Donald Trump has exceeded everyone’s expectations, but those of the true-believers who were with him from the beginning. I remember attending the release party for How To Bag A Rino, by Zach Werrell and Gray Delany in 2015, and Ron Hedlund was there with Trump signature sheets. There were chair and co-chairs, representatives of other candidates in that room, but only Mr. Hedlund bothered to show up with signature sheets for his candidate. His certainty and sincerity that evening was enough to convince me that Trump wasn’t to be trifled with. However, on my way home, I thought to myself how silly it was for Hedlund, as well as other notable anti-establishment types like Virginia Right‘s Tom White, to support a candidate so horribly flawed and with such an impossible road to the nomination.
Oops. They apparently saw things I didn’t.
During the primary, aristocrat, son and brother of two American Presidents, Jeb Bush had a prophetic message for Donald Trump.
Oops. Trump saw something Jeb Bush didn’t. Apparently he could insult his way to the presidency. Then came all the lies and nasty politics from the Trump campaign directed toward Ben Carson, Rand Paul, and Ted Cruz. One by one Trump humiliated, mocked, insulted and derided every candidate that pretended a threat toward his ascendancy.
In the meantime, Trump made a lot of enemies amongst conservatives. However, Americans like winners. The nastier Trump became and the more he humiliated his competition, the more Republicans ditched their fallen heroes to board the Trump Train to…. well, only God knows where that train is taking us.
There were a lot of hurt feelings, a great deal of disgust and anger; but now that Trump is the President-elect we ought to give him a chance. Every single Republican candidate had a strategy for winning the nomination. Cruz was going to blow away the nation with his brain. Jeb was going to purchase it with over a hundred million dollars. Carly Fiorina was going to prove that no one could attack Hillary Clinton with the same clarity and sharpened claws as she possessed. Governor Christie was going to prove once and for all that, yes, somebody can, in fact, eat fifty eggs.
Trump was going to insult his way to the presidency. Hey, can’t blame Trump for picking a winning a strategy.
Now, we all knew Trump was going to break a lot of his promises; primarily because many of his promises contradicted themselves, so actual contradictions were inevitable in the future. We can all have a little bit of fun with Trump during his first four years as he proves just what a shtick he had rolled out during the primary. That said, Trump saved the Senate for the Republican Party. Do you think Richard Burr (R NC) would still be in the United States Senate without Donald Trump on the ballot in North Carolina? No way. He’s a horrible Senator who had no business getting reelected, but he rode Trump’s coattails to another six years. Don’t get me wrong, Burr (as horrendous as he is) is better than a North Carolina Democrat.
Let’s be honest about where our aggravation and anger really come from – those of us who didn’t support Donald Trump – because it’s not really with Trump. Who isn’t happy that Hillary Clinton isn’t President right now? Who isn’t happy that the Republican Party controls more levers of power within American governments than at any other time in American history? Who isn’t happy – who isn’t anxious – to watch Speaker Ryan, Leader McConnell, and President Trump erase the Obama-Pelosi-Reid legacy in this country? What really bothers us, the real source of our anger, is Donald Trump’s supporters.
Now, I have a great deal of personal respect for many of these people, but I have almost zero political respect for them. I see them backing a candidate in 2017 and I’m asking myself what I missed, how are these candidates worse than I imagined? For the social-media addicted Republicans in Virginia, these Trump supporters are increasingly incorrigible (and who can blame them?!?). However, the desire to smash them is practically overwhelming. Am I right?
We need to make sure that our desire to see them with mouths full of crow and years upon years of future political defeat should not make us begin hoping that Donald Trump fails. He’s going to be the next Republican President of the United States of America. As Donald Trump goes, so goes the party. I have been forced to place my faith, my hope and my support behind three Republicans I absolutely cannot stand in Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, and Donald Trump. However, these men will define the future of the Republican Party. We could win elections for a generation if they do a good job; so… I hope and pray that they do a good job. We need to support these men, pray for these men, and encourage these men to do the best job they can do.
I hope Donald Trump is the best President we’ve ever had. I hope Speaker Ryan is the best Speaker we ever had. I hope Mitch McConnell… well, I hope Mitch McConnell doesn’t screw things up too badly. He’s horrible.
