The Apprentice Is Back, and This Time He Means Business
Donald Trump has an opportunity to rewrite the story of his first term — and he is a risk-taker at heart.
During his first term, Donald Trump was an apprentice, a novice politician who had a lot to learn about the inner workings of the federal government. Trump’s term can best be described as unremarkable, with a naïve and undisciplined President Trump wasting this opportunity to lead the country and achieve his stated goals. He paid for his failings, and in 2020, “We the People” said “you’re fired.” That is usually the end of a political career, but Donald Trump is not a typical politician. He soldiered on, and despite a myriad of attempts to derail his 2024 campaign, he never succumbed. While most people don’t get second chances in life, Donald Trump defied the odds.
Based on his first presidency, Trump is ranked 41st by presidential historians. The next four years are a unique opportunity for him to change the narrative, and not be remembered like other one-term presidents who have fared poorly in the rankings because they have few notable accomplishments.
Trump has surely thought about his legacy. He now has the option of being able to rewrite the previous judgements of historians. Should Donald Trump successfully enact his working agenda, it is likely that he will go down in American history as one of the most impactful and important presidents. His success or failure could dramatically affect us all.
Continue reading the entire piece here at RealClearMarkets
Dirk Mateer is a senior fellow at the Civitas Institute, and the director of the Philosophy, Politics and Economics program at the School of Civic Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also professor of instruction in UT Austin's Department of Economics.
Politics
National Civitas Institute Poll: Americans are Anxious and Frustrated, Creating a Challenging Environment for Leaders
The poll reveals a deeply pessimistic American electorate, with a majority convinced the nation is on the wrong track.
.webp)
Liberal Democracy Reexamined: Leo Strauss on Alexis de Tocqueville
This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.
%20(1).avif)
Long Distance Migration as a Two-Step Sorting Process: The Resettlement of Californians in Texas
Here we press the question of whether the well-documented stream of migrants relocating from California to Texas has been sufficient to alter the political complexion of the destination state.
%20(3).avif)
Who's That Knocking? A Study of the Strategic Choices Facing Large-Scale Grassroots Canvassing Efforts
Although there is a consensus that personalized forms of campaign outreach are more likely to be effective at either mobilizing or even persuading voters, there remains uncertainty about how campaigns should implement get-out-the-vote (GOTV) programs, especially at a truly expansive scale.
California’s Green Policies Destroy Blue-Collar Jobs
The problem here lies not with racism, or lack of reparations, as Newsom and “progressives” insist, but with their own policies, which devastate minority communities.
.avif)
Oil, War, and Peace
The deeper question about these matters is why the energy crunch had to occur at all.
Iran and the Laws of War
The Iran war gives the United States the opportunity to re-formulate the rules of war, not to fight the old conflicts of the twentieth century.
.webp)
