I've been thinking about this tweet a lot. It really is the perfect example of how #MAGA and #QAnon views their world.

I've got time, so here goes...

1/ https://twitter.com/mchooyah/status/1296534885230956545

Both #MAGA and #QAnon require two core beliefs:

1. You are the victim
2. You are the silent majority

If that sounds confusing, don't worry. You're not crazy, these two beliefs do contradict each other, but that doesn't matter.

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Trump built his base around convincing white people they were being hoodwinked. Their plights - no matter how small - were not their fault. Minorities took your jobs. Muslims will murder you any moment. That minority muslim president gave your health care to welfare queens.

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And in keeping with every cult leader in the history of time, Trump promised he could fix everything, so long as he gets what he wants first.

He required unquestionable loyalty and the presidency. Without him in office, you get nothing. That was made clear.

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Emboldened by the promise of a return to a life they likely never had but always dreamed about, some of them went to extreme measures to discredit Hillary Clinton. It didn't matter how salacious or ridiculous the accusations were, she couldn't be allowed to win.

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This is why we saw right wing pundits and Trumpers peddling stories about Hillary's health, hidden seizures, murder cover-ups, and suppressed lesbian tendencies.

Truth didn't matter. Facts didn't matter. Trump promised them a land of milk and honey and they were starving.

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This fealty came with the added bonus of shielding them from outside criticism. To them, Trump was never wrong which meant - by extension - THEY were never wrong. What others dismissed as "conspiracies" were actually the "real" truth. Any criticism was "fake news".

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Armed with this protection, they were free to roam the streets and the internet, repeating anything Trump said and accepting it as absolute fact, even if this required a twisted logic no rational person would accept.

Why yes, I do have a hyperbolic example.

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"You know folks, they never told you that 2+2 is actually 5, can you believe it? You've all heard this, right? You've got 2. And there's another 2. But they never tell you that the... PLUS counts as a number. It's true. Hillary Clinton wants you to keep believing that 2+2=4."

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Statements like this form the basis of the #MAGA mind. Trump has introduced something that seems ridiculous, but his supporters are in too deep. They can't back out now. Trump is always right, remember? So how can they make a seemingly obvious falsehood become true?

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They have two options when defending his statements:

1. When questioned about it's validity, deflect to something more outrageous. "What about the fact that Hillary eats babies?"

2. Take the moral high ground. "You believe everything the MSM tells you about math?"

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Both options give them defense against absolutely any logical argument. This gives them perceived immunity against anyone outside the #MAGA echo chamber.

That chamber gives them a sense of purpose and protection. It's them against the world. They are front line soldiers.

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Being the first solider on the beach means you'll bear the brunt of the enemy's firepower. As Trump has told them, the enemy is the MSM, Democrats, and basically anyone who opposes Trump. An attack on him is an attack on them. #QAnons adopted a similar mantra with WWG1WGA

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"Where we go one, we go all" is the rallying cry for the masses to huddle up in the most ignorant circle jerk of all time. Each cult member gets to jack someone off while also saying "wow, this vagina feels so amazing."

The truth only chafes if you admit it.

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While not all #MAGA are #QAnons all #QAnons are #MAGA because the central theme is how Trump secretly wages a daily war against a cabal of pedophiles. It doesn't matter that he would brag about not pissing on his own hands if it ever happened.

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Both the #MAGA and the #QAnons have found all the truth they need in Trump's words. It's just a complete coincidence that everything they believe favors him and even the most demonstrably false lies must be accepted without question. That's the price for being on his side.

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We will never convince a #MAGA or #QAnon person they are wrong because they can't even be honest with themselves, so they certainly won't admit to being wrong to a stranger on the internet. You've likely seen this play out in real time. It's equal parts frustrating and sad.

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The best we can hope for is that not only does Biden win, but we get a slow and steady return to some form of normalcy. I miss being able to debate policy differences without the conversation being overrun with lies and conspiracy claims about an imaginary "deep state".

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You can't be an all-powerful secret cabal AND lose an election you supposedly rigged. You can't be a hidden cult of wealthy family dynasties AND fail to get Trump out of office. You're either all powerful, not powerful at all, or non-existent.

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So if a #MAGA or #QAnon tries to engage with you, remember that you're ice-skating uphill. It's good for a laugh and you can always zing them with facts, but do it in small doses.

Much like beating a video game, it's a successful, yet ultimately meaningless accomplishment.

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