I have no doubt that there is going to be a great deal of viciousness and animosity between Trump supporters and real Republicans in Virginia (see what I did there?) going forward. These struggles ought not, however, make a single one of us take any delight in failures associated with our party’s leaders. We need to have a greater vision for our country and our state politics than merely entertaining our own hard feelings. I want Donald Trump to succeed. I want Donald Trump, after 8 years, to make us forget Ronald Reagan. I want Speaker Ryan to make us forget Speaker Gingrich. I want Majority Leader Mitch McConnell… well, I just hope he doesn’t eat any babies on YouTube. I mean, that’d be nice. We’re Republicans. We value life.
So, let us have our petty little civil war in Virginia on the battlefields of twitter and facebook and the blogosphere. Let us all, however, pray for our future President, Donald Trump, and support him toward a successful and conservative administration for the next eight years. Our Party depends on his success.
54 comments
I read all the way down to this:
“I have no doubt that there is going to be a great deal of viciousness and animosity between Trump supporters and real Republicans in Virginia (see what I did there?)”
Yes, I do see what you did there. You declared yourself arbiter of who is and who is not Republican. Your disdain for those who supported Trump is prevalent in all of your posts however, you diminish those Republican supporters that worked their tails off to get Trump elected. You have gone from saying Trump was not a Republican to those who supported him are not Republicans.
The large majority of “Trump supporters” are very Republican. They have faithful voted in Republican primaries for years and supported failed bids of Republican candidates in past elections – whether they were members of local committees or not. They watched year after year as establishment elitists promised “we will get them next time”. They watched as the nation crept further left until they felt their backs were against the wall. They were patient, waiting for Washington to make all their promised changes and when the combination of the Supreme Court and possibly the worst Democratic candidate ever took the field, they realized that the calvary, in the form of current Republican leadership (despite the repeated promises of next time) were not coming to save the day. So they became the calvary and in the process, not only had to battle the left but also had to battle “Republicans” who publicly berated their presence.
Further, I would like to point out, that the Republican Party Plan preamble clearly states:
“The Republican Party of Virginia is a free association organized for the purposes of promoting the principles and achieving the objectives of the Republican Party, electing duly nominated or designated Republican candidates to public office, and performing official actions within the Commonwealth of Virginia, consistent with these purposes.”
Article 1, Section A.1 also states that “All legal and qualified voters under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of race, religion, national origin or sex, who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, and who, if requested, express in
open meeting either orally or in writing as may be required their intent to support all of its nominees for public office in the ensuing election may participate as members of the Republican Party of Virginia in its mass meetings, party canvasses, conventions, or primaries encompassing their respective election districts.”
So tell me, exactly who is more of a Republican? Those who stood by their pledge to support the Republican candidate or those who stood on the sidelines, bellyaching and wringing their hands because they didn’t like the candidate or their supporters?
I have heard everything from “they’re not conservative” to “they are too stupid to be in the Republican party”. It’s time for that to stop and do a serious, thoughtful introspect of this last election cycle and why fifteen or sixteen other candidates were rejected.
You can disparage their Republican pedigree all you want. And you would be wrong. They are not ignorant, knuckle dragging Neanderthals. They are Americans who stood by and watch both parties establishment elites ignore them and lie to them at every turn. But, by doing so, you diminish a chance to have our party grow and thrive moving forward.
The choice is yours.
Well said…….. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/327487b9c6e6417b3a865f023596c729d3901a7de3a4bb415f1957ed3246e5bb.png
I agree. We were told before the election that Trump supporters were just a coalition of disaffected Democrats, and some strange new “populists” never before seen, with a few misguided Republicans thrown in there too. I always maintained that characterization was bogus and was just meant to ridicule Trump supporters, when in fact Trump supporters are overwhelmingly the same Republicans who voted for Romney four years ago. It’s time to stop disparaging Trump supporters, because they ARE real Republicans.
There are far more thoughtful explanations as to why Republicans chose a populist candidate this time. I recently read the full text of Steve Bannon’s address to the Human Dignity conference at the Vatican in 2014. I was looking for any sign of racism (there was none), but I came away extremely impressed with the intellectual analysis he offered for the populism sweeping the world (remember, this was 2014, before BREXIT and before Trump). It would be nice if the authors at TBE would take up the challenge of explaining the real Steve Bannon versus the hysteria on the left. That might also help explain why so many people gravitated to Trump this cycle.
Sure, some belong to the Republican party, but they aren’t federalists or small r republicans. They aren’t constitutionalists.
Intellectuals v. Riff-raff.
If you’ll learn about federalism, republicanism and the Constitution you too will value them as much as I do.
Don’t be Judgy McJudgypants.
