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Grow Up!
Townhall.com ^ | January 30, 2016 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 01/30/2016 5:29:18 AM PST by Kaslin

Of all the many things said about Donald Trump, what was said by Roger Ailes, head of the Fox News Channel, said it all in just two words: "Grow up!"

It is amazing how many people have been oblivious to this middle-aged man's spoiled brat behavior, his childish boastfulness about things he says he is going to do, and his petulant response to every criticism with ad hominem replies.

He has boasted that his followers would stick by him even if he committed murder. But is that something to boast about? Is it not an insult to his followers, if it is true? Moreover, his cockiness is misplaced, because he still does not have a majority among Republican voters, while you need a majority of all the voters to win any state in the general election.

Trump has a showman's talent for telling people what they want to hear. But you can listen in vain for a coherent argument from him, based on facts and logic, much less an understanding of the inherent limitations of the office of president.

More than two centuries ago, Edmund Burke said: "Constitute government how you please, infinitely the greater part of it must depend upon the exercise of the powers which are left at large to the prudence and uprightness of ministers of state."

In other words, the personal character of the people to whom you entrust the powers of government matters even more than what kinds of government institutions there are. There have been some good kings and some bad presidents, as well as vice versa.

In a world where the future of this country is threatened from within by increasingly angry polarization, and where external threats can become nuclear, are we really going to entrust the safety or this country to a man who still needs to grow up?

Is the fact that he loudly expressed our own disgust with the political establishment a sufficient reason to gamble the whole future of the country by putting him in the White House?

The White House is not a place for on-the-job training. You are supposed to be ready, or at the very least grown up, before you walk in the door. Aging happens automatically, but maturity is optional -- and it is an option that Donald Trump has not yet chosen to exercise.

The issue that Trump raised about Ted Cruz's having been born in Canada is not the first time he has tried to challenge where someone was born. "The Donald" was among those who tried to say that Barack Obama was not born an American citizen, and who disgraced themselves, while undermining other critics of Obama who had serious objections to his policies.

On the other hand, messianic demagogues have often spoken at least part of the truth. But they have also often led their followers to their doom, whether at Jonestown, Stalingrad or innumerable other places. That is a very high price to pay for an exhilaration of the moment.

Donald Trump is not the only one who needs to act like an adult. With this country starting to unravel from within, while ruthless enemies overseas are developing both nuclear weapons and intercontinental missiles to deliver them, we face problems that cannot be solved by candidates with glib words or by voters who vote for whoever meets their emotional needs.

If you don't understand the issues, but want to do your patriotic duty, then stay home on election night, whether in the primaries or in the national election in November. Uninformed voters turn elections into a game of playing Russian roulette with the future of America.

Conservative candidates will also have an opportunity to show their maturity and their patriotism. This is not the first primary season in which the conservative vote has been split among so many Republican candidates that it virtually guarantees that someone who is not a conservative will win the Republican nomination.

At some point during the primary season, it becomes clear that some candidates have no real chance of winning the nomination, much less the general election. At that point they can either continue hanging on, keeping the conservative vote split, or they can withdraw and throw their support to some other conservative candidate who has a chance.

A lot of people need to grow up, and to do something for this country that has done so much for them.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cluelessrant; growup; lilliputian; thomassowell
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To: nathanbedford; kanawa
You are the one who wants to impose on us and our children this risk of a man of such dubious moral character who can get us all killed.

If America survives the confirmed dubious moral character of Barack Insane Obama, America will definitely survive President Donald J. Trump.
241 posted on 01/30/2016 12:03:37 PM PST by mkjessup ("Sneers, Jeers & Tears" - that's your typical Trump-hater for ya.)
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To: stockpirate
Read the article, how long have you been here on FR? I’m following very long an honored FR tradition of commenting via flying the handle at least two days before actually readint it.. Damn newbies

That reminder is never out of place.

Another reminder to self is that when the toxicity level gets to a certain point, the wise course is to lay low.

(Not directed at you, at all. Just a general comment.)

242 posted on 01/30/2016 12:12:39 PM PST by don-o (He will not share His glory. And He will NOT be mocked!)
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To: kanawa

I never credited with the power I simply said you had the desire.


243 posted on 01/30/2016 12:13:15 PM PST by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: Kaslin

Actually, it’s not “grow up,” to Trump. It’s “know your place” to conservative voters.

No thanks, Dr Sowell.


244 posted on 01/30/2016 12:13:29 PM PST by Ted Grant
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To: mkjessup

Please see my reply # 216


245 posted on 01/30/2016 12:15:47 PM PST by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: SubMareener

Trump has been a average businessperson given his inheritance has failed in all his non real estate ventures and flipped flopped on every major issue over the past 8 years.

He has no core as a human being beyond his own self aggrandizement.

Sorry no malignant narcissist for me. YMMV.

I like Cruz I would even favor Rubio over Trump I would favor almost any pub candidate over Trump, he has no core.


