President Trump? Pass the smelling salts

The Globe and Mail ^ | March 5, 2016 | Margaret Wente

[rickmichaels]

A ghastly pall has descended over U.S. politics. Barring a minor miracle, Donald Trump really will be running against Hillary Clinton to be president.

The world is looking on in slack-jawed horror. Never in our lifetime has a man so unsuitable for office got so near the White House. Almost no one saw it coming – certainly not the Republican establishment, and least of all the pundits, who’ve been reassuring us for months that this clownish, vulgar reality-TV star would never, ever get near the nomination.

How could this happen? New Yorker editor David Remnick, who is in a state of shock, blames the people. As he told Politico, Mr. Trump’s success reflects an “ugliness” that appeals to “every worst instinct” in America. Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times columnist, says Mr. Trump has “shrewdly manipulated the news media.”

But it’s not entirely the people’s fault, or the media’s fault. The Republican establishment has been out of touch for years. It offers a brand of conservatism that people don’t care about or else have actively rejected. Unlike their leaders, most Republican voters don’t care all that much about constitutional purity. Many of them are are middle-class or lower. They don’t want tax cuts for the rich. They want their health care and social security to be protected. They think there’s too much uncontrolled immigration. They’re tired of senseless foreign wars in far-off places where everybody hates the United States anyway. They care a lot less than party leaders if other people want to get abortions.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Barring a minor miracle, Donald Trump really will be running against Hillary Clinton to be president

It is horrible! What kind of bizzaro hell has this world descended to? Hillary Clinton running for president.

[Robert DeLong]

I think you need to worry about Justin Trudeau Michael, heh hoser.

[AndyJackson]

[AndyJackson]

The Republican establishment has been out of touch for years. It offers a brand of conservatism that people don’t care about or else have actively rejected. Unlike their leaders, most Republican voters don’t care all that much about constitutional purity.

to fracture Pygmalion, the Republican party has not practiced conservatism in years.

[Lazamataz]

Margaret Wente is a conservative American-born Canadian columnist for Canada’s largest national daily newspaper,

Conservative, my ass.

[Gaffer]

Yes. I’m imagining right now how some anti-Trump candidate will insinuate Trump had the clap by remarking “was pissing pins and needles.”

http://language-dossier.webs.com/victorianslang.htm

[onona]

And clutching their pearls !

[RichInOC]

But it’s not entirely the people’s fault, or the media’s fault. The Republican establishment has been out of touch for years. It offers a brand of conservatism that people don’t care about or else have actively rejected. Unlike their leaders, most Republican voters don’t care all that much about constitutional purity. Many of them are are middle-class or lower. They don’t want tax cuts for the rich. They want their health care and social security to be protected. They think there’s too much uncontrolled immigration. They’re tired of senseless foreign wars in far-off places where everybody hates the United States anyway. They care a lot less than party leaders if other people want to get abortions.

We are talking about the American Republican electorate, yes? Because I suggest to you that although they very well may care more about open immigration and foreign wars than the leadership, the main problem the two are (so to speak) at war is that the rank-and-file is more conservative and more adamant about it than the leadership, including on the points Ms. Wente seems to think they’re not.

[UCANSEE2]

New Yorker editor David Remnick, who is in a state of shock, blames the people. Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times columnist, says Mr. Trump has “shrewdly manipulated the news media.”

Which is it , the people or the media ? Make up your mind. Are they admitting that Trump is SMARTER than anyone in the news media ?

But it’s not entirely the people’s fault, or the media’s fault. The Republican establishment has been out of touch for years.

So now it's the people, the news media, and the Republican Establishment ?

Unlike their leaders, most Republican voters don’t care all that much about constitutional purity.

The author sure hates and has many misconceptions about the Republican voters.

Many of them are are middle-class or lower.

I thought that the news media said Republicans were the party of the rich.

They don’t want tax cuts for the rich. They want their health care and social security to be protected. They think there’s too much uncontrolled immigration. They’re tired of senseless foreign wars in far-off places where everybody hates the United States anyway.

That's why we don't want a Democrat(socialist) party member to be President.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Ridiculous upside down analysis. I am no Trump fan. But Trump’s liberalism is OVERLOOKED for one issue: immigration. This author is trying to seize the opportunity to twist it into meaning gop voters do not care about social issues, the Constitution, limited government any more. They do. Those that do the most are voting Cruz. The Trump voters largely SAY they do, but that immigration trumps everything. Look at Phyllis Schlafly for an example. Does the author really think she no longer cares about abortion?

The author is also trying to say that the
GOP establishment is too conservative. That is just ludicrous and out of touch. They problem is they campaign as conservatives but govern as liberals, at least same thing as because they cave to the will of the minority party in Congress, saying “can’t win” before even trying.

[WildHighlander57]

That link needs it’s own thread; it’s that important.

[Lopeover]

Democrat/GOPe oligarchy deserve our beloved Trump!

[Lopeover]

And it will be great to have Trump, counter punch them when they say things. They will not get away with it like with Bush. Reagan counter punched with the friendly joke. But a Trump will give them exactly what they deserve and build the wall too!

[Libloather]

..reflects an "ugliness" that appeals to "every worst instinct" in America.

[blueunicorn6]

“The world is looking on in slack-jawed horror.”

That happens every day.

[JPG]

The Vapors; they're everywhere!

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Mr. Trump’s basic policy positions (so far as they’re discernible) are not all that bizarre. The problem is that he’s unfit to govern. The problem is his character, his temperament and his judgment, as well as his authoritarian leanings, his rage, his bullying, his tactics of threats and intimidation, his history as an unsavoury businessman, his appeals to bigotry, his narcissism, his vengefulness, his erratic nature, his vulgarity, his recklessness, his deceit, his utter ignorance of government and of world affairs, and his contempt for the first amendment (the one about free speech).

But apart from that, he's fine, right?

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Unlike their leaders, most Republican voters don’t care all that much about constitutional purity.

HA HA HA! The number of Republican leaders who care about constitutional purity is scandalously small.

[LouD]

False dichotomy. They both suck. And this article, and another thread mentioning the German vice chancellor’s thoughts on Trump, are a pale shadow of what we will see if he becomes the nominee. It will be an assault he cannot withstand. The left and mainstream media want him as the nominee, so that they can tear down what they built up. And they will.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

You can’t pay for enemies like these...