
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is the final installment of a three-part series dealing with the three primary forces that keep President Trump at the top of the news on a daily basis &#8212; day-after-day for years. ; In Part One, we dealt with the role of the Trump supporters of various breeds. ; In Part Two, we covered the Trump haters who believe that keeping Trump in the news will benefit them politically. ; In this, Part Three of the trilogy, we will deal with Trump, himself – and his efforts to maintain his position as the nation’s number one political figure.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Trump himself</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We need to first concede that no one in America wants to see Trump at the center of the political galaxy more than Trump, himself. ; His monumental ego has been the key to his success &#8212; and his Achilles Heel. ; He disrupted an arrogant and insulated power establishment that needed disruption – and that job is not yet complete. ; The left is desperately trying to put that Humpty Dumpty back together again.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Although my stable of left-wing trolls keep calling me a “Trumpster,” “cultist” and worse, they are inventing a mythical Larry Horist to serve as a strawman in the windmills of their minds. ; Just as the media has created a mythical Trump. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My trolls follow me on a daily basis, so they must know that I am not fan of Trump, the man – no fan of that acerbic personality. ; No fan of his attacks on other Republicans who are doing a relatively good job for the conservative cause. ; I have called out Trump for his needless and counterproductive attacks on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Vice President Mike Pence and others. ; In past commentaries, I have been critical of specific unwarranted attacks. They rise from Trump’s ego – not a good political judgment.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For sure, crossing swords with Republicans like Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger are understandable since they launched a barrage of attacks on Trump and Republicans. ; Trump has a right to be pissy with those who voted to impeach or convict him of high crimes and misdemeanors.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I do make a distinction between the policies and successes of the Trump administration – of which I was pleasantly surprised – but have been a constant critic of chaotic personality. ; I lament the fact that he could have been not only a more popular and effective President … could have accomplished even more for the conservative cause … and could have led the GOP to victories in 2018, 2020 and 2021. ; Those were all unforced errors.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Part of my professional services was to consult with people in public life as to how to manage their public image – the person they are to a public who never knows them personally. ; I can only use Trump as the bad example of what not to do. ; He is primarily responsible for the damage to his own credibility – a most important asset for a politician. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump seems to relish being in conflicts. ; In a sense, he is in a destructive alliance with his critics. ; He offers them the fodder for criticism, and they provide him with exposure through the media. ; His provocative combative nature reminds me of a long-ago friend of mine who had an inexplicable habit of provoking fights for no apparent good reason. ; In many ways, Trump’s public image did not only NOT grow while in office, it actually shrunk. ; Polling has shown that. ; While he has endorsed a few likely winners, it is hard to find any race in which his endorsement made a positive difference – although he does take credit. ; But that is just his ego speaking.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Based on my professional assessment, I wrote a commentary saying that Trump is a terrible communicator.  ; I often wished that he would have studied President Reagan – known as Mr. Communicator. ; Reagan was also a disrupter, but he knew how to do it – how to sell it.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to the Democrats’ left-wing narrative, the fact that most Republican leaders are simply dodging any talk about Trump is because they are scared of his power. ; That is not my read. ; I would argue that they are wisely staying out of the fray – not picking sides in the Democrats’ staged political agenda. ; They will be campaigning on more germane issues – those closer to the interests of their constituents.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What I sense at the grassroots is a devotion to conservative small government and personal freedom issues – and Tump is incidental to that. ; He is more like the powerful Wizard of Oz after the curtain has been pulled to reveal a much less imposing and powerful figure. ; I doubt that Trump can win the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. ; I doubt he will actually run. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To his credit, Trump does know how to keep himself in the center of the galaxy. ; He may arguably be America’s first celebrity President – presiding over a political reality show. ; Unlike the analogous blackhole, Trump is always visible. ; And as long as he has enough loyal supporters to buoy his ego &#8212; and enough detractors to see political benefit in keeping him in the headlines &#8212; Trump will be the number one news item in America for the foreseeable future.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Summary</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That completes the three-part series. So … at the bottom line, I think Trump has done some very good things for America. ; But I think he has blown his greater opportunity. ; I think his power over the Republican Party is not as great as his most ardent followers may believe … ; as the left portrays … and as he might wish.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Of course, the issue that has dominated the news cycle for the past year – and will for the coming year – is Trump’s role in whatever that was that happened on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. ; More about that in a future commentary.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Getting it straight on Trump — Part Three
