Raccoons are bad. When Robin and I moved into our first home after leaving the military, we discovered a raccoon family had moved in just before us, living in the ceiling of the garage. A story attributed to Newt Gingrich about the phenomenon of Donald Trump compared him to a raccoon exterminator. The belief is, we don’t care about the person who exterminates the raccoons, we just want the problem fixed.
With Donald Trump the presumptive nominee, many are now wondering whether they should leave the Republican Party. I don’t propose there exists the perfect answer to this question. But I understand why people are asking it (because we also want the raccoon problem fixed).
For the record, I’m not a “NeverTrump” person. In the two-party system that America enjoys (or, increasingly laments), the question is binary: Democrat or Republican. As a question with two possible answers, I can understand supporting him despite his lack of conservative track record. It is simply a pragmatic response.
But I’m not an “AlwaysTrump” person, either. What amazes me is that so many people are willing to table their core beliefs to support Donald Trump. Case in point: if you are arguing with a big Trump fan and you criticize Trump on any level for any action, eventually you often become the bad guy in the course of that argument. “You don’t understand!” “You don’t get it!”
No, I think I do. As a Major League Soccer (MLS) Official and a United States Basketball League (USBL) Official, I saw many games won by one play. Often, that single moment turned the tide of the game and secured victory.
Politics is not entirely different from sports. To use a football analogy: with Donald Trump, you are voting to start a quarterback in the Super Bowl who has never thrown a pass. Why? Because you are tired of interceptions and losses. You are the guy at home who keeps yelling at his TV on Sunday afternoons: “Start a guy from the stands! He’s gotta be better than this guy!!”
Yes, in the far flung possibilities of mathematics, it is possible that the random guy in the mezzanine might actually be better than your quarterback. Trump’s argument is that since he has done all the things to put him in the owner’s box, he should therefore be on the field. Voters believed him. They could have chosen from many more Republican candidates who were, on any logical level, more qualified than Mr. Trump.
Voters only have Super Tuesdays, not Super Bowls, but many of those who voted in Republican primaries and conventions decided to start a guy from the stands.
Mr. Trump, you are now the quarterback. Many of my conservative friends want to know your first Supreme Court “play.” Release your selection of who you are going to nominate—not just a list of possible candidates—so we can determine if your first moment will turn the tide of your administration and secure victory for our country.
As for whether to leave the Republican Party, I think we need to begin by asking a broader question: What do we believe? Do our beliefs lead us to be Republicans, or does the Republican Party lead us to our beliefs?
My support about a “party” is fundamentally tied to ideas: the ideas of freedom, liberty and the rule of law. Freedom is what I personally fought for as a graduate of the Air Force Academy (class of 1988), a combat pilot (Desert Storm) and now the father of two boys in the Army — who represent the fourth consecutive generation of my family to serve in uniform for our country. Liberty is to use our Creator given talents without crushing government intervention. Rule of law is adhering to the original contract with America – the Constitution.
One last thing, which is actually the first thing. Ultimately, my principles are not dictated by Reince Preibus or Donald Trump—they are formed in my heart by my Creator. And that will never change.
Yes, I too want the raccoon problem solved. But I need to know what comes after the problem is solved. Mr. Trump, this is your moment. This is your first play in the big game. We want to support you, but we need to know your first actual Supreme Court pick.
26 comments
Trump has been running a hurry-up, no-huddle (HUNH (something similar to what we Hokies are expecting Fuente to build)) offense the whole campaign. The few times he plays defense, he blitzes aggressively and creates turnovers (what Bud Foster has done for the better part of his time as VT’s DC). Many of us felt frustrated–even betrayed–by how little Obama was attacked by McCain and Romney. This is one thing we’re certain Trump won’t repeat. He’s already catching up to, even overtaking “Crooked Hillary.”
The more apt analogy would be if our players were actually working for the other side. In that situation, anyone would be better than what we have had. And, while Trump is missing a lot of important information, it is all stuff he can learn. I doubt he has ever heard of the Fulda Gap, the GSFG, MIRVs, Throw Weight, or Circular Error Probable. All of that stuff is less important now than it once was.
The main thing is that he does not do focus groups to form his opinions, and does not read talking points written by political consultants. That is worth a lot.
Many of Virginia’s self appointed conservatives leaders have demostrated one consistent trait over the years that has finally resulted in them being left behind and that is to completely fail at delivering policy and legislative results to the voter base to ease their worsening economic and social situation. But rest assured they will be much more effective in the future in the “judgement business”. The problem they have failed to realize quite yet is that no one is listening to them any further. If I remember my Sunday school teaching correctly it was John Wesley the Anglican minister and Methodist theologian who stated “We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others” So some advice – before engaging in judgement you might want to spend some time in self reflection, Just an opinion.
I heard you at the state convention. You can say I am a “NeverShak” person. AND a “NeverCuccinelli” person. I wouldn’t vote for either of you for dog catcher.
and hopefully you are not one of the folks who will be telling US, that we HAVE TO get behind YOUR candidate (when you admit you would NEVER get behind our candidate) for the sake of victory!
