Not all politicians are full blown demagogues. Although almost all of them do depend on some skills and ploys associated with demagogues. And it's difficult to have a democracy with universal suffrage and not see the rise of a demagogue, especially at times of great social and cultural change. And we're going through that in spades. People look for easy solutions at such times. Trump just seems to be the best example of a successful demagogue, in our history, to date. At least at the level of the Presidency.
http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2...children-democracies/ideas/up-for-discussion/
It was fairly easy to recognize Trump for what he was from the get go. If you're fine with such leader types, the Strong Man, he doesn't automatically elicit fear, or concern for democratic institutions. If you're not, he might be your worst nightmare come true. Personally, appointing Scott Pruitt to head the EPA would be more then enough for me to despise him. That one appointment, and it's results so far, are way more then enough for me to loath the guy. The whole anti-science irrationality that permeates his administration is way more then enough.
Lacking legislative accomplishments, he's been almost completely focused on the culture wars. He's got to figure a good % of his base will stick with him simply because he speaks their language in the culture wars, and stokes their anger within the issues that dominate those wars. I'm not sure how one calls that leadership. He stokes people's anger and fears. He might not be the first, but I believe he's the best at that so far.
Even where the issue in this thread is involved. The biggest question is what are 4 American soldiers doing being ambushed and killed in Niger? Instead, he's got the media completely focused on whether Obama offered condolences to Gen. Kelly for the death of his son. He's good at that, and the media lets him do that every time so far.
So what's up with Niger?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politic...rump-addressed-what-happened-in-niger/543054/