A message to the half of Republicans who want a strong man president: Imagine if you got a beef? (not the kind you eat; you can't afford that; but a gripe.) You are out of luck if Trump has already achieved his goal of being the strong man he craves to be, and imagine what happens if you no longer have freedom of speech or the ability to gripe, if grocery prices do not come down. Still, government figures claim otherwise; if the president or his family gets rich, you suspect it's due to corrupt practices, or if someone in your family is laid off because of Trump's tariffs, or loses health insurance, you would either be ignored or told to shut up for fear of appearing disloyal to Trump himself. Whatever you do, do not put it on social media or in writing. It may haunt you later.
Update: 9/29/2025 This is why I write what I write. Married to a refugee from Eastern Europe..and having spent long family visits in his homeland during the time when dictators ruled..I see Trump acting like them. I fear for the future..and I wish this on no one. We are there now.
Continuing with original post. There is a libertarian streak in the right side of the political spectrum that would like to object to government suppression of even hate speech. That was one of Charlie Kirk's main positions: freedom to even to use hateful speech toward those of whom you disapprove. If Trump had his way, if you were one of those who objected to Trump's suppression of such freedoms, you would either be ignored or told to shut up for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.
If you believe that Trump will lower grocery prices, and then tells you he has already done it, when you darn well know how much stuff once cost and now what it costs, and you want to object, you will either be ignored or told to shut up because you would look disloyal to Trump himself. Fooling yourself, the alternative becomes that you will keep the faith that prices and inflation will decrease in 6 months to a year, even though the policies that caused the problem will remain unchanged. That takes a heap of faith so long as tariffs remain on imports, and vegetables rot in the field for lack ot migrant farm workers, or the cost of coffee goes wild, or parts for an ailing imported car go nuts, or you lost your health insurance or your local hospital, don't dare complain, for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.If you start complaining about the burden of student loans, and Trump opposes any relief, don't you dare complain for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.
If you grumble that Trump seems to be enriching himself and his family, using his pwerful position to market and coherse or bribe with state national security computer chips thrown into incentives, or it appears that your tax break is a laugh while those who do not need a break get a big one, don't you dare complain for fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.
If you grumble about the closing of a plant and got laid off or removing a space command facility to a more loyal state due directly to Trump's policies, don't you dare complain or fear of looking disloyal to Trump himself.
For God's sake, do not put your disloyal gripes on any social media. It will come back to haunt you, as Trump believes in revenge and retribution for anyone who dares to disagree, whether you are a bigwig, an elected official, or a little guy. The favors only go to the loyalists. The fear goes to those who are only thinking of complaining. You will have to put up or shut up. Loyalty to Trump is first and foremost.
Then welcome to the brave new world of Trump, the strong man. You may already be there.
Trump has a 43 percent approval rating per recent polls. If it is a question of democracy vs dictatorship/authoritarianism, 55% of registered Republicans want a strong man president...which is the question one poll asked. If that is the case, if I had the general feeling...not an exact estimate, but between 30% and 35% of all voters were hard-core MAGA, and the 15 percent are either unengaged, squishy, self-interested business types. Poll by NY Times 9/30/2025: Trump has support of about 90% of registered Republicans...consistent and unchanged in the summer.
The puzzle: Why does Trump continue to consolidate and energize his base instead of reaching out to add to his base? By using fear and favor and cheating, he can afford to ignore the popular vote. My guess is that he thinks that by lies, threatening with military suppression, overt racism, anti migrant mass deportation, and suppression, and limiting the ability of targeted opposition demographic groups to vote, using methods to federalize elections, and above all, political gerrymandering, he can tip the vote to him. If so he does not have to worry about the 55-plus who would turn up on election day to comprise the popular vote.
Survey data on "strong man" leader preferences
- "About half of Republicans surveyed said that a strongman government that doesn't "bother with Congress" was at least a "fairly" good way of governing.
- The poll found that 55% of Republicans whose allegiance was primarily to Donald Trump (rather than the Republican Party) viewed a strongman government positively.
- This group of Trump-first supporters was also the least enthusiastic about democracy."
- Trump Fed appointee downplays rising grocery prices — even as inflation hits 3-year high
- The U.S. is losing thousands of manufacturing jobs, analysis finds - CBS News
- GOP Colorado House members vote for moving CyberCommand to AL - Google Search First no, next yes, but help us mitigate the damage, Pres. Trump. Estimated loss to Colorado $One billion moving space command to Alabama: Space Command's departure from Colorado will cost the state hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars
- In Giant Deals, U.A.E. Got Chips, and Trump Team Got Crypto Riches - The New York Times
- Student loan borrowers may face 'enormous tax liability' amid Trump administration delays: union
- Charlie Kirk's Own Words on Hate Speech Used Against Pam Bondi - Newsweek
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