There is also the demonstration that basic conservative principles provide better governance and function, and a more civil society. One of the manifest contradictions of current Liberalism is that it ended up making the argument that you should be punished for not wearing a paper mask, but that it was OK to shoplift in broad daylight (with a threat of force in many cases) and take things out of peoples' hands if you were the right "identity".

A simple demonstration of competence is a strong political argument.

But, you are right, there are many who can't see past who's doing it. If Godzilla started destroying San Francisco, and the Trump administration started defending it, we would see The Omnicause turn out with pro-giant-lizard messaging.