The Great Trump Miscalculation
Segment # 069
I remember very clearly the primary season before the 2016 election. Like many of you we were repulsed by Trump’s bombastic bull-in-a-china shop approach to politics as he derided his opponents with high school epithets. Our moment of truth came when we recognized that the country needed change from outside the beltway.. We also realized that policy trumped personality (Sorry). It was the first time in my life I realized that I did not have to like our president. Under enormous pressure and scrutiny Trump did exactly what he promised during his campaign; and he was quick to take credit for every accomplishment. This was cringe worthy but considered by us to be worth it and a reasonable trade off. Trump accomplished many things. The country flourished economically with the lowest unemployment in decades, an international scene with no wars, and jobs returning to the US with de-regulation. Trump did not bow to the Globalists or the many sacred cows that were protected in a Democrat dominated government. Big Tech and the Media tried their best to change his course which was unsuccessful until the election of 2020. No need to re-hash all the issues already covered in the past that ensured defeat for Trump in 2020. But there is sufficient proof that Trump to put it delicately was screwed. There is also proof already submitted here and on the website that this persecution continues. There is no doubt in my mind that history will treat Trump well while looking at his political detractors far less favorably. For the moment this is totally irrelevant.
Very few politicians are handed an opportunity to rise in a brief moment to greatness and be regarded as above mundane personal ambition. Trump was handed such a moment a few days ago and he blew it in dramatic fashion. What could have been a moment when he united the country behind the MAGA movement became a selfish power grab all about his personal ambition regardless of the impact he might have had on events such as Herschel Walker’s race or the Republican leadership’s efforts to reorganize after a disappointing midterms. Think for a moment if Trump had stepped to the microphone and never said a word about his presidential ambitions for 2024. What if he indicated how disappointed he was in the midterms remarking about the great disparity in big Tech’s monopoly of the information and the disproportionate funding of Democrat versus Republican candidates. What if he pledged to work diligently all over the country with donors and the new House legislation to position the Republican party to win 2024. What if he welcomed the input of leaders and possible future Presidential candidates. What if he never said a word about his own presidential ambitions. The moment would have been historical and it would have changed perceptions of him in an instant.
Trump misunderstands three basic realities that control his future. First those that love him will not love him more. Second those that hate him definitely have the capacity to hate him even more. Third a significant number of his supporters love his policies far more than they love him. Trump’s insane ability to persevere through extreme pressure and opposition is a great resource and also a crushing liability. Clearly his failure to have his entire family on the stage signaled the feelings among some that this was neither the right time nor the right decision to run in 2024. While Trump will always take the bait and fight back, I predict his primary challengers will be complimentary and effusive in their support of the MAGA movement. While holding your base, elections now are won by the independent voters in the middle that will be reluctant to support Trump even though they find the MAGA movement appealing. The battle may be messy but seasoned politicians like Pompeo, Haley, DeSantis, Rubio, Pence, and Scott will understand the challenges and get this back on track for 2024. I suspect under the final two years of Biden the country will suffer even more than they have to date; however, the Republican bench is deep and will have the leadership and experience to change course and undue some of the damage. In the long term I am optimistic.
