The other thing though is that top MAGA GOP people really do believe themselves to be geniuses and really believe they are going to win bigly. They have gotten so good at propaganda that they themselves stop realizing it is propaganda and have swallowed it all.

That is the big difference between them and any other historical examples. Past corrupt political movements knew perfectly well they were corrupt and quite deliberate about it. Here we have in leadership positions a collection of yahoos who think they are angels and bigly smart. The self-delusion is shocking... and funny. On election day I plan to watch Fox News to enjoy the parade of deeply shocked and stunned faces.

I should add that of course there are a tiny handful of people who are serious, smart and deliberate--mostly the dark money people we don't see too publicly--but still even if you have a brilliant General, if all the soldiers are bumbling idiots, the army ain't gonna get anywhere.