Donald Trump’s increasingly unhinged attacks on Kamala Harris are an example of personal compulsion as a type of political “strategy.” Because he is a human wrecking ball against American democracy, the rule of law, and human decency, this approach has served Trump very well. His political and personal brand is based on disruption and chaos. His MAGA people see such behavior by Trump as a sign of his “authenticity” and “honesty” instead of as the behavior of a deeply troubled person. Public opinion polls and other research show that supporters of political strongmen and autocrats like Donald Trump are driven by voters who want leaders who will break the law to “get things done” for people like them.
For a variety of reasons, President Biden, as exemplified by his disastrous debate with Donald Trump in June, was having a very difficult time effectively confronting such a human force of destruction and chaos. Enter Vice President Kamala Harris in her new role as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