I know of which you speak, many know of which you speak, that doesn’t make us better than those who don’t — This country and Constitution belongs to all of us, even your intellectual lessers.
I was just being cheeky. What I’m discussing is principled, philosophically republican people vs. populists with no ideology.
Elitists vs. rabble
There is nothing elitist about knowledge, and nothing to be embarrassed about with ignorance. However, those who oppose learning aren’t ignorant. I have a real problem with people completely disinterested in understanding how governments and republics work, how economies work, etc. I’m always trying to learn, to escape from wrong knowledge, to lessen my own ignorance. Its bigotry to judge people for knowing things.
Yes, and that blind spot is a tragic flaw.
Your ‘masses are asses’ approach makes your positions less palatable.
The guy/gal who supports Trump because they share a spray tan is just as much electorally valid (or perhaps more so) as the theoretical libertarian who votes his/her conscience.
You-et al, are not better than them because you can conceptualize and they choose not to.
Judge not lest ye be judged.
There are self-perceived elites on all sides — Also, I am the arbiter of who are and are not Good Republicans, and I’m including ‘Real’ in any of my future judgements and pronouncements.
So what would you say Steven should be apart of that “greater vision for our country and state politics”? An inquiring mind would like to know.
Primarily, that this Republican President and this Republican Congress sets America on a course to greater liberty and prosperity than we’ve enjoyed over the last eight years. My point is, that the “party” is comprised of warring factions, and we’ll continue to war, but we’ve always got to keep one eye on the horizon. Right? We’ve always got to keep the big picture and the long run at the forefront of our mind. Otherwise we will continue to focus more on factional power-plays than we do on actually governing the nation well. Now, “well” is relative. I pray Trump’s government governs better than Obama’s government. Heck, I hope he governs better than President George W. Bush’s government. I pray for these things. I’ll look for opportunities to be supportive of these things. In other words, I have NO intention of spending the next four years ridiculing Trump for every mistake he makes.
It would be much easier to give Trump a chance if he wasn’t already backing away from his promises. And, it is the really important promises.
It was rhetoric then, it’s rhetoric now. Paul Ryan will put legislating forward and we’ll see if Trump signs it.
Since when is rhetoric defined as flat out lies? Either Trump sends em’ home on buses, slaps tariffs on Communist China, burns the trade agreements, or he doesn’t.
Besides, isn’t the title of this thread ito “Give Trump a Chance”, or is it Give Ryan a Chance. I want Ryan and McConnell out, period. But, I ain’t dumb enough to think that is going to happen.
Republicans, if they were smart, would figure out a way to stay in office, rather than get kicked out in a year or two by moving to far from center.
I’m just saying that we can react and overreact to every single thing Trump does before day 1, or we can just watch, wait, and see. Yes?
Yes. As long as it doesn’t get to far out.
It’s going to have ups and downs, we’ll laugh and we’ll cry, and by the grace of God survive.
And don’t forget bringing back thousands of jobs from overseas, putting WV coal miners back to work, and slapping HRC in jail.
Our Washington Republicans don’t want to be kicked out, they want that soft cushy spot of being in the minority — no responsibility, no leadership, yet the money still flows.
Truth.
If you’re going to “drain the swamp”, pull the plug on all the rats.
Yeah, Paul Ryan, principled conservative.
Which promises has The Donald backed away from? Being the stellar bystander that you are, I’m sure you can list them for us easily. Are you still waiting for it?
http://www.allenbwest.com/matt-palumbo/boom-trump-makes-good-first-campaign-promise
Yea, yea, yea, and Obama gave away the about $1.4 million dollar 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to charities. Did you get all excited about that? Which one gave away the highest percentage of net worth, Obama or Trump?
It is always a joy to listen to those from the bystander crowd after they have swallowed every biased news story the Lame Stream Media has thrown their way. You would think a person could get a clue after watching The Donald cruise through the GOP field and then become President-Elect with that never-ending onslaught of tilted reporting. As predictable as you are, I suppose we will be witness to some hardcore swallowing for the next 8 years.
Are you still waiting?
You are obviously so drunk on Limbaughism, you cannot even pee without an AM radio playing.
Drunk on optimism, perhaps! Unlike the bystander, I was fully engaged with helping President-Elect Trump (doesn’t that sound wonderful), beat Hitlary. Unlike the bystander, I can wait until after President-Elect Trump actually takes office before I start harping on every small thing the LSM tries to denigrate him with. Understandable that the bystander would put so much trust in the LSM when 70% of America thinks it is dishonest and corrupt. I applaud your stamina, though. 8 years of swallowing their drivel will put you in a class all by yourself.
