Pyramid of Lies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family growing up was pretty even split of Republicans, Democrats, Independents. I grew up genuinely believing that there are different approaches and philosophies and priorities but ultimately most people have the same objectives and the same level of investment in the nation's future, and probably the same percentage of heroes and zeros on each side.

Fast forward to 2025: I have been listening to Steven Miller and some of the higher IQ people running the show in the Trump administration and am horrified to see how LYING is the key part of the strategy. (Trump has shown his cluelessness over and over -- never more than in the meeting with Bukele when he asked Steven Miller to confirm that the government had won the Supreme Court hearing 9 to 0, like this is a bizarro world soccer game, and ST Miller lied to his clueless face and said yes -- Trump is obviously not in charge.)

Case in Point: Administration thinks a big publicity stunt will terrify immigrants in the US, Americans, and the rest of the world. Goal: create terror, get the unwanted to flee or never come, and rule Americans by fear.

The administration starts out looking for loopholes and disingenous applications of laws, assumes that we are all racists and indifferent and won't care about a bunch of Hispanics, or that a US president makes deals with human rights abusing dictators. It doesn't matter to them that over 90% of this group Venezuelans have no criminal records, that many came to the US legally, and that many are awaiting asylum hearings. The geniuses at the top decide, just focus on tattoos.

When we do notice that the administration has disobeyed the rule of law in a number of ways, they simply start LYING. They pivot on the spot like sociopaths. These are not complex lies or even close to the truth. They are just fabrications.

The less intelligent, who lack all critical thinking (Kristi Noem, Claudia McGlaughlin, Karoline Leavitt, etc), then repeat the lies loudly and confidently.

FOX News et al. present this gang's words as facts and so lies diffuse rapidly through the country.

Suddenly there is a new very loud narrative competing for the public's mind who could simply use Google to discredit or verify.

DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies??? Naive as I am, I have tried using reasoning and facts with posters on DCUM and, when proven wrong, they routinely change the subject, deflect, or simply repeat the lie. The people at the top of the pyramid may be sociopaths, those on the way down powerful fools, and the rest followers. I don't know how to play this game when they totally changed the rules!

The path of least resistance to fixing this problem and/or preventing it from happening again is for there to be competent leadership in an opposition party to the party led by lying idiots. There would never be a Trump-like person in power if there were opposition led by a Reagan, GHWB, Clinton, or Obama.

Jesus, the opposition in the last presidential election was more qualified in every measurable way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family growing up was pretty even split of Republicans, Democrats, Independents. I grew up genuinely believing that there are different approaches and philosophies and priorities but ultimately most people have the same objectives and the same level of investment in the nation's future, and probably the same percentage of heroes and zeros on each side.

Fast forward to 2025: I have been listening to Steven Miller and some of the higher IQ people running the show in the Trump administration and am horrified to see how LYING is the key part of the strategy. (Trump has shown his cluelessness over and over -- never more than in the meeting with Bukele when he asked Steven Miller to confirm that the government had won the Supreme Court hearing 9 to 0, like this is a bizarro world soccer game, and ST Miller lied to his clueless face and said yes -- Trump is obviously not in charge.)

Case in Point: Administration thinks a big publicity stunt will terrify immigrants in the US, Americans, and the rest of the world. Goal: create terror, get the unwanted to flee or never come, and rule Americans by fear.

The administration starts out looking for loopholes and disingenous applications of laws, assumes that we are all racists and indifferent and won't care about a bunch of Hispanics, or that a US president makes deals with human rights abusing dictators. It doesn't matter to them that over 90% of this group Venezuelans have no criminal records, that many came to the US legally, and that many are awaiting asylum hearings. The geniuses at the top decide, just focus on tattoos.

When we do notice that the administration has disobeyed the rule of law in a number of ways, they simply start LYING. They pivot on the spot like sociopaths. These are not complex lies or even close to the truth. They are just fabrications.

The less intelligent, who lack all critical thinking (Kristi Noem, Claudia McGlaughlin, Karoline Leavitt, etc), then repeat the lies loudly and confidently.

