One of the biggest debates among grassroots Patriots has been the tension created by former President Donald Trump’s focus on 2020. Some argue that if bulk-mail ballots and the other measures used to “fortify” that election aren’t addressed, there’s no use in fighting other fights. Others argue that a singular focus on re-litigating 2020 will lead to missed opportunities.

Both are right. The problems with bulk-mail ballots are legion. The best way to handle absentee ballots through the mail involves requiring the use of certified mail for both the absentee ballot applications and the ballots themselves, with strong signature verification. No applications should be sent out without verifying the identity of the person requesting it. This means unsolicited applications — much less ballots — are strictly forbidden.

The fact is, ensuring that our elections are secure is important. However, to do that, grassroots Patriots need to win elections under the current rules. That means focusing on the issues in front of them. One of the biggest is what is going on in our schools. This has arguably opened the doors among some suburban voters who were understandably turned off by Trump’s personality.

Many of those who have seen what has happened will be more willing to hear out MAGA types on the issues. In this case, as we noted earlier, the messenger can matter as much as the message. Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, and others seem to have picked up the lesson from Donald Trump, and then there are those like Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton. They may not fight the way Trump does, but they do fight back.

The good news, as we noted long ago, was that President Trump was a form of political chemotherapy for the Republican Party and the conservative movement that were unable or unwilling to deal with leftist lies and abuses of power.

One thing many grassroots Patriots have to remember is that we are all individuals. Trump’s approach may work well in some parts of the country, but it comes with drawbacks — some of them significant. There are big issues that need to be addressed, like the state of our military, restoring the government to its constitutionally limited size and scope, addressing the threats posed by China, Russia, and Iran (among others), and also figuring out how to expand opportunities for children who aren’t dealt the best hand in life.

Learning from the past and applying the lessons learned are important. But addressing present issues and having an eye for the future is just as important. President Trump’s biggest tests for 2024 are whether he can strike that balance and learn the lessons, particularly about personnel, from his time as the 45th president. Other candidates will have to figure out how to strike their own balances with 2020, Trump, and the other issues America faces.

Grassroots Patriots will have a lot of work to do in the 2022 midterms, the 2023 off-year elections, and the 2024 presidential election. Much of it will be weighing who best can balance addressing the past with getting America in better shape for the future.