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I Have to Get This Off My Chest

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn
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Dear President Trump,

Let me begin by saying that I will vote for you in November, even though I think trying to get you elected may be a fruitless effort. I don’t think you understand how people will make their choices for President, and I feel compelled to tell you what I think the outcome will be. I only ask that you give some thought to the possibilities that will work against you:

  1. Many people dislike you intensely, and no data, no policy, no accomplishments that you have made will change their minds.
  2. Many voters will vote for someone that they “like,” that they find appealing. If you continue to sound rancorous, even only on a few topics, they will reject you.
  3. Many people hate name-calling. Some of your fans might find this behavior amusing, but for those who are undecided, name-calling is a deal breaker.
  4. In selecting a candidate, most people don’t check the facts. They read very little media (most of which is on the Left anyway) and turn to their like-minded friends for support.
  5. I hope that the Republicans have expanded their efforts to monitor polling places. But if they haven’t made extensive plans, and with the other things that you do to shoot yourself in the foot, you will likely lose. And no one will care to listen to your bitter complaints after it’s over.
  6. Due to the Leftist bias of the media, the general public will get little information about the bad decisions of Biden and Harris; they aren’t listening to you and don’t trust you, since they are convinced that you are a danger to democracy.

So, what can you do? The one thing you will hate doing: dial it back. I don’t know if you have the self-discipline to do that, but I think you do, if you make the effort. You may think your fan base loves your attacks on “the enemy,” but no one else does. I'm not saying you shouldn't be critical of their actions and performances, but do you know the difference between criticizing outcomes and making personal attacks? Then again, maybe you don't care. Undecided and independent voters despise your nastiness. Women especially dislike your meanness. And I expect you get a certain enjoyment out of offending and attacking people you dislike. But here’s the question: do you want to feel good, or do you want to win?

If you want to be taken seriously, give the punishing comments a rest.

Please.

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (199)

  • MarciN@MarciN

    Trump gave a major hourlong press conference yesterday that was covered by all the major networks. PBS, for example, carried the entire session live. He made some excellent points. For example, he expressed sympathy for Hunter Biden--which was admirable and with which I agree. It's a tragic story. His tone will impress Democrats looking for heart. (Of course, Trump's brother died of alcohol addiction. It's something he feels strongly about.)

    Also, he described the growing power in the increasingly friendly alliance between Russia and China, something that the western nations have been trying to prevent for decades. He described it accurately as a dangerous situation.

    Those are just two examples off the top of my head.

    I think he has a lot to say about the Biden-Harris administration, and I believe the public will hear it.

    I don't like the personal remarks he makes about other people either, but during this campaign, I think those remarks have been equaled, perhaps even drowned out, by his frequent discussions of the Biden administration's failings.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoMarciN

    MarciN (View Comment):

    I don’t like the personal remarks he makes about other people either, but during this campaign, I think those remarks have been equaled, perhaps even drowned out, by his frequent discussions of the Biden administration’s failings.

    I saw most of the press conference, too. He calls Harris an idiot and stupid a few times. I agree with calling her the most progressive AG in CA. But there's a difference. If you support Trump, you brush off some of the attacks; if you support him but hate his behavior, you might not (the things we dislike tend to stand out). But if you're not a Trump fan, you will blow him off. If he could follow the positive patterns of that press conference (and it had much good in it), he'd be heading in the right direction.

  • Percival@Percival

    If Trump manages to stay on message, I might start listening again. I generally like what he did in his first term and I’ll be voting for him again, but he repeats himself too much and my cutesy nicknames for his opponents are funnier than his.

  • Henry Racette@HenryRacette

    I feel pretty good about the Trump/Vance campaign at the moment. More hopeful than I have in a long time.

    Because the Harris/Walz ticket seems so absurdly, self-evidently weak that I don't think even the press can save them.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoPercival

    Percival (View Comment):

    If Trump manages to stay on message, I might start listening again. I generally like what he did in his first term and I’ll be voting for him again, but he repeats himself too much and my cutesy nicknames for his opponents are funnier than his.

    The repetition drives me nuts, too, but I'd settle for his stopping the rest...

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