The Conservative Case for Trump

American Thinker ^ | 5-15-2016 | David Prentice

[Sir Napsalot]

As a longstanding Reagan conservative, my initial preference was Ted Cruz; yet I would have voted for any of the candidates over Hillary. I held my nose for McCain and Romney, and hope some at least hold their noses and vote for Trump. However, I’d rather you do more than that, I’d rather you consider actually voting FOR Donald Trump. The case for Trump is a good one.

..... I found I liked what he said, but not him. Then the earthquake happened: Hillary attacked him as a misogynist and a sexist. Oh no, he’s done for now. But no, he retorted with one tweet, and one paragraph lambasting the Clinton’s prior activities with women, highlighting the Clintons’ hypocrisy. The press reported it. The Clintons skulked away without responding. The press wrung their hands, talked about it, had panels, articles, and in the end Trump won the first victory any GOP representative has had with the Clintons. Her popularity dove, an entire generation was hearing for the first time what had happened. Inconceivable. One tweet, barely one paragraph.

That shook me to the core. Then someone showed me an article in December where Ted Cruz had stated that the Clintons’ sexual history had no place in his campaign. The light went on. Two weeks later after reassessing my preference, I switched from Cruz to Trump. I still liked Cruz, but I had discovered they were the only two highlighting essentially the same issues. I also recalled that it was Trump who had brought those important issues to the forefront, it was Trump that was taking the grief for being a racist, a bigot, literally all the normal things said about any member of the GOP, and yet, he was consistently climbing in the estimation of the GOP voters, not falling.

[Lurkinanloomin]

My initial preference was for Cruz.
I would not have voted for many of the candidates and initially thought Trump a joke.
What a difference a year makes.
Cruz is becoming unbearable.
Trump is our last chance at keeping our country.
If we do not stop the illegal alien inundation and colonization, we lose everything.

[alloysteel]

This ain’t beanbag, folks. Not even dodgeball.

This is hand grenades with the pins pulled and thrown with a two-second tick remaining.

The very fortunate will only be seriously maimed.

[Luke21]

Describes my own pilgrimage to Trump as a former Cruz supporter.

[Jim Robinson]

Go, Trump, GO!!

[Aria]

I supported Cruz at first...but my antenna went up. Something seemed to be off and then I started reading about him. Thank God Trump came forward....have NO idea who I would have ended up supporting if it weren’t for Trump.

[VRW Conspirator]

(donning asbestos underwear) Trump is a Reagan Democrat.

[TexasKamaAina]

My move towards Trump parallels that of the writer. Like Mr. Prentice, the way Trump successfully responded to Hillary's anti-woman attack is what made me first begin to consider him seriously. He seems to be the only one out there with the will and the stamina to bust through the ridiculous and entirely predictable attacks from the left. He is also the only Republican I've seen that can actually frame the argument instead of letting the Democrats and the media set the boundaries for discourse.

As Lincoln said about Grant, "I can't spare this man. He fights!"

[Fungi]

“Cruz is becoming unbearable.” Could you please elaborate on this? Seriously. Thank you.

[Lurkinanloomin]

And thank God for that, another Bush Republican would turn us permanently into North Mexico.

[Albion Wilde]

Make America Great Again

Ping!

This ping provides two daily lists of links to Trump-related threads on FR.
If you are a Trump opponent, you won't be happy here.

To be added to or dropped from this ping list,
post your request on the thread below or freepmail to Albion Wilde.

