As we get closer to actual votes being cast in the 2016 Republican Presidential Primary, I want to explore the right’s fascination with Donald Trump. Riding high in the national polls, Trump has seemed to capture the support of conservatives, tea partiers, and disaffected Republicans turned Independent who are turned off by the current Republican leadership and are looking for someone to shake things up.
But just what is it about Donald Trump that has people so fired up? Why is he attracting so many people on the right side of the political spectrum to his banner? More importantly, what exactly are his supporters expecting out of a Trump Presidency? That is a hard answer to nail down, considering just about every position Donald Trump has taken during this campaign is a reversal of his previous positions. Consider this:
On Immigration – Donald Trump has made his biggest splash in the campaign by taking a hard line stance on immigration. He has called for the deportation of all illegal aliens, building the wall on our southern border, and a temporary freeze on all Muslim immigrants from entering the country.
But in 2011, he called for inviting foreigners who graduate from college to stay in the U.S. (Source: Time to Get Tough, by Donald Trump, p.145 , Dec 5, 2011). In addition, Trump’s companies have sponsored over 1,100 foreign workers into the U.S. through the H-2A, H-2B, and H1-B visa programs, which allow U.S. companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor that is beholden to the company that brings them here as they are forbidden to look for work anywhere else.
On taxes and spending – During this campaign, Trump has championed strong, fiscally conservative tax and spend policies, but in 1999 he called for a massive (albeit one time) confiscation of personal wealth in order to pay down the National Debt (Source: Boston Globe, p. A19 , Nov 10, 1999). This plan would affect people and trusts valued at more than $10 Million, taking over 14% of their net wealth. Most Americans would have been spared this tax hit, but the ripple effects through the economy of such a taking would be disastrous.
On Abortion – Donald Trump calls himself pro-life, but in 1999 he called himself pro-choice, even supporting partial birth abortion. In 2000, he said he would ban partial birth abortions. Today he still supports allowing abortions, only saying they should be banned, “at some point in pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother.” (Source: PBS News Hour “2016 Candidate Stands” series, Jun 16, 2015)
On Affirmative Action/Gay Marriage – Trump has previously stated that he is opposed to gay marriage, but in August, 2015 Trump declared that the Supreme Court’s ruling means Gay Marriage is a settled issue and that “anybody that’s making that an issue is doing it for political reasons.” (Source: Hollywood Reporter 2015 coverage: 2016 presidential hopefuls, Aug 19, 2015)
Trump also signaled his support for Affirmative action, saying that there may come a time when we don’t need it, but that he’s “fine with it.” (Source: Fox News Sunday 2015 Coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls, Oct 18, 2015)
On Gun Control – During the current campaign, Trump has come out as a strong supporter of the second amendment, but back in 2000, in his book, The America We Deserve, Trump supports a ban on assault weapons and a 72 hour waiting period.
On Free Trade – During the current campaign, Trump has called for restricting free trade to protect American jobs, and that the TPP is a horrible idea. However in Jan, 2008, Trump declared that we should embrace globalization and the international markets.
“The important thing to consider is that more and more there is an interdependence of world economies. No one can afford to be isolationist any more. Keep your focus global. Globalization has torn down the barriers that have formerly separated the national from the international markets.” (Source: Never Give Up, by Donald Trump, p.158 , Jan 18, 2008)
On Health Care/Obamacare – During this campaign, Trump has called Obamacare a disaster which should be repealed and replaced, but in 2000, Donald Trump called for universal health care, and in his book, The America we Deserve, Trump said this:
“Our objective [should be] to make reforms for the moment and, longer term, to find an equivalent of the single-payer plan that is affordable, well-administered, and provides freedom of choice. Possible? The good news is, yes. There is already a system in place-the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program-that can act as a guide for all healthcare reform. It operates through a centralized agency that offers considerable range of choice. While this is a government program, it is also very much market-based. It allows 620 private insurance companies to compete for this market. Once a year participants can choose from plans which vary in benefits and costs.”
I don’t know about you, but that sounds A LOT like the Obamacare exchanges to me.
Where does Donald Trump give his money?
Out on the campaign trail, Trump has attacked the Democrats and the Republican establishment with equal fervor. Yet Trump has a history of financially supporting Democrats and the GOP establishment. Does Trump give to Conservative and Tea Party candidates? Not so much. Consider the list of Democrats he has given money to:
Bill and Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, Charlie Rangel, Kristen Gillibrand, Chuck Schumer, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and Anthony Weiner (to name a few). In addition, Trump gave over $77,000 to the Democrats in 2006, helping them take back control of Congress. Trump also gave $50,000 to Rahm Emanuel in 2010 for his successful campaign for Mayor of Chicago, and he has given $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation.
More recently Trump has given money to Republican causes…just not conservative ones. In 2010 Trump gave $50,000 to Karl Rove’s American Crossroads Super PAC which helps moderate candidates. In 2012 he gave $100,000 to John Boehner’s Congressional Leadership PAC, which also worked to support moderate Republicans over Tea Party candidates. Finally, in 2013 Trump gave $50,000 to Mitch McConnell’s Super PAC to help him fend off a Tea Party primary challenge.
How can Trump really complain about the failures of GOP leadership when he helped keep them in power?
