Trump is kept in play mostly by Democrats and their media allies. He is boosted to hyper-relevancy by a very small percentage of GOP leaders (maybe 2 percent) and voters (maybe 15 percent). And, of course, by Trump himself.
Democrats spent millions of dollars in Republican primaries to nominate GOP candidates that they claim are unqualified, at best, or dangerous, at worst. Ponder that. Democrats are so dishonest and cynical that they are literally working to advance candidates THEY coincidentally claim are a clear and present danger to the Republic.
They are doing the same thing with their messaging strategy. It is a two-prong strategy. They promote a demonized President Trump and then broad-brush and exaggerate negative attacks access the entire Republican Party. To make the messaging more effective, they are falsely branding the entire Republican leadership as either active insurrectionists hell-bent on taking over America by coup or passive players who are allowing it to happen. And Republican voters are vilified as insurrectionists, racists, sexists, homophobes – specifically a basket of deplorables.
If you take a closer look, you will see the Joseph Goebbels’ approach to propaganda. Artificially create an utterly despicable and dangerous enemy within that will destroy the progressive utopia – an enemy largely composed of honest and well-meaning citizens. Absent the violent extremism of Nazi Germany, you will see the same effort to demonize a segment of the population … efforts to have the targeted people shunned through shamming … and silenced through censorship. Running conservative Republican speakers off campuses … blocking conservative content from social media and so-called news programs … harassing Republican leaders on the streets and at their homes.
Two things can be true at the same time. Trump is a self-absorbed arrogant jerk of dubious moral and political principles. Since the 2020 election, he is at his worst. His only saving grace for folks like me is that his all-important policies are far better than the Big Brother governing philosophy of the modern autocratic Democratic Party.
The other thing that is true — at least for folks like me – is that the attacks on Trump – and especially Republican leaders and voters – are dangerously excessive. The obvious effort by Democrat leaders and left-wing media to produce a one-party ruling elite is more dangerous than the nonsensical temporary chaos generated by Trump.
Whatever you think of Trump, you must admit that the four-year Russian conspiracy theory being played out every day as fact on the national media was, in fact, fake news … political propaganda … as proven when Special Counsel Robert Mueller stated that the allegations were untrue.
In that case, rather than challenge the legitimacy of the Democrats’ accusations, much of the mainstream media partnered in advancing the false narratives. That fact should scare the hell out of any fair-minded person who believes in honest journalism and legitimate public policy. Independent journalism is an essential feature of any democratic Republic. Conversely, when it is subverted to a partisan political agenda, it poses an existential threat.
It is equally true that many of Trump’s actions were inconsistent with traditional small-d democratic norms and traditions. He may well have broken laws – civil and criminal – which will be determined in various court cases. But it is equally true that his political adversaries also departed from democratic norms and traditions – and may have even broken some laws. Again, future investigations and legal cases will be the determinant – not public opinion based on mendacious political narratives.
In this political season, however, Democrats see their best opportunity to stifle potential Republican gains by making Trump and their false branding of the Republican Party as a primary focus.
As a result, the importance of Trump to the 2022 midterm election is far less than Democrats and their media cronies would have us believe. Trump is not on the ballot – and personally, I doubt he will be in 2024. Various opinions on the outcome of the 2020 election are essentially immaterial to the issues of the 2022 elections. Whether a person believes that the 2020 election was stolen away from Trump or not, has no REAL meaning in terms of who a person votes for in 2022.
Yes, Democrats are trying desperately to create a category of “election deniers” who pose a threat to the Republic. That is just another campaign-driven political narrative that lacks validity.
Taking all things into consideration – the importance of Trump (good or bad) in the 2022 election is grossly overrated. Spreading criticism of Trump all over the Republican brand is a corrupt and dangerous strategy.
If you look away from the national news reports, you will see a rather traditional election at the grassroots. The Democrat’s efforts to cast Republicans as a cult movement devoted to a coup is not selling among the people.
The fact that the Republican Party is likely to take control of the House – and possibly the Senate – and will likely make gains across the nation— is more than sufficient evidence that most people in America are not buying those extreme Democrat narratives.
To the great disappointment of the Democrats, the media and Trump, himself, the former President is NOT going to be the issue most on the minds of the voters. At least that is how I see it.
So, there ‘tis.