By Bear Howard and Associates
In American politics, one racist remark, one sex scandal, or one abuse of power used to end a career. Trump didn’t just survive them—he survived all of them, and in doing so, rewrote the rules of consequence itself.
Sedona AZ — The following is a historical account for those it affected. It’s real to most of us, but it’s been forgotten. I suggest that we acknowledge that the rules of the game have changed. And if this worked for the far right MAGA world of Donald Trump, maybe it’s going to work for the left or maybe even the radical left when, not if, they take control and redefine their reality based on their perception of what’s right and wrong.
Remember, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Misogyny, sexual misconduct, and “women-as-props” scandals
“One comment about rape” ends a statewide race
- Todd Akin (2012): said victims of “legitimate rape” rarely get pregnant → became an instant national liability and is widely credited with sinking a winnable Senate race.
“Credible misconduct allegations” trigger resignation pressure
- Al Franken (2017): multiple allegations → mounting pressure from his own party → resignation from the Senate.
- Bob Packwood (1995): Senate Ethics Committee recommended expulsion over sexual harassment/misconduct findings →
Sex scandal/secrecy / ethics entanglement ends careers
- John Ensign (2011): affair plus actions that raised ethics/conflict issues → resigned during Ethics Committee investigation.
- Anthony Weiner (2011 onward): sexting scandal → resigned; attempted comeback cratered by more revelations.
Pattern (historically): sex scandal alone often ends it; sex scandal + dishonesty + ethics implications ends it faster.
Racism, bigotry, and “gaffes” that used to be disqualifying
One slur can kill a rise
- George Allen (2006): “macaca” remark became a defining racial incident; it damaged his standing and is widely treated as a turning point in his political trajectory.
Nostalgia for segregation can force leadership out
- Trent Lott (2002): praise of Strom Thurmond’s segregationist run triggered backlash and he stepped down from Senate leadership.
Pattern: even when officials survived electorally, leadership roles and presidential prospects often evaporated.
Grifting, bribery, “cash for access,” and pay-to-play
Straight bribery ends careers (fast)
- Duke Cunningham (2005): bribery/tax crimes → resigned, prison sentence; career obliterated.
Pay-to-play gets you removed or jailed
- Rod Blagojevich: “selling a Senate seat” / pay-to-play corruption → conviction and prison; political career effectively ended.
Lobbyist money scandals can end leadership eras
- Tom DeLay / Abramoff era: Abramoff scandal fallout helped drive DeLay’s exit from leadership and resignation from Congress.
Gifts + “helping a donor” can wreck a governor’s future (even when convictions don’t stick)
- Bob McDonnell (VA): high-value gifts/loans and alleged “official actions” to benefit a businessman → scandal consumed his post-office political viability; the Supreme Court later narrowed the legal definition of “official act,” but politically the damage was done.
Pattern: in the “normal” era, even the appearance of pay-to-play could end national ambitions.
Affairs that ended presidential trajectories
“Private morality” used to be politically fatal
- Gary Hart (1987): affair scandal (“Monkey Business”) → dropped out; became a classic example of a campaign-ending personal scandal.
- John Edwards (2008): affair + cover-up + campaign finance allegations → public collapse of a major national figure.
- Mark Sanford (2009): affair + disappearance/lying (“Appalachian Trail”) → near-total destruction of credibility and leadership viability.
Pattern: the cover-up (lying, secrecy, misuse of staff/resources) often kills the career more than the affair.
“Illegal initiatives” and abuse of executive machinery
This category is bigger than one scandal type—it includes using government power for personal/political purposes, bending agencies to protect allies/punish enemies, or pushing actions that trip legal/constitutional wires.
A few modern, concrete “career ender” examples (not exhaustive):
- Pay-to-play governance (Blagojevich) is the clearest “executive office as vending machine” case—criminal consequences, removed from power.
- Corruption via gifts tied to state action (McDonnell) shows how “soft corruption” investigations can detonate a future even when the legal case later narrows.
Pattern: historically, when the public believes the chief executive is using the machinery of government for self-interest, careers implode—often quickly.
What’s different in the Trump era (the meta-point you’re getting at)
In the pre-Trump pattern, politicians often fell for one of these:
- a misogynistic remark
- a racist remark
- a sex scandal
- a pay-to-play story
- a corruption investigation
- an ethics committee probe
Your “deeper dive” takeaway: Trump didn’t just survive one category—he survived multiple categories stacked, repeatedly, in a way that earlier politicians didn’t. (That’s the historical discontinuity you’re pointing to.)
“this would usually end it”
- Attacked a decorated POW/war hero (“I like people who weren’t captured”)—a third-rail insult in U.S. politics.
- Mocked / mimicked a disabled reporter on stage (the incident, and later disputes about it, became a defining norm-breaking moment).
- “Access Hollywood” tape: bragged about sexually aggressive behavior (“grab ’em…”), the kind of scandal that historically ends campaigns within days.
- Normalization of mass insult politics: opponents, judges, journalists, immigrants, “losers,” “animals,” etc.—a level of routine public degradation that earlier candidates usually couldn’t survive.