Now I know that some people will say, “he’s changed his position,” or, “he’s grown over time.” It’s true that some candidates may hold a bad position on an issue and will change their opinion over time. But we’re not talking about a single issue, or two, or even three. We are talking about every major issue that Conservatives care about. Can you think of any other candidate that could receive a pass on so many flip flops during their career? Marco Rubio holds more conservative positions than Donald Trump does, but he will never live down his membership in the Gang of 8 which tried to push amnesty on this country, and is a major reason why I don’t support Rubio for president.
So I want to hear from you. If you are a Conservative, or a Tea Party person, or someone who has walked away from the party because of your frustration with the weakness of the GOP establishment, please tell me. Why do you support Trump? What makes him “Teflon Don?” What exactly do you think he will do as President? Do you believe he will nominate Conservative judges to the Supreme Court? Do you believe he will follow through on his campaign promises? Given the numerous reversals of his positions on every major issue, and his financial support of leftist Democrats and the GOP establishment, what is it that makes you believe him this time?
120 comments
[…] Trump has been a liberal Democrat all his life and he is STILL a liberal Democrat. Back in January, I laid out the case for Conservatives why the LAST person you should vote for to stand up for […]
Mick… We vote for the likes of Ryan-O and the long list of people who the slimedogs at Bearing Drift truck out (Eric Cantor….) And We get:
The Omnibus Spending Bil!!! A boondoggle of spending, funding everything Obama ever dreamed of!!
So the idea that Trump is not conservative… doesn’t ring like the Liberty Bell does it?
You no doubt supported W Bush… please go back and look at his spending record compared to Obama… he beats Obama.
And Please go back to a foreign policy that doesn’t involve spending a trillion dollars in a war that doesn’t accomplish jack.
Why do you support Paul Ryan, John McCain, Ms. LIndsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, Orin Hatch, Rubio… all of the Bushes? Any mainstream GOPe surrender monkey and lackey of big corporate and billionaire donors? Do they ever keep their promises? Nope.
I don’t. I support Cruz.
I will vote for Cruz if he is the nominee.
I will support Cruz if he is the nominee, will you do the same for Trump?
You bet… I am Tea Party before Tea Party came into existence…
I will support Cruz if he is the nominee, will you do the same for Trump?
The GOPe has thoroughly damaged the Republican brand, and they have attacked the GOPb to do it. Trump represents a new idea to the old failed ideas of go along to get along.
I see you on Bearing Drifting LEFT doing battle with Brian Schmuckman… that website epitomizes the scum that inhabit the GOPe
“Trump is great, but because his positions were different 17 years ago, he isn’t!”
That’s basically the premise of this article.
No. The premise of this article is to ask why conservatives support Trump because he can’t be trusted to follow through on anything he is promising. He is as consistent as a weather vane when it comes to every major policy in America.
Why do you support Trump, Brian? What do you think he will do if he is elected President, and what makes you believe he will follow through on anything he is promising?
I support Trump because we do need a wall built.
We need this because of the Virginia Republicans inactive stance against illegal immigration.
For Governor McDonnell to write a letter to DHS about how to deal with the numbers of illegal aliens , a 100% pure political move.
Yes the { R } Governors appointed Commissioners new that they were detecting illegal aliens in their DOLI { VOSHA } violations and Commissioner of the VEC were picking up on the same in their audits of employers , yet the VEC was classifying these illegal alien unlicensed building contractors as ” bona-fide “.
Think about this Republicans have allowed Herring , Northrom and McAuliffe.Had they been honest a brought forth this info Ken Cuccinelli would be licking his chops at a VP spot http://watchdog.org/202012/subcontractors-shadow-economy-
C’Mon Cucci 200 violations not damn investegation by DPOR yet they ran a 2.9 Million surplus in this same year of your sworn term .
instead they allowed illegal aliens {to opperate as unlicensed contractors }and go on to commit crimes like the attempted abduction at VA. Tech.
So the DHS letter was political or these are the ” stupid politicians ” Trump is talking about.
How will these complicit Republicans write Employee Misclassification Legislation ? Will their be shady deal making to still allow it , like it was in Ted Cruz’s state of Texas.
So the question is to you ; Do you think Trump’s support is because of elected officials are bought before election day ?
Trump is not bought by money or stock shares or watches , he has volunteered to Make America Great Again !
Mick Staton my watch and the existance of Trumps support say it is time to enforce the laws in Virginia and stop with the administrative activisim.
Why do we love Trump? #1 He can’t be bought #2 He speaks his mind #3 He truly loves this country, the military and our veterans
True? Or False?
US News and World Report
Trump Could Win It All
A new survey shows a sizable number of Democrats ready to defect from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump.
Trump is a populist, our brand eligibles not so much.
The RinoRNC thinks that any Republican can win so they’re scraping the bottom of the candidate pool, even willing to play the Mitt card at convention if necessary.
A Republican populist renegade is the fly in their ointment.
From the VP newspaper Twitter account.
Virginia Beach City Council unhappy about GOP primary oath.
Seems
they didn’t want to pay the $350 Grand for the upcoming GOP primary.
Any other community leaders in Virginia thinking the same thing?
They should get a partial rebate of magic federal money. Not so for any Congresscritters wanting primary validation — that bill is all on Virginia.
