I think you're onto something with "game recognizes game". I think many of these people feel like a fraud, insecure but trying to affect confidence. They see Trump being an absolute fraud, but think he's succeeding at fooling everyone around them. It lessens their insecurity when Trump is unquestionably accepted by conservatives, so they never tell anyone that they secretly see through his bullshit. Then they become the proof for other people that he's fooling everyone.
Yes, I'm glad you see it too. They are deeply insecure, as you say. There's also an element of sunk cost fallacy at play. Trying to parse the wriggling mass of brain worms 1 worm at a time.
I think you're onto something with "game recognizes game". I think many of these people feel like a fraud, insecure but trying to affect confidence. They see Trump being an absolute fraud, but think he's succeeding at fooling everyone around them. It lessens their insecurity when Trump is unquestionably accepted by conservatives, so they never tell anyone that they secretly see through his bullshit. Then they become the proof for other people that he's fooling everyone.
Yes, I'm glad you see it too. They are deeply insecure, as you say. There's also an element of sunk cost fallacy at play. Trying to parse the wriggling mass of brain worms 1 worm at a time.