FOX News et al. present this gang's words as facts and so lies diffuse rapidly through the country.

Suddenly there is a new very loud narrative competing for the public's mind who could simply use Google to discredit or verify.

DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies??? Naive as I am, I have tried using reasoning and facts with posters on DCUM and, when proven wrong, they routinely change the subject, deflect, or simply repeat the lie. The people at the top of the pyramid may be sociopaths, those on the way down powerful fools, and the rest followers. I don't know how to play this game when they totally changed the rules!

The path of least resistance to fixing this problem and/or preventing it from happening again is for there to be competent leadership in an opposition party to the party led by lying idiots. There would never be a Trump-like person in power if there were opposition led by a Reagan, GHWB, Clinton, or Obama.

Jesus, the opposition in the last presidential election was more qualified in every measurable way.

The opposition to Trump in the most recent POTUS election fell on his unfit face just three months prior to Election Day leaving the incumbent party with zero chance of winning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family growing up was pretty even split of Republicans, Democrats, Independents. I grew up genuinely believing that there are different approaches and philosophies and priorities but ultimately most people have the same objectives and the same level of investment in the nation's future, and probably the same percentage of heroes and zeros on each side.

Fast forward to 2025: I have been listening to Steven Miller and some of the higher IQ people running the show in the Trump administration and am horrified to see how LYING is the key part of the strategy. (Trump has shown his cluelessness over and over -- never more than in the meeting with Bukele when he asked Steven Miller to confirm that the government had won the Supreme Court hearing 9 to 0, like this is a bizarro world soccer game, and ST Miller lied to his clueless face and said yes -- Trump is obviously not in charge.)

Case in Point: Administration thinks a big publicity stunt will terrify immigrants in the US, Americans, and the rest of the world. Goal: create terror, get the unwanted to flee or never come, and rule Americans by fear.

The administration starts out looking for loopholes and disingenous applications of laws, assumes that we are all racists and indifferent and won't care about a bunch of Hispanics, or that a US president makes deals with human rights abusing dictators. It doesn't matter to them that over 90% of this group Venezuelans have no criminal records, that many came to the US legally, and that many are awaiting asylum hearings. The geniuses at the top decide, just focus on tattoos.

When we do notice that the administration has disobeyed the rule of law in a number of ways, they simply start LYING. They pivot on the spot like sociopaths. These are not complex lies or even close to the truth. They are just fabrications.

The less intelligent, who lack all critical thinking (Kristi Noem, Claudia McGlaughlin, Karoline Leavitt, etc), then repeat the lies loudly and confidently.

FOX News et al. present this gang's words as facts and so lies diffuse rapidly through the country.

Suddenly there is a new very loud narrative competing for the public's mind who could simply use Google to discredit or verify.

DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies??? Naive as I am, I have tried using reasoning and facts with posters on DCUM and, when proven wrong, they routinely change the subject, deflect, or simply repeat the lie. The people at the top of the pyramid may be sociopaths, those on the way down powerful fools, and the rest followers. I don't know how to play this game when they totally changed the rules!

The path of least resistance to fixing this problem and/or preventing it from happening again is for there to be competent leadership in an opposition party to the party led by lying idiots. There would never be a Trump-like person in power if there were opposition led by a Reagan, GHWB, Clinton, or Obama.

Competent leadership in the opposition party is not the problem. What is required is Courageous leadership. There are plenty of people in the Dem or even Independent sphere. What is needed is many more courageous people who are willing to fight the fight and call a spade a spade. To quite frankly shame Americans for their cowardice and unwillingness to change and grow. And put it squarely on the table that we are either a nation committed to democracy and moving towards a collective peace OR let’s just say this was a good experiment and now dissolve into our own factions. Because right now we are certainly more divided than united, and that makes us easy pickings for enemies foreign and domestic.

Who wants to bet that Trump will come up with some reason that we need to go to war so he can champion the idea of patriotism and American united. He’ll him and Hegseth are already trying to lay the ground for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies???

Good question.