The pro-Trump comments here worry me. The more they’re confronted with facts, and the truth of Trump’s record, they more they dig in.
“I knows what I knows, and don’t confuse me with the facts.”
Your concern is noted. We will be supporting the nominee of the party, you going to be on our side or with Kasich and Bush?
False choice, AND guilt by implied association at a stroke. Troll score: 8/10.
Trump is still horrible and his supporters blind.
Everything is a false choice in politics. Keeping your supporters blind is an important component of the American campaign process. That’s true regardless of the candidate. If you want to vote an expectations candidate then you should Ballot for Bernie. At least you know where he truly stands and it might keep another Clinton out of the house.
Okay, who distributed the meth in the comments section here?
Socialists or fascists. Those are your only two options.
Or you could vote for Trump, if you agree to sign the pledge.
I said we would be supporting the nominee of the party unlike two of our candidates and asked you if you were going to support the party nominee as well.
You answered by declining to answer.
Your opinion of party matters is equally significant.
I am far from blind but the one employer with a very credible issue.
It will take an employer to resolve it.
All I see are complicit lawyers and not employers like Trump.
With all of his employees , where are the disgrunteled .
A man that is that good to work for is good enough to work for all Americans.
Hit piece on Trump, thinly disguised as a quest for knowledge. You claim you’re curious and want to know why people support Trump but then argue with every answer you’re given, turning it around to plug for Cruz.
I find it amusing how some people are so hung up on labels, saying, “Trump isn’t ‘Conservative’ enough.” To hell with that! It’s using the word, “Conservative” as a bludgeon. And I’m getting tired of Cruz supporters doing that. It’s not going to make me dump Trump and come back to Cruz.
It’s very simple why I support Trunp. Before I’m a Republican, I’m a Conservative, and before that I’m an AMERICAN. Lots of people identify more as Americans than a particular party. That’s why all different people across the political spectrum – including apoliticals – are flocking to Trump.
Trump is the best candidate for Americans.
I didn’t say that Trump isn’t “conservative enough.” I’m saying he isn’t conservative at all. The point of this article was not to try to change your mind and support Cruz. The point is to ask Trump supporters what are the issues that cause you to support Trump? What is it exactly that you think he will do if elected? Given his past flip flops on every single issue, what is it that makes you believe he will do what it is you want him to do?
You say Trump is the best candidate for Americans. I’m asking why you believe that?
This is a good point about the reasoned implementation of the natural born requirement. This issue is important to all Americans. The ineligibles have first hand experience with this issue and have a potential personal and familial bias. As an immigrant, President Cruz would be expected to either sympathize with or publicly demonstrate a cultivated indifference.
This is the kind of stuff is why the NBC requirement is in there — no 1st generation ties to elsewhere or elsewho.
Stump for Trump. Because he’s never been seen anywhere near the Bohemian Grove.
Because he’s opposing and running against the progressive democrat agenda.
Because he was born of two US Citizens and in the United States.
Because he is the buyer of politicians and not the one being bought.
Because he is not politically correct.
Because he is straightforward and gives a truthful answer about what he is thinking and feeling when asked.
Because he is the only one opposing the dagger at the heart of America.
Because he is the only one who can beat whichever democrat they throw against us.
Yes , the only one to beat the democrats.
What he says is from the heart , not a pre-planned sales pitch.
I will take these one at a time.
Running against the progressive agenda? Half the time he is running for the progressive agenda.
Born to two US citizens? So? I have met Cruz father, and few people born here love America as much.
Yes, you are right. Trump is corrupt. He buys politicians to enrich himself as the expense of tax-payers.
Yes, he is not politically correct.
Yes, he says whatever he is thinking, even if it is the opposite of what he said yesterday.
The only one opposing the dagger? What does that even mean?
Trump has the lowest favorability of any of the Republicans. Cruz or Rubio could easily beat Hildabeast. This is the same pathetic argument that gave us Dole, McCain and Romney.
Cruz’ father: have you listened to his speeches? & his son says that the father will be a surrogate. what was it Rafael said about gays wanting to legalize pedophilia?
Cruz’ Father not running and not fair game, Ditto for Mother as long as she doesn’t deceive.
Yes, I have heard his speeches. I think he is great. And yes, there is a movement to legalize pedophilia that is not insignificant.
Progressive agenda — I choose populist Trump over socialist left.
Born to 2 US citizens and in the US — Bzzt — I’m sure Pops Cruz is a great guy and as American as is Moms and Ted.
All electeds are corrupt to some degree, it is the nature of the system — that gets averaged into the voting calculus.
Everybody knows the dagger.
Republicans have the lowest favorability of the voters.
Cruz and Rubio aren’t eligible and wouldn’t make it across the finish line. Mrs. Clinton won’t be the nominee. Our nominee will come out of the convention or it will be unified before that behind The Donald.
The “birther” attack on Cruz and Rubio is a dog that don’t hunt.
I hear that a lot, mostly from the fans of the ineligibles.
Since some of these are conservatives, I’m always fascinated about the torturous logic and reasoning employed. Mostly it’s citing talk show hosts or lawyers, or talk show host lawyers, but it usually starts with the pejorative ‘birther’ and like those that argue with “racist” or “nazi.” But I always hope that reason can prevail and prominent conservatives won’t be too damaged. Or maybe I can be swayed by reason as well.
