I'd love to believe that Trump's claims of "rigged" elections will depress GOP turnout in Georgia on Jan. 5. But I don't buy it. I think his voters know Trump is lying — and they just believe they're in on the con. https://www.salon.com/2020/12/01/dont-be-fooled-trumps-conspiracy-theories-wont-discourage-georgia-republicans/

Polling data supports my argument. Trump said the election would be "rigged" against him for 4 years — and rather than depressing votes, he got record turnout. Polling also shows most GOP voters believe their votes are counted.

The typical GOP voter is just as cynical and opportunistic as the politicians. They know Trump is talking shit. They know they're talking shit. They think talking shit is how you do politics. Never underestimate this reality.

As I say in today's newsletter (subscribe here: https://salon.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=71cb3e8a6e9639c81023cd427&id=2327d11e12), bad faith is the lingua franca of the right. They don't believe elections are "rigged" so much as they believe saying so gains them political advantage. This cynicism is endemic on the right.

So the hard fact of the matter is that Democrats are going to have to fight tooth and nail for every vote in Georgia. Republicans are going to *turn out*. They know their votes will be counted, no matter what cynical lip-flapping they otherwise engage in.

Invariably, when I point out that GOP voters are less easily swayed idiots and more conniving people who are in on the con, I get people lashing out at me. Because it's really fun to believe they're stupid! It makes you feel powerful and dominant. But it's not facts.

Republican voters are not any smarter or dumber than Democratic voters. What they are is more cynical. They think lying is fine and cheating is justified. They know Trump is a liar. It's what they like about him. They're not fooled. They're part of it.

Further proof that Republicans are cynical, not stupid. By saying this, Hannity is essentially admitting that he knows the Trump family are all crooks and his audience knows it, too. They just don't care — and delight in the crooks escaping justice. https://www.salon.com/2020/12/01/fox-news-host-sean-hannity-thinks-trump-should-pardon-his-whole-family-and-himself-on-the-way-out/

Yes, Hannity gives himself cover by claiming to believe they are innocent victims of a conspiracy, but c'mon. That's just more bad faith, lacquered on to make the real argument — they are entitled to get away with crimes — sounds better.

Another objection I hear: "But that would mean 74 million Americans are knowing opponents of democracy!"

Well, yes. The awfulness of thise realization tempts many to look away, tell themselves a pretty lie about how that's not the case. But being in denial only hurts us.