I think that the evaluation will have to include the broader sociological context -- i.e. the general decline of ethics in American life, the role of drugs and alcohol on American life, etc.

A lot of people predicted a Trump. I don't think they were expecting an idiot/criminal, though. I think they were expecting someone with autocratic tendencies, but not someone who'd anger his own security apparatus, thus killing his hopes of establishing a full-on dictatorship.

They were expecting the autocrat to be a bit smarter. A guy like, oh, I dunno. DeSantis?