I think it helps to try to remain civil. It’s much easier for a person to tune out when they are offended. Easier said than done when they themselves are being offensive, I know. But I do think a person can be confident that the high road reply is more likely to leave a constructive impression on others, both offenders or bystanders, than the low.

I think it also helps to admit when things could’ve been done better by the Dems. Perhaps Harris’s worst campaign moment was not being able to offer anything she would’ve done differently. In general, people are less defensive about and more trusting of an opposing view when there’s a willingness to acknowledge mistakes.

Not PP, but taking the high road is what landed us with Trump.

Many things landed us with Trump, but the high road wasn’t one of them. There was a lot of Dem overconfidence on almost everything, and stubbornness is more low than high. I say this as someone who voted against Trump three times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family growing up was pretty even split of Republicans, Democrats, Independents. I grew up genuinely believing that there are different approaches and philosophies and priorities but ultimately most people have the same objectives and the same level of investment in the nation's future, and probably the same percentage of heroes and zeros on each side.

Fast forward to 2025: I have been listening to Steven Miller and some of the higher IQ people running the show in the Trump administration and am horrified to see how LYING is the key part of the strategy. (Trump has shown his cluelessness over and over -- never more than in the meeting with Bukele when he asked Steven Miller to confirm that the government had won the Supreme Court hearing 9 to 0, like this is a bizarro world soccer game, and ST Miller lied to his clueless face and said yes -- Trump is obviously not in charge.)

Case in Point: Administration thinks a big publicity stunt will terrify immigrants in the US, Americans, and the rest of the world. Goal: create terror, get the unwanted to flee or never come, and rule Americans by fear.

The administration starts out looking for loopholes and disingenous applications of laws, assumes that we are all racists and indifferent and won't care about a bunch of Hispanics, or that a US president makes deals with human rights abusing dictators. It doesn't matter to them that over 90% of this group Venezuelans have no criminal records, that many came to the US legally, and that many are awaiting asylum hearings. The geniuses at the top decide, just focus on tattoos.

When we do notice that the administration has disobeyed the rule of law in a number of ways, they simply start LYING. They pivot on the spot like sociopaths. These are not complex lies or even close to the truth. They are just fabrications.

The less intelligent, who lack all critical thinking (Kristi Noem, Claudia McGlaughlin, Karoline Leavitt, etc), then repeat the lies loudly and confidently.

FOX News et al. present this gang's words as facts and so lies diffuse rapidly through the country.

Suddenly there is a new very loud narrative competing for the public's mind who could simply use Google to discredit or verify.

DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies??? Naive as I am, I have tried using reasoning and facts with posters on DCUM and, when proven wrong, they routinely change the subject, deflect, or simply repeat the lie. The people at the top of the pyramid may be sociopaths, those on the way down powerful fools, and the rest followers. I don't know how to play this game when they totally changed the rules!

The path of least resistance to fixing this problem and/or preventing it from happening again is for there to be competent leadership in an opposition party to the party led by lying idiots. There would never be a Trump-like person in power if there were opposition led by a Reagan, GHWB, Clinton, or Obama.

Competent leadership in the opposition party is not the problem. What is required is Courageous leadership. There are plenty of people in the Dem or even Independent sphere. What is needed is many more courageous people who are willing to fight the fight and call a spade a spade. To quite frankly shame Americans for their cowardice and unwillingness to change and grow. And put it squarely on the table that we are either a nation committed to democracy and moving towards a collective peace OR let’s just say this was a good experiment and now dissolve into our own factions. Because right now we are certainly more divided than united, and that makes us easy pickings for enemies foreign and domestic.

Who wants to bet that Trump will come up with some reason that we need to go to war so he can champion the idea of patriotism and American united. He’ll him and Hegseth are already trying to lay the ground for that.

Of course there are competent and courageous people out there to fill that role. They just haven't stepped up since 2017. It's difficult for a legitimate leader to step up and lead an opposition to Trump when they aren't a chosen leader of the major political party opposing Trump. HRC and Obama backed away from politics after 2017 leaving an absence of leadership in the Dem Party from 2017-2025. Where else can opposition to Trump leadership come from other than the Dem Party?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies???