But let’s pretend — I’ll start:
A) Constitution specs US Citizen for Congress/Senate and natural born citizen for President. Does this imply that NBC is different and/or greater than USC?
a). Natural born citizen = US Citizen at birth.
b). Ted Cruz mom is US Citizen.
c). Ted Cruz born to US Citizen mother = US Citizen at birth.
d). Ted Cruz = Natural Born Citizen
quod erat demonstrandum
That’s nice, but far from a proof. Let’s try again, but go slow so I can follow:
A) Constitution specs US Citizen for Congress/Senate and natural born
citizen for President. Does this imply that NBC is different and/or
greater than USC?
http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/royal-tidbits-trivia/americans-who-married-royalty-by-susan-flantzer/
Each of these American children could have become president using the same rules Cruz wants to use.
If we use the same Cruz logic, any of the Noor princelings of Jordan could move to the USA and eventually become President.
But don’t worry, the media and the democrats would never bring this up, and, if it ever went to the Supremes, I’m sure they’d rule it a tax.
Bueller? Anyone? A little research is a dangerous thing.
“A person born out of the jurisdiction of the United States can only become a citizen by being naturalized, either by treaty, as in the case of the annexation of foreign territory, or by authority of congress, exercised either by declaring certain classes of persons to be citizens, as in the enactments conferring citizenship upon foreign-born children of citizens, or by enabling foreigners individually to become citizens by proceedings in the judicial tribunals, as in the ordinary provisions of the naturalization acts.” U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649, 702-703
This is true wasted time of his camp.
He has a golden issue with all the Governors , How did you handle all the illegal aliens being exploitated at the taxpayers expense in your state trough employee misclassification / the 1099?
Just to try and inject some fairness into this hit piece, some of these policy reversal positions go back over a decade, but I get it you don’t like candidates that change their minds and you view Trump as an individual that is just telling his audiences what they want to hear. Perhaps, but somehow I doubt this is totally the case. My observation over the years has been Americans have a pretty good track record in sniffing out the phonies and posers on the local or national stage. They have not always been able to get rid of them effectively but they generally know what they are dealing with so I apparently have considerably more confidence in the American voter then you do. Trump is in NO way a typical national politician, he doesn’t operate by their rules or react to their criticisms of the violation of their guidelines. The flip flopping talking point has become one mainstay of professional political criticism (as if upon reflection changing your mind is a character flaw) and I can guarantee you Trump isn’t going to be damaged in any serious manner by this line of attack. Perhaps some few of the 20,000 that recently requested Trump townhall meeting tickets for a 1000 seat venue in Bernie Sanders’ left wing socialist backyard of Burlington, VT (anyone who has ever visited there will be as stunned as I was) will be put off by the points of your article but this was initially the “Erick Erickson” attack meme shortly before he fled Red State under a hail of stinging reader comments to hide out his byline at Townhall. It didn’t work months ago as subsequent polling has shown and I doubt it will work now. I rarely find attacking the person but not his CURRENT policies an effective counter to much but I understand that Trump can generate a visceral response in many individuals though not always a fair one. I am looking for a solid presentation to completely refute the Donald Trump candidacy but I don’t see it here. I look forward to your comparable piece on Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.
Isn’t the existence of a Ted Cruz candidacy a refutation of the need to vote for Donald Trump in the primary? Or have I misunderstood you?
I’m interested in a solid presentation as to why Trump would be a wiser primary vote than Cruz. Is it the “electability” issue?
And yes, I got a chuckle out of Erickson’s attack and comeuppance after the Megs incident. Kept his “moderators” quite busy, it did.
Cheers,
The issue of flip-flopping is one of trust for me, and like I said in the article, this is not about one or two issues where he changed his mind. This is about every major issue being discussed in this campaign.
Can you give me an example of any other politician or candidate who you would forgive so many reversals of their position, and would trust to carry through on the promises being made today?
So you are giving me an approximately 15 plus year retrospection window (as you used here) on formerly held and stated policy positions that had shifted to identify presidential candidates I would trust. I can actually give you a personal one that goes back a ways to 1976 when I was close to assaulted on the floor of the Kemper Arena over two days as a convention delegate by the Ford people because I believed in and held my vote for Ronald Reagan, as they so frequently reminded me then was a California registered Democrat as recently as 1962 and that had held some very distinctly liberal positions including being a New Deal supporter. Only one example, trust me it’s a long potential list.
And from 1967 to 1975 Reagan had 8 years as Governor of California to demonstrate that he would follow through on his campaign promises. Trump has no such track record.
I can tell this is an endless iterative loop so I’m going to execute my own personal “do until” exit command and move on to more rewarding efforts.
This is pile-on Trump — everyone can play.
Without Trump, the entire party would be crowning ¡Yeb! just like they did Romney.
For that alone Trump deserves a seat at the table and a shot at the brass ring.
He’s doing the job that conservatives didn’t want to do.
Would I like a legitimate principled Conservative? Sure would, but we seem to be running dry on those.
Actually, without Trump we would probably be looking at a Scott Walker nomination but Trump’s announcement, and subsequent media fascination, sucked the oxygen out of his campaign, and they burned through their money too fast trying to get it back.
That could be true, I was for Walker at first, but he blew it by listening to consultants and not being Walker.
