Posted on 01/07/2016 2:09:51 PM PST by TBP
A couple of days ago Donald Trump appeared on Mark Levin's radio program. Frankly I was surprised Trump agreed, considering in 2011 Mediaite reported that "Levin was on fire as he provided a series of arguments to discredit nearly every perceived benefit of a Trump candidacy. Suggesting Trump’s proposal for a tariff on goods from China is as horrible of an idea as many of Trump’s other past positions, Levin said even if ‘all your supporters are going to give you a pass on every damn thing you’ve ever said or done’ Levin will not be along for the ride. And in his final parting shot, since Trump repeatedly argues his success as a businessman would make him a great President, Levin humorously concludes, ‘if I follow your logic, Bill Gates ought to be President of the United States because he’s worth ten times what you are, and yet when it comes to economics and government he’s an airhead just like you.’â€
But Mark Levin was more than kind and allowed Trump to speak his mind, even paying him a compliment saying that he got a call from his father who said, "I like this guy. He says what he needs to say. He's standing up for America."
Mark Levin was discussing with Trump why his message appears to be resonating. Levin said, "number one, you're not a Washington guy. Number two, you're a successful businessman. And number three, you're talking up America." Trump responded by saying that it's because people are sick and tired of our stupid representatives. "They're giving away our jobs, they're giving away our money, they're giving away our manufacturing, they're giving away everything -- we get nothing."
And then Trump uttered his all-too-familiar refrain that China and Mexico are kicking our butts. He cited the case of a Ford plant being built in Mexico for $2.5 billion, to make trucks and cars and parts and ship them right back to the United States. "We get nothing," he says. "We get no jobs, we get no tax. We get nothing."
Read more: “Donald Trump Want’s Americans to Pay a 35% Tax on New Cars.â€
Yet within his populist nonsense, he merely states that the reason these other countries are kicking our butts and taking our jobs is because of bad or weak trade deals negotiated by the United States. Trump said he loves free trade but you "have to have smart people representing you."
Yes, as if a trade agreement would've prevented Ford from building a huge plant in Mexico. As if NAFTA drove Ford into the loving arms of our neighbors to the south. Wrongo! That's not why.
The reason companies leave the United States isn't just for the cheaper labor. It's because they are literally being taxed and regulated to death. Why would a company who has the means to get out of Dodge, choose to stick around only for the privilege of being abused by local, state and federal politicians, not to mention the hundreds of regulatory agencies camped out on their doorstep, are waiting to pounce. And did I forget to mention the United States has the highest corporate tax rate in the known and unknown universe.
Who needs that crap? I'll move my manufacturing to a country that actually appreciates me and will, for the most part, leave me alone. This way I can manufacture my products in relative peace and keep my competitive edge. By relative peace, I mean not having to deal with OSHA, the FDA, the EPA, the NLRB, labor unions, and scores of other regulatory agencies. These are the things that drive businesses out of the United States. Not bad trade deals.
Levin did have a great point I mentioned earlier regarding Trump's immediate popularity -- that he talks up America, unabashedly so. People love to hear that. After almost 7 years of the Obama administration telling us how bad we are, how sinful we've been, people crave some optimism. And Trump, the consummate salesman is right there, ready to step in and fill that populist void.
What he says sounds great. It really does, and Americans want and need to hear a candidate who loves America and will put our country first.
But then he says something ridiculous like I'm going to build a giant wall across the southern border, and then make Mexico pay for it. The knee-jerk reaction is to wildly cheer, and because Trump is tough, Mexico will simply roll over. I think not.
They will no more pay for a wall than voluntarily take back all the illegals. But the sanity of his plan is of no consequence, because he said it with the style of a firebrand preacher.
I agree with Glenn Beck regarding Trump. He's a progressive like Christie, or Newt.
And with our economy already in the tank, teetering on the edge of disaster, we sure don't need a Smoot-Hawley progressive pushing us over the edge.
Do we want another progressive as the GOP nominee, like McCain and Romney? How did that work out?
Rush agrees that Trump is not a conservative, but he still handles him with kid gloves. I guess Rush likes to play golf on his courses.
Heh, heh, heh...
The Cruz clan can’t find anything new to use, so you resort to old articles?
Rush said Trump is not Ideologue, but he was for America First.
Tariffs were the way the Founders primarily intended for the government to be funded. Can’t be *too* bad of an idea.
Besides, “free” trade only really works when it’s between nations having similar standards of living and wage scales. When that isn’t the case, it’s just a giant, international socialist wealth redistribution plan.
... I agree with Glenn Beck regarding Trump. He’s a progressive like Christie, or Newt.
I think he is more progressive than Christie or Newt. He has Alinsky down pat.
This article about Trump made sense until I read this. Mexico will certainly NOT roll over, but Mexico WILL pay for the wall. Trump is correct.
There are many reasons why companies leave the USA. Taxes and union workers being two of them. Trump is correct on some issues while not addressing other issues. He’s not perfect but he’s making the Democrats and Republicans crazy. What’s not to like about that?
Liar. From Rush Limbaugh yesterday: “There’s no evidence that Trump is not what he is, and don’t forget, I know him. He’s not an unknown quantity to me.... I have spent a lot of time with Trump. And by this I mean I know a little bit about him, not that I’m afraid to be critical of him, but I know a little bit about him. And he’s not a Democrat. He is not a liberal.”
Populism was destined to rule in this election.
I knew it after the TARP bailouts, when anger and rage was so high, spawning powerful new political opposition movements on the right AND the left....and yet they did it anyway and nobody went to jail.
The die was cast at that moment IMHO.
Rush agrees he can’t lose nearly half of his audience if he trashes Trump.
If this writer is such a free market economics expert, why doesn’t be know that a wall is not going to stop illegal immigration. As long as the U.S. is subsidizing, rewarding illegal immigration, the people will get here.
Hmm a “Progressive” who tax plan is quite similar to Reagan’s and Immigration plan echos Eisenhower.
Seems the Crony Capitalist wing of “Conservatism” has now adopted the political debate tactics of the Left. As the Left scream “racists, sexists, homophobe” at anyone they dislike. the DC “Conservatives” now label anyone they cannot debate on the facts a “progressive”.
You may well be right.
And just how is that going to happen?
No the master Alinskite here is you. You have yet to make rational fact based argument for your views. Like most the rest of the faux DC Conservatives, you have adopted the debate tactics of the leftists.
Trump has made a career on crony capitalism, and these discussions of his progressivism is based on his own record — i.e., facts.
Hmmm how did electing the sorts of “Campaign Conservatives” in 2010 and 2014 work out for average Americans?
Sorry ridiculous to try and argue that we should elect more of the same in 2016.
I can see how that fact is attractive, but beyond that, there are real problems. Trump is basically a fantasy and is just not aware of the depth and breadth of the problem and not philosophically equipped to deal with it. Cruz comes closest if not fully aware (telling Bundy to stand down makes me wonder).
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