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In reply to the discussion: Do you approve of Newsom trolling MAGA? [View all]Metaphorical
(2,505 posts)Authoritarian figures are bullies - they establish an image (usually as a tough guy) and try to make people afraid of them. Republicans by and large cave under this kind of bullying, because they are afraid their business, political standing, etc., will be destroyed if they don't.
The Democrats at this point frankly have nothing to lose by going the route of satirising Trump. Trump wants them cowed and compliant, but more to the point, he wants them to be the evil boogyman, the group that he can blame for everything. It's hard to do that if the Dems hold up a mirror to him, showing that everything he does is pathetic, weak, infantile, and ignorant. It's how you defeat malignant narcissists.
There are very few conservative comedians. Conservatives (especially MAGA) do not get humour - they see it only as a way to attack others, and most have surprisingly limited senses of humour. Democrats, especially progressives, are very good at being comedians, satirists, and speakers to power. Partially its because they are smarter on average, but partially as well because they enjoy word-play, double entendres, and not so gentle ripostes. They also enjoy debates, which for Republicans is hard to do because they see things usually in black and white terms, and also usually because they never see themselves as being wrong. This makes them very flustered when they have to debate someone capable of poking holes into almost any argument they make, especially because most of those arguments are usually very weak when actually examined.
So yes, I hope Newsom continues this.
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