopelessly deluded that I ever imagined.

Trump's appeal among religious conservatives appears stronger than ever despite being dragged through the mud in court the past few months.  It is not just religious yahoos that voice their undying support but Republican leaders as well, which led former Republican Rep. Kinzinger to quip that the Republican Party "lost all ability to think for itself."  It has become a cult answerable only to Trump.

This has far-reaching consequences, especially if god forbid he were to win in November.  The most radical of Republicans have devised a mission statement that they call Project 2025, in which they plan a complete takeover of government from the top down based on a "unitary executive theory" that they believe is enshrined in Article II of the Constitution.  This would allow them to form an autocratic regime with all the power vested in Trump.  A course of action very similar to what Putin took in Russia. 

Of course, Trump would be used mostly as a puppet for their doctrine as he doesn't invest much time in particulars.  He has more or less projected himself as a cheerleader for these draconian policies that radical Republicans propose when it comes to immigration, abortion, gay rights and any other liberal policies that they believe have compromised the integrity of the United States.  Yet, it is these very same Republicans who believe that liberals have created a "woke" autocratic state led by "Dark Brandon."

It's pointless to argue, as I have found out when I have commented on some of my conservative friends' posts.  They are so completely committed to Trump that many actually see him as Jesus, posting scripture that they believe affirm his second coming.  Others are more circumspect but still think that Trump is a "strong leader" despite a less than stellar four years that had many in his own administration openly renouncing him.  I suppose this is what happens when you get most of your "news" from Truth Social.

However, Juror No. 2, who appeared to be Trump's ace in the hole, voted for his conviction on all counts.  It shows that when confronted with overwhelming evidence of his many crimes it is pretty hard to turn the other cheek.  Ironically, this is the title of Clint Eastwood's new movie due out soon.

The mainstream media has also helped elevate Trump's stature by focusing on him virtually 24/7, putting everything Biden does in the shadow of Trump.  Even an innocuous Bronx rally becomes front page news with political pundits calling him "brave" to campaign in New York. He called on dubious rappers to help him court the young black male vote.  Not that it would do him much good in New York, but who knows it may be just enough in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, where he hopes to cut into Biden's urban base.  I'm not sure how this sits with religious conservatives, but then they don't seem to care if it helps get their Cheeto Jesus in the White House.

In this apocalyptic world the ends justify the means where a convicted felon remains in the race when any other presidential candidate would have been unceremoniously dumped.  Instead, we see all the GOP leaders from "Moscow" Mitch to Trump's new "Waterboy" in the House calling it a sham trial as they voice their vehement indignation.  They believe this trial was "rigged" because Judge Merchan made a $15 donation to the Biden campaign.  

There is no way to rationalize the hold Trump has over such a large portion of the American electorate.  In 2016, I assumed it was largely because so many Americans were adamantly opposed to Hillary.  That same electorate seems to be all in for Trump this time around.  If he were to be elected, one could well imagine everything from the coinage to the Pledge of Allegiance being changed to "One Nation Under Trump."  

I just hope that enough persons come to their senses to stop that from happening in November.

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