George Conway, co-founder of The Lincoln Project:
At one time, I believed, because I wanted to believe, that Trump could be a good president, or at least a passable one. I wanted to believe that, because I believed in many of the policies he, his party and his administration have professed to believe in. I still believe in many of these policies, even though Trump’s incompetence and perfidy have discredited them. And I believed that those who rise to the great office of the presidency often rise to the occasion, out of appreciation of something greater than themselves, and that Trump would do the same.
I believe I was wrong. I believe that not because I want to, but because the facts — mostly, Trump’s own words and actions — showed otherwise. As time went on, I came to believe Trump was a terrible president, and could never become a good one, and that, indeed, he was far worse than many of his critics, whom I had disagreed with, had made him out to be.
I came to believe Trump was mentally, psychologically and morally unfit for the high office he held, and, indeed, any position of public (or even private) trust. I came to believe he will go down in history as the worst president America ever had. I came to believe that his pathologies fostered division and hatred, and potentially violence, and rendered him incapable of achieving persuasion and consensus, and therefore incapable of successful governance. [WaPo]
I noticed that some of the responses to Conway’s article were disdainful, that he should have known. Keeping in mind that Conway is a Republican, while it’s always tempting to play the superiority game, I think it’s far more effective to try to be understanding.
Understanding that sometimes you don’t want to believe that your fellows are blithering idiots, or worse, chattering racists.
Understanding that, under the Republican banner is many religious sects, which have their beliefs that they may not reveal in any great detail, yet somehow find a way to see Trump as the favorite of the Divine. No party is a communal creature; information is fragmentary, and illusions closely grasped.
Understanding that sometimes the devil you know – you think – is better than the devil you don’t.
Understanding that almost no one knows an utter liar, so when one does pop up, many will be taken in by him.
So, sure, it’s sad that Conway didn’t immediately grasp that Trump was an impending disaster. It looks like 74 million voters didn’t in the 2020 election, either.
But Conway did figure it out, and even played a part in aborting Trump’s dreams. I think it should be applauded, not spat on.