* * *

Selected Trump articles on FR, from 12:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT, 5/15/16:
Gingrich says he’d probably say yes if asked to run as Trump’s VP –Wash.Times
The Conservative Case for Trump –American Thinker
Obama Targets Trump Proposals in Highly Political Commencement Speech –ABC
RNC's Priebus: Anti-Trump, Third Party Efforts a 'Suicide Mission' –NewsMax
Poll: Trump and Clinton in close race in Georgia [Trump 45, Clinton 41] –TheHill
Meet Trump supporters from various groups he’s offended –NYDailyNews
Trump support leads Teamsters to withdraw Scott Jones endorsement [Cal. 7th dist.] –SacBee
Dear FRiends, We need your continuing support to keep FR going strong. –Jim Robinson
Trump Calls Elizabeth Warren 'Pocahontas' In Call With NYT Columnist –TPM
[Bill] Clinton’s Alleged Ex-Lover: Hillary a ‘Terrorist’ –Breitbart
‘This Week’ Transcript: Reince Priebus and Sen. Jeff Sessions –ABC
Donald Jr., Rudy Giuliani will go to GOP convention as delegates –NYPost
Mark Mobius: Here's why Trump won't actually start a trade war –YahooFinance
Ryan says there's no timeline for unifying behind Trump –Fox12 Oregon
Roger Stone: Bill Clinton Like Bill Cosby on Abusing Women, Then They Were ‘Psychologically Abused by Hillary –Alex Swoyer
Illegal Immigration and Book of Mormon Prophecy (why Mormons oppose Trump) –LDSLiberty.org
Romney Identified as Primary Agent Attempting yo Construct Third Party Bid –Sundance

[Prince Caspian]

This article closely parallels my thinking process through this primary. I started out with Cruz. At times, Trump made me cringe. Wasn’t sure he was even a serious candidate. I changed my mind somewhere around December.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Where to start?
Even after he was mathematically eliminated, he continued his campaign.
After he suspends his campaign he is still manuevering behind the scenes for delegates.
He thinks he leading a movement, when the movement has chosen another leader.
He is clearly ineligible and continues to seek the office.

[GOPJ]

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE

“I began reading about how the people surrounding him, people that had worked for him in the past really liked him, and thought he was genuinely brilliant. He was also highlighting the most important issues of our day, all of them:

The Wall. He wants to stop illegal immigration.

The Islamic threat. He does not want it to come here. He did not want a repeat of Europe’s mistake. He is the only candidate to say what needs to be done: a temporary moratorium on Muslims coming here.

Our need to have a great military again. He knows we need that and to give help for our veterans.

We need to smash ISIS, and radical Islam everywhere.

We need to jump start our economy. Bring jobs, be pro-business, pro-capitalist, better trade agreements.

Protect our Second Amendment.

Repeal and replace Obamacare.

His pro-life conversion is actually believable. He is pro-life.

He wants to cut spending, except for the military.

He wants to make America strong, respected, and for us to be proudly patriotic once again.

He is against common core, and wants locally controlled education.

He is for reducing regulation and the scope of the federal government.

There are lots more good and conservative policies, but this is enough to say for now.”

[Lurkinanloomin]

I had flipped by the end of August. Cruz was still non-committal on enforcement while Trump was staying consistent on deportations.

[Lakeshark]

FYI Ping.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks jazusamo:

• Feldman: Never Say Never and Obama’s Waterloo
  
  There’s this from an online friend "Ignatz Ratzkywatzky" in response to the claim that Trump is no "true conservative":
  1. He helped on Reagan's campaigns.
  2. He endorsed McCain and Romney.
  3. He contributed 136 times to the GOP and 86 times to Dems since 1999; exclusively GOP since 2010.
  4. 13 of his 17 five figure contributions were to the GOP; exclusively GOP since 2008.
  5. He has stated a number of conservative opinions through the years.
  6. He is not particularly conservative but cherry picked or simply wrong assertions are not convincing.
  7. The amusing thing is seeing quasi-conservative neocons like Kristol, the very essence of their movement being dissatisfaction with and turning away from their Dem roots, speaking in high dudgeon and declaring anathema a quasi-conservative guy who became dissatisfied with and turned away from his Dem roots.

[buckalfa]

"Trump is a Reagan Democrat."

Fair assessment. Trump will likely disappoint fiscal and social conservatives. He will likely please those seeking a strong sovereign nation with strong borders and fair trade. At worst, Trump will anger the PC crowd. In all honesty, Trump is the last hope for the angry white American.

[DesertRhino]

My theory is that he’s 70, had more fun and money than anyone could ever want. And he’s looked at his kids and grandkids, realizes that he has 15 more good years if he’s lucky, and wants to just do something good for America. Simple as that.

[US Navy Vet]

What is Donald’s view(s) on the “Gay Rights””Issue” and please elaborate on his Pro-Life Position?