"Don't look now, but while our best conservative is running a political campaign, Trump is leading a rebellion. Not as a liberal or a conservative politician, but as a successful red-blooded, can-do American capitalist.", Jim Robinson
Posted on 02/16/2016 4:59:00 PM PST by conservativejoy
It's easy to underestimate Donald Trump. The other Republican candidates in the race continue to do so, writing him off as a clown, a charlatan, a fool. Today, David French of National Review writes him off as a conventional Democrat:
Trump doesn't threaten the Republican establishment because he's too conservative or too populist. He threatens the Republican establishment because he belongs in the other party.
There's truth to this - there's a reason that Code Pink essentially endorsed Trump over the weekend, after Trump veered into Iraq trutherism and blamed George W. Bush for 9/11. And Trump, as I've written before, resembles Bernie Sanders on policy far more than he resembles Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), the most conservative person in the field.
But there's more to the Trump challenge than merely Republicans embracing Democratic ideas. There's the appeal of the strong man.
Worship of the strong man has never been foreign to Democrats. As the American branch of the international left, the Democratic Party has always worshipped at the altar of the strong man. Woodrow Wilson said in 1906, "The president is at liberty both in law and conscience to be as big a man as he can. His capacity will set the limit." Wilson said that if the president could garner the support of the public, "no single force can withstand him, no combination of forces will easily overpower him." In 1911, Wilson stated, "The whole country, since it cannot decipher the methods of its legislation, is clamoring for leadership; and a new role, which, to many persons, seems little less than unconstitutional, is thrust upon our executives."
From FDR to LBJ to Barack Obama, the Democratic legacy has wavered little from this vision of government.
But the strong man has always made conservatives uncomfortable, just as it made the founders uncomfortable enough to rebel against a King. The Federalist Papers repeatedly explain that the presidency is not an unchecked monarchy; the anti-federalists argued that even the specific delegated powers of the Constitution gave too much control to the executive branch. The Republican Party represented an extension of that idea: discomfort with a strong man with unbridled power to "get things done."
Trump, by contrast, recognizes no limits to presidential power. It’s not merely that Trump mirrors Democratic views of the world - he represents Democrats' caudillo-like view of executive power. When Trump speaks, he routinely talks about singlehandedly imposing his view of the world from the Oval Office. He talks about "winning" for particular constituencies. He will "get things done." He won't be all talk. He'll use the power of the government for you.
In 2010, Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez - a man universally reviled by his enemies as a clown and a boor - campaigned again on the basis of his unique brand of power. "I demand absolute loyalty to my leadership…anything else is betrayal," said the socialist. “I am not an individual, I am the people. It's my duty to demand respect for the people." He added, "If you cherish the fatherland, join Chavez." Chavez never had to use violence in outsized measures to consolidate his rule - his populist shtick worked just fine.
It has worked fine for Barack Obama. It's working fine for Bernie Sanders. And it's working well for Donald Trump, too. Before writing Trump off as "just another Democrat," we should recognize that his policies aren't the worst aspect of his Democrat-lite routine. It's his embrace of Democratic notions of the role of the executive and the role of government. Should Republicans choose Trump, they'll be buying into the Democratic century-long project of subverting Constitutional checks and balances in favor of a Wilsonian "big man." The last thing America needs is two parties stumping for alternative "big men."
So. Them them out and vote for another one who flies his own banner. And when you find out he lied to you also, remember I told you so.
This is a fantastic article. Ben Shapiro continues to show his absolute brilliance as a young conservative leader. We should thank God we have up-and-coming conservatives of this intellectual caliber on our side. If only people would listen to the irrefutable truth and undeniable logic of Ben’s arguments, we could save our country from falling off the precipice of a Trump and/or Democrat presidency.
It is hard to imagine Bernie as the "big man." But that said, it is as though the Democrats, having achieved their revolution of the revolting for 60 years, with some setbacks - and George Bush and the NeoCons was no setback for them, now want to consolidate their gains by returning to a constitutional republic with a "limited" presidency.
While the story of the "Retreat from American Empire" is yet to be written, we are far from even actualizing it, and the "retreat" itself requires strong men to assure we retire in good order. As Major General Oliver Smith famously stated, "Retreat, Hell, we are attacking in a different direction."
Attacking back to balanced budgets, national borders and government concerned, first, foremost, and principally about the welfare of its citizens is a new direction. It cannot be achieved by weak presidents.
Trump believes he can deport people without due process. Not being bound by the law should make it easier. He’s Trump. Whatever he believes should BE law. /s
Cruz has engaged in ZERO, ZILCH, NADA cronyism.
Yes, that was a real conservative time for our country wasn’t it? Great for the Constitution. Spent trillions, killed and maimed thousands of our youth and set up a huge government apparatus to monitor us, yet people from all over the world can traipse across our porous borders and take refuge in any number of Sanctuary cities, get welfare benefits, drivers license and hell free tