General Discussion

His only real talent is a carnival barker, selling snake oil to fools. That, and wielding power to intimidate.

He didn't get to where he is without poweful billionaires using him for their own ends. Trump leaves most of the actual work in the hands of others. The machinery of this fascist regime functions without him.

The Republican congress is compliant largely because they're on board with the dismantling of the federal bureaucracy. Much of what they don't want is Trump’s lunacy on tariffs and foreign affairs, which President Vance would curtail.

There is a great deal of money and power behind the fascist agenda. Trump doesn't embrace much of an ideology besides his own personal wants. He's not the driving force behind Project 2025.

It doesn't especially matter if those who voted for Trump don't much like Vance. Hell, Trump’s polling numbers are underwater and likely to get worse while this Epstein saga continues.

Polls aren't power. Fascists hold the power, and they will do ANYTHING to maintain their grip. They have plenty of Republican allies in elected office, including state governments -- and the Supreme Court, for that matter.

I'm not predicting whether or not they will fully succeed in destroying American democracy.

I'm saying they will pull out all stops to maintain their grip, with or without Trump.