dingodan
New member
- Feb 16, 2011
- 10,080
There has certainly been a narrative about his Presidency which would make you think he should have less support today than he did before he was elected.
I'm not sure that's true. I'm not, by the way, saying that I expect him to win. As others have said, it seems 50/50 to me right now.
But as to whether or not people will have liked the last four years or not, to some extent it depends how much attention they are paying.
I'm sure I could make a long list of things he has said or done of which many people will disapprove, including me. But not many of those are actually substantive policies, most of that is statements and general personal appeal (or lack of). Those things count for something, sure. But I imagine a lot of voters care more about substance than style. Obama had the style, but he didn't have the substance, and (I think) most people consider him an utterly charming and charasmatic disappointment as President, because policy matters, it's what affects peoples lives. "TV politics" is a bit of an empty sideshow in comparison.
Here a few things off the top of my head, which have impressed me, and I would imagine matter to a lot of voters. It's not just that they may want four more years of this (even if they would rather not four more years of the other stuff), but also they don't really know what they will get if they put in another establishment career politician like Biden. Back to the old ways isn't very appealing for a lot of people.
+ No new wars and a winding down of the existing ones. (That's a big one for me, and possibly the biggest)
+ Signed the First Step Act - (Also a big deal IMO) The first actual substantive attempt at Criminal Justice reform, something greatly needed for a very long time, especially to reduce some of the damage which has been done over the years to the African American community. This includes a) reducing mandatory minimum sentences and expanding the discretion Judges can use in sentencing, and b) a significant increase in commutations. It also includes a lot of work getting former felons back into work, something which has long been a real problem, and other things like Improvements for conditions for pregnant women in prison, banning restraints among other things, again things which long have been a problem undealt with.
Plenty on the Economy too:
+ Reduction in Taxes
+ Economic Growth
+ Low Unemployment
+ Rising wages
+ Lower levels of poverty
A lot of these things have seen particular improvements in the African American community, and while there has been a positive trend in a lot of these measures going back before this Administration, they have either continued to improve or have accelerated under Trump.
He's done some other reasonably impressive things too, and a bunch of things which not everyone can agree with too.
He has certainly been a consequential President, and it certainly hasn't been all bad.
It might even be the case that he has satisfied his existing voters while also bringing others on board.
It's hard to say, anyone admitting to liking him is almost certain to be attacked, I wouldn't be so sure that he has suffered a net loss of support after his first four years though. They have arguably been pretty successful, and it is very clear that some of the narrative that he is a terrible President is driven by a media community which loathes him with a passion.
Obviously I have no idea who will win, but I certainly wouldn't write him off, especially with voters who care more about the consequences of policy than about the drama/theatre of politics as presented on TV.
(This is all not to mention that the political left have hardly covered themselves in glory in recent years, I think they have turned off a lot of centrist and independant voters, and that is a bed entirely of their own making IMO. The big thing that the liberal left always had going for them for me was tolerance and free expression, and whether that has changed or I was just mistaken, that idea is well and truely out of the window)
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