Key to Understanding Trump's Appeal to His Base

[Mike 03]

4. I kind of get where this is going.

Reading the book description at Amazon, I'm remembering that Elton John song, The Ballad of Danny Bailey and this theory is making some sense. There is a certain hagiography that evolves around the "bad guys." To wit, the insane popularity of De Palma's remake of Scarface.

I still think there's a lot more going on, especially after reading Unholy by Sarah Posner and The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart, and The Cult of Trump by Steven Hassan and Dangerous Charisma by Dr. Jerrold Post.

I just think we can't ignore the appeal of strongmen like Putin, Duterte, Bolsonaro, etc... I see it has having to do with their perceived power, not necessarily their "badness," but the two are not unrelated because of their enemies.

Autocrats have this ability to absolve people who believe deep down they are failures of guilt, introspection, self-blame and personal responsibility by conditioning them to direct or project their self-loathing at "others" (immigrants, Jews, people of color, religious minorities). And the followers vicariously share the leader's perceived power.

But there is a place for what you're saying in a fully evolved theory of Trump's appeal, especially when you are talking about the Alt Right, the racists and people who feel beaten down by life; not so much with the Christian Nationalists.

I appreciate the book recommendation. May give it a look.