…[T]he people wanted a larger-than-life candidate, and Trump is accustomed to living large. After months of pundits and politicos arguing about electoral lanes, it turned out that the “champion” lane was the only one that mattered, and Trump was the only person in it.There is no point in denying that this is a calamity. Damage control will be the primary theme of the next six months and will continue long after that. To many of us, it seemed that the conservative movement was starting to ripen into something promising, with a good harvest visible over the next horizon. Now, that promising yield has been blighted by an early frost, and it is unclear what, if anything, can be saved.
If there is a way forward, it will require us to broaden our political palate. We must recognize that our good-value promises are inadequate to the present moment. At this time, voters demand more than filled potholes and low taxes. We must work to articulate a more comprehensive vision, and look for heroes who can help bring it to life. If we can do that, conservatism will again have some capacity to shape our society and culture, regardless of the size of the welfare state or the makeup of our courts.
Source: Donald Trump Voters Want a Champion | National Review
