Posted on 01/26/2016 2:30:13 PM PST by Kaslin
When the publisher of National Review Magazine, Jack Fowler, called and asked me to write 300 words on why I oppose Donald Trump for president of the United States, my first thought was about the derision that was sure to come from Trump supporters.
I was not disappointed, or rather I am disappointed that no one who reacted negatively rebutted any of the arguments I, or the other contributors, made about why we think a President Trump would not pursue conservative goals.
Sounding like Trump, I was called a "loser" and someone for whom one writer said he had "lost all respect." Sure, there were some who called me "brilliant" (I'm filing those away), but the name-callers resembled their political master. Trump also refused to address our arguments. Instead, he mislabeled the magazine a "dying newspaper" and said it had lost circulation and no one reads it. Many are reading this issue.
One friend said he is convinced that Trump is "teachable and we can move him in the right direction." On June 14, Trump will be 70 years old. By then, most people have long been settled in their worldview. Trump likes to cite Ronald Reagan, who was a Roosevelt Democrat before he famously said he didn't leave the Democratic Party, the party left him. But Reagan spent many years honing his conservative principles in speeches, articles, and radio commentaries. He did not have, as some nominees to high office experience, a "confirmation conversion."
Quoting myself would be redundant (read us all at National Review.com), so here is the key paragraph from the lead editorial: "Trump's politics are those of an averagely well-informed businessman: Washington is full of problems; I am a problem-solver; let me at them. But if you have no familiarity with the relevant details and the levers of power, and no clear principles to guide you, you will, like most tenderfeet, get rolled. Trump has shown no interest in limiting government, in reforming entitlements, or in the Constitution. He floats the idea of massive new taxes on imported goods and threatens to retaliate against companies that do too much manufacturing overseas for his taste. His obsession is with 'winning,' regardless of the means -- a spirit that is anathema to the ordered liberty that conservatives hold dear and that depends for its preservation on limits on government power."
In the February 1 issue of The Weekly Standard, Stephen F. Hayes writes: "The Republican frontrunner is a longtime liberal whose worldview might best be described as an amalgam of pop-culture progressivism and vulgar nationalism. His campaign rallies are orgies of self-absorption, dominated by juvenile insults of those who criticize him and endless boasting about his poll numbers. He's a narcissist and a huckster, an opportunist who not only failed to join conservatives in the big fights about the size and scope of government over the past several decades but, to the extent he was even aware of such battles, was often funding the other side, with a long list of contributions to the liberals most responsible for the dire state of affairs in the country, including likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton."
What is the counter argument to these substantive opinions? Anger against the "Washington establishment" is not one. Those who worship Trump have an obligation to say why he is worthy of their faith. Given his liberal background and poor explanations of why he now believes differently, how do his supporters know he will govern conservatively should he win the White House? He once said his sister, who is pro-abortion, would be an excellent nominee to the Supreme Court. His story of how he supposedly became a pro-life convert lacks credibility.
Electing a president, especially in a dangerous world, is important work. Anger and emotion should not govern the choice. Considered judgment should. Trump appeals to the former, but not the latter.
Gives new meaning to the bridge game!!!!!!
Every one of these whining stories has a “(read us all at National Review.com)” in it. NRO must be starving for hits. ;-)
And yet these same folks were quiet as could be when McCain was being nominated.
There wasn’t so much as a peep compared to what is going on today.
Cal, don’t let the barn door hit ya...
I don’t worship Trump, but he’ll do in a pinch if Cruz doesn’t make it. Hillary or Sanders will be the end of the USA.
How did Schwarzenegger work out?
Cal Thomas was better when he co-wrote his column with Bob Beckel
“By then, most people have long been settled in their worldview.”
The thought of a non-RINO, outsider POTUS is freaking out Cal Thomas and his marbled worldview.
Did Cal Thomas write a book with Democrat Bob Beckle?
No Trump then the dems win the election....simple as that.
Enough people in the party have become single issue voters on immigration. They really don't care about anything else, as they think nothing else matters.
I don't agree with that argument, but I can understand it. But I can't understand why his fans try to fight the losing battle of convincing non-Trump fans that he's a conservative. Even Rush was doing it today, and had a whole segment where he claimed Trump was talking about "limited government", he just didn't call it "limited government". It was insane.
Just admit that you're a single issue voter and that Trump is your guy, don't try and distort reality by saying he has conservative convictions that are informed by a philosophy of limited government.
Another “gate keeper” playing victim.
And people wonder why there was never really a conservative media like the left has?
Because it’s stocked with old bags that have spent their lives in little towers pontificating down to us, never expecting that people would catch on to the game and saying NO MORE.
They make money selling conservative philosophy and we never see anything as a result of it. Talk talk talk. That’s all we got!
And when the plebs rise up and say we aren’t listening anymore, then that’s when they grab the stick and try to beat you back into line.
It’s time to clear these dusty relics out.
You said...
“Just admit that you’re a single issue voter and that Trump is your guy, don’t try and distort reality by saying he has conservative convictions that are informed by a philosophy of limited government.”
Well put.
I’ve had a couple freepers tell me they know Trump isn’t a rock ribbed conservative but that his stance on illegal immigration and the fact they here the other candidates talk amnesty is what makes them support Trump
I can respect their honesty
So we can chalk up the No Trump team as being Pro-Cruz?
Didn’t think so.
RINOs.
Trump is the ultimate RINO.
He changes party affiliation like he changes his underwear.
Teach him what? He has already schooled the entire GOP on illegal immigration. Have THEY gotten the lesson yet? What ridiculous arrogance.
That single issue touches many others, including, but not limited to:
Jobs
Better wages for us.
Medicaid
Emergency Services
Crime
Anchor babies
Social Security
Overcrowded schools
Less traffic congestion
Fewer auto accidents
Reduced drug running
More room in our jails and prisons
Fewer new diseases.
No more need of “Press 1 for English”
(hat tip to Balding_Eagle)
“Just admit that you’re a single issue voter and that Trump is your guy, don’t try and distort reality...”
How about you stop telling people what to do? People are sick of you guys putting words in our mouths or trying to tell us what we really think or what we should “admit”.
How did McCain and Romney work out? NRO was fine with those losers.
What ridiculous arrogance.
—
yep
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