The following letter to the editor was printed in a northern Minnesota alternative newspaper called the “Reader Weekly” some years ago.
The Playbook
There are two things the Democratic Party had better learn if it is not to continue to be at a disadvantage in future elections as it has been in the recent past. 1) While Democrats tend to run on and on about issues, the Republicans simply run to win and get power. They create and use issues to win rather than be genuinely concerned about any issues themselves. 2) Democrats need to study and understand the operational playbook of the modern Republican Party. That book specifies and details the tactics and techniques to be used in waging campaigns for power. It advocates targeting "the primitive sentiments of the broad masses," and aiming "at the emotions and only to a very limited degree at the so-called intellect."
The book details such tactics as smearing your opposition falsely, creating scapegoats from minor or unpopular groups as being to blame for problems, or present them as a threat to your society, raise fear of being constantly under threat from enemies, and offering yourself as the only protection and salvation.
It says the attention and retention span of the public is limited, so you should only select a few themes or points and harp on these until they understand what you want them to, and in the way that you want them to understand. It says to tell lies without regard for the risks of exposure. The bigger the lie, combined with the weight of repetition, will gain a sufficient level of acceptance to win.
These techniques were used brilliantly by the Republicans to win the last election. And they have been used successfully to win power elsewhere before. The book was published in Germany more than 80 years ago. Its title is "Mein Kampf." It's author, Adolph Hitler.
Tom Nacy / Superior
If you want the reason I believe Trump won, I think it is mentioned in the preceding letter. Trump's campaign was primarily about blaming everyone else for the countries problems.
If you are familiar with the "victim" triangle used to analyze addictive interactions between people and groups, the "victim" always denies his/her issues. Once the victim is in denial of their issues, they are then free to blame everyone else for all the problems. As with all addictive personalities, Trump is in denial of his issues. Any attempt to focus on his issues automatically brings about an aggressive and demeaning rebuke.
The other two roles in the triangle are the "rescuer" and the "persecutor" roles. Trump’s supporters, the rescuers, were primarily, people with fear and anger issues, who were looking for others to blame their problems on. Using the tactics outlined in "Mein Kampf," Trump gave his supporters targets they could use to blame their fear and anger on, and then Trump used their fear and anger to create and support his movement. The persecutors were those who challenged Trump and his message.
Trump used Twitter to find out what was pushing people’s buttons, and then he pushed them. His supporters returned the favor by giving Trump all the strokes he desperately needed. I believe Trump and his supporters are co-dependent on each other.
As with all addictive behaviors, the problem is not the fear and anger a person feels - the problem is the denial, and the resulting blame.
Once an addict has blamed someone else for their anger, they always want the other person or persons to change, because, of course, they are not the problem.
If you are interested, I would recommend a book by Anne Wilson-Schaef titled "When Society Becomes An Addict." I believe what we are dealing with here and now is a large part of society that has become addictive and dysfunctional in nature.