The Pinball President
No commander in chief has been better at seizing public attention than Donald Trump. But there is a difference between getting attention and doing something with it.
TL;DR
- The Trump presidency is compared to an old pinball machine, where actions are unpredictable and beyond the player's control.
- Trump excels at capturing public attention but struggles to use it effectively for governance.
- Public opinion polls show dissatisfaction with Trump's policies, his handling of the economy and Iran, and his priorities.
- Voters perceive Trump as more focused on personal matters than on the country's most important issues.
- The article argues that a president's role is a trust, and attention should be spent on behalf of the public, not personal gain.
- Effective governance requires explaining actions to the public, rather than constant, repetitive pronouncements that wear out the audience.
- The current era's creed suggests that 'If you're not making news, you're not governing,' which the article counters with the need for thoughtful explanation.