246 posted on 01/30/2016 1:05:45 PM PST by Leto
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To: nathanbedford

A slight tangent here .. but i think the eligibility quesiton pertains to Marco Rubio also. In light of his emerging as the GOPe backup to Bush, it becomes more relevant.

But no one will touch the issue with a 10’ pole, so it’s all academic.


247 posted on 01/30/2016 1:07:47 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: Leto

OK, now I understand! You are in favor of Common Core! All is clear!


248 posted on 01/30/2016 1:09:26 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)
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To: BuckeyeTexan

Indeed


249 posted on 01/30/2016 2:17:41 PM PST by MEG33 (God Bless America And Our Troops)
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To: CodeToad

I agree 100%.Add the fact he doe not need the cash and favors from the lobbyists firms in DC.


250 posted on 01/30/2016 2:25:24 PM PST by Lumper20 ( clown in Chief has own Gov employees Gestapo)
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To: Leto

Cruz is the one whose narcissistic personality beats even Obama in that category. All politicians think they are special. They learn to BS folks early. It is the old story-”if you can’t dazzle them with your intelligence- then baffle em with BS.”


251 posted on 01/30/2016 2:32:42 PM PST by Lumper20 ( clown in Chief has own Gov employees Gestapo)
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To: kanawa

I agree. My old man was at Continental Army Command at the time. I recall him getting calls to get back to work. The military was on high alert the entire time. Yes, we damn sure did very little to support the men who hit the beach. Many of us worried about a nuke war with Russia. The field grade officers and flag officers were not Kennedy fans back then. I met three Cubans in the Army who had been there. One was my AIT company CO at FT Dix NJ in 66 before I went to INF OCS. I met another named Cruz in fall 72- early June 73 in the IOAC (Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course) at Ft. Benning. The Captain rarely talked about it.


252 posted on 01/30/2016 3:00:56 PM PST by Lumper20 ( clown in Chief has own Gov employees Gestapo)
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To: usconservative

It’s pretty easy in my county...especially if we have a person who’s good at the importing part. :>) If you do your own database and NOT use the GOP’s...it’s better, that’s for sure. (More accurate)


253 posted on 01/30/2016 3:12:04 PM PST by goodnesswins (Alinsky.....it's what's for dinner)
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To: Lumper20

Cruz doesn’t talk about himself endlesly like Obama and Trump he doesn’t lash out personally and lose discipline like Obama and Trump.

What is an example of this narcissism you project on Cruz. What public behavior?


254 posted on 01/30/2016 4:19:09 PM PST by Leto
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To: Leto

Examples are all over the Internet. Here is the first that came up.

http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/ted-cruz-phony


255 posted on 01/30/2016 6:41:58 PM PST by Lumper20 ( clown in Chief has own Gov employees Gestapo)
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To: Lumper20

You realize that Johnathan Alter is a communist to the left of B Sanders. If that is your source, too funny, see I was able to describe Trump of the top of my head based on observation You had to google and the best you could do is a communist website. too rich


256 posted on 01/30/2016 7:15:36 PM PST by Leto
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To: Leto

http://www.salon.com/2015/09/29/stop_calling_ted_cruz_a_conservative_this_self_promoting_narcissist_is_a_fraud_and_a_nihilist/


257 posted on 01/31/2016 3:20:41 AM PST by Lumper20 ( clown in Chief has own Gov employees Gestapo)
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To: Leto

Cruz is the worse kind of narcissist. He is sold on only Ted Cruz is right and no one can tell him anything. He has never met a payroll or hired or fired an employee. Cruz tells more BS about his father at his dog and pony shows. The old man left Cuba in 55, not 59. He never fought one day with Castro, but; Cruz will lie to folks.


258 posted on 01/31/2016 3:28:12 AM PST by Lumper20 ( clown in Chief has own Gov employees Gestapo)
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To: Lumper20

“Cruz is the worse kind of narcissist. He is sold on only Ted Cruz is right and no one can tell him anything. He has never met a payroll or hired or fired an employee. Cruz tells more BS about his father at his dog and pony shows. The old man left Cuba in 55, not 59. He never fought one day with Castro, but; Cruz will lie to folks.”
_____________________________________________________________

Cribbing stuff from another left wing site.

Trump is all about Trump always has been, always will be. Can’t believe how many people are suckered by his act.

Other than some of his Real Estate Deals everything else he has done was a flop. His 3 magazines, Vodka line (how do you lose money selling booze?), his Steak line. the list goes on even with Real Estate he has the 4 bankruptcies which if he had honored his debts he would be broke.

What a stooge.


259 posted on 01/31/2016 5:36:12 AM PST by Leto
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To: Kaslin

Indeed...discussion of issues doesn’t seem to be a priority anymore. Post something negative from the record of a candidate and the mob mentality of those offended solves nothing.


260 posted on 01/31/2016 6:50:10 AM PST by RasterMaster ("Towering genius disdains a beaten path." - Abraham Lincoln)
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