I love metaphors and there is no better metaphor for American politics than sports — especially American football — and the Super Bowl.
President Trump, like the Philadelphia Eagles, was the underdog during the 2016 Republican primary and general election against Hillary Clinton — and like the Eagles, was mocked by the pundits and experts during the presidential campaign, given no chance of winning against proven political winners, because like Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, he was a novice, starter and castoff with no track record or experience in the big game — the Super Bowl of politics — the presidential election.
The New England Patriots were favored to win the Super Bowl because, like all of Trump’s political opponents in the primary and general election, they had experience and had won more than one Super Bowl. Like Hilary Clinton, they had a ground game while Trump had none. Furthermore, no quarterback has engineered more late-game playoff comebacks than Tom Brady. He, like Clinton, were predicted to make late game comeback wins.
The Eagles, like Trump seeking the highest office in the land, were looking for their first Lombardi Trophy. Both won and got what they set out to win!
Both Trump and the Eagles won because of their embrace of counterintuitive thinking based on new technology — analytics! Both relied on unconventional strategies based on the risk management analysis of their analytics team resulting in the Eagles making aggressive play-calling on fourth downs and Trump focusing on Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wyoming electoral votes–winning unconventional strategies and team.
No team is composed entirely of perfect people. Whether one is a superstar or benchwarmer, they are an important member of the team. Individuals working together as a group make a successful team. The success of any team — be it in sports or politics — is dependent on every person working toward a common goal.
Andrew Carnegie, the business magnate and philanthropist said: “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, the ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
That means every American. Team America if America is to truly be great again.
If America’s Founding Fathers could work together as a team to create America — notwithstanding their profound political differences — surely We the Maids can sweep back our Founding Fathers ideals and work as a team. Team America.
The Eagles and team Trump are examples of successful teamwork.
The Donald, like Foles, proved the pundits and experts wrong and led his Republican team to victory. They not only won the White House, but control of Congress and as a result, the Supreme Court. Yet he and the Office of the President get no respect.
Listening to Aretha Franklin’s song Respect on the car radio after the Super Bowl, I couldn’t help think how the underdogs Nick Foles, Eagles, The Donald and his team, got no respect during their run up to their respective Super Bowl wins — football and politics. Yet Nick Foles and the Eagles are now admired and respected while President Trump is not.
I can understand why President Trump is not respected by many because they see that his persona and manner are not presidential and some of his habits are highly disturbing. I don’t agree with many of the president’s policies or habits. But I do respect him as the President of the United States of America and respect the Office of the President.
Underdog President Trump was elected to the Office of The President in the White House and deserves the respect fellow underdog Nick Foles is receiving — actually more as long as he is in the White House!