But I can’t believe he couldn’t manage better than the rest of the squad and the ineligibles.
I originally supported Walker because he was right on the issues, had executive experience and a track record of following through on his campaign promises. Plus he had been battled tested, taking everything the Democrats could throw at him and still winning in a blue state.
When he dropped out, the only candidate left that held consistently conservative positions with a proven track record was Cruz.
Mr Staton I saw Walker many times in the early days in Iowa while working for Bobby Jindal and you could not be more mistaken regarding what did in Scott Walker. His crowds were noticeably shrinking in Iowa long before the major Trump breakout and the general concensus among the local professionals and many activistis I spoke with at social gatherings was that he had real problems with the Q&A of the stump and was a god awful public speaker. He appeared to be a great guy but the campaign process for a state elected office is very different then the meat grinder of a presidential primary. He stood really little chance against this current group of front runners and I believe he had the strength of character to realize it right up front and folded the tents. His financial sitution at the time was a whole lot better then many that remained in the race without question
Did it seem that Walker was restrained, or was he just not people-oriented? If so, that didn’t jive with what I’ve been told about him in Wisconsin?
There is no other candidate running for President that has taken so many contrary positions on so many issues over the years to even merit a comparison. Candidates like Cruz, however, have a voting record that can be compared to their campaign promises to provide a modicum of trust in their reliability.
When did he sign in that Abortion thinger?
Ronald Reagan, Albert Gallatin, Margaret Thatcher
Flip flopping… My God… you probably support Rubio… There is no bigger crapweasel than that on illegal immigration… Now he is against his OWN DAMN BILL… So stow that flip flop if you support that scum RUbio..
I don’t support Rubio. I support Cruz.
I think it would be nice that the author disclaims their ties and candidacies when generating backhanded “examinations.”
Yes, that makes complete sense to me.
I support Cruz.
Nawwww!!!!
Please don’t invest too much further capital, you’re headed for a crash.
Erick is doing well. He’s started a new website, and it’s taking off. The hearsay that he was badly damaged, that he fled, was ruined, etc, is just that: hearsay.
Trump is doing well because the American people are tired of the PC “play by the Democrat’s rules” playbook the Republicans have been running for years. He’s blunt, derisive, and he says what he means. He speaks to the forgotten blue collar worker who the Democrats run over for not belonging to some particular ethnic background or PC cause of the day. That’s why he is doing well. I like that about him, but I don’t think he’ll be the nominee. If he is, I’ll vote for him, I doubt he will be though.
I do think that Trump will have a lasting impact on elections. Hopefully that impact will be the destruction of PC and the media being rendered practically worthless as they’ve been the Democrat’s personal attack dogs for year.
With the possible exception of immigration, Trump’s support doesn’t stem from his position on any particular issue. So articles such as this one won’t accomplish anything. His supporters mostly know he’s not a “real conservative” ™ and they don’t care.
IMO Trump’s support is the direct result of 2 things:
1. Backlash against Political Correctness and all those who support it (ie the media and the political establishment) – People are sick and tired of being told the sky is green and the grass is blue and then being labeled as racist/homophobic/sexist/hateful if they refuse to go along with the farce. Trump is currently the face of the anti-political correctness movement.
2. The cowardice and general ineffectiveness of the Republican Party – Trump might not be a real conservative but with the exception of Cruz and Paul neither are any of the other candidates. If we elect R’s and they behave just like D’s then what good are they? People are getting wise to “campaign conservatism” and betrayals such as the latest omnibus bill will no longer be tolerated.
That pretty much hits the nail on the head.
There is a lot of truth to your assessment, and they real irony of the establishment’s consternation with Trump and his candidacy is that he is a product of their own making. Had the GOP leadership actually followed through with their campaign promises, Trump would not have the following he has today.
My consternation with Trump is that he pulling conservative voters away from more conservative candidates, like Cruz (and Walker before him), that could win the nomination and the Presidency, and have a much more reliable track record of supporting conservative principles.
True. Every time I see a Jeb Bush, John Kasich, Brian Schoeneman, or Matt Hall, rant about Trump I’m amused. He wouldn’t have gotten off the ground if their strategies and worked and their type of candidates actually kept their promises.
Hmm, I’m going to take a different tack. I believe Ted Cruz is the best candidate right now, even though I personally like Carson and think he has the best message, but I don’t think Trump winning is a foregone conclusion. Conventional wisdom says he can’t win, but that same wisdom said that he should have been sunk a long time ago.
If Trump can get the blue collar workers who are coming out for him in droves to vote, he can win. The problem is that those people don’t usually vote in large numbers, so it all depends on if he can convince them to come out for him on election day.
“People are getting wise to “campaign conservatism” …”
Heh. Apparently not, given the yuge support for a guy who’s political history fits that description.
Exactly.
Maybe Trump actually is winning with the bipartisan golfing cohort?
business. he is a business man. no one commenting on this blog is an Obama fan, but if you were CEO of large diverse business, you would certainly golf with the President.
Well, of course, he’s golfing in that photo with an EX-President — who he invited to his third wedding, and to whose Foundation he donated over $100,000 — and also Mike Bloomberg. And you’re right that “schmoozing” is an important element in running a business.
But can you point me to the evidence — in the last 7 years of Obama — of Trump vigorously coming out as a political conservative? Are you forming your opinion based on his record, or on what he started saying sometime around May 2015, just as he got into the campaign?
