I pointed this out and I kept asking things because I had to understand; it eventually got down to "well, I don't keep track of it that closely."
I about died. WTF?
Cognitive dissonance...
I know a guy, he's a cool guy, my girlfriend's dad's friend. He and I were talking about Trump, because he's a Trump supporter. He was kind of sheepish about it, too, when I asked why. He said it's because all the politicians are corrupt, and so is he, but at least he gets stuff done and is a straight shooter. So I started pointing out instances where he completely went back on things he had said earlier and things he's doing that he himself once said are the mark of a weak leader. He was like... well, he was just trying to get elected, I understand (ie, he's a liar, but that's cool - ie, not a straight shooter after all! 8(). This guy is really big on the environment, too, it's one of the biggest issues for him. So I asked him how he justifies Trump repealing so many environmental protections that have been so difficult for us to get over the decades. His answer was basically "well... I haven't heard about that, if it's true, that's not good." I was like, dude, it's true, if you follow his actions, a big part of his actions have been the undermining of environmental protections (ie - I don't follow it that closely). The conversation ended with "well, he's not perfect and I wish he wasn't so crass, but he's better than Hillary".
I think that about sums it up. People have cast their lot with Trump and to admit they were conned by this guy would be too much to admit. So you fixate on some simple talking points (rapists and terrorists and human traffickers are pouring in through the border in cataclysmic amounts and only a border wall can stop it; he's anti-establishment; at least he's a straight shooter; at least he's funny; etc; oh and we mustn't forget the BUT HILLARY) and stick your head in the sand as far as what he's actually done.
"Look, he's moving to stop requiring industrial operations to install carbon scrubbers. Carbon scrubbers have greatly improved smog and are important"
"Yeah but Hillary's emails!"
