https://archive.ph/3GTsu

wild that we wouldn't be here if folks had taken the talking points seriously, but because they could be brushed aside as bombast, they came to pass.

It's the constant playbook of the trump explainer/apologists:

* He's just being bombastic

* It's just a negotiation tool

* Sure he's doing it but it's going to be a narrow policy

* Fine its broad but it's just temporary

* Yeah its broad and permanent but it won't be too harmful

* Actually it's a great idea and he's smart for doing it

Reminds me of the Narcissist's Prayer:

That didn't happen.

And if it did, it wasn't that bad.

And if it was, that's not a big deal.

And if it is, that's not my fault.

And if it was, I didn't mean it.

And if I did, you deserved it.

The crazy thing is I know otherwise intelligent people who voted for Trump, but make arguments in his defense that 75% sound like the most jaded #resistlib never trumper take, until he gets to the end.

Almost word for word this week was like- Trump is a conman, you can't believe half of what he says. Trump doesn't deliver half of what he promises. He isn't very smart, just cares about his own image and ego. He is addicted to doing substanceless deals and creating crises he can do these nothing deals to resolve. So DOGE isn't real, he isn't gonna cut spending, he's gonna continue growing deficit, he won't drain the swamp or build a wall or repeal Obamacare.

And the closer is "And given all that there's no way Trump crashes the economy".

I just do not get this cult. It's an addiction to "owning the libs" at all costs.

I think what explains it best is they're so allergic to admitting the outgroup is right that they would sooner burn the entire country to the ground.

It's not rational analysis or coherent reasoning. It's tribalism at its core.