I agree it's a hard balance, you'd need someone so jaded by the left that they would burn their own political career if necessary to just remove them by the root from power but enough empathy towards groups like kids, elderly and rural areas that they wouldn't risk going the route of centralised power like the commies as they would be harmed.

But for that to workout, you'd need MULTIPLE 'strong men' which in America's case would be president and a majority of governors to go as hard as possible yet retain local autonomy, too few guys to do this naturally would lead to more centralised power to remove the enemy.