JoeMoma
Platinum Member
- Nov 22, 2014
- 22,991
- 10,719
His base loves him because he is willing to fight and not just take it like GWB did.I think people understand that he did the best he could with the information he had at the time and that he has done a good job. No one has ever dealt with pandemic like this in most of our lifetimes and he had to put this plan into action nationwide for the first time in 60 years. No one expects perfection. What we got was likely the best possible outcome. I'm out and about every day and only see a handful of people using masks even today.I had this conversation with my brother and his neighbors the other night. My brother loves Trump (he's a cop) and thinks his reelection is a slam dunk because Biden is an idiot. I told him I'm not going to predict anything for November at this point, since I lost a $1,000 bet to him in 2016 that Hillary would win, but I did say if he does win it won't be the walk in the park like he thinks it is.
Trump could have saved himself a few weeks ago if he went straight to the American people and accepted responsibility. He should have set up a press conference from his desk in the Oval Office and spoke directly to the people. He should have said that in hindsight he admits they should have paid closer attention to this virus earlier and ask that the people please understand at the time they were operating with false information from China and flawed data from the WHO and the CDC. Nonetheless, he is the president and as Harry Truman once said, "the buck stops here." He'll accepts full responsibility for the missteps, but what's important now is that we all come together and find the best solution through this where we can limit the loss of life due to the virus while also mitigating the destruction to our economy and the financial well being of millions more.
The left, of course, would have pounced on that. "See!! He admits it!! His fault! His fault!" But, so what? They are going to do that anyway. The media would have a field day with it too, but again, who cares? They are going to do that anyway. That message would have been for the people in the middle: the moderate Democrats, the centrist Republicans, the suburban "Karens" who are slowly turning to the Democratic Party. Most of those people have the sense to see through the media spin and understand that yes, the world was hoodwinked, but yes, the administration should have been a bit more on top of things. They would have accepted this mea culpa on his part and he would have walked away from that speech smelling like roses. This is very similar to what Reagan did after the Iran Contra Affair and the people forgave him for it and elected his vice-president as the next president shortly thereafter.
Trump didn't do this, however, and he won't because the man is a narcissist. He takes credit for everything that happens, but points the finger at someone else when anything bad happens. He can't admit when he's wrong and he won't accept responsibility for anything. Instead, he continues to be combative. That may have worked for him when we were at DOW 29K, but not when 90% of the country is on shelter at home orders with their Constitutional liberties being grossly eroded right before their eyes with little push back.
At this point, it's probably too late for that now. His only hope is that come November people ultimately decide that staying with him four more years is better medicine than electing a 78 year old Biden who is slowly losing his mental faculties.
When I was in the Army the understanding was you corrected problems in the field. The time for the After Action Review was post mission. Every leader makes mistakes but it is very important for the leader to retain the trust of their people. Sometimes that means saving the recriminations for after the cessation of the crisis. After this crisis has past there will be time for president Trump to make a statement to the American people.
Perhaps, but optics is everything, and right now the optics are him fighting with reporters at daily briefings like a bunch of children on a playground. He needs to arise above that and be the president and let the reports look like the assclowns they are. The media already has an abysmal approval rating among Americans.