Confirmation bias is the "the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories".
The thing is, I'm actually pretty open about things. I have read that 88% of republicans support him. I voted a straight republican ticket last election - except for president - because I didn't think he was qualified and I thought Hilary was - though I didn't like her policies. I like the fact that he didn't increase my taxes and don't disagree with some of his policies. That's not the issue at hand here. It's that he's a danger to the country, to the world and to our society and this may have long lasting effects.
As I said, I have known only one person who clearly was NPD and that person was the most toxic person I've ever interacted with. It took me a couple of years to figure out what was going on because she was very intelligent, quite charming and quite knowledgeable. At first, I was quite impressed with her. That person wasn't in a sufficient position of influence or power to really cause a long term problem but I can't even imagine someone like that being president of the United States.
I like the idea of someone who fights for the country, confronts the tyrants in others, stops taking on all the world's ills (because we can't afford it), sticks up for US citizens and their right to have a job/career, confronts illegal immigration, etc. The question is whether that idea matches the reality.
Can you at least see some merit to this point of view - or a potential recognition that it might be a risk that an excessive narcissist with no empathy, who is impulsive, quick to anger and prone to lashing out, may be a danger to the country? I mean everything is all about him. Doesn't it worry you at all?
Actually, no.
I find Trump hating Republicans to be an interesting group. If one goes down a list of actual Trump actions, most would be happy: tax cuts, deregulation, judges, etc.
Where does he deviate policywise from the last 30 years of Republicanism?
1. He rejects globalism. This is actually the traditional Republican position, just changed since Bush 41 and his NWO.
2. He is an economic nationalist. Likewise a traditional Republican position.
3. He opposes illegal immigration and is building the wall. Traditional Republican position.
4. He is trying to end the endless wars in the Middle East.
5. He rejects neoliberalism and neoconservativism.
None of those issues are core Republican issues, but recent things.
Trump is, effectively, the first president to act as if the USA is the only superpower after the Cold War. And as much as some claim he is only about Trump, his language is actually inclusive, using much more "we" and "us" than "I", while Obama was a huge fan of "I".
Where I wish he would do something different:
1. Antitrust enforcement
2. National health care
3. Reduce foreign military bases (currently over 800).
4. More bureaucracy reform.
5. Infrastructure spending.
6. Wall Street reform
One of my earliest memories was a breaking news report when I was still in preschool about the Fall of Saigon. Strange to say, but I have studied history and politics and foreign relations ever since. I have multiple degrees in those areas and have taught in one of those fields at a major university. I am in a different profession but still study these areas as hobbies.
The most despicable individual who was president was LBJ. Every criticism you make of Trump was likely true of Johnson. Yet the country survived.
In Obama's last year alone, he dropped about 27k bombs on 7 countries. Before that, he directly ordered drone assassinations of US citizens and foreign nationals. His administration spied on journalists and threw some in jail. His staffers spied on Congress and lied to Congress. He used the IRS against Tea Party groups and others. And that is all besides the spying on the Trump campaign and pushing a fake Russian collusion narrative. And much more.
Trump is unique for challenging the bipartisan DC establishment. The media is attacking him nonstop, just as much as they supported Obama for 8 years. Consumer confidence is at the highest since before 9/11. Wages are increasing. People moved from part time to full time and to better jobs. Etc.
I was very skeptical of Trump. In 2015 and 2016, I posted a lot of negative articles about him here. I really didn't believe he would follow through. After he was elected, I hoped the Democrats would work with him, as Chuck and Donnie are old friends and I believe there are many things that need to be addressed. Instead they went with Plan B, to cover up their own malfeasance and high crimes.
Trump has far exceeded any reasonable expectations.
I have a friend who is a federal circuit judge. He is a Bushie and hates Trump and will not vote for him. He does really like his policies, however. He just has an irrational hatred and turns from a calm reasoned man to an angry one, almost violently so, when Trump's name is mentioned. I find it interesting.
I argued with plenty who came up with similar lists about Obama. Their hatred of Obama blinded them. I voted for Obama in 2008 and don't regret it one bit. He was the better candidate. I am disappointed he largely wasted his presidency and didn't throw 10k bankers in jail and bombed so many places and screwed up health insurance.
So, looking just as policies actually done, what are your objections to Trump?
Try to stay away from personality and psychological issues. And remember, most every president has been a narcisstic sociopath, so those types of issues are really immaterial when evaluating a presidential candidate.