Good question.

I think it helps to try to remain civil. It’s much easier for a person to tune out when they are offended. Easier said than done when they themselves are being offensive, I know. But I do think a person can be confident that the high road reply is more likely to leave a constructive impression on others, both offenders or bystanders, than the low.

I think it also helps to admit when things could’ve been done better by the Dems. Perhaps Harris’s worst campaign moment was not being able to offer anything she would’ve done differently. In general, people are less defensive about and more trusting of an opposing view when there’s a willingness to acknowledge mistakes.

Not PP, but taking the high road is what landed us with Trump.

Many things landed us with Trump, but the high road wasn’t one of them. There was a lot of Dem overconfidence on almost everything, and stubbornness is more low than high. I say this as someone who voted against Trump three times.

“Stubbornness” is characteristic of taking the low road? Sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies???

Good question.

I think it helps to try to remain civil. It’s much easier for a person to tune out when they are offended. Easier said than done when they themselves are being offensive, I know. But I do think a person can be confident that the high road reply is more likely to leave a constructive impression on others, both offenders or bystanders, than the low.

I think it also helps to admit when things could’ve been done better by the Dems. Perhaps Harris’s worst campaign moment was not being able to offer anything she would’ve done differently. In general, people are less defensive about and more trusting of an opposing view when there’s a willingness to acknowledge mistakes.

Not PP, but taking the high road is what landed us with Trump.

+100 Folks still want to use a failed strategy. No one in the Trump camp has shown an ounce of humility, open mindedness, or willingness to be less defensive. OK fine. That’s how they want it. God has a lane for that also. Righteousness should not be confused with mercy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies???

Good question.

I think it helps to try to remain civil. It’s much easier for a person to tune out when they are offended. Easier said than done when they themselves are being offensive, I know. But I do think a person can be confident that the high road reply is more likely to leave a constructive impression on others, both offenders or bystanders, than the low.

I think it also helps to admit when things could’ve been done better by the Dems. Perhaps Harris’s worst campaign moment was not being able to offer anything she would’ve done differently. In general, people are less defensive about and more trusting of an opposing view when there’s a willingness to acknowledge mistakes.

Not PP, but taking the high road is what landed us with Trump.

Many things landed us with Trump, but the high road wasn’t one of them. There was a lot of Dem overconfidence on almost everything, and stubbornness is more low than high. I say this as someone who voted against Trump three times.

Dem overconfidence perhaps played a role in 2016. Any Dem who was confident the 2024 election would go in their favor with Joe Biden and his 40% approval rating as the sitting POTUS at the time is a complete idiot who doesn't understand how politics work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family growing up was pretty even split of Republicans, Democrats, Independents. I grew up genuinely believing that there are different approaches and philosophies and priorities but ultimately most people have the same objectives and the same level of investment in the nation's future, and probably the same percentage of heroes and zeros on each side.

Fast forward to 2025: I have been listening to Steven Miller and some of the higher IQ people running the show in the Trump administration and am horrified to see how LYING is the key part of the strategy. (Trump has shown his cluelessness over and over -- never more than in the meeting with Bukele when he asked Steven Miller to confirm that the government had won the Supreme Court hearing 9 to 0, like this is a bizarro world soccer game, and ST Miller lied to his clueless face and said yes -- Trump is obviously not in charge.)

Case in Point: Administration thinks a big publicity stunt will terrify immigrants in the US, Americans, and the rest of the world. Goal: create terror, get the unwanted to flee or never come, and rule Americans by fear.

The administration starts out looking for loopholes and disingenous applications of laws, assumes that we are all racists and indifferent and won't care about a bunch of Hispanics, or that a US president makes deals with human rights abusing dictators. It doesn't matter to them that over 90% of this group Venezuelans have no criminal records, that many came to the US legally, and that many are awaiting asylum hearings. The geniuses at the top decide, just focus on tattoos.

