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Trump Fatigue Syndrome: Is There a Cure?
I’m tired. And I take full responsibility for my condition. I’m not here to blame Donald Trump for my difficulties. I also think I’m not alone, and I care a great deal for all the people who are in the same dire straits. My biggest concern is that Donald Trump’s prospects for 2020 could be at risk. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
First, let me explain how I arrived at this point. I’m one of those many people who was not a Trump supporter at the beginning, but I came on board early as I saw his many accomplishments: tax cuts, great economy, Supreme Court justices, cuts in regulations, demands that the Europeans pony up for NATO—and the list goes on.
But as I was on my morning walk, I realized I wasn’t alone. In fact, I’m a suburban woman—one of those females who is beginning to pull away. I know that Trump will need every vote he can get. I know he has every reason to attack the media. I realize that he’s a fighter and when he sees people do stupid things, he feels obligated to call them out. I get it.
But I’m tired of it.
I think that Trump Fatigue Syndrome is a kind of burn-out, the condition that describes people who feel they have to abandon their jobs because the life has gone out of them. Leaving their jobs, however, is not the answer. Burn-out is not about the job, but about unrealistic expectations for what the job can offer, or what they can offer to the job. For example, people who work in hospice sometimes burn-out. The reasons go beyond their watching people die (although that can be a factor); instead, they often feel they are not providing enough comfort to these people–that they aren’t doing enough. That they have no power to change their patients’ circumstances. They feel helpless.
I know my TFS comes from my frustration at watching Trump exaggerate, attack others, write outrageous tweets. I know he likely will not stop. But I know a part of me wishes he would. Nothing I do—nothing those other suburban women do—will change those behaviors. But I think we’re feeling tired of it.
For the record, I think I’m a pretty tough woman—not soldier quality, but realistic and resilient. But I’m tired of making excuses for Trump. I’m tired of trotting out all the many good things he’s done to compensate for his poor behavior. I know there’s a good man under the hyperbole and bluster, and even a reasonable man—I saw that man in his interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. I want to see more of that man. But I’m not optimistic. And I’m worried about whether those other suburban women will stick it out.
As a side note, I discussed this topic with my husband. He reminded me that a lot of Trump’s comments were intended to attack the swamp: the politicians, the media and any other related groups. Many of his supporters (including me to some degree) think they’ve deserved it. But in reflecting on the last several months, I wonder to what degree his ranting (following his election) has made any difference, except to put people on notice. Has it helped him attain any of his goals, as he suggests it has? Would he have accomplished as much without the negative rhetoric? My husband suggests that at this point, even if he wanted to change, his ranting and tweets are just bad habits. (After all, he’s in his 70s.) But then I asked, doesn’t he want to be re-elected? And my husband responded, “Does he?” This comment made me stop and think.
So I’m tired. Do you have any suggestions for me to realize a cure for what ails me? Is there a way to reach suburban women without a major change from Trump? I think there may be more than my feelings at stake.
Published in Politics
I hope and pray you will soon return to fighting form.
True. Did you see how many seats FDR lost in the elections after 1934.? Surprising.
Very sorry to hear that @garyrobbins. May God’s blessings fall on you and push that dread out of you, forever.
Yes. This is exactly right @drewinwisconsin. Well put! I like the new acronym! TDSFS. On the positives side, the TDS hysteria nicely identifies the adults in the room – those who are Not throwing infantile fits at the imperfections of a world that fails to fulfill their every wish and whim. Let them hold their collective breaths until they’re blue-ish in the face-ish. We all remember how well that tactic worked when we were babies. Blue-ish. Hmm. I wonder if that’s how the Dems adopted the color blue for their party? Nah, just kidding. :-)
. . .
I agree with you Drew.
The great Victor Davis Hanson has a relevant column on this subject today. He compares Trump to Shane ( from the western).
Shane’s Fate
But suburban dwellers seem embarrassed, of late, that the solutions to these once intractable dilemmas came from someone with a dubious past and a habit of saying and doing things incompatible with their own suburban norms. And they are learning that Trump can no more stop tweeting or ridiculing than Shane could put down his guns (“There’s no going back”). I don’t think the sodbusters in later years ever put up a statue to Shane, the liberator.
Hard news, my prayers are with you. Get well soon and completely!
No, but the Mudders put up a statue to Jayne.
Shiny!
Thanks for the link – Like most of VDH’s commentary, this is really thought provoking.