The people below him matter because they enact his agenda. The fact that there is a cult of personality around Trump absolutely explains why real voters would vote that way. But anyone enacting a ballot stuffing scheme on his behalf would almost certainly understand that he needs cronies to actually do any of the things he wants to do.
But I’m forced to credit them with intelligence, by the framing of the theory.
You see that, right?
The supposition is that these people engaged in a massive ballot stuffing scheme, and covered it up so well (including successfully obtaining the silence of every one of the people involved) that the only evidence left is an abnormally high number of bullet ballots.
So they have to be smart enough and self-serving enough to do all that, but stupid enough to not do the obvious - and selfish - thing and make those ballots straight ticket votes.
See my previous point about any argument that relies on the same people simultaneously displaying extremes of competence and incompetence. I’m not saying that never happens, but it is usually a good indicator that you’re engaging in wishful thinking.
The people below him matter because they enact his agenda. The fact that there is a cult of personality around Trump absolutely explains why real voters would vote that way. But anyone enacting a ballot stuffing scheme on his behalf would almost certainly understand that he needs cronies to actually do any of the things he wants to do.
I think you’re guilty of crediting them with an abundance of intelligence.
But I’m forced to credit them with intelligence, by the framing of the theory.
You see that, right?
The supposition is that these people engaged in a massive ballot stuffing scheme, and covered it up so well (including successfully obtaining the silence of every one of the people involved) that the only evidence left is an abnormally high number of bullet ballots.
So they have to be smart enough and self-serving enough to do all that, but stupid enough to not do the obvious - and selfish - thing and make those ballots straight ticket votes.
See my previous point about any argument that relies on the same people simultaneously displaying extremes of competence and incompetence. I’m not saying that never happens, but it is usually a good indicator that you’re engaging in wishful thinking.