When we do notice that the administration has disobeyed the rule of law in a number of ways, they simply start LYING. They pivot on the spot like sociopaths. These are not complex lies or even close to the truth. They are just fabrications.

The less intelligent, who lack all critical thinking (Kristi Noem, Claudia McGlaughlin, Karoline Leavitt, etc), then repeat the lies loudly and confidently.

FOX News et al. present this gang's words as facts and so lies diffuse rapidly through the country.

Suddenly there is a new very loud narrative competing for the public's mind who could simply use Google to discredit or verify.

DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies??? Naive as I am, I have tried using reasoning and facts with posters on DCUM and, when proven wrong, they routinely change the subject, deflect, or simply repeat the lie. The people at the top of the pyramid may be sociopaths, those on the way down powerful fools, and the rest followers. I don't know how to play this game when they totally changed the rules!

The path of least resistance to fixing this problem and/or preventing it from happening again is for there to be competent leadership in an opposition party to the party led by lying idiots. There would never be a Trump-like person in power if there were opposition led by a Reagan, GHWB, Clinton, or Obama.

Competent leadership in the opposition party is not the problem. What is required is Courageous leadership. There are plenty of people in the Dem or even Independent sphere. What is needed is many more courageous people who are willing to fight the fight and call a spade a spade. To quite frankly shame Americans for their cowardice and unwillingness to change and grow. And put it squarely on the table that we are either a nation committed to democracy and moving towards a collective peace OR let’s just say this was a good experiment and now dissolve into our own factions. Because right now we are certainly more divided than united, and that makes us easy pickings for enemies foreign and domestic.

Who wants to bet that Trump will come up with some reason that we need to go to war so he can champion the idea of patriotism and American united. He’ll him and Hegseth are already trying to lay the ground for that.

Of course there are competent and courageous people out there to fill that role. They just haven't stepped up since 2017. It's difficult for a legitimate leader to step up and lead an opposition to Trump when they aren't a chosen leader of the major political party opposing Trump. HRC and Obama backed away from politics after 2017 leaving an absence of leadership in the Dem Party from 2017-2025. Where else can opposition to Trump leadership come from other than the Dem Party?

HRC and Obama didn’t back away from politics. They have been doing what lots of people should be doing which is mentoring and encouraging younger people to step up. Hillary served as a Senator, Sec of State, and ran for President, all after being a First Lady fighting for healthcare. Obama was a Senator, and 2-term President. What the heck more do you want from these individuals??

Stop trying to bring them back or get them to anoint someone else and fine other leaders who are willing to step up. AND stop trying to make perfection the enemy of good. There are several governors, several members of Congress, and likely several activist who would are great leaders who should be elevated, supported, and helped.

[Anonymous]

Does Trump really believe that they won at the Supreme Court? If yes, that doesn’t indicate he has a grasp of what’s really happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Trump really believe that they won at the Supreme Court? If yes, that doesn’t indicate he has a grasp of what’s really happening.

Trump doesn’t deal in reality. He believes in reality television which we all know is NOT real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Trump really believe that they won at the Supreme Court? If yes, that doesn’t indicate he has a grasp of what’s really happening.

Trump isn’t even in charge or running things. That’s Elon, Miller, and Bannon.

You couldn’t ask 5 questions about different topics and expect to get a coherent on topic answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies???

Good question.

I think it helps to try to remain civil. It’s much easier for a person to tune out when they are offended. Easier said than done when they themselves are being offensive, I know. But I do think a person can be confident that the high road reply is more likely to leave a constructive impression on others, both offenders or bystanders, than the low.

I think it also helps to admit when things could’ve been done better by the Dems. Perhaps Harris’s worst campaign moment was not being able to offer anything she would’ve done differently. In general, people are less defensive about and more trusting of an opposing view when there’s a willingness to acknowledge mistakes.

Not PP, but taking the high road is what landed us with Trump.

Many things landed us with Trump, but the high road wasn’t one of them. There was a lot of Dem overconfidence on almost everything, and stubbornness is more low than high. I say this as someone who voted against Trump three times.

