As I read George Friedman’s assessment of the Trump presidency after six months, two thoughts occurred to me. The first was that George Friedman should stick to commenting on foreign affairs. There really isn’t a lot of value-added in his remarks on domestic politics.
The second is that I think that Mr. Friedman has fallen into the same trap that Mr. Trump’s political opponents have both before and after the election. They assume that the battle lines are drawn, that no one who voted for Hillary Clinton could possibly have voted for Donald Trump and vice versa. I think that explanation fails the test of parsimony.
Trump did exactly what he needed to do to win and not a lot more. He didn’t spend more than he needed to. Why is it being assumed that if presidents were elected by popular vote, Trump wouldn’t have done what would have been necessary to secure the popular vote?
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both knew equally well that presidents are chosen by electoral vote not popular vote. Trump did what was necessary to secure the electoral votes and Hillary Clinton didn’t. Simple as that.
Trump is obviously a blowhard and a liar, not well informed on the issues or the workings of government and mercilessly pads his resume. But he understands marketing and he’s not stupid. Assuming he’s stupid is likely to get Trump re-elected in 2020.
Absolutely. Tom Nichols, a moderate Republican nevertrumper, keeps pounding at that.
Considering that Trump was hugely successful in a city controlled by communists and mafiosi of the worst kind, he should not be underestimated. He also made a direct, personal connection with half the electorate, and they are sticking with him regardless. He may well get reelected, and he might turn out to be a great president.
Trump is a marketing and PR genius. Having long been exposed to him her in the NE he comes across as a charlatan to me, but he is convincing to a lot of other people.
Steve
It’s been interesting to read those pounding the popular vote angle. To your point, they both knew the rules. Dr Taylor over at OTB has pulled out his arguments about abolishing the electoral college. I think he, at least, comes at it genuinely but he is pissing in the wind nevertheless.
I think the jury is still out on how his presidency will go. But I think his biggest mistake has been one I don’t see mentioned often: his failure to purge the Obama/Clinton holdovers. He’s too used to being the boss who his underlings don’t undermine. Big mistake.
If he purges the holdovers, he won’t have an administration at all. Nobody wants to work for him — he’s a caricature of a bad boss.