Trump's Appeal

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Thursday, February 11. 2016

Donald Trump is post-ideological. Why is Trump, the Honey Badger, such a pheenom? Trump and the Culture of Political Correctnes (h/t Reader)

For the effort to make headway against the stories our rulers force-feed us, it has to be outside the script of our public life, but immediately comprehensible to a public educated by pop culture. And it has to be pushed forward by someone who can’t be shut up, and somehow occupies a bully pulpit that can’t be taken away from him. Basically, that means the champion has to be Donald Trump. He’s never been taken very seriously, but that only adds to his ability to say what he wants and to stretch the truth in support of the story he’s telling, and also makes it difficult for respectable people to respond to him effectively. And in any case, he has the incontrovertible authority that comes with loads of money and success in bringing off impressive projects. The effect of it all is that he can’t be ignored, shut up, or bought off, and if he insists that something is an issue that obviously should be an issue—like immigration or trade policy—he can’t be ignored. Those advantages may be enough to send him to the White House—especially in a country that chose Barack Obama, another man with a large ego backed by a compelling myth, but with far fewer accomplishments.

Posted by The News Junkie in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 17:54 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

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Trump is pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, and pro-universal healthcare. That's why he never talks about these things.

Honestly, we could do worse for a president. And by 'we'...I mean liberals.

#1 JM01 on 2016-02-11 18:20 (Reply)

He is not pro universal healthcare. One of the first things he talked about what how bad Obamacare was and how much money was wasted on websites. He has continued to talk about how he wants to let insurance companies sell across state lines and other free market solutions, but that we must take care of those who cannot afford to buy insurance. THIS IS TRUE. We must take care of the poorest. We can't just dump them. He has said NOTHING about universal healthcare. You can go back 15 years and decide that is what his position is today, but he has not been campaigning on that old position and has only talked about repealing and replacing obamacare.

#1.1 MissT on 2016-02-12 13:14 (Reply)

" For the effort to make headway against the stories our rulers force-feed us,..." we have Trump, shouting out against those lies.

#2 Sam L. on 2016-02-11 20:35 (Reply)

Most "conservatives" that I know could care less about social issues so long as they are not shoved down their throats constantly. Their real issue is fiscal conservatism. Borrowing money from our children to give handouts to every vocal group is not a sustainable strategy and they know it. While most politicians dance around social issues like a bunch of Gentlemen's C poly sci graduates of the Ivy League, irreparable harm is being done to the economy at a breakneck pace. They can see the cratering of our country with increasing rapidity and want to stop it now. Trump is the ONLY politician that is likely to stand up and say "no more". Christie is another that had that potential. The rest are just more of the same.

So, all of the political commentators can finish their last pieces. They have become dinosaurs as they can see the political earth shifting beneath their feet Whether it is Trump or Cruz or Bernie, things won't be the same for a long time.

BTW, it won't be Bernie. Hillary has votes sewn up across the country. His role, if anyone remembers, was to provide the appearance of a competitor for Hillary, not real competition. When this election is over, the Left will be outraged because Bernie will eventually be put out to pasture and the entire Left will see that they were gamed.

#3 DMW on 2016-02-11 20:41 (Reply)

All excellent points, DMW. I'd certainly place myself and many folks I know as the kind of conservatives who don't really care about social issues for the most part. The economic issues you cite are a much larger concern for me.

Having said that, I think there are lots of valid concerns about Trump promoting the liberal agenda on things like healthcare and education (I read somewhere that he supports common core), and while his court appointees won't be as far left as those Hillary would appoint (imagine newer, younger versions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg), I imagine they will still contribute to the leftward tilt on the court. And all of that, unfortunately, brings with it unhappy economic realities.

#3.1 Kurt on 2016-02-12 00:20 (Reply)

Trump does NOT support Common Core. He does NOT support universal healthcare. He does NOT want to be in your face about social issues. He is NOT for global law vs. The U.S. Constitution. He is FOR fiscal responsibility, respect for The Law (as in "no" to illegal immigration and sanctuary cities), reformed tax laws that retain corporations in the U.S. and encourage employment, review of the banking system. He is FOR dumping the massive number of rules and regulations developed by UNelected administrators who need an excuse for having their job. He DOES know how to read a balance sheet and turn in projects on time. You can find extensive coverage of his platform at donaldjtrump.com

Cruz and Rubio are not eligible to run for the presidency as their is no way they are "natural born" citizens. The GOPe is only allowing this in order to distort the acquisition of delegates so they can be turned over to Jeb Bush at the convention. Jeb is the GOPe's candidate of choice and always has been.

