Whatever Happened to Trumpism ?
Goose

Trump won his seat in the Oval Office fighting the republican establishment every bit as much as he was fighting Hillary Clinton. People representing the Republican establishment were decisively rejected by voters in the spring. And in the fall, many folks in PA and the Midwest who had voted twice for Barack Obama gave Trump their support.
People put up with all of his eccentricities, and his corrupt nature, because they believed that Trump was not hidebound to ideology. He was the agent of change. Trumpism was going to break traditional molds and benefit The Little Guy over the establishment elites.

Then he won.
Now we have two Trumps.
We have The Mad Tweeter who continues to talk the talk of Trumpism. The Mad Tweeter faithfully throws red meat out to the core 35%. He insults the press, democrats, celebrities, all to the delight of the fans. he continues to talk about his wall, and hassles immigrants. Again to the delight of his base..

And we have Policy Trump. Policy Trump has made every hard right turn you can make. His cabinet, the ones who aren't generals, is dominated by the financial elite. His Chief of Staff chaired the RNC (AKA The Establishment) Truth is, Trump IS establishment and Big Business. Policy Trump supported a healthcare bill that was so harsh on the little guy that it had the approval of 17% of the People.
He has come out against medical research, the arts, clean air and water, science itself. He has moved to remove protections on workers, investors, those holding student loans.
Trumpism has been abandoned. This is establishment, hard right orthodoxy.
I just don't think those Obama voters who crossed over to support Trump did so to lose their healthcare, or to stop supporting medical research. Or to ensure tax cuts for the wealthy.

It would be innaccurate to state that Trumpism has failed. The truth is Trumpism was never tried.
This has all been a classic Bait and Switch.

An now, Trump's approval rating has sunk to 35%. 35% is his core supporters. The frustrated people who hoped for a change and took a chance are drifting away. Can Trump get them back?


The other day Trump suggested that he might reach out to moderate Democrats.
I think that it's too late for that.
He's made his brand untouchable for democrats.
And at 35%, Trump doesn't have much to offer.

Let's look at this from a policy standpoint. Practically, is there any Trump policy idea at all, from his budget blueprint, to his Executive orders, to his health bill that any Democrat would like?

And politically, at a 35% approval rating, what could Trump possible offer them? "Vote with me and I promise to campaign for you?. We could have our pictures taken together." LOL.

Finally, his war on the environment, and his xenophobia frankly make it very hard for any Democrat to work with the President on even unrelated topics like infrastructure. They are beyond pissed. I consider myself center left (Voted for Obama in '08, and Romney in '12). But, if my Rep, or either Senator works with Trump, I will look for someone to primary his/her arse!

Last edited by Goose (3/30/2017 6:38 am)