Come Midterms And 2020, Will The Trump “Disaffect” Counter The Trump Effect?

disaffect: (verb) to make somebody dissatisfied with somebody or something, to alienate the affection or loyalty of, to fill with discontent and unrest.

If President Donald Trump continues to marginalize portions of his base, he and his Republican backers may in the end find themselves marginalized. From Conservatives and Independents to Blue Dog Democrats, women and Christians, The Trump Disaffect is consequently pushing back against The Trump Effect-in this case his ability to rally his base to win the vote and pass his agenda. In the words of William Shakespeare, it may even be President Donald Trump’s-and what’s left of his loyal base-winter of discontent, losing both houses of Congress come November and the presidency in 2020.

Mini (Trump) Mes’ And Dumb Southerners
Across the Midwest and South, for instance, pastors and parishioners are recounting stories of how the president’s zealous followers have caused divisiveness and church splits, convincing members to go elsewhere. From peddling the president as a Mid East saviour for Israel to religious conspiracy theories, such as stacking the Supreme Court with Catholic judges for a Vatican takeover, the faithful don’t like what they hear or see. In fact, some belief their belief is at stake at the ballot, a more orthodoxy and sensible one at that. Others see a fanatical and cult-like blurring of a “separation of Church and Trump.”

Another disaffection is his repeated scorn of fellow Republicans. Indeed, Southerners were insulted and resented it when he called Attorney General Jeff Sessions who comes from Alabama a “dumb Southerner” and “mentally retarded.” Not only did they consider it a slur courtesy of a slick New Yorker, but it showed he doesn’t really care about white Southerners, rich or poor. The same can be said of other Republicans, like Senators Jeff Flake, Marco Rubio and Bob Corker. Nor will some forget his attacks against the late Senator John McCain, even if he went from “not a war hero“ to “sympathies.”

Something Deeper Than Religion And Economic Malaise
There’s also the Year of the Woman, Trump Republican women that is. To be sure, some were repulsed at how Donald Trump mocked Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Referring to her account of the night she says she was pinned down and nearly raped by Brett Kavanaugh, he retold her story saying “I had one beer. ‘Nope. It was one beer.’ Oh good. How did you get home? ‘I don’t remember.’ How did you get there? ‘I don’t remember.’ Where is the place? ‘I don’t remember.’ How many years ago was it? ‘I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.’” Come November and 2020, they plan to educate him about misogyny.

Low-paid employees are behind the Trump Disaffect too. Not only are they realizing that the enormous $1.5 trillion-or 15 percent corporate cut in taxes-aren’t trickling down, but the U.S. Labor Department just reported that their “real wages” (wages adjusted for inflation) are declining. Given the fact that tariffs are hurting farmers and millions of consumers, as are high gas prices, the economy isn’t booming. Crony capitalism is, however. Neither are millions of Americans buying into the president’s grandiose vision of his “economic miracle,” especially as salaries and wages remain stagnant.

No More “Aryan Goddess” And Disaffections Closer To Home
Once hailed as a Hollywood heroine by the right, including Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, it spoke volumes when Taylor Swift decided to revise her political position-and opinion of Donald Trump. Less than a day after the Senate voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, the “envoy of Trump’s values” and “Aryan goddess” made an about-face. She’s now spoken out against gender discrimination and vilification and for LGBTQ rights. What makes her disaffection even more dangerous are her 112 million Instagram followers. This includes being a icon of millions of Millennials.

Other disaffections must be mentioned. Along with Robert Mueller’s investigation which continues to uncover more evidence of possible collusion and electioneering between Donald Trump and Russian Oligarchs; there’s the I-am-part-of-the-resistance-inside-the-Trump-Administration, or anonymous essay published by The New Times in which the author is described as a senior official working to undermine Donald Trump’s policies for the good of the country. And then there’s White House aides who’ve allegedly removed paperwork from his desk because they considered him a threat to national security.

Disaffection, Absolute Disaffection, And Referendums
In too many cases, the populist drum beat of President Trump has meant the disaffection of important parts of his base. With the absolute marginalization of Democrats and other non-Republican groups, the Midterms and 2020 general election could spell doom and gloom for the president. It should also be remembered that 2016 was more of a referendum on Hillary Clinton than a kind of popular support for Donald Trump. In other words, many voters were voting against the Clinton Dynasty, the Trump Dynasty simply being the lesser of two evils. The Trump Disaffect may indeed undo The Trump Effect.

Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John’s Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for www.WN.com. You can read more of Dallas’ writings at www.beverlydarling.com and www.WN.com/dallasdarling.