The Trump administration smashes records for corruption every day. In addition, recent reports in the MSM have made it clear that the influence of lobbyists has not in any way been curtailed, which is no surprise, given the close ties between key government figures and business. For all of that, GOP candidates are still running to “drain the swamp.” How can that be?
What Trump and the GOP mean by the “swamp” is inconsistent with the normal use of the word. To them, it has nothing to do with undue influence and corruption, in the usual sense. As they see it, the will of the people, as personified by the man on golf cart, is being constantly frustrated by evil establishment forces in the media, the civil service, and the legal profession. Anyone who maintains the rule of law and liberal democratic norms, and thereby prevents Trump from being Trump, is consequently part of the “swamp,” and must be eliminated.
Or, to put it a different way, long live King Donald, and death to his adversaries! If he is corrupt, capricious, and incompetent, at least he’s on our side! That’s what really matters!