Opposition to Trump is primarily focused on style as opposed to substance

Byron York:
In late August, the veteran Democratic pollster, Peter Hart, held a focus group in Pittsburgh. He invited 12 local people, six of whom had voted for Hillary Clinton, one of whom voted for the far-left candidate Jill Stein, and five of whom voted for Donald Trump.
The Clinton voters, not to mention the lone Stein supporter, were unhappy with President Trump's performance in office. Asked for a brief description of him, they offered answers such as "unfit," "crazy," and "contemptible." The Trump voters weren't particularly happy either, although they used words such as "disappointment" to describe the man they supported.

What was remarkable about everyone's reservations about Trump was the degree to which they focused on the president's tone, on his style, on the things he said, rather than his policy.

Staunch Democrats in the room opposed the substance of Trump's agenda, just as they would have opposed that of any other Republican president. Yet, most of their complaints were about Trump's style. The more independent-minded, as well as the Trump voters, likely support much of what the president is doing in terms of policy. But they still felt the need to express disapproval of his tone.

At the same time, several voters expressed satisfaction with their own lives and their own economic situation. "The construction business has just gone off the charts," said David, a 50-something Trump voter who made his living in the industry. Such comments mirror larger measures of economic satisfaction, such as new reports that consumer confidence has risen to its highest level since December 2000.

That is the Trump phenomenon. He is a president stuck below 40 percent job approval at a time of rising economic growth, swelling consumer optimism, and a roaring stock market. Despite all the good news, even some of his supporters, the ones who cheer on his actions on deregulation, judicial nominations, border security and more, have reservations about him. Tony, a Trump voter in his 50s who described himself as a Republican-leaning independent, summed up their feelings in an almost poignant way. "What most disappoints me is he's such an incredibly flawed individual who's articulated many of the values I hold near and dear," Tony told Hart. "The messenger has overwhelmed the message."
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I like most of Trump's agenda.  I have been pleasantly surprised at the deregulation effort and the economic growth it has produced.  I like his court appointments.  His foreign policy has been much more effective in supporting US interests.  I think the drama is a distraction, but it may be allowing him to do many of the things I like because Democrats are so focused on his persona.  I see it as noise.  As long as the noise does not keep him from achieving his objectives, I will continue to mostly ignore it.

I was a reluctant Trump voter mainly because I did not think his style would allow him to be an effective President.  I was voted against Hillary Clinton more than for Trump.  Next time I will not be as reluctant if he continues to accomplish his agenda.

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