There are two narratives.... reality and the one created by the media. Both are very powerful and important to people.
Trump needs to highlight the record and disprove the narrative but I am not sure he is capable of it. Yes, it’s not fair, but there is no “fair” in war and politics is war.
Imagine Trump’s policies and Reagan’s wit and charm. I admire Trump very much for what he accomplished despite the fact that every institution was against him because he did not represent the uniparty but now that we are a year past the election it is pretty obvious that Trump could have won and done the same things with a little softer image. The suburban mom vote is feckless and contemptible to me, but let’s not pretend it is that hard to kiss babies and hand out lollipops. Hell, Oprah has fooled them for three decades by playing the game.
What if? Look at the polling numbers yourself. It was so close that even a 10% shift among these voters and we are not having this conversation today. I admire him greatly, but a key part of leadership and success is doing well (or faking it for politicians) at the things you don’t enjoy so you can get the best result for the organization and win.
National elections (that are fairly run) are decided by those with splinters in their ass. Trump is a master of the Art of Business but he often seems incapable of mastering the Art of Politics. Perhaps the latter is what makes him so good at the first? I don’t know, but he is so authentic he can’t bring himself to fake it so it is not hard for the enemedia to carve off the Oprah voters by spinning the narrative.
I remember the heated discussions here on FR during the second phase of the Wuflu over pollsters and political pundits lamenting that Trump did not appear sympathetic or caring about the impact of the virus. Sure, it was as much bullchit as Bill Clinton’s quivering lip but he won didn’t he?
So it matters not at all that President Trump did win the election while we watched Democrat cheating, especially in Georgia, unlawfully take it away.
You remind me of the first time I heard Yertle call for comity. He always attempts to change the narrative and obfuscate issues too.
Trump needs to highlight reality and disprove the false, media-driven narrative ... check!
Where we part ways is in the conclusion. I think it is difficult to overestimate the shock and revulsion inside “normal” people. By 2024 they will have watched 12 our of 16 years as venal, chaotic and violent as any times in their lives. They will have watched their savings being swallowed by inflation. They will have seen the inversion of our system of justice where criminals are elevated and patriots imprisoned. I believe that Trump, should he decide to run again, needs to shine a floodlight on the differences between the economic and diplomatic security of his years versus the calamity of the Obama/Biden years with the simple message. “Yes. It is really bad now. But it doesn't have to be this way. You can make it all go away when you vote.”