They golf together. They hang out together. The Clintons attended Trump’s wedding. None of the nasty things they say are personal. Just business. Or the art of the deal, you might say.
Strange bedfellows and human nature. You’ve been to Republican events, you see the same behavior among Republicans. Social circles, diplomatic circles, religious circles. Ain’t no difference from ‘bipartisanship’ or ‘collegial courtesy.’
I think Chelsea and Trump Daughter are some kind of BFF’s. Reagan and O’Neill, Boehner and Obama played golf.
For all of these, and all of us, the caricature does not always match the person.
Agree completely. It’s K Street vs. Main St. This isn’t about party, it’s about the elite ruling class governing to benefit THEM, not US. Many of Trump’s supporters are blue collar, middle class working people who have had enough. I have as well. If he picks Cruz as VP, he covers all the bases.
I won’t be voting for him in the Primary, but I’m certain I will be voting for him in the general election and signed the petition for him to be on the ballot.
His appeal is that he will GET SOMETHING DONE. We have a do-nothing Republican Party that has nearly completely conquered the American political landscape (House, Senate, 1,000 more state officials than Dems, control 2/3 of state houses and Governorships). You’d think the Democrats would be rocked back on their heels in a defensive position. But they aren’t, and we haven’t gotten anything for all that “Republicanism.”
So, why not Trump? We have absolutely nothing to lose.
I haven’t seen where Trump lit up Mitch McConnell’s butt over enabling Obama, but maybe I’ve missed it. Can you point me to something that shows he’ll be as hard on McConnell and Ryan as Cruz? IIRC, Trump recently praised Ryan as a great guy.
Trump could get in there, veer to the Left, raise taxes, expand immigration, add new gun restrictions, and fully fund Planned Parenthood. If he stabs us in the back, it will just be another day in the life of a Conservative.
OK, with that clarification I gather you’ll vote for someone else in the primary but if necessary will vote for Trump in the general with no hope of real conservative change, but just rolling the dice since Hillary and Bernie are guaranteed bad. Me too.
I’ll be voting for Rand Paul, who doesn’t appear to have any hope of winning. Trump will win, and I’ll vote for him. In the general election, I’m typically voting for the cream of the crap.
No one has seemed to nail my feelings on the Primary as well as you did today.
Happy to help with the cathartic experience.
Added to this inter-party bloodletting, it could be fatal. 😉
Look at what the Congress says and does … And it’s Republican. We got an ineligible who didn’t even bother to vote, and we have two Virginia Congressmen who voted $1.1 Trillion dollars to enable the very agenda they promised to oppose.
We elect them to do something and we get press releases and show votes.
Trump is running to win the nomination first.
Yes, I’m with you on the fact that the Republican Congress has broken faith with its voters and that big donors have inserted themselves between the voters and the elected leadership.
But you still haven’t explained why you believe Trump will challenge them. Has he donated to the campaigns of conservative Republicans we like? Cruz? Jim Jordan? Mark Meadows? Did he put himself at the head of the tea party revolts in 2010 and 2014? Speak at some rallies? Prior to 2015, had Trump vocally and vigorously called out Mitch McConnell or John Boehner on their failures to oppose Obama’s agenda?
And you’re not addressing Trump’s opportunist background as Mick lays out.
Those are important things to consider, but you seem to have handled them with just a hand wave, as if you don’t want to think about them.
Cheers,
I’m going with X to block.
Maybe Donald can get it to the convention where our delegates can find somebody better.
He hasn’t donated to conservatives because they ain’t in power.
Tea party revolts that did what? Did such a swell job legislating? All spending bills originate in the house — no budget, just the enabling $1.1 Trillion.
We’ve had grand gestures, we’ve had flags at overpasses, we’ve had self-serving ‘leaders,’ meetings and factions.
Part of politics is dealing with the real world bring the way it is. I don’t mind that Trump is opportunistic, I expect it and admire it. He’ll keep this the land of opportunity.
Trump can win, the ineligibles and others cannot.
“He hasn’t donated to conservatives because they ain’t in power…Tea party revolts that did what?”
Well, that it doesn’t bother you that Trump just watched and prospered over the last 7 years while a lot of patriots were fighting for this country with everything they had is one thing, but to conclude that doing nothing or very little makes him a real fighter who’ll keep this the land of opportunity is odd.
That it doesn’t bother you that Trump didn’t speak out and pillory Mitch McConnell and John Boehner during the fights over those vile spending bills in the last few years, while millions of us were calling our Congressmen, attending rallies, donating our widows’ mites to efforts to change — I don’t know how to address that. I thought leaders lead, and actively.
Read over the comments, Roc, and you’ll see that none of you supporting him can offer a coherent argument as to why he should be our nominee. You seem to base your faith — and it is faith entirely — in him on his words and speeches and put-downs of people we all loath. Fine, but nobody can outline a record of his fighting for political conservatism and American values. If anything, the record indicates the opposite.
To take a politician and wheel-dealer solely on what he tells you just doesn’t seem wise.
Cheers,
Hey, I agree, and I don’t like it, but it boils down to a Populist Republican in the hand.
