The Allure of Familiarity in Politics
One of the reasons I believe Donald Trump will be a one-term President or leave before his first term is that he lacks familiarity. Over the decades we've gotten used to a style that most Presidents have. We're familiar with their appeal to national pride, a sense of belonging, and a focus, even if false, on the common good and tradition.
Donald Trump offers none of those things. Instead, he is a President who is not familiar in his personal style or method of dealing with things. As a nation of voters, we're likely to put aside our love of novelty when presented again with that man. He makes us feel unsettled, somehow, even for those who align themselves with some of his priorities.
It reminds me of an experience from my high school days. I had received a Pendleton wool plaid shirt for Christmas from my parents. It was the early 1960s, and the kids in my school were wearing those. The plaid was Black Watch, and that had a tie with my last name, to boot. I wore it a lot. I liked that shirt. But then, one day, I took it off and handed it to my girlfriend, because it was chilly out. She kept it, because wearing your boyfriend's shirt was also a popular thing to do, apparently.
I didn't mind a bit, really. My mother asked me where my expensive Pendleton shirt was, once. I told her, and she heaved a sigh. Well, some time passed and one day my girlfriend handed the shirt back to me. For a moment, I though she was breaking up with me. "My mother washed it," she said. "I need you to wear it a few times. Then I'll take it back." I complied, of course. Familiarity. The shirt was useless without my scent on it, apparently. "Eau de Teen Boyfriend," I think it's called.
The thing is that Trump has a strange aroma about him. It's not familiar. In fact, it stinks. We want our familiarity back. Trump will never have the right smell. We don't want him any more.
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