Hearing all the lies exposed, seeing all the promises broken, and feeling the effects of incoherent policies, and then still thinking this is the leader America needs? That's the real definition of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Since Trump (and his cohorts) aways blame their opposition for what they do, it is only expected that they would think those who do not like Trump, or what he does that they do not like, will think they are deranged. TDS truly applies to the Trump supporters that are barking mad. But they toss TDS around so quickly and often. It is significant to them as a logical explanation of what they want to say.
The most fervent members of thr MAGA cult will never change their minds. It's more important to see whether Trump's blurting out the truth affects swing and independent voters.
John Lithgow and I were in the same class (Princeton High School, class of 1963).
He was a fine actor even then, and was always creative, not only as an actor, but also in drawing and writing. And as he's demonstrated in Trumpty Dumpty, he hasn't lost a step.
If ogling little girls and getting a lap dance from his own little girl and being a felon SA-er (for god's sake!)hasn't moved his base (so aptly named) it is highly unlikely that losing their money or their sons to this crazy's latest war will move them.
To me, this is different. It directly affects his base and their feelings of being cared for. He is overtly saying he doesn't give AF about THEM. They don't worry about children or laws or the deficit, but they do care about themselves.
The real question here is: Why does anyone keep asking if Trump's latest antics will affect his level of approval with his base. It's been more than 10 years. Nothing has. Nothing will.
Probably most of the core will never see the clips of him saying that. Those who do will excuse it - he was joking, it's AI, it's our patriotic duty to back this war, etc. (It's interesting to me how their "patriotism " turns on and off like a spigot - kinda like their faith.) The blurt will not affect swing and independent voters because we already knew that, it was obvious.
I came here to ask in what world would his base see it? I haven’t checked today, but I would bet a lot on it not getting covered on the right wing media
There is far too much self-worth tied up in Demento worship to take a chance that the houses of cards held together with a mortar of lies might begin to wobble even slightly. Then there are the truly important numbers: the latest CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that 77% – including a majority of Republicans – say that Trump’s policies have increased the cost of living in their own community. Roughly two-thirds of Americans say that Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions in the country. And Trump’s approval rating stands at 30% on the economy, a career low.
All to do with identity‑based politics, not performance. The 30-36% are voters who never evaluate him on policy outcomes or crises. Their support is tied to who they believe he is and what he symbolizes, not what he does. Clearly delusional when it comes to who he really is.
Not surprising that Lithgow is nominated for a Tony for his performance in "Giant" on Broadway as the controversial British children's author Roald Dahl, another deeply flawed individual. As with his Demento books, he has consistently been drawn to morally conflicted, or psychologically unstable characters, and his career choices make this unmistakable. What's particularly interesting is the changes over time in why he’s drawn to them: early in his career (e.g. as "Roberta Muldoon in "Garp," and "Sam Burns in "Terms of Endearment") he played them for shock or dramatic intensity; later, (as Churchill, Ailes, Dahl, Lear) he became fascinated by their internal human contradictions.
Lithgow is a great actor and always has been. Just curious, though -- why would you describe Roberta Muldoon as either morally conflicted or psychologically unstable? I thought she was one of the most solid characters in both the book and the film.
That was my perception, as well. Roberta Muldoon seemed to be a well-grounded character who, after much psychological conflict, found peace with herself and her gender identity. I found Roberta to be maybe the most likable character in the book, and while Lithgow's personification seemed a bit florid, I also liked her in the movie. Interestingly, Wikipedia discusses major creative differences between John Irving and movie directory George Roy Hill:
In a 2023 interview, John Irving stated that George Roy Hill approached him to write the screenplay, but that a bone of contention was the character of Roberta Muldoon, who Irving imagined more empathetically:
It was the early 1980s when George Roy Hill asked me if I would write the screenplay for Garp, but I knew we didn’t see eye to eye about Roberta. George was a World War II guy; he couldn’t see past the comedic part of a transgender woman who’d been an NFL player. A pity, because John Lithgow, who was cast as Roberta in the film, could have played her as I wrote her. Roberta is a force of normality in an otherwise extreme world; she is the only character who loves Garp and his mother equally, the only character who isn’t in a rage about someone or something. I declined to write the Garp script because George wouldn’t do Roberta my way.[1]
Let's say psychologically unsettled, rather than unstable in her case. But, in 1982, one of the most culturally explosive choices he could have made. And according to reporting, Lithgow took it precisely because it terrified him and because it shattered expectations of who he was supposed to be as an actor. Instead of playing someone whose instability manifests as danger, mania, or moral fracture, Lithgow chose a character whose unsettlement is internal, tender, and rooted in past trauma rather than present volatility.
