“The problem is, I think, that Trump’s tweets in this case distracted from major positive movements (travel ban, Katy’s Law, Sanctuary Cities.)”
Exactly, but it’s not a problem, it’s the whole point. Trump is purposely getting the media to focus on the distraction because he knows that their attention on the real issue is always counterproductive.
Take the travel ban for example. Most politicians in both parties know in their hearts the travel ban is the right thing to do for the safety of the American people, but the democrats and some republicans are afraid of being cast as racists or anti Muslim if they support it. Or they are afraid of being seen as pro Trump if their support is publicized.
Who enforces the false PC meme that the travel ban is anti Muslim? The MSM. Therefore, the politicians need political cover to support it. Hence the distractions.
Ever notice that every time Trump writes one of these provocative tweets and it’s all the media can talk about, those are the very days when Trump accomplishes 5 or 6 big things like the ones you mentioned?
That’s how he operates - “Look! A squirrel!”
The media is against his agenda. They are his opponent. They are the last people he wants poking around where the real action is. So he sends them on a wild goose chase.
I might agree with that if the policies in question were unpopular, or, close to a 50 / 50 split.
However, these are not.
To use your analogy, what ballplayer (or team batting?) wants the fans watching a squirrel when he just smacked a line drive off the wall w/ 3 men on base?