After reading a number of analyses purporting to explain why Trump won the election, my only takeaway is that

[Martin68]

for Trump voters a total lack of basic human decency isn't a deal-breaker.

[andym]

1. Perceived self-interest beats decency every time-- think Nixon vs McGovern

The biggest example is Nixon who was clearly a jerk against McGovern, a decent man and WWII veteran. Nixon won in a huge landslide. When there is a choice between perceived self-interest and niceness it's "Nice guys and gals finish last" as Leo Durocher might say today if he were alive.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. Competency and character surely are of no importance to them.

[Martin68]

3. I agree competency is important, but somehow decency seems more important to me if I have to make a choice.

Kissinger was competent.

[JohnSJ]

4. We will know soon enough how will they like it under trump.

[Martin68]

8. Fox News et al will explain why it is the Democrats fault every time Trump fails. They won't blame Trump.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

5. Saw this in a meme...

"Ultimately, ""They're eating the cats, they're eating the dogs"" was a stronger message than ""I want to help you buy your first house"".

So be it.

[Martin68]

7. Yup, fear is the primary motivator for conservatives of all stripes.

[uponit7771]

6. Yep, Trump is MAGAs George S Patton without the ability to run an army to do anything

[snot]

9. I think that's true.

I also agree with Bill Clinton that this time as always, "it's the economy stupid."

[Trust_Reality]

10. When everyone is saying "economy," we have a social psychology phenomenon.

The economy is booming. But life (earning a living, etc.) is tough for a whole lot of people -- because a few hundred people have all of the wealth... and want even more.

When voters say it's the economy, it's not the economy, It is ego, fear, or racism, something they are ashamed to admit.

[Martin68]

11. Not necessarily. For one thing, Fox News et al broadcast an incessant drumbeat that the economy was terrible and it

was the Democrats' fault. For another, while inflation was brought under control more quickly in the US than any other country in the world, prices did rise about 25%. Biden, the Fed, and the Democrats did an amazing job dealing with inflation that had been caused by at the injection of money into the economy to offset the effects of Covid and a major disruption in the distribution system (not to mention price-gouging by greedy companies). But many people felt real effects that they unfairly blamed on the Biden administration. There were, of course, other factors such as race, gender, religion, social policy, and immigration that also played a role, fairly or not.

[snot]

13. I disagree.

The government's favorite inflation numbers exclude food and energy; and their calculation of GNP includes paper wealth created through Wall St. financialization, which contributes little or nothing to the real economy.

So the numbers sound good, but meanwhle costs for food, housing, and health care – material necessities – have skyrocketed, and wages have not kept up with those costs.

The economy may be great for the 10% who have stock portfolios, but hasn't been so great for most other people.

[harumph]

14. This is true - but opinions differ on the cause of the higher prices.

Obviously some of it is price gouging. One of those little actions in the US that are technically illegal, but which are
barely actionable.

[snot]

15. No argument there!

.

[onecaliberal]

12. Yeah, rape is not decent.