The single most important thing to remember about reactionaries is that they are angry. As they see it, they built this country, and made it great. Today, their skills don’t have the value they used to as a result of the evolution of the knowledge-based economy. They have suffered a diminution of status as a result. The government, for its part, ignores their plight and gives their hard-earned money to lazy minorities who would rather whine about racism than put in an honest day’s work. Their culture and values are threatened by perverts and illegal immigrants, and the coastal elites, who are prospering while they struggle, are laughing and sneering at them. No wonder they love Trump! He tells off their enemies every day! No one else does that.
The question after last night’s disgrace is whether there is any point at which Trump’s antics become too much even for this crowd. I suspect not. The more stupid, grating, and obnoxious he is, the better they like it. That is the unique insight that Trump has brought to our political system, to the cost of everyone who isn’t a reactionary.
Of course, as I’ve noted innumerable times, Trump’s base isn’t big enough to win him a fair election. He has come to realize that, but instead of widening his appeal, he has decided to try and break the system. That, alas, is where we are today.