“It will take a leader far smarter and politically sophisticated than Trump to repair and revitalize the American nation.”
Sophistication and “book smartness” are social skills - great for manipulating and deceiving. They are not at all what we need in a leader right now.
If you mean “street smartness”, then I might agree that is part of what we need in a leader - and Trump has plenty. In fact, I don’t thing you could find a leader with more street smarts.
Even in book smarts, Trump is far beyond what he lets on - but he stops short at platitudes and philosophies that are inapplicable to real life solutions, or ideologies that coerce and manipulate.
Some of the “smartest” and most “educated” academics are Marxists and such, which doesn’t say much for being book smart.
“Sophistication” is even more dubious as a credential. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that sophistication is about appearances and acting. Wealthy aristocrats send their children to “finishing school” to become sophisticated. They are then armed with the proper manners, pronunciation and vocabulary to pass muster in high society.
I know people who are jealous of other countries - they wish we could have a president more like Justin Trudeau. They were pretty happy with Obama - and yes they are all lefties - which underscores the problem with “sophistication” - it is a thin disguise that is very effective at leading people who don’t think for themselves. Independant thinkers are usually drawn to straight-talkers and no-nonsense pragmatists with real world experience, and are not fooled by a fancy degree.
Is sophistication really what we need? I don’t think so. Trump is the best we could have hoped for - he is a straight shooter and a problem solver - he’s fearless, beholden to no one except the people, who he genuinely seems to love.
Whether it will be enough depends on the rest of us -are there enough people left to take advantage of Trump’s sacrifice? Are there enough lovers of Liberty?
I have my doubts - we may well fail to get back on the right track - but it won’t be for lack of a good leader. Trump is doing his part.
There is no doubt that Trump has done his best to alter the Clinton/Bush/Obama axis that has so harmed the American nation. He has done much despite a hostile propagandistic media, less than enthusiastic support within his own Party, ongoing illegal “resistance” within corrupted Federal institutions and of course the fanatic opposition of the globalists here and abroad. Yet his bragadaccio and past personal and business behavior has prevented him from becoming the person who will ultimately destroy, not just defeat, his enemies and restore American consensus, patriotism and sustained progress. Who will that person be? Don’t know. Hopefully there is an unknown David somewhere who like the biblical David will emerge and complete the job, that Trump to his eternal credit, despite his flaws, has begun.
Fully understand that this judgment of Trump offends many. Also understand that politics is the art of the possible formulated by imperfect mortals. Yet the times are extraordinary , much is at stake and even greater leadership is necessary.
I like your analysis, but not sure about sophistication. You’re almost lumping it in with sophistry — the intent to deceive — or you’re making it strictly a product of class. I think sophistication can come naturally by having great experience in the subject. This usually comes about through years of education. As well, sophistication is also the quality of being complicated or made with great skill: e.g., The level of sophistication in the cameras has grown tremendously.