Despite never liking Trump, when I saw the rally shooting, I felt for the guy. Further, when a couple of my friends said “close, but no cigar,” it didn’t sit right with me. We wish our enemies illumination, not death. It’s not virtue-signaling, it’s just a way.

As far as rhetoric versus actual damage, FDR sent Japanese Americans to internment camps. Eisenhower made it legal to fire federal employees over their sexual orientation. Trump’s done some bad shit, but I don’t see him as the end of democracy. He’s a narcissist who’s masquerading as an economic populist to meet his egoic needs.

The most danger, IMHO, comes from his followers. I don’t think he realizes or cares about their actions as a consequence of his rhetoric. Things like Jan 6 he justifies away. He can justify anything in his egomaniac brain. I think his failure to get back into office might even be worse than the damage he can do in office.

Though I still won’t vote for him. I’ll vote for Biden’s last three brain cells first.