“Stubbornness” is characteristic of taking the low road? Sure.

When you stop listening and stubbornly insist only your way is the right way, you aren’t really taking a high road, unless maybe it’s a very superficial notion of a high road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family growing up was pretty even split of Republicans, Democrats, Independents. I grew up genuinely believing that there are different approaches and philosophies and priorities but ultimately most people have the same objectives and the same level of investment in the nation's future, and probably the same percentage of heroes and zeros on each side.

Fast forward to 2025: I have been listening to Steven Miller and some of the higher IQ people running the show in the Trump administration and am horrified to see how LYING is the key part of the strategy. (Trump has shown his cluelessness over and over -- never more than in the meeting with Bukele when he asked Steven Miller to confirm that the government had won the Supreme Court hearing 9 to 0, like this is a bizarro world soccer game, and ST Miller lied to his clueless face and said yes -- Trump is obviously not in charge.)

Case in Point: Administration thinks a big publicity stunt will terrify immigrants in the US, Americans, and the rest of the world. Goal: create terror, get the unwanted to flee or never come, and rule Americans by fear.

The administration starts out looking for loopholes and disingenous applications of laws, assumes that we are all racists and indifferent and won't care about a bunch of Hispanics, or that a US president makes deals with human rights abusing dictators. It doesn't matter to them that over 90% of this group Venezuelans have no criminal records, that many came to the US legally, and that many are awaiting asylum hearings. The geniuses at the top decide, just focus on tattoos.

When we do notice that the administration has disobeyed the rule of law in a number of ways, they simply start LYING. They pivot on the spot like sociopaths. These are not complex lies or even close to the truth. They are just fabrications.

The less intelligent, who lack all critical thinking (Kristi Noem, Claudia McGlaughlin, Karoline Leavitt, etc), then repeat the lies loudly and confidently.

FOX News et al. present this gang's words as facts and so lies diffuse rapidly through the country.

Suddenly there is a new very loud narrative competing for the public's mind who could simply use Google to discredit or verify.

DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies??? Naive as I am, I have tried using reasoning and facts with posters on DCUM and, when proven wrong, they routinely change the subject, deflect, or simply repeat the lie. The people at the top of the pyramid may be sociopaths, those on the way down powerful fools, and the rest followers. I don't know how to play this game when they totally changed the rules!

The path of least resistance to fixing this problem and/or preventing it from happening again is for there to be competent leadership in an opposition party to the party led by lying idiots. There would never be a Trump-like person in power if there were opposition led by a Reagan, GHWB, Clinton, or Obama.

Jesus, the opposition in the last presidential election was more qualified in every measurable way.

If you haven't noticed, presidential elections (and congressional now) are not based upon qualifications. It is 100% spin, messaging and marketing. Find a story, make ordinary people the victims, identify the villain and explain how you will destroy the villain. MAGA did this beautifully. The Dems? Didn't even try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
DHUM, how do we combat this pyramid of lies???

Good question.

I think it helps to try to remain civil. It’s much easier for a person to tune out when they are offended. Easier said than done when they themselves are being offensive, I know. But I do think a person can be confident that the high road reply is more likely to leave a constructive impression on others, both offenders or bystanders, than the low.

I think it also helps to admit when things could’ve been done better by the Dems. Perhaps Harris’s worst campaign moment was not being able to offer anything she would’ve done differently. In general, people are less defensive about and more trusting of an opposing view when there’s a willingness to acknowledge mistakes.

Not PP, but taking the high road is what landed us with Trump.

Many things landed us with Trump, but the high road wasn’t one of them. There was a lot of Dem overconfidence on almost everything, and stubbornness is more low than high. I say this as someone who voted against Trump three times.

Dem overconfidence perhaps played a role in 2016. Any Dem who was confident the 2024 election would go in their favor with Joe Biden and his 40% approval rating as the sitting POTUS at the time is a complete idiot who doesn't understand how politics work.

The party was clearly too confident of his chances of re-election when it chose to forgo a real primary.