One year into his second term, Trump has suffered the largest approval collapse of any modern president (except the one who resigned in disgrace). He is underwater on every major policy area.
While it’s true that government should be responsible to the will of the people, I remember a chart from several years ago showing what was important to regular people vs. large corporations and the top 1%. On top of that was a line showing what was enacted by congress and that almost completely followed what business and the rich wanted.
Unfortunately the founders didn't -- couldn't -- reckon with the influence of Big Money and Big Media on the "consent of the governed." They couldn't have reckoned with the size, diversity, and far-flung geography of today's electorate either. Here's hoping that the horrors and outright incompetence of Trump II will wake some white Republican voters up.
Excellent column. It not only does the usual deep dive into what the numbers say but also spends a lot of time on the “so what”—insights into why the numbers matter. Thanks for writing this so clearly.
But it does seem important to compare Donald’s numbers to the Democrats. Being negative-whatever is bad, but if the Democrats are even more negative, then he’s in a better position.
How about more polls on how voters feel about the Congress? We get the usual polls about how voters would vote for a generic Republican or Democrat, but no detailed polls about whether Congress is pursuing the right priorities, and whether it is adopting the right policies for each of those priorities. I’d also like to see polls about how people think about the Supreme Court.
Agreed. Trump's message from 2024:was all about the nerd for intolerance to protect all sorts of special interests. Now the country has experienced the results and they don't like it in overwhelming numbers.
And owing to American exceptionalism (aka arrogant wilful idiocy) they will learn nothing. Come November, they will again be in a panic over trans women having abortions in all gender bathrooms while competing in boys swimming with immigrants who eat cats, fall in line and vote republican
idk, in 2024 folks were warning Trump-curious voters that if they touch the hot stove, they will burn their hands. In 2026, independent voters and Biden-Trump swing voters will now have actual burns from two years of Trumpian stove touching to consider
I mean there's a solid 20% of all voters, which is like 60-70% of Republican voters, that would gladly flambé themselves on the hot stove for Trump. But I don't think that's the audience for most political persuasion attempts.
While it’s true that government should be responsible to the will of the people, I remember a chart from several years ago showing what was important to regular people vs. large corporations and the top 1%. On top of that was a line showing what was enacted by congress and that almost completely followed what business and the rich wanted.
Here is a reference: https://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2015/05/disturbing-data-rich-and-powerful-get-their-policies-adopted-even-if-opposed/
Unfortunately the founders didn't -- couldn't -- reckon with the influence of Big Money and Big Media on the "consent of the governed." They couldn't have reckoned with the size, diversity, and far-flung geography of today's electorate either. Here's hoping that the horrors and outright incompetence of Trump II will wake some white Republican voters up.
Excellent column. It not only does the usual deep dive into what the numbers say but also spends a lot of time on the “so what”—insights into why the numbers matter. Thanks for writing this so clearly.
Great stuff. Thanks.
But it does seem important to compare Donald’s numbers to the Democrats. Being negative-whatever is bad, but if the Democrats are even more negative, then he’s in a better position.
How about more polls on how voters feel about the Congress? We get the usual polls about how voters would vote for a generic Republican or Democrat, but no detailed polls about whether Congress is pursuing the right priorities, and whether it is adopting the right policies for each of those priorities. I’d also like to see polls about how people think about the Supreme Court.
Tolerance is winning in the polls. Intolerance is losing. Americans don't like bullies. That's the message.
That's not what the 2024 election showed
Agreed. Trump's message from 2024:was all about the nerd for intolerance to protect all sorts of special interests. Now the country has experienced the results and they don't like it in overwhelming numbers.
And owing to American exceptionalism (aka arrogant wilful idiocy) they will learn nothing. Come November, they will again be in a panic over trans women having abortions in all gender bathrooms while competing in boys swimming with immigrants who eat cats, fall in line and vote republican
idk, in 2024 folks were warning Trump-curious voters that if they touch the hot stove, they will burn their hands. In 2026, independent voters and Biden-Trump swing voters will now have actual burns from two years of Trumpian stove touching to consider
They love the burns and will ask Daddy for more
I mean there's a solid 20% of all voters, which is like 60-70% of Republican voters, that would gladly flambé themselves on the hot stove for Trump. But I don't think that's the audience for most political persuasion attempts.