[November 5, 2026] Many are pontificating about why Republicans lost so many elections this past Tuesday. President Trump is the focus of their analysis and perhaps rightly so. I’m republishing an article from six years ago that may, at least in part, explain why Trump has such a poor approval rating and how that impacted the election.
[December 18, 2017] In late 2010, I was out of the country so my wife sent me news that she thought would be interesting. We lived in Brooklyn, New York so I thought to myself; what the heck, I’ll read it.
In August of 2010, NYC Muslims were embroiled in a controversy to build a mosque near Ground Zero [you may remember]. Some of my neighbors said it was a needless poke in the eye [or the chest] to the people of New York.
My wife was writing to say New Yorkers were insulted by such an affront and vowed to have the approval withdrawn. Now, I know what you’re thinking … New Yorkers deserve what they get because they elect some really bad politicians. On the other hand, Big Apple folks can be straightforward; prejudices and all.
A few years later, then-candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton entangled themselves in unnecessary controversy by poking people in the eye through insults. Trump called all his Republican running-mates simpleton names while Clinton referred to potential Trump voters as deplorables. Both were speaking truth to their thoughts and although Clinton walked-back her comments, Trump doubled down on his. Trump, as history records, was elected.
Regardless, in the long run it is not a good idea to needlessly poke folks in the eye; in other words, needlessly insult others. Trump is having some minor political difficulties with Senator Marco Rubio (he called him “Little Marco”) from his own party while trying to pass tax reform. However, his insults were truly aimed at his political opponents; Crazy Bernie, Goofy Elizabeth Warren, Crooked Hillary Clinton, etc. Some call it bullying but that would be insulting the intelligence of those on the receiving end.
Although it worked for now-President Trump, most leaders had best take heed to avoid it. Those I knew in the military who were quick to insult (poke in the eye) were also immature and rarely lasted long, unless they changed their behavior. A life lesson for the ignorant as my grandmother would call it.
November 5, 2026 Update: The Republican Party and President Trump received a serious backlash from the voting electorate. Their failure is in two parts.
First, the rejection of Trump had less to do with his policies and more to do with his leadership style. He needlessly pokes people in the eye with personal insults, and many voters simply hated him for it. That is why the Democrat leadership’s entire strategy centered on rejecting Donald Trump, the man, and any specific policy debate was secondary.
Second, the GOP failed to bring forth Trump’s policies like the Safe America Act. Democrats did not try to stop Trump’s policies because they knew that strategy was a loser for them with a strong economy, and already paying dividends. Democrats were not about to build anything, but did point out several serious flaws such as high gas prices, backpedaling on the “no wars” promise, and his “America first promise.”
The Democrat strategy of “no Trump” worked. The problem they will now face is that Trump is still there, still poking them in the eye, and they will have to come up with workable strategies that do not reflect the Communist Party.
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Gen. Satterfield, you called it years ago, why Pres. Trump was hated so much.
Thank you, Mainer, for reading my comment and leaving a note. You are right that Gen. Satterfield wrote years ago how President Trump’s habit of calling people names would make many Americans dislike him. When a leader pokes people in the eye with insults, those people remember the hurt and often stop listening to the good ideas the leader may have. Even if the leader is trying to fight back against unfair attacks, the constant name-calling turns friends into enemies and makes it harder to get things done. A better way is to stick to the facts, stay calm, and treat people with respect so more folks will support the important work. That simple approach still works today for anyone who wants to lead others well.
But But But, I love how Trump insults them to their face, and makes the Democrats and lib Republicans look like idiots. He has a business approach and America is not used to that.