Or she is pointing out the likelihood of Shak winning any type of party contest that could possibly require her rallying around him.
That’s not exactly fair, ‘Raccoons are Bad’ is a darn good slogan for an Animal Control office campaign. (Just where do they elect dog catchers nowadays?)
It probably pays over $100 K in the People’s Republic of Charlottesville
OR I could be saying what they both said might have been legal and according to the rules but that doesn’t make it the American Way. F both of them. For once the will of the people is going to be heard.
Shak, I”m sorry, but you still don’t get IT. THE VOTERS have decided. Too bad you think they don’t count and your enlightened ilk DO. If you want to throw your lot in with the #NeverTrump crowd, go right ahead. The Donald has explained his postions just fine to us average Americans; maybe you elites/bluebloods/N.R. -conservatives should ACTUALLY listen.
Connie, I am VERY open to Trump. I am as angry as the next guy and gal. I’m thrilled to have the raccoons gone (of which I literally know first hand). For most, we look at the past as the predictor. When we look at Trump, we are confused. That’s why, the more he can show the People the more we can respond to him.
I am in near total agreement with Shak – except that I don’t see the raccoons as ‘GONE’ yet. I only hear the exterminator SAYING they will be gone! I’m not even sure that Trump’s naming his FIRST SCOTUS nominee would clinch it for me b/c I question his underlying principles. If he thought writing Barack Obama’s name on that blank would assure him the presidency, I think that’s what we’d see!
And you are correct, they are not GONE, just promised to be so. Of which remains a tremendous concern.
the only concern is the concern that Republican
voters turn out and vote en masse for Trump!
Correct. Naming a S.C. nominee is one thing. Fighting tooth and nail to get a constitutionalist confirmed against the ridicule, derision, and obstructionism of Democrats and progressive Republicans is quite another. Will Trump fight to get a conservative confirmed when all his New York friends are coming down on Trump for picking a “right wing extremist”? … or will Trump give in and settle on a “moderate” (I.e. flaming liberal)? I suspect it will more likely be the latter.
“Raccoons are Bad” Priceless Shak!
What does your understanding of those asking ponderous question about leaving the party A) actually matter and B) actually mean?
Your concern trolling is noted — as far as your beginning to ask your broader bla bla bla, are YOU going to back the presumptive nominee of the party or a write-in? (Or shall we wait for 60 votes and a new stream of blather?)
BTW: Don’t stay stuck on stupid, our nominee for President will not and should not run his Supreme Court nominees by you in advance — Ted nor Ken will be on it. Conventions have Consequences.
Amen!
Spoken like Barack Obama.
Okayyyyyyy??
Trump has real managerial skills, economic understanding, business acumen, treats his employees with respect, and (most of the time) does what sets out to do. The founders saw a citizen legislature as the ideal. Most of them weren’t politicians: their ranks included farmers, land owners, doctors, inventors, businessmen, a Silverstone, and a lawyer or two. The first President was a retired General. Political experience is neither a predictor of success nor of failure. Look at the candidate’s character and past deeds. Did he do some wrong things? Yes. Did he give his ex-wives grief or treat them badly? Not according to them. Has he shown generosity and gratitude in his daily life? Yes. Is he likely to stick with a job, see it through to the end? Yes.
Now, consider Hillary’s ‘accomplishments’: writing her Senior Thesis on her good friend and mentor, Saul Alinsky; lying; bribe-taking; sniping at military and security personnel; threatening women her husband abused/had affairs with; lying under oath; hiding documents from investigators; lining her pockets while Secretary of State; working diligently to destroy our country.
Which of these would do better in the highest office in the land? Which is likely to put the interests of the people ahead of his/her own? Which would make deals that involve lowering our standing internationally? Which one owes favors to foreign entities (who will call them in later), and which has supported others (and can remind them of it later)?
Really, is the choice that hard to make?
The KKK endorses Clinton ??? Say what ??
Your beliefs haven’t done much good recently. Time to kick the status quo guberment in the pants. We have checks and balances for a reason if your status quo politicians would use the options congress has. I don’t see the leader of the free world punting on second down like Ryan, Comstock and other so-called conservatives. Fire them all, the guys from the stands can’t be as bad as these incumbent losers.
Trouble is, he’s a guy from the other team’s side of the stands. It’s his liberal Democrat history that concerns us.
How about the democrat Hillary’s history. You have a choice Donald or Hillary now who you gonna call?
It’s not necessarily a binary choice. There is a movement on the left for Sanders to run as a third party. If he does, that would open the way for a non-Trump (i.e. conservative, not populist) Republican. In fact, if the election went to the House, such a conservative would likely win, since (a) in that event the House votes by state (as a delegation), not individually and (b) the progressives (Clinton, Sanders, and yes, Donald Trump) would be fighting over the same states. Our real conservative would likely win the South, midwest, and the mountain West, while the others squabble over the east and west coasts.