Speculation... what would have happened if trump had admitted defeat?

[albacore]

Perhaps he'd be in a stronger position today. After all, the whole insurrection thing - and court cases related to it - isn't grabbing many new votes from the Undecideds (whatever that is).
The NY case could be passed off as political, like trump is doing now, but the real shitstorm could have been avoided.
trump could pose as a narrowly defeated candidate who is the answer to America's hope, instead of a bitter loser.
This fits with what I've said all along... trump would lie even if the truth could save him.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Amazing he didn't know enough to lie and hunker down as normal

but it would be so UN-Donald. And MAGA would not have followed him.

[Walleye]

2. I agree, I have often said that if he had just conceded like a normal American presidential candidate

He would probably be up in the polls and be enjoying a lucrative campaign. It was just about the stupidest thing he could’ve done. In fact Sean Hannity suggested that very thing to him right after January 6. Go back to Florida “watch Joe fuck up” and come back with your campaign. Sean gave him good advice. The reason he didn’t was, I think, because Putin probably told him to fight the results of the election. There was a message to that effect to Junior in the 2016 campaign from the Russians, I believe

[hlthe2b]

3. Anyone else likely would, but Trump could never admit defeat. That "loser" designation is

something that his Father (apparently) used against him his whole life.

It is his Achilles heel and will be his undoing--ultimately. I just hope the whole thing plays out without taking the rest of him with him.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Narcissists can't admit defeat or failure.

They have to blame others and plead victim status.
With lots of drama.

Also they don't understand how this makes them look guilty and crazy.

[dweller]

5. This may have been the reality, and not the shitshow we've had ...

From Nov 10, 2020



😐


✌🏻

[Igel]

8. And that could be the media.

But they can't let go of their ire and resentment.

[orleans]

14. i love that drawing! i long for it to be true. soon! nt

[Freethinker65]

6. And forgo media attention and idolization from fans??

No way Trump was going to fade into the background gracefully and give up the attention that he thrives on.

I am a bit surprised that he attempted a full on insurrection.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. I suspect that TFG would not have been able to fundraise without the "Big Lie"

A ton of the fundraising done by TFG was based on the Big Lie. Without the Big lie, TFG would have raised less funs but TFG would be subject to fewer lawsuits and would not need to hire so many lawyers.

[Igel]

9. "Popularity" is two things, in elections.

Support and turnout.

More than once I've supported a candidate, but, you know, I was at work at 6:30 am, it was 7:30 pm and I was finally heading home, there was a line at the polls that closed at 9:00 pm and I was hungry and needed to get ready for class next day.

I drove past.

Accepting the results might have increased support. "Hey, what? He's not 100% unreasonable? WTF?" Yeah, probably not by much.

But there's turnout. And that's largely driven by grievance. Your side's under attack--the "deep state" against Trump, the "anti-woman repubs"--that's going to be much more important. "Yeah, I'm hungry, but I'm not going to let *that* mother f**ker win!" And I'm okay with being in line until 9:15 pm.

These days, anger gets more turnout than mere "support."

[Emrys]

10. Admitting defeat would have taken away the safety net he needed because of his many crimes in office

He lost it anyway, and we'll see how that all pans out, but he'd never had to face the consequences for his misbehaviour in the past, so I guess he didn't see why he should do so now.

[Silent3]

11. His head would have imploded

Hopefully not creating a singularity which would then go on to suck in the entire planet.

[Voltaire2]

12. The Hero has to suffer a reversal of fortune.

These are cultural memes with very deep roots. Fascist political theater is frequently mistaken for simple buffoonery. Note that it is indeed buffoonery, but also it is intentionally performative and they are following classic dramatic themes.

[D23MIURG23]

13. I don't have a theory of mind for Trump supporters anymore.

Part of me suspects that he would have lost support if he'd behaved normally, because his people seem to get off on his pathologies, and seem to enjoy gaslighting the rest of us. I have Trump supporter friends who flat out deny that Trump did anything improper after the 2020 election.

IMO this election is ours to lose, because I can't imagine most of the country being in support of a criminal loser who is increasingly echoing Hitler. Moreover, he's never come close to majority support before this.

What I worry about is people on the left making the perfect the enemy of the good and refusing to vote for Biden. If we get lousy turnout next election we could lose. If we get 2020 turnout, we are fine.

[albacore]

15. That last sentence....

ANY group of people who stay home because Biden has done this or that... or hasn't done this or that because they are standing on "principle" is de-facto voting for fascism and anarchy.
Would that it were not so.. would that we had candidates who fulfill our Wish List entirely, but in reality-land we gotta vote for the person who comes closest to our ideal President.
And if your "closest" is trump....you can eat shit and die.

[D23MIURG23]

16. You'd hope they would remember the damage of the first Trump term and be rational.

But I'm still floored that he won the first time. You could argue that it was a fluke, but it never should have happened. First catastrophe in a long list of things that never should have happened during the last 8 years.