Posted on 08/29/2015 10:42:54 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Is Donald Trump truly one of a kinda sui generis sensation in U.S. politics? As Americans try to make sense of the businessman-turned-Republican presidential frontrunner and how hes come to dominate the polls and the airwaves in the 2016 cycle, Politico Magazine decided to consult the archives: Is there a historical figure the Donald resemblesa model who can help explain his rise? We asked some of the smartest historians we know to name the closest antecedent to Trump from the annals of American history. Some maintained that he is a unique product of the era of reality TV, social media and the 1 percent. But others saw similarities to politicians, personalities and tycoons past, from Italys former bunga-bunga prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to the last billionaire to disrupt presidential politics, Ross Perot, to segregationist populists like George Wallace. If history repeats itself, consider this a preview of where Trumps candidacy could go from here...
George Wallace
Garry Wills, professor of history emeritus at Northwestern University, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and contributor to the New York Review of Books
Donald Trump has elements of different demagogues from the past. But I am reminded, again and again, of the times when I followed George Wallace around both before and after he was shot during the 1972 presidential race. His campaign slogan was Send them a message. The them was capacious. Demagogues are all voices for the aggrieved. Some of these are just resenters, but others are denouncers. Wallace, like Trump, loved a fight and went on the attack with insults. (Wallace mocked the pointy-heads who did not even know how to park their bicycles on campus.) When I asked Joe Azbell, who invented the slogan, what it meant, he told me, People are fed up with government and want to be left alone.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
My closest analogy is John Hancock. Richest man in the colonies and of a suspect background. Revolution would not have happened without his financial support of Sam Adams. He saw himself as the ulimate leader, was a bragadocio, and self described as “very smart” as frequently as anyone would listen. He jockeyed to be commander of Continental Army.
Sam backstabbed him and nominated George, the traitorous loser from VA....and we all know how that turned out.
The Donald could be either John or George in the next American revolution.....or neither.
> “Politico Magazine decided to consult the archives:”
Found above in first paragraph. Normal reaction is READ NO FURTHER. Actually looking at the source will usually bring that reaction.
Ok, I forced myself to read past the first paragraph, why? Because if I see Politico pulling for Trump, then I am worried. But the probability of that happening is ZERO, why? Because Politico is an organ for liberals in government, why? Because their monthly revenues are derived from massive subscriptions to government offices. Supporting magazines or internet rags has not been observed in past administrations and should/may be illegal. In other words Politico is a paid surrogate of Obama and the democrat party.
So I forced myself to read past the first paragraph and sure enough ...:
> “Donald Trump has elements of different ***demagogues*** from the past.”
Trump is a demagogue...yep so says Politico, got it.
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