All this revisionism is getting to be such a bother.
Posted on 04/29/2016 11:50:43 AM PDT by newgeezer
The sudden appearance of Donald Trump on the political horizon last year may have been surprising, but not nearly as surprising as seeing some conservatives supporting him.
Does Trump have conservative principles? Does he have any principles at all, other than promoting Donald Trump? A smorgasbord of political positions — none of them indicating any serious thought about complicated issues — is not a principle. Nor is cheering for himself and boasting about all the great things he is going to do as President.
Haven't we seen this movie before? Wasn't Barack Obama going to heal the racial divide, end the partisan bickering in Washington, have the most transparent administration ever, lower the cost of health care and let you keep your own doctor?
Had he actually done all those things, walking on water as an encore would have been an anti-climax. But instead, he did the opposite of all those things.
There was absolutely nothing in Obama's track record that should have led anyone to think that he would even try to do any of the things he declared he was going to do. But why spoil a great vision, and soaring rhetoric, by checking track records?
It was bad enough for the voters to make the colossal mistake of being taken in by appearances and ignoring realities. But to repeat that very same mistake with Trump, immediately after the Obama administration, is truly staggering. How many pied pipers are we going to follow off to parts unknown?
At this late date, there is no point itemizing the many things that demonstrate Trump's gross inadequacies for being President of the United States. Trump himself has demonstrated those gross inadequacies repeatedly, at least weekly and sometimes daily. Those who do not believe their own eyes and ears are certainly not going to believe any words of mine, or of anyone else.
What William James called "the will to believe" is still as powerful today as it was when he coined the phrase more than a century ago. But what is there about Donald Trump that taps into that powerful current of credulity?
The many betrayals of the voters by the Republican establishment, year after year, no doubt set the stage. And Trump is a great theatrical performer on any stage.
But is that enough? It has been enough politically to put some of the great demagogues of history in power, especially after the existing establishment has discredited itself.
The discredited Weimar Republic in Germany was vulnerable to the verbal attacks by Adolf Hitler that brought him to power. Now we know, too late, that Hitler turned out to be a bigger catastrophe — for Germany and the world — than the Weimar Republic.
Donald Trump is not an evil man like Hitler. But his headstrong shallowness and fecklessness make him a dangerous man to have in the White House, with our enemies around the world on the march, and developing intercontinental missiles that can deliver nuclear bombs.
A President of the United States has many heavy responsibilities beyond building a wall and fighting the Republican establishment.
Just the thought of Trump appointing justices of the Supreme Court, who will have lifetime tenure and make decisions, for decades, that will determine whether we will still be a free people, should sober up all who have not been irretrievably hypnotized by rhetoric or so embittered by the betrayals of the Republican establishment that they can see little else, including life and death issues.
For conservatives especially, there is finally a real choice for a change — and a sharp contrast with Donald Trump. Senator Ted Cruz has a track record that leaves no doubt as to his adherence to conservative principles. And he is as thoroughly versed in the issues facing this country as anyone who has run for President since Ronald Reagan.
Has Senator Cruz been flawless? Certainly not, and this column has more than once pointed out some of those flaws. But he has both the principles and the intellect for the job. Given the alternatives — Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — that should be more than enough this election year.
The outcome of this Tuesday's primaries may tell us whether the voters want to vent their feelings or to choose someone to lead the nation in a time of dangers, at home and abroad.
Sowell cites Trumps political weaknesses. He is too general, he is not intellectual in his speeches.
But then he jumps to the conclusion that Trump is just like Obama.
I could not disagree more. Trump and Obama are exact opposites. Trump is a patriot who wants to make America great again. Obama is a Soros run stooge who hates America and hates the American people.
Dr. Sowell then compares America in 2016 to the Weimer Republic in Germany. I can agree up to a point. Both are hopelessly corrupt and bring misery to their citizens.
Then Dr. Sowell compares Trump to Hitler because both are popular. Dr. Sowell could not be more wrong. Hitler was a socialist and totalitarian. His party was the German Democratic Socialist Workers Party. The Nazi Brown shirts were like the Democrat Party thugs today. They succeeded through planned and organized violence and assaults on the innocent.
Look at the assaults on Trump supporters by Democrat Party thugs. The Democrats and the Clintons are like Hitler.
