Putin has Trump in his hands largely due to hollow flattery. There’s some material rewards too, but relatively paltry compared to how much Trump stands with Putin. He also seems pretty fond of Kim Jong Un after actually having met him, and I can promise you all that guy had was flattery, nothing more to offer.
Trump cares about his ego, and that’s pretty much it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that man be anything other than miserable, except when he found out he swept the swing states and win the popular vote. He was elated like never before.
He also knows nothing of loyalty to others. His outright fascist declarations largely stemmed from his loss and sycophants feeding him fascist remedies for the humiliation of admitting he lost. There’s a chance that on the back of a ego boosting win that likely feels much more gratifying, and a whole host of sycophants, he no longer cares to interact with folks like Steve Bannon. He won’t feel like he owes them anytime, because he finds no purpose in reciprocating support after those folks are no longer useful.
Certainly a more precarious situation than if he had lost, but if the narrative that feeds his ego best is that he loves the elections just as they are, then there’s a chance…
So, fighting facism with politeness?
With Trump, it actually stands a chance.
Putin has Trump in his hands largely due to hollow flattery. There’s some material rewards too, but relatively paltry compared to how much Trump stands with Putin. He also seems pretty fond of Kim Jong Un after actually having met him, and I can promise you all that guy had was flattery, nothing more to offer.
Trump cares about his ego, and that’s pretty much it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that man be anything other than miserable, except when he found out he swept the swing states and win the popular vote. He was elated like never before.
He also knows nothing of loyalty to others. His outright fascist declarations largely stemmed from his loss and sycophants feeding him fascist remedies for the humiliation of admitting he lost. There’s a chance that on the back of a ego boosting win that likely feels much more gratifying, and a whole host of sycophants, he no longer cares to interact with folks like Steve Bannon. He won’t feel like he owes them anytime, because he finds no purpose in reciprocating support after those folks are no longer useful.
Certainly a more precarious situation than if he had lost, but if the narrative that feeds his ego best is that he loves the elections just as they are, then there’s a chance…
Biden isn’t a strongman dictator, so Trump won’t respect him or anything he has to say.