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Forget Trump but Not the Trumpsters
National Review ^ | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 02/02/2016 11:52:22 AM PST by Truthsearcher

...Forget Trump and consider instead Trump’s constituencies. They are weary of being lectured that they deserve presidential rebuke for their supposed Islamophobia because they are angry about the terrorist killings of Americans. The middle classes are exhausted from being sermonized that they do not “pay their fair share,” when their state and federal tax bite is nearly 50 percent — especially when half the population pays no income tax, and massive federal entitlements have done little to address the pathologies of the underclasses. The contractor and the insurance salesman are furious at being scolded that “they didn’t build” their businesses, when those doing the scolding are pampered elites like Elizabeth Warren and Barack Obama, who never built anything other than grievance careers...

...Trump has done the Republican party lots of damage, but he has also done it some good by reminding its leaders that victory lies in swinging a ball and chain through the flimsy glass mirror of political correctness and the current liberal spectacle of very wealthy people projecting race and class injustice onto others as a way of excusing their own privilege.

Far better than ridiculing Trump as a showboat would be to show more constructive passion than does Trump and to discover what makes sane citizens see him as their last resort. Rather than dismissing his empty populism, it would be wiser to fill it in.

Respect and listen to and learn from Trump voters — and they will not vote for Trump.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: New York; Issues
KEYWORDS: 2016election; cnsrvtvtreehouse; cuckservatives; dds; election2016; erickerickson; glennbeck; marklevin; megynkelly; nationalreview; nevertrump; nevertrumper; nevertrumpers; nevertrumpertrolls; newyork; pinkstain; pinkstate; politico; redstate; redstategathering; richlowry; rogerailes; sundance; tds; trump; vdh; victordavishanson
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One of the best articles about the Trump phenomenon.
1 posted on 02/02/2016 11:52:22 AM PST by Truthsearcher
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To: Truthsearcher

3-2-1 until a trumpeter is here squawking about how VDH is not a conservative!!!!!


2 posted on 02/02/2016 11:53:50 AM PST by Axeslinger (Trump: the Kaitlyn Jenner of conservatism. One's not a woman, one's not a conservative.)
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To: Truthsearcher

6 months late


3 posted on 02/02/2016 11:55:17 AM PST by Sybeck1 (Cruz is nasty)
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To: Axeslinger

In this article, at least from the excerpt, he is acting foolish by ignoring that Trump is still in the race.

And your use of the pejorative for a trump supporter marks your level of argument as infantile.


4 posted on 02/02/2016 11:56:11 AM PST by MortMan (I am offended by those who believe they have a right not to be offended.)
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To: Truthsearcher

I’d rather forget the National Review. In fact, I think that’s exactly what I’ll do.


5 posted on 02/02/2016 11:58:33 AM PST by PUGACHEV
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To: Truthsearcher

The GOP needs to be damaged. It needs to have a stake put in its heart and start over. Give me a break. Trump is the best thing to happen to the Republican party in over 20 years.


6 posted on 02/02/2016 11:59:05 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: MortMan

There are a lot of Trump voters who will not vote for Cruz now because of the nastiness that never ceases from the Cruz camp.

You would think that the Cruz win in Iowas would make them happy, but instead, they just get nastier. Reminds me of the leftists.


7 posted on 02/02/2016 12:00:01 PM PST by dforest
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To: dforest

Both sides need to learn to debate (argue) without making it personal, IMO.

Very liberal - I agree.


8 posted on 02/02/2016 12:01:06 PM PST by MortMan (I am offended by those who believe they have a right not to be offended.)
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To: Truthsearcher

I don’t need VDH or anyone else to explain things to me. What I know is that I’d like to see a true citizen-President, someone who has spent a career outside government, serve as President. A businessman who understands how the economy works as one who has met a payroll, risked his own money, and been held accountable for results.

I just want to see this kind of person in the White House. We’ve tried Senators, Governors, Congressmen, Military Generals, Harvard Lawyers, Non-Harvard Lawyers, Rhodes Scholars, and career politicians of every stripe. If you like the outcomes they’ve produced, then there are plenty of non-Trump choices to vote fore.

I’m voting for Trump. at least once.


9 posted on 02/02/2016 12:01:50 PM PST by bigbob ("Victorious warriors win first and then go to war" Sun Tzu.)
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To: Truthsearcher

Excellent point that VDH makes here:
These comparisons to major Democratic figures could be easily expanded, but the issue is not tu quoque. The point is only that Trump is well within today’s political norms — at least the debased norms established by our corrupt media and by public perceptions of what is said and done by supposedly caring and empathetic progressives such as Obama, Clinton, Biden, and Reid. The battle to create a polite and courteous society in 21st-century America was lost some years ago — often by hypocrites who now both engage in and deplore political smear and slander.

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430642/trump-why-do-voters-care


10 posted on 02/02/2016 12:03:01 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)
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To: bigbob

Ditto.

After the Paul Ryan backstab it may take a Trump to shake things up. He has the balls to go toe to toe with the Clintons and fight to win.


11 posted on 02/02/2016 12:03:05 PM PST by TigerClaws
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To: dforest
There are a lot of Trump voters who will not vote for Cruz now because of the nastiness that never ceases from the Cruz camp.

Any Republican running is preferable to Hillary or Sanders. I doubt Cruz's ability to win but if nominated he has my vote.

12 posted on 02/02/2016 12:03:59 PM PST by MaxFlint
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To: Truthsearcher

Forget Trump? Wow, is VDH suffering from early onset denentia? :)


13 posted on 02/02/2016 12:04:40 PM PST by Vision Thing (Vote Trump)
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To: bigbob

Sounds like Jimmy Carter is your man.


14 posted on 02/02/2016 12:05:22 PM PST by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: MortMan

if you consider that a pejorative, you need to thicken your skin. trumpeter is merely short for trump supporter...don’t get your knickers in such a twist.


15 posted on 02/02/2016 12:05:32 PM PST by Axeslinger (Trump: the Kaitlyn Jenner of conservatism. One's not a woman, one's not a conservative.)
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To: Truthsearcher

National Review continues the attack. If they destroy Trump, his voters go with him along with the energy and enthusiasm.


16 posted on 02/02/2016 12:06:54 PM PST by kabar
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To: Truthsearcher

Rebuke away, you puke!


17 posted on 02/02/2016 12:07:19 PM PST by Lopeover (2016 Election is about allegiance to the United States)
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To: dforest
You would think that the Cruz win in Iowas would make them happy, but instead, they just get nastier.

Cruz better savor it while he can. 8 years from now because of his and his followers nastiness Cruz won't be treated as well as other notable past Iowa winners like Huckabee and Santorum.

18 posted on 02/02/2016 12:08:59 PM PST by fireman15 (Check your facts before making ignorant statements.)
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To: Truthsearcher
>>.....Trump has done the Republican party lots of damage

Can I get an 'Amen Hallelujah'..

If only for that reason, Trump is working miracles!!

19 posted on 02/02/2016 12:09:55 PM PST by SGCOS
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To: TigerClaws

Yeah, and the similarities between how Trump handles the media and how the media handles Trump are very Reagan-like.

With all the crap that has gone on the last 20 years and the last 7 especially, we may need someone to go in like a bull in a china closet to straighten things out.

Then pass a bunch of stuff limiting the power of the President on the way out.


20 posted on 02/02/2016 12:10:28 PM PST by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton (Go Egypt on 0bama)
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