Our top Nominees come from outside the party, our most conservative has a torturous heritage still coming up short of eligible, and the Establishment still waits and plots from the Cleveland Death Star.
I don’t want to elect someone who protests and rallies and makes grand gestures and protests and pretending that matters.
I don’t want fighters for political conservatism and American values, I want winners for political conservatism and American values, or at least winners that won’t take that away like our current adversaries.
What we’ve been doing isn’t wise. New speaker same as the old speaker, $1.1 Trillion cromnibus funding Obamacare and planned parenthood with show votes opposing. 2 days to review the anti-budget yet they still pass it.
He should be our nominee if the party and the people want him — if so, we should get out of their way. If the Congress wasn’t dead-set upon abrogating their responsibilities, we’d have a good balance for The Donald (Assuming we haven’t pissed off the voters and still deserve the majority)
Sometimes all you have left is Faith. At all times, this is what matters.
Where has Trump shown himself a “winner” in New York City politics? What particular political battles has he won, or when has he even waged a significant battle, against the entrenched political establishment?
“New Speaker same as the old speaker.” Yep. Why do you think Trump, with his history of accommodating and deal-making will engage in the long, difficult battle of changing that? What in his history tells you he’ll work the necessary 8 years to create a limited government? Or does his history tell you he’s more likely to play golf and strike deals with the political establishment?
You might want research the idea that Ted Cruz is not “eligible.” He clearly is, and the bulk of legal scholars say so. The notion that he is not is standard Trump procedure — a fib gets half way around the block (especially in internet times) before the truth gets its shoes on.
I think it’s a given that he’s a winner in New York — his donations show that he backs winners. (But people currying political attention play multiple sides.)
Because successful politicians do accommodate and deal-make — it’s why our system is best possible, not best.
I’ve been researching the eligibility, long before Ted Cruz considered politics. You are lying to yourself if you think otherwise. Your ‘clearly’ is based upon the same logic as ‘scientific consensus,’ ‘4 out of 5 Dentists,’ and ‘many ancient alien theorists.’
Wash your own brain instead of “legal scholars” with an agenda.
Heh. Well, I took only two Constitutional Law courses in law school, and one was taught by a Nigerian immigrant, so it’s true the fine points probably are outside my knowledge. Nevertheless, legal scholar Randy Barnett confirms what little I know and understand.
http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/9703154-randy-barnett-why-ted-cruz-is-a-natural-born-citizen
Law school changes people, to be successful, bits of humanity fluff must be sloughed off now and again — makes politics possible too.
I read that and noticed the ‘in other words’ tick as well.
Fact of the matter is in Constitution — you’ve got ‘US citizen’ as a criteria for one office, and you’ve got ‘natural born citizen’ for a criteria for another office.
Now, unless there is an amendment or court ruling on natural born citizen for President that I don’t know about, I’m having a hard time seeing how an apple equals an orange here.
Do you think that the founders made a ‘typo?’ Did they forget or did they intend something more for the President then the lesser House and Senate?
Or can we be flexible on our living breathing document, what else is more malleable in there, “Militia?” Some misplaced comma?
‘in other words’ — that’s why it’s best to hire a one-armed lawyer.
This is sad but true. I’d suggest voting for him in the Primary to send a message if nothing else.
Why not vote for Cruz to, not only send a message, but empower someone who has walked the walk, not just talked the talk?
I have no confidence that Cruz will shrink the federal government. I think he will use federal power for conservative causes, but federal power is unto itself the core problem. The ONLY candidate that will actually cut the size, power, and influence of the federal government is Rand Paul.
I agree that the the federal government must be shrunk, is a core problem. I’ve been hoping for a candidate who would do that since Ronnie said he might cut Carter’s new Dept. of Education.
I can’t see why you think Rand is more likely to do that than Ted.
Because when Rand talks it is more visceral. He has genuine antipathy for the federal government.
Ted is very smooth, and I like him, but I don’t get the sense that he wants to get in there and lay waste to the Leviathan. Boromir thinks the Ring’s power can be used for good, but the Ring destroys all who try and wield it.
Yes, I sense that Rand has a visceral antipathy for the feds. And that’s good.
But have you read Cruz’s autobiography yet? It likewise reveals a visceral dislike of government overreach. Cruz’s father and aunt were imprisoned and beaten for opposing government overreach, and he dearly loves them for that. Cruz’s career has been spent fighting government overreach and protecting the Constitution. I doubt seriously that he thinks he can use the government for good; he’s more about the individual.
Here is my opinion of what Cruz is really doing. The Trump-Cruz alliance has been set. These are two shrewd individual. Cruz appeals more to Christian Conservatives. Trump has a different, hard to define, demographic and is pulling in evil Democrats. But they are both pursuing different “markets” so that, in the end, they will merge and have cornered the market on voters–victory at last. Cruz is happy with this. He will be VP (read: boss of Mitch McConnell) and is young enough to run and win President in 4 or 8 years. It is a win-win situation. That is the art of the deal.
Christian Conservatives are, again, being used. That isn’t to say that is a bad deal. Actually, I think it is a pretty good deal, but go at it with eyes wide open: Cruz is now here to help Trump (and get something in return).
Very interesting theory. Cruz and Trump did have that secret meeting at the start of the campaign season. I’d have to defer to Ted’s judgement if it were shown to be true, and wouldn’t feel betrayed at all.