Dr. Sowell than says Trump will appoint bad judges to the Supreme Court. I disagree. Trump will appoint qualified conservatives not the politically correct, liberal ideologues that Clinton would.
Finally Dr. Sowell says Senator Cruz is just like Ronald Reagan. Again I disagree. They do share some positions but Reagan was able to attract Democrats and independents. Reagan was despised by the Republican establishment. Reagan could connect to the average American.
Dr. Sowell is wrong in all his points.
My biggest question of any candidate is, what sort of justices would you nominate to the Supreme Court?
While the president will be gone in 8 years or less, his or her SCOTUS appointees could be there for 30 years or more.
"Threats"? What threats?
Dr. Sowell was once very well regarded as a conservative black man and possible President. But over the years it became evident that he is not, in fact, really conservative or trustworthy. This article is a load of *.
It is disconcerting to see the number of people on this forum with an IQ sub room temperature.
Cruz is a Tead man walking.
Trump proposes Reagan’s platform and more, and yet the poor subliminal fools harp on and on and on that we can’t support him.
Any Conservative saying this is number one NOT A CONSERVATIVE, and number two, just plain dumber than a fence post!
Is Trump’s platform better than McCain’s? Hell yes! Is Trump’s platform better than Romney’s? Hell yes!
Where was all this angst when McCain and Romney were running?
It never dawns on these utter fools, that the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Mitch McConnel, Paul Ryan, Reince Priebus, and the whole of the GOPe is against Trump.
If he wasn’t a Conservative, why would they be against him? Hell, they’re not even against Obama! And who is? Trump!
Use that cranial cavity for more than an ash try folks!
We, Conservatives right here on this forum have trashed the GOPe/RNC for decades. Along comes a man what will destroy their ivory towers, and all of a sudden the limp wristed lily livers of mediocrity are our heroes.
Every Leftist entity that has hated Conservatives and love Leftists during my whole lifetime, hates Trump. They trash him daily. And so what do Limbaugh, Levin, Sowell, Krauthammer, Kristol, and other blowhards do? They join the WSJ, the Washington Post and the New York Times as backup singers.
Do we or do we not want the border closed?
Do we or do we not want a 60’ wall there?
Do we or do we not want it paid for by Mexico?
Do we or do we not want illegals sent back?
Do we or do we not want to get rid of Obamacare?
Do we or do we not want health care to be returned to the private sector where a robust capitalist free enterprise zone can be unleashed to lower our insurance rates?
Do we want the deficit speeding to stop?
Do we want the deficit to be paid down?
Do we want our military rebuilt?
Do we want our veterans plight to be better?
Do we want jobs brought back to our shores?
Do we want to put those 40-80 million people sitting idle back to work or not?
What Conservative could object to the above?
Folks putting 40-80 million people back to work will add $0.9 to $1.8 trillion dollars to our treasury receipts each year. That money can be used to build up the military and pay down the debt.
In what universe is this Leftist?
You folks who refused to look at anything Trump has proposed since last year, and have instead tried to remind us of what he said 2 to 30 years ago, are idiots. You refused to listen. You don’t know your A from a hole in the ground, and when the rest of us have begged you to take a look, you just called us Leftists.
Phyllis Schlafley is not a Leftist. Senator Sessions is not a Leftist.
No. Leftists are the brain dead people who actually side with Black Lives Matter against Trump.
In my nearly 50 years observing the body politic, I have never seen a small group of people so determined to melt down in my life.
Cruz is done! Not one presidential candidate in this nation’s history has named his vice-presidential nominee before the party convention. NOT ONE!
Cruz is in desperation mode. So are his followers.
The man has conned each and every one of you.
Many of you are determined to be the biggest assholes you can be, so you can become a living martyr, kicked off Free Republic, and I’m supposed to feel sorry for you.
Well, I do. Not for the reasons you would wish, but I always have an affinity for the disabled. It doesn’t matter if it’s by choice or not.
Until Trump gets to 1,237 the #NeverTrump folks will keep on truckin’ and that is good for them. Their right & their choice.
But once Trump crosses that line and/or Cruz & Kasich bow out. Then at that point I will expect people to start falling in line. Because by the time the convention starts. If you are not supporting Trump and his campaign, in my opinion you are supporting Hillary and I will treat you as such.
I didn’t care for Romney but I still supported his campaign after the convention.
