I just couldn't figure out why the GOP protects its corrupt and idiotic President so much until now.

[sarabelle]

I thought at first it was "white privilege." It's not that. Trump is not considered among the elite privileged, just as Bill Clinton was looked upon as 'poor white trash' when he was elected President. The only difference was that Bill Clinton was actually very smart, savvy, and likable across a broad spectrum of people. Clinton was educated, articulate and a pretty decent man compared to Trump.

It's more about the burden white males feel to uphold everything Trump does and to protect him to try to keep him from being a total dud, a failure, and a brazen idiot following one of the best Presidents we have had who also happened to be a black man.

It's about "white pride" more than "white privilege." They have to do all they can to keep Trump from looking like the corrupt fool that he is even though it might destroy the country. If it destroys the country, they know no one will notice his idiocy because all attention will be on saving the country.

[Sherman A1]

1. It's about one word

MONEY

[Thekaspervote]

2. Indeed

[Strelnikov_]

3. It's about re-election

Red Don controls (just) enough of the GOP/Russia party base to ensure a primary loss.

Cushy govt job before country.

[captain queeg]

4. You might be onto something there

Never looked at it that way.

[Hotler]

5. Because their side has to win no matter what and at all cost.

As long as they fuck over liberals ( libtards).

[uponit7771]

6. K&R, Sunk cost fallacy ... they don't want to be called stupid either.

[chia]

8. Researcher re: a 1950s doomsday cult who doubled down when their apocalypse never materialized:

"A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point. We have all experienced the futility of trying to change a strong conviction, especially if the convinced person has some investment in his belief. We are familiar with the variety of ingenious defenses with which people protect their convictions, managing to keep them unscathed through the most devastating attacks.

But man's resourcefulness goes beyond simply protecting a belief. Suppose an individual believes something with his whole heart; suppose further that he has a commitment to this belief, that he has taken irrevocable actions because of it; finally, suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: what will happen? The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before. Indeed, he may even show a new fervor about convincing and converting other people to his view."

-Social psychologist Leon Festinger

[Merlot]

7. trumpft is everything the republican party has dreamed and schemed for.

He does exactly what they want him to, and if things get to bad they can claim he's an aberration.

[diane in sf]

9. Because they're into the corruption up to their eyeballs. Russian money was flowing into

Congressional Republican pockets laundered thru the NRA and directly from a variety of oligarchs.

[corbettkroehler]

10. "What do all men with power want? More power."

The Matrix Reloaded is a wonderful film. The late great Gloria Foster did a great job in the character of The Oracle and this was her best line:

[lindysalsagal]

11. Russian oligarch money. They all took it. No need for a crystal ball.

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/05/08/putins-proxies-helped-funnel-millions-gop-campaigns

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/03/tangled-web-connects-russian-oligarch-money-gop-campaigns

[sarabelle]

12. Becoming more and more obvious no matter how one tries to spin it otherwise. nt