Are you still waiting?
Cool, go and find somebody else to argue with.
Just for the record, all I want Trump to do, is what he promised.
Then perhaps you should stop with the attitude you had throughout the campaign and let our President-Elect get into office before you unleash the negative waves. While I don’t expect President-Elect Trump to accomplish every single promise, I will be as vocal in opposition as I am in support if he does not follow through on the most important issues such as constitutionalist SCOTUS nominees, deportation of criminal illegal aliens, Big Government deregulation and tax reform. Considering his wave has helped bring about control of the House & Senate, 33 republican governorships and total control of two-thirds of the state legislatures, if there was ever a time to advance conservative values, it is now! This mandate should excite anyone that actually loves this country!
Are you still waiting?
The Republican’s have control of everything, just as you say. Why then are they still whining about Hillary and Obama?
You really think that the American Corporation, and the rich, those who finance the Republican Party and pay little if any taxes, are going to go for tax reform where they will have to pay taxes? Thanks
Always with the negative waves! Gleefully, I would say, what choice at this point do those corporations have! We have the greatest opportunity, in my life time (to include the election of Reagan), to turn this country around. I will rejoice until the sour pusses in the GOP leadership attempt to undercut President-Elect Trump. Right now, they are apparently on the Trump Train.
https://es-us.deportes.yahoo.com/fotos/photo-of-the-day-slideshow-slideshow/rep-mike-conaway-r-texas-wearing-america-great-photo-163000892.html
Are you still waiting?
Yeah, you’re really hatching our mellow here.
We’ve had so many people running for office promising to be an “agent of change” in Washington DC, how can you fault me for no longer believing any of them?
Eight years ago did the right right wing media wait until Obama got into office or, did they start the endless attacks the day after the election?
Fair is fair, and, what go around always comes around. One just has to be patient.
Yes you’re right. Changed ‘hatching’ to ‘harshing’ because it now is obtuse but relevant.
And who is telling you he is backing away? Could it be the news media? He made the mistake of going on 60 minutes and getting blindsided. It will take some time to get his feet on the ground and team in place so most of what is being circulated is deliberate antiTrump distortion.
Well first off, Obama gave FOX News anchors interviews. The left-wing media is just returning the favor to the right wing media for the hatchet job that they have done on President Obama for the last eight years. What did you expect? A mulligan?
As far as who is telling us that Trump is backing away from his promises? He is. Both on exporting ALL the illegal immigrants, and on repealing ALL of Obama care.
It’s kind of like we’re treating this like we would a sports game. OMG Coach! You never throw the ball on 3rd and 3! Run the ball. You’re sooo stupid. Fire the coach! (team wins 24-17 after QB throws 30 TD pass on 3rd and 3 with 10 seconds left). Some people just like to pick at every little thing. I say let the man pick his team and see how they do. Like Trump or not, Voted for Trump or Not, it doesn’t matter now. He’s the president and the Republican Party (as well as the country) will do as well as Trump performs. Let’s all pray he performs well.
He’s not the President yet. A grain of salt for everything between now and then.
I had a scary thought. Since that strategy won, will all future candidates be using that strategy?
Some future candidates are definitely going to take away a message that nationalism appeals at the moment, for better or worse.
I was taking about insulting as a strategy, not nationalism.
Look past the insults, he correctly labeled his opponents. Rhetoric and hyperbole? Perhaps, but no more than that which pervades modern culture.
Everything changes over the next 4 years.
American populism saved America as did British populism save the U.K. From what you say? Global NWO totalitarian socialism.
Lol, I honestly can’t wait to find out. Should be entertaining. WWE guys will be running for President in no time.
I could totally see The Rock winning a presidential election. I wouldn’t even be close.
Jesse Ventura was Governor
How about that. Honest and political incorrectness, and damn hard work makes for success.
“So, let us have our petty little civil war in Virginia on the battlefields of twitter and facebook and the blogosphere.”
I wouldn’t call it petty, … but I agree, the civil war should continue, at least until all of the establishment types with their money donors stop feeling entitled to run the party.
You can take that money
And pander to the media
But you won’t fool the children of the revolution
I guess I didn’t mean petty, per se, maybe “small by comparison”.
I chose to read it as ‘pretty.’
It won’t be petty, the same people protesting the general election in the streets have a GOP equivalent that deserves a day of reckoning as well.