How has Trump been able to defy so many political norms?

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Because Trump has never been about Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative.

That is what so many people on here fail to understand.
Hell, I used to be a Democrat! I still fundamentally do hold some liberal views especially on fair trade, social justice and foreign policy. I would still vote for a Democrat or Independent if they adopted policies that I thought were more about our nation and less about a globalist perspective.

Trump has been able to tap into that outsider lane. For all of his flaws and imperfections he has a way of connecting with people that is extremely rare in politics.

I didn't like Obama as President but Obama was a master at connecting. I recognize talent where I see it. Reagan had it. Obama had it. Nixon had it in some ways. Trump has IT. It's the IT factor.

You tend to forget the R party has been able to defeat Gore, Kerry and Hilary, but couldnt beat Bill Clinton and Obama. Biden has lead in every major poll and leads by 5 points in a Rassy poll. Many of the Rassy polls had Hilary trailing in them. But other media polls, she was leading, but not by 11

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

He... hasn’t? His party got absolutely destroyed in 2018 and he’s getting crushed by Biden right now?

Obama got beat bad in two elections: 10 and 14 and it didn't stop him from winning in 2012. Your point?

Obama didn't routinely have a net approval rating worse than -10 during 2012

[NHI]

Here's my take:

1. The ceiling for the Republican party is much higher than we expect.
2. Polarization means that it is harder for the opposing party to steal votes even when they screw up.
3. People personally view their party as more important than the people in charge.
4. Political norms are much more flexible than we tend to believe.
5. Political mistakes aren't viewed as a breach of the social contract, but as normal in public office.

[The Simpsons Cinematic Universe]

A lot of politics is in appearing strong. Yes, he did all of these things, but he didn't apologize, and kept on doing it. He managed never to appear in a position of weakness, he held frame. I guess, moreover, he went beyond the usual "emotional appeal" of politicians in just spitting out vaguely relatable platitudes and appealed to people's deeper emotions. It's a significant moment in the social discourse and a good distraction from the usual barely-processed stream of the same thing over and over.

[Nightcore Nationalist]

John McCain was no saint. Being shot down while dropping napalm on people isn't my definition of "heroism." His actions in politics and his personal life (dumping his wife for a beer company heiress, etc) were the hallmarks of an incredibly horrible person. I did not know a single Republican in 2008 who actually liked McCain, they just voted for him because they either hated Obama even more or liked Sarah Palin. My grandma was planning on not voting at all until Aunt Sarah became the VP pick.

THIS.  McCain was a bad hombre, an egotistical blowhard who treated many other people like crap, but you'd never realize it due to his close relationship with the media.

-He dumped his first wife after a severe wreck crippled her
-He called Cindy a "Trollop C**t" on the campaign trail.
-He disinvited Sarah Palin to his funeral despite her loyalty towards him (supporting him against a primary challenger)
-Unlike George H.W. Bush, who actually had class, he disinvited the sitting president to his funeral.
-He falsely smeared Dr. Kelli Ward as a conspiratard.
-He screwed over his party and constituents by sinking the skinny repeal.
-He purged Arizona's GOP of conservative critics and likely hastened the state's blue trend
https://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/john-mccain-arizona-tea-party-113849
-He called Rand Paul a "russian asset" and generally disparages anyone with a smaller warboner than him
-He passed on the Steele dossier (which we now know is largely false and unsubstantiated) to the FBI which, naturally crippled Trump's administration.  The best example of McCain's spiteful and vengeful nature.  And red avis can whatabout to the Daaahhhhhnald all they want, I don't care, he's equally flawed.

And most disgustingly of all, he deprived his constituents of representation by refusing to resign for well over a year.  He screwed over his own state and his own voters simply because he wanted to undermine Trump, and not acting like a grown-up and resigning.  Imagine prioritizing the last months of your life to spite your political opponent at the detriment of your constituents.  What a garbage human.

[Elgato1978]

Well yes he has defied many of the norms and traditions through the course of his presidency. Fact is The Donald has made a living overall as a man who promotes himself as a brand and selling that to the masses. His brand above all is outrage and mockery. Sort of like a bad reality tv show premise, do something ridiculous, to ‘own’ your competition, to shock.

Top ten reasons why Trump has been able to defy political norms

10) He’s made a name for himself for being a scumbag, so you can’t shame this man
     Publicly for being one, cause it won’t change what’s baked in what we think of the man.

9) Able to instill loyalty from GOP out of fear of his base. So his party lines up behind him.

He is the media equivalent of a car crash and dumpster fire wrapped in one person who
   Will get more coverage because people can’t look away.

7) Trump maybe a visitor from a lizard planet that invades planets by distracting the public!

6) Is a Terminator from the future who is sent back to destroy humanity before John Connor is            
   Born, which would explain why Mitch McConnell supports him.

5) He is actually an evolved orangutan, and really who doesn’t love those. I offer this Clint Eastwood classic,” Every Which Way but Loose” as my evidence.

4) We are actually in the Matrix and Trump has figured out, which would explain his ability to fly.

3) He is a Jedi Master. “ Those aren’t the taxes you’re looking for.”

2) Donald has received a sports almanac from the future and the only people who can stop him are some kid and a wily eyed scientist.

1) After winning the presidency for a second term it is revealed that he is actually Cthulhu. Well of course.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Well yes he has defied many of the norms and traditions through the course of his presidency. Fact is The Donald has made a living overall as a man who promotes himself as a brand and selling that to the masses. His brand above all is outrage and mockery. Sort of like a bad reality tv show premise, do something ridiculous, to ‘own’ your competition, to shock.

Top ten reasons why Trump has been able to defy political norms

10) He’s made a name for himself for being a scumbag, so you can’t shame this man
     Publicly for being one, cause it won’t change what’s baked in what we think of the man.

9) Able to instill loyalty from GOP out of fear of his base. So his party lines up behind him.

He is the media equivalent of a car crash and dumpster fire wrapped in one person who
   Will get more coverage because people can’t look away.

7) Trump maybe a visitor from a lizard planet that invades planets by distracting the public!

6) Is a Terminator from the future who is sent back to destroy humanity before John Connor is            
   Born, which would explain why Mitch McConnell supports him.

5) He is actually an evolved orangutan, and really who doesn’t love those. I offer this Clint Eastwood classic,” Every Which Way but Loose” as my evidence.

4) We are actually in the Matrix and Trump has figured out, which would explain his ability to fly.

3) He is a Jedi Master. “ Those aren’t the taxes you’re looking for.”

2) Donald has received a sports almanac from the future and the only people who can stop him are some kid and a wily eyed scientist.

1) After winning the presidency for a second term it is revealed that he is actually Cthulhu. Well of course.

This post was hilariously funny. Welcome to Atlas