In the same way none of his "base" ever thought they'd be the someone he shot on Fifth Avenue, they think their devotion to him exempts them from any fallout from his policies.
A quick review of the past 15 months reveals thousands of people who are dead or injured and now hundreds of millions at risk of sickness and even starvation around the world due to the actions of our Dear Leader. Every loss, every arbitrary cruelty experienced under this regime diminishes us. It's heartbreaking that not even this level of consistent pathological behavior will move the needle of his support. Mr. Lithgow's poetry makes a wonderful elegy for our Time Of Troubles.
His base, which is about 33%, will never be swayed. The question to ask is why he garnered 49% of the vote in 2024. In which direction are those 16% leaning and will they vote for another MAGA candidate in 2028? And why the hell did they vote for him in. 2024?
His true believers will never change their beliefs. They have not only drunk the Kool-Aid, they are swimming in it. Those who are swing/independent voters, however. . .
Hearing all the lies exposed, seeing all the promises broken, and feeling the effects of incoherent policies, and then still thinking this is the leader America needs? That's the real definition of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
I call it Trump Deity Syndrome.
I'm using this one.
Since Trump (and his cohorts) aways blame their opposition for what they do, it is only expected that they would think those who do not like Trump, or what he does that they do not like, will think they are deranged. TDS truly applies to the Trump supporters that are barking mad. But they toss TDS around so quickly and often. It is significant to them as a logical explanation of what they want to say.
Thank you, Paul.
The most fervent members of thr MAGA cult will never change their minds. It's more important to see whether Trump's blurting out the truth affects swing and independent voters.
Ditto. This is what I was going to say.
John Lithgow and I were in the same class (Princeton High School, class of 1963).
He was a fine actor even then, and was always creative, not only as an actor, but also in drawing and writing. And as he's demonstrated in Trumpty Dumpty, he hasn't lost a step.
Isn't he also a better than average banjo picker?
Not sure about that, but Steve Martin sure is.
If ogling little girls and getting a lap dance from his own little girl and being a felon SA-er (for god's sake!)hasn't moved his base (so aptly named) it is highly unlikely that losing their money or their sons to this crazy's latest war will move them.
To me, this is different. It directly affects his base and their feelings of being cared for. He is overtly saying he doesn't give AF about THEM. They don't worry about children or laws or the deficit, but they do care about themselves.
The real question here is: Why does anyone keep asking if Trump's latest antics will affect his level of approval with his base. It's been more than 10 years. Nothing has. Nothing will.
Probably most of the core will never see the clips of him saying that. Those who do will excuse it - he was joking, it's AI, it's our patriotic duty to back this war, etc. (It's interesting to me how their "patriotism " turns on and off like a spigot - kinda like their faith.) The blurt will not affect swing and independent voters because we already knew that, it was obvious.
I came here to ask in what world would his base see it? I haven’t checked today, but I would bet a lot on it not getting covered on the right wing media
Good point.
Enough bad news. May we please have an update on Grandpa and her kitties?
More Cats, fewer disasters.
Gene, Gene, Gene, Not even a millimeter. They are all waiting for the "Rapture"
While living through the rupture....
Or maybe they are waiting for the rupture.
There is far too much self-worth tied up in Demento worship to take a chance that the houses of cards held together with a mortar of lies might begin to wobble even slightly. Then there are the truly important numbers: the latest CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that 77% – including a majority of Republicans – say that Trump’s policies have increased the cost of living in their own community. Roughly two-thirds of Americans say that Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions in the country. And Trump’s approval rating stands at 30% on the economy, a career low.
That one in three people in the US approve of Trump's economy is a sobering thought.
