“they’ve conned their supporters”

But Trump hasn’t conned anyone, that idea is just plain wrong and, worse, scary because it reveals a really smart person who doesn’t understand what he’s looking at.

Trump did three simple things: (1.) found a large group that felt like they weren’t being heard and repeated their points in huge forums. (2.) Spoke directly about their problems and gave them simple solutions — the essence of good politics. (3.) Did all of this in a new and refreshing way leaving no doubt he was the change candidate.

Nobody was conned by anything: Trump voters knew Hillary was more of the same and even if Trump didn’t do any of what he said, at least he was saying it and at least he’s change. That’s not a con, that’s just good politics.

This whole long article is the mental masturbation of a smart guy trying to explain in complex ways why his failure isn’t his fault … and, unfortunately, it is.

Dude. You need to look in mirror and realize that you majorly fecked up. You got so drunk on your idealism that started smoking your own and forgot the art of basic politics; and Trump came along and owned you.

Stop whining, take accountability, and figure out how and why your policy ideas solve people problems, and then create simple messaging that says, ‘I hear you, and here’s what I’m going to do about it.’

In short, it’s not about repeating YOUR great ideas, it’s about repeating the public’s problems and then using the art of great story telling: (a.) repeat the problem, (b.) name the cause, a villain, (c.) revel the villain’s weakness, (d.) name the hero best able to attack that weakness — you, (d.) provide a simple next step.

Nowhere in there is a bunch of pseudo-intellectual crap — save that for the back-office, and get back to politicking.

Do yourself a favor: find someone who’s good at it (cause that ain’t you) and make your next column about them.