...to not only tolerate stupid, but to embrace it, with some notable exceptions (but not nearly enough).

Some of these people are intelligent and know better, but have made a conscious decision to cash in on it (hello Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham to name two). And that, to me, is reprehensible. I'd include Hannity in that group too, except that I think he's coming more from a place of abject stupidity.

they know what they put out there is BS, a good percentage of their viewers probably know (yes there are people who buy it, just like there are people who think the earth is flat and that WCW was real), but it is entertaining and it makes them and their networks a pile of money.  

As for the elected public sevants in the R party?  No excuses for them......  Zero.

BBG