BTW, neither Cruz nor Rubio are as "conservative" as Trump regarding fiscal policy. The term has been so twisted as to mean nothing, zilch, nada, rein at this point. Both still favor a globalized government, trade agreements that give up our rights to negotiate who we hire and at what price among a multitudes of other problems. Do you want to be at the whim and whimsy of a foreign state that has never succeeded on its own but wants to hold back the U.S. until it catches up?

Don't listen to the media as only six (6) corporations, some owned by overseas investors, control most of the news you hear, see and read. They don't feel kindly about an independent thinker.

#3.1.1 jma on 2016-02-12 09:31 (Reply)

How does Trump differ from Hoover and FDr in terms of government control of the economy? What is it that Trump says "no more" of? I hear him saying that government is the solution to a poor economy. That's utter nonsense, at best.

I'm a social conservative. But, I don't think the government can solve the social issues anymore than it can solve the economic issues. Federal interference has caused all of the important social issues that exist today, and it is the only cause of prolonged economic problems in American history. Economic recession is natural; economic depression is man made.

If you want to solve the social issues, then make your children go to church. If you want to solve the economic issues, then let people do business unencumbered. The economy doesn't require a government. If it did, then there wouldn't be such a thing as the black market.

#3.2 Jack Walter on 2016-02-12 01:16 (Reply)

So, what candidate, either Party, would not qualify for: "Whether it is Trump or Cruz or Bernie, things won't be the same for a long time.'?

#3.3 ron snyder on 2016-02-12 10:39 (Reply)

Trump is sooooo very far from my ideal candidate. But so very far ahead of all the others except Cruz. Why in a country of 330 million people do we get candidates like the ones we have now, like in the last dozen elections. Why do we get 2nd rate politicians and community organizers? Where are the statesmen who believe in and vigorously defend the constitution. Instead we get power hungry posers and old communists. If Trump is the candidate I will vote for him but I'm hoping somehow Cruz will rise to the top. If Rubio or Jeb are the choice I'm not sure who I will vote for, maybe the crazy commie bitch if she isn't in jail by then. It really doesn't matter who I vote for because Oregon will pick the Democrat no matter who it is and my vote will be meaningless.

#4 GoneWithTheWind on 2016-02-12 00:55 (Reply)

It would appear the average American has had enough of career politicians that they are willing to accept someone like Trump who is a "self made man" and did so with his own hands and money. Whether or not he came from a wealthy background is irrelevant, he fits the American dream of someone who "made it". Which is highly regarded in American culture.

It would be interesting to see how Americans would feel about Bill Gates, or some other captain of industry, who has actually built something with his own hands and money. How would they respond to these people rather than "chattering skulls" who have spent their entire careers in politics and created nothing and only spent other peoples money.

.

#5 Karl Horst (Germany) on 2016-02-12 03:27 (Reply)

Trump and Sanders are the flip side of the same coin, no matter how ironic or paradoxical. Whether it is realistic or not, they came to represent Main St vrs K Street. I understand and empathize with the Trump/Sanders supporters. The corporatists, global mega corps and industries, along with their minions, would sell American values, sovereignty, the Bill of Rights, domestic economic well being , and jobs down the river as long as they are the beneficiaries. They would subject us all to International Technocracies without our consent, consider TPP. Anyone of the other candidates could have seized on this message and run with it.
As for myself, I am disinclined to vote for folks who have been at the public trough their entire adult lives and I am wary of glib Senator/Lawyers or Lawyer/Senators. I am looking for proactive, practical, competence.

#6 Exasperated on 2016-02-12 07:26 (Reply)

I would be very happy to see a Trump/Cruz ticket if Cruz is indeed deemed eligible. This would be a good combination of Vision and Execution - a team that can be led in the right direction but with some political experience to navigate the minefields. Trump is an Alpha Male and intimidates the hell out of most politicians. Cruz could help execute - and influence - the vision in the right direction. Also for once we will not be paying a salary for a do-nothing VP. Trump knows that deals are made with compromise so we might not get the small government that we want but I have a feeling that we will get a smaller and less oppressive government than we are seeing emerge today.

#7 DMW on 2016-02-12 11:11 (Reply)

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Thursday, February 11. 2016

Trump's Appeal