I wouldn’t begrudge Cruz at all for it and I think it is a really good strategy (if it is true). This is politics. You need to win to play.
Because Cruz is ineligible, a legislator not an executor, and will be torn to pieces along the road to the White House.
I would love if if he could be and would be President, but it naturally is not going to happen.
Research that “Cruz is ineligible” theme that Trump and John McCain are spreading and you might reach a different conclusion.
Cruz is probably more executor than legislator. One of the big raps against him is that he’s done little legislating, but chose to use his time fighting the system that’s produced the last 7 years.
I doubt Cruz will be torn to pieces in the campaign. The more people hear him speak, the more they warm to the old values and conservative ideology that made this country great. Cruz on the stage against Hillary or Bernie? I know who would be torn to pieces in that situation.
Trump is not spreading — McCain and establishment is trying to play ‘birther’ to take out Cruz but not Rubio.
This is why natural born citizen is in the Constitution.
I don’t get the ‘probably more executor than legislator’ — while I don’t doubt he’s more competent than our current legislator-by-decree president, there’s a reason why executive experience matter — we require a ‘you’re fired’ President.
Cruz, as he heads towards the presidency, will be challenged by constitutional conservatives, we are being split; the RINONC will savage him leading up to primaries and convention, only reason they haven’t cheated out their favorites is that Trump is still a factor, once he’s gone, they will unleash the hounds; Grayson et al will hammer, the media will descend upon Calgary, your ‘legal scholars’ will shift, suits will file, dems will laugh.
The dems will not have Mrs. Clinton as nominee, Bernie will tickle mood centers, and they will actually play to win.
Are you not seeing Trump turnout? Why, crowds at events are the only criteria for legitimacy by the tea party (it’s what they do.)
Conservatives (not those that check their intellect at the endorsement door) who look at the Constitution will see that there is a standard for President, and that is NOT Cuban/Canadian Dad, Canadian/American Mom, and born in another country candidate.
I’m sorry that the candidate I like the most is ineligible. I’m sorry that Ted’s Mom thought enough of her citizenship not to renounce (if so) yet not enough to give her child an American birthplace. Most of all I’m sorry that Ted Cruz lies when he says he is a natural born citizen. That takes him, and others, off my list.
“GET SOMETHING DONE?” His only response to any question about what or how we will do anything has been “good management.” He has no idea how to run a country, work with politicians, connect with foreign govt, negotiate with congress, or anything else required in the govt these days
“He has no idea how to run a country, work with politicians, connect with foreign govt, negotiate with congress, or anything else required in the govt these days”
Please save your Obama discussions for another post.
Lots of reasons why I dislike Trump, but there are even more reasons why I support him. First and foremost, he does not have to bow and scrape to the Donor Class, which wants open borders and cheap labor. Therefore, Donald Trump is MORE LIKELY than a Marco Rubio or even a Ted Cruz to actually do the things (build the entire border wall, limit immigration from third world and jihadist countries) he says he will. Even the Great Ronald Reagan lied to us and never fixed the porous border after the managed to get his 1986 Amnesty passed into law. In short, I am tired of being lied to, and tired of being called names (racist, bigot, nativist) when I complain about it.
So you like him because he’s rich enough to self-finance his campaign. That still doesn’t equate to any confidence that he will do what he says he will, especially when his actions in bringing in H1-B and H2-B visa workers belie his words.
There are other candidates out there that are more conservative, and have a better track record for reliability, that you could support.
It is one thing for a politician such as Cruz to cast a meaningless vote in the Senate – knowing it is meaningless and will never be implemented. The Donor Class knows that as well. That to me a “reliable conservative” does not make. It is quite another thing to actually implement the measures that you campaigned on. That is where the Donor Class will call their marionettes in on the carpet and lecture them. Trump is less vulnerable to that arm twisting. We all know that Republicans, having turned off millions of small donors such as yours truly, rely on the Donor Class more than ever and will do their bidding regardless of campaign rhetoric and previous votes in the Senate.
I’m sorry, but your logic just doesn’t make sense to me. You are saying that someone like Cruz, who not only tells you what he believes in, but takes actions and votes according to those beliefs, is not reliable. But someone who has flip-flopped on every issue under the sun IS reliable because he’s super rich.
The fact that Trump is not beholden to the “Donor Class” also means he is not beholden to the “Voter Class.” He can say anything he wants, then do the exact opposite if he is elected. Then four years later he can use his billions to say anything he wants again.
Maybe you’re right. I don’t know. I was merely offering my opinion and thoughts. But people do change their minds on issues. I have, I am sure you have, and the Great Reagan did as well. I would prefer Cruz, but he lacks charisma, does not look like a leader, and his voice turns people off. Here again – only my opinion and gut feeling from what people (mostly women) have told me about Cruz.
Erick Erickson took a poll of Republican women, Independent Women, and undecided women, Cruz is doing well with them.
he doesn’t seem likable.
Who in Cruz’s donors do you see forcing him to not build the entire border wall, limit immigration from third world and jihadist countries?
Likewise, Cruz has no history of playing nice with Dems, as Mick just mentioned. Trump has compromised with them, donated to their campaigns.
I’m genuinely curious.
Trump is the donor class (mostly for Dems). He has made a fortune off of big government and laws that bias the scales.