Fear is clearly a huge part of conservative life -- or at least of those on the right who frequent online threads, not only fearful but determined to be. They see threats everywhere. When I was a kid, they checked under their beds for commies; now they check for a wider range of suspects, including professional journalists and climate scientists, women in niqabs their current favourites. And their political candidates find them such easy marks, cynically exploiting that fear.  
But what a pathetic, desolate way to live.