This primary race is quickly coming to the end, if Trump repeats in Indiana it’s pretty final. So if Trump is not your choice and he wins 1,237 feel free to take a bottle and go find a quiet corner. After that I will welcome you with open arms.
So it’s not over, so I am fine with people and their opposing opinions. I just shake my head at those denying reality. But once he gets to 1,237 and you can’t come to grips I will consider you a Hillary supporter.
Personally I saw the train wreak of a country that GWB created for us. I expected more of the same out of his brother. I never expected a nationalist like Trump to step and run.
I've known for a while know that all the issues we care are mealiness unless A) we close the border and send them home and B) bring back manufacturing to this country. I see the moral decadence and decay everywhere I go, but we can't vote our way out of it without a working middle class the removal the endless supply new Democrat voters. Trump is far from my ideal candidate. I'd prefer someone willing to destroy the progressive culture that's poisoning this country but Trump hasn't said a word about that. But given that only 2 issues matter and we're headed for a civil war if we don't reform then he's got my full support. This is why stuff like Trannies in the bathroom and arguments about abortion barley register with me. They simply don't mater given the demographics changes that are being forced on us.
The conservative “movement” is nothing but a professional bitch and moan society of pious virtue signalers that are happier getting nothing done but being good at being martyrs.
When the grassroots gets sick and tired of being sick and tired, and then backs a person that is pushing forward forcefully to actually do something (not just saying pretty things), then they whine and cry about how everyone aren’t being “true conservatives”.
So I hope they go sulk off to their world of listening to AM radio and shaking their fists at the TV, because some of us are going to try to actually do something this election for once instead of losing.
~~Go Trump, GO!~~ ~~Go Trump, GO!~~ ~~Go Trump, GO!~~ ~~Go Trump, GO!~~
“Where was all this angst when McCain and Romney were running?”
Short memory, eh?
People around here were getting BANNED for supporting those RINOs while there were still better conservatives in the race. FReepers only begrudgingly supported them when there was no other choice, and they still complained about it the entire time.
“Plus many of us have read Trumps two policy books and his position papers”
Did you get 30K TU “Diploma” too?
Cruznadians: please self-deport.
Say what you will about Heidi Trump (and most people mentioning the CFR have no concept of what she beleives), but it was Trump who used a Guest Worker program modeling service to find dates and wives.
You nailed it.
Dr. Sowell is brilliant and hopefully will be on Trumps cabinet but we have tried over and over to elect government ‘conservatives’ and WHAT HAS IT GOTTEN US??? Government bureaucrats who then go along to get along. Usually with big government types.
Sowell is comparing Trump to Obama? Obama is the ABSOLUTE INSIDER big government type.
Trump is an outsider and they all hate him for it. I don’t care who he donated to in the past. As a businessman I understand it.
Almost as much as I want an outsider I want to stick it to the insiders who have gotten us to where we are.
At this point I would vote for ANYONE over any more insiders up to and including my next door neighbors’ dog, and Trump just happens to be an outsider who is a very smart and successful LEADER.
And one who is throwing he hat in the ring to fix things. Lets hope it happens.
That will be even better then telling McCain and Bush and Clinton and Ryan and Boner and Yurtle the turtle to F*** OFF, which is what electing Trump does.
Another great surprise is the level of pro-Trump opinion on conservative, libertarian, anti-government, Free Republic.
***
Empty page.
Hasn’t been seen for a long time.
Posts anti-Trump drivel.
Hey look; it’s a sleeper troll!
All this revisionism is getting to be such a bother.
I respect Mr. Sowell, even if I think he’s 100% wrong on this issue.
YOU, however, are a whiny little passive-aggressive crybaby.
GTFOFR.
I do think Cruz would be strong on the 2nd Amendment and abortion.
I do think Trump's nationwide reciprocity amongst the states for guns is a brilliant 2nd Amendment bulwark and that he will build the wall.
I would still vote for Ted, but I just don't see him as a winner, nor as someone who can lead or persuade even a friendly Congress to go along. I don't trust Trump at all on social issues, but he's the most clear eyed of anyone on the existential threat that muslimes represent, and so I expect to vote for him in November.
“Common sense conservatism” is another way of saying moderate, like McCain, Romney, and Bush. :)
Trump is such a conservative he used eminent domain to take land from someone else to build a casino. That’s not a true conservative. Nor is it even being a true Indian! :)
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