Give it another six months at this rate.
All to do with identity‑based politics, not performance. The 30-36% are voters who never evaluate him on policy outcomes or crises. Their support is tied to who they believe he is and what he symbolizes, not what he does. Clearly delusional when it comes to who he really is.
Hence the bumper sticker "Have the day you voted for."
The cult, per spokesman Mike Johnson: “He was joking.”
Mike "Little" Johnson
To contrast to the past, my acronym is "LBJ." Little Boy Johnson. Sort of average, but it amuses me.
To contrast to the past, my acronym is "LBJ." Little Boy Johnson. Sort of average, but it amuses me.
Not surprising that Lithgow is nominated for a Tony for his performance in "Giant" on Broadway as the controversial British children's author Roald Dahl, another deeply flawed individual. As with his Demento books, he has consistently been drawn to morally conflicted, or psychologically unstable characters, and his career choices make this unmistakable. What's particularly interesting is the changes over time in why he’s drawn to them: early in his career (e.g. as "Roberta Muldoon in "Garp," and "Sam Burns in "Terms of Endearment") he played them for shock or dramatic intensity; later, (as Churchill, Ailes, Dahl, Lear) he became fascinated by their internal human contradictions.
Lithgow is a great actor and always has been. Just curious, though -- why would you describe Roberta Muldoon as either morally conflicted or psychologically unstable? I thought she was one of the most solid characters in both the book and the film.
That was my perception, as well. Roberta Muldoon seemed to be a well-grounded character who, after much psychological conflict, found peace with herself and her gender identity. I found Roberta to be maybe the most likable character in the book, and while Lithgow's personification seemed a bit florid, I also liked her in the movie. Interestingly, Wikipedia discusses major creative differences between John Irving and movie directory George Roy Hill:
In a 2023 interview, John Irving stated that George Roy Hill approached him to write the screenplay, but that a bone of contention was the character of Roberta Muldoon, who Irving imagined more empathetically:
It was the early 1980s when George Roy Hill asked me if I would write the screenplay for Garp, but I knew we didn’t see eye to eye about Roberta. George was a World War II guy; he couldn’t see past the comedic part of a transgender woman who’d been an NFL player. A pity, because John Lithgow, who was cast as Roberta in the film, could have played her as I wrote her. Roberta is a force of normality in an otherwise extreme world; she is the only character who loves Garp and his mother equally, the only character who isn’t in a rage about someone or something. I declined to write the Garp script because George wouldn’t do Roberta my way.[1]
Let's say psychologically unsettled, rather than unstable in her case. But, in 1982, one of the most culturally explosive choices he could have made. And according to reporting, Lithgow took it precisely because it terrified him and because it shattered expectations of who he was supposed to be as an actor. Instead of playing someone whose instability manifests as danger, mania, or moral fracture, Lithgow chose a character whose unsettlement is internal, tender, and rooted in past trauma rather than present volatility.
And the villain he played on "Dexter" was the most chilling psychopath I have ever seen--even more so than Robin Williams in "One Hour Photo"
In the same way none of his "base" ever thought they'd be the someone he shot on Fifth Avenue, they think their devotion to him exempts them from any fallout from his policies.
A quick review of the past 15 months reveals thousands of people who are dead or injured and now hundreds of millions at risk of sickness and even starvation around the world due to the actions of our Dear Leader. Every loss, every arbitrary cruelty experienced under this regime diminishes us. It's heartbreaking that not even this level of consistent pathological behavior will move the needle of his support. Mr. Lithgow's poetry makes a wonderful elegy for our Time Of Troubles.
His base, which is about 33%, will never be swayed. The question to ask is why he garnered 49% of the vote in 2024. In which direction are those 16% leaning and will they vote for another MAGA candidate in 2028? And why the hell did they vote for him in. 2024?
Which leads to the conclusion that 33% of the electorate is batshit crazy.
Only way he could lose his "base" would be to pivot to supporting Civil Rights. Or reparations. Yeah, that'd do it.
His true believers will never change their beliefs. They have not only drunk the Kool-Aid, they are swimming in it. Those who are swing/independent voters, however. . .