Do you really think it's only the woke who are appalled by Trumpians? If so, "woke" is just an empty label for anti-Trumper. In that case, each side would be demonizing the other, which is indeed the typical tribal pattern, exacerbated by the emerging American segregation between the urban and rural zones. Regardless, just about every postindustrial society outside the US is disgusted with Trumpism or else is highly amused by it. They're not all woke in the naive, juvenile sense.

I understand that harshly criticizing either side can harden the discourse, as centrists like to say. But that's to invite the politicization of social criticism. I'm not writing to do politics, to play nice or to keep the peace. Those who need their hands held with such political correctness won't read beyond a few of the sentences I write, so I have no need to protect them. I criticize everything I think deserves it, and that happens to include virtually every aspect of American politics.

The more cynical or idealistic folks do have a hard time believing in any politician. I'm the same way, of course. Why expect heroism from a politician? The very thought is ludicrous since politicians lie for a living.

Indeed, the ideal protest would proceed as you suggest, and that's the fantasy of every cynical outsider who sees through everything from the high school student council to the government of the "leader of the free world."