Do Emotions Trump Facts? (Thomas Sowell on Trump)

Townhall ^ | January 22. 2016 | Thomas Sowell

[GodGunsGuts]

Those of us who like to believe that human beings are rational can sometimes have a hard time trying to explain what is going on in politics. It is still a puzzle to me how millions of patriotic Americans could have voted in 2008 for a man who for 20 years -- TWENTY YEARS -- was a follower of a preacher who poured out his hatred for America in the most gross gutter terms.

Today's big puzzle is how so many otherwise rational people have become enamored of Donald Trump, projecting onto him virtues and principles that he clearly does not have, and ignoring gross defects that are all too blatant...

[Dead Corpse]

Yes. I will be voting for Cruz in my Precincts BPOU and volunteering for the State convention.

My main issue is Constitutionally limited government. Full stop. Cruz is the only one with any kind of real record on this issue.

I do not fall for populism or empty demagoguery. Never have, never will.

For the record, I didn’t like McCain, Romney, or Bush either...

[Dead Corpse]

The media is pro-Trump... For now.

That tune will change drastically should he be nominated. Bank on it.

[MeanWestTexan]

No one doubts you don’t care about facts and opinions of others.

You need to be led. You want the trains to run on time.

We get it.

We’ve seen it before.

[CAluvdubya]

Who else had the balls to say we should stop Muslims from immigrating? To tell the French they need to carry guns? To build a wall? Nobody. Trump is a patriotic American who has built businesses that employ thousands of people. What have his critics built? They live on other peoples money and produce nothing but words.Add to that: He's already nullified Hillary's War on Women meme.

Somebody summed it pretty well when they said we're sick of PC garbage. Sick of being told by the 'conservatives' we elect that they'll stop the Dems, and never do. We're fed up with the old ways.

This is what is not being understood.

[GodGunsGuts]

Very well said.

[BigBobber]

Nobody. Trump is a patriotic American who has built businesses that employ thousands of people. What have his critics built? They live on other peoples money and produce nothing but words.

It's time to drop your fantasy that all successful businessmen are conservative or would be better than politicians at being president.

Just a few examples: Jobs, Ellison, Gates, Bloomburg, Speilberg, Geffen, Steyer. I could go on and on.

I'll take Cruz or Reagan over them or Trump any day.

[hawaiianninja]

Actually, I think Sowell is wrong. I don't think people are projecting any virtues or principles onto Trump. They simply react to the things they have been longing to hear.

Did Trump have liberal leanings in the past? Yeah. Does he have ALL those same liberal leanings now? Probably not. But even if he did, there are some things that one cannot deny: Trump does have principles that has made him a successful businessman and business LEADER, and unlike Romney, he's not ashamed of it; he speaks his mind and does not back down if he believes he's correct; he displays his love for this country by supporting our troops, our Vets, and by running his campaign using his own money.

Mr. Sowell and others may think Trump is on wrong side of things, but unlike the 0, he has shown he can get things done, and done in with a budget or even under budget. I tend to view a more pragmatic approach in saving the country: Stop the ship from sinking first and get it going in the right direction (Trump/Cruz 2016 and 2020) and then ensure that we remain in the right direction for generations to come (Cruz/? 2024 and 2028).

[gogeo]

Those of us who like to believe that human beings are rational...

Mr. Sowell...God love ya. There's no BS in you, you explain why you think what you think.

That was your error, right there, right in the first sentence.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"...These people live in their gated communities, going to their expensive dinners ..."

Sowell? Gated community? Really?

You ran out of fact-based concepts so quickly you had to crayon a left-wing scrawl onto Thomas Sowell and call it an argument?

[kiryandil]

My main issue is Constitutionally limited government. Full stop. Cruz is the only one with any kind of real record on this issue.

I understand that, and you're correct about what Cruz represents.

I'm taking a gamble on Trump. Cruz was my second choice up until yesterday (you can check my posting history to verify), until the "Cruzer" deadbeats started trashing Palin and ignoring Jim Robinson's call for restraint.

Some of those deadbeats are on this very thread.

They can Talk to the Hand. I'm only talking to reasonable Cruz supporters, who've been an obvious asset to FR over the years.

You're one of them. There are quite a few more, but there aren't many in evidence on these threads.

[GodGunsGuts]

Given the unhinged stampede towards Trump as savior (based on lip service and nothing else), I’m starting to see your point!

[stormhill]

Off topic, but, curious on your tag. Think he’ll be that brazen?

[Dead Corpse]

I don't think people are projecting any virtues or principles onto Trump. They simply react to the things they have been longing to hear.

The problem is, we've seen this before. It is one thing to sway the masses with a blustery speech, quite another to actually have the principles to carry through...

Trump has ZERO history of such principles.

[IAMNO1]

“Cruz is a devastating debater and I would dearly love to see him demolish Hillary.”

Not only that, but I strongly suspect when Hilliary finally goes off to jail, the door will have hit Obama in the @ass on his way out, so it will be too late for him to pardon her. I got to believe Cruz would let her stew in prison on principal, whereas Trump is more likely to parole her in the best interest of the country (ala Ford with Nixon).

[Hugin]

It's time to drop your fantasy that all successful businessmen are conservative

Time to stop beating up straw men, Obama. Nobody said that.

[Dead Corpse]

I'm ok with voting for Trump in the General, considering the alternative... But it is very much a "hold my nose" action, as it has been every election since Reagan.

With Ted, I don't have to hold my nose.

While I am disappointed in Sarah's support of Trump, I understand it and hope that she will continue to be a good spokeswoman for Constitutional, and limited, government.

[cynicalman]

Do you really think DT is for a limited government? That he believes in the separation of powers? I like some of his ideas but can you trust him? This is the question I think we should all be asking

[kiryandil]

I'm glad you're not one of those who trashed Palin.

I would have supported her had she endorsed Ted Cruz, as she did during his US Senate campaign.

[roses of sharon]

No “big puzzle” Mr. Sowell.....this is payback to the GOP, plain and simple.

[Dead Corpse]

She’s supporting Trump because she thinks he has the best chance of winning the General. I can respect that.

Cruz or Trump, of the remaining GOP field, either candidate should be able to handily wipe the floor with whoever the Dems push.