Rod Research Paper Post

Is Donald Trump a successful Republican party leader? No.

Why? Let’s take a look at his major accomplishments and failures:

• Tax cuts (2017) — accomplishment
• Longstanding Republican priority
• But: In the works long before he was elected
• Can this really be attributed to him?
• Cultivating personal loyalty — accomplishment
• High approval ratings among PIE
• PIG rarely crosses him
• PIG acquitted him on impeachment
• Spreading his political style/brand — accomplishment
• Republican “mini-Trump” candidates nationwide are copying his belligerent campaign style
• POG (NRCC) is copying him in its messaging
• But:
• Many mini-Trumps lost or came closer to losing than expected
• The NRCC is getting flak for tactics and bringing more attention to little-known candidates
• Doubling down on the Republican base — accomplishment
• Lead the party to focus on white, non-college voters
• Abandoned plans for PoC outreach
• But: might help in the short term, but hurts GOP demographically in the long term in key states (e.g. TX, FL)
• Healthcare — failure (repeatedly)
• Longstanding Republican priority
• They agree that Obamacare needs to go, but can’t agree on a replacement
• Reject every one of the plans he comes up with, even the one that just repeals the most unpopular segments
• Can’t pass even with GOP House and Senate
• Border wall funding — failure (repeatedly)
• Failure in the House and Senate, even when Republicans controlled
• Bipartisan group forced a veto on a bill overturning his emergency declaration
• Can’t keep party in line

What does it mean to be a successful leader?

• Accomplishments for the entire group, not just himself

Trump’s accomplishments:

a) are questionably attributable to him

b) mostly help him

c) often hurt the party in a broader sense even if they help him in the short term