2017–2020: “President shouldn’t do this” governance dealbreakers
- Travel ban / “Muslim ban” executive action (EO 13769) that triggered immediate legal and civic backlash and redefined modern limits of executive power in immigration.
- Family separation under “zero tolerance”—a policy choice widely treated as morally disqualifying in prior eras (and a lasting legal/political scar).
- Relentless attacks on independent institutions: intelligence agencies, courts, inspectors general, DOJ/FBI norms, career civil service—behavior that previously would have been treated as authoritarian drift rather than “”
- Profiting/conflict-of-interest optics on an unprecedented scale (family roles, properties, branding, donors/foreign patronage controversies), in a way prior candidates were often forced to avoid just to remain viable.
2019–2021: Impeachments + election subversion (historically disqualifying)
- First impeachment (Ukraine): House formally impeached Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress (the modern presidency’s “you can’t do that” line).
- Pressure campaign to overturn 2020 results (e.g., Georgia call asking officials to “find” votes) — the kind of direct, documented coercion that would have ended almost any prior national career.
- Second impeachment (Jan 6) for incitement of insurrection; Senate vote fell short of conviction but was still historically unprecedented.
2022–2025: Legal judgments that would normally end a public career
- Felony conviction (NY hush-money / falsifying business records) — first U.S. president convicted of a felony; later sentenced to an unconditional discharge (per court/coverage summaries).
- Civil liability for sexual abuse + defamation (E. Jean Carroll): found liable; damages including $5M and later $83.3M for defamation; appeals court later upheld the $83.3M judgment.
- NY civil fraud judgment: court found major financial fraud and imposed massive penalties (with later appeals activity).
- Classified documents prosecution (Mar-a-Lago): charged conduct included willful retention and obstruction; later procedural developments tied to DOJ policy and 2024 election outcome are extensively documented in timelines.
2026 continued norm-shattering conduct
- Racist imagery incident involving the Obamas: reporting describes Trump approving a post depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, then refusing to apologize.
The “pattern” (why this list feels unreal)
In the last 56 years, campaigns often died from:
- one damning tape
- one ethics scandal
- one “unpresidential” insult
- one credible abuse-of-power finding
Trump’s era is defined by stacking multiple versions of those at once—tape + impeachments + criminal conviction + civil fraud finding + civil sexual-abuse liability + election-subversion allegations—without the normal electoral “ejection seat” firing.
Reality has been rearranged to suit the MAGA world that Donald Trump orchestrated. So be it! If the rules are different now, don’t be surprised when those who were challenged become the challengers!
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Career-Ender Then vs. Trump-Era Analogues Now
| Career-Ender (Then — Typical Outcome: Withdrawal, Resignation, Leadership Loss, or Defeat) | Trump-Era Analogue (Category Comparison) |
| Sexual misconduct allegations — multiple accusers typically forced resignation or ended national prospects (e.g., Franken, Packwood, Weiner) | Multiple sexual misconduct allegations + civil sexual abuse & defamation liability findings; continued political viability |
| One recorded misogynistic remark could sink a statewide race (e.g., Todd Akin rape comments) | Repeated public misogynistic remarks and insults toward women across years without career-ending effect |
| Affair + cover-up ended presidential trajectories (e.g., Gary Hart, John Edwards, Mark Sanford) | Personal conduct controversies + payoff/hush-money scheme leading to criminal conviction; political career continued |
| Racial slur or racially charged remark derailed leadership bids (e.g., George Allen “macaca,” Trent Lott segregation praise) | Pattern of racially charged statements and controversies; base support largely held |
| Mocking vulnerable individuals (disability, tragedy victims) historically disqualifying | Public mockery incidents and inflammatory rhetoric without campaign collapse |
| Bribery / pay-to-play corruption → resignation, prosecution (e.g., Cunningham, Blagojevich) | Ongoing accusations and findings in civil fraud and business practices; political viability persisted |
| Large gift / donor influence scandal (even if conviction later overturned) crippled careers (e.g., McDonnell) | Extensive business/conflict-of-interest controversies during and after presidency; remained politically viable |
| Ethics violations / misuse of office triggered resignations or leadership exits (e.g., DeLay, Ensign) | Repeated ethics and conflict-of-interest controversies; no career-ending effect with core supporters |
| Obstruction or abuse-of-power findings (Watergate-era standard) forced resignation (Nixon) | Two impeachments including abuse of power and incitement-related charges; remained viable candidate |
| Election interference or coercion of officials — historically treated as disqualifying | Documented pressure campaign on state officials regarding election outcomes; continued political leadership role |
| Criminal indictment alone usually ended major campaigns | Multiple indictments; one felony conviction; campaign viability continued |
| Serious campaign finance violations damaged or ended careers (various House/Senate cases) | Hush-money / records falsification conviction tied to campaign context; remained major political figure |
| Attacks on courts, intelligence agencies, or law enforcement legitimacy historically marginalized candidates | Sustained attacks on institutional legitimacy became normalized within political brand |
| Open hostility to allied nations / praise of adversarieshistorically disqualifying in Cold War–era politics | Repeated norm-breaking foreign policy rhetoric without automatic political disqualification |
| Nepotism / family enrichment optics previously forced distancing or withdrawals | Family business and appointment controversies without career-ending impact |
