But has Trump been a PITA to the establishment? By establishment I mean mainly the rentier class, and those who have been called the "managerial elite". Perhaps some of the former are losing a bit because of leadership's failed Cov19 response (I'm thinking partly of literal rent defaults), though the stock market belies that; and perhaps some of the latter have lost their salaried jobs permanently (a fraction of the permanent job losses among the hourly class, I would think).
He definitely attended his last event AFTER he should have isolated himself to get tested. That much is certain.
Trump has operated above the law for 4 years. His idea that he can ignore the election results is just a continuation of that. The real question is why do some Americans think they want a President that operates above the law ? How would they like it if a family member was shot and there was no court case because "Trump put the order in". That's where the US is headed under Trump; not unlike Russia where Putin actually sent out death squads to poison political opponents on several occasions. Yes, the US hasn't gotten that bad yet, but recent Trump actions concerning the election are highly reminiscent of how fascist leaders in false democracies operate. Put some goons at the polling stations, question the election process, interfere with the vote itself. I just read today that in Vermont, one polling station was blocked by far right extremists. Is that the US people really want ?
CITATION NEEDED --- otherwise it's bullshiat. and we mean main stream media -- not internet nut sites.
You're exactly correct. Trump is just one of a multitude of clowns walking the planet. You raise the real question: What makes people follow a particular clown? This particular clown? Whether the clown is Jim Jones, Hale Bopp leader, or Trump; the answer lies in the specific educations and biases and other factors of the subject individual. Seemingly intelligent people fall for scams/frauds everyday, all day. Some of us are better at discerning bullshit than others. Others need a "hero" figure in their life, for a multitude of reasons. This list goes on. There's a lot going on. But I do know if a solution is not implemented, there's nothing that'll stop another fraud-clown from being elected in the future. There are solutions; but the same things that cause folks to vote for clowns, would cause them to reject those solutions. Basically, empires have a lifespan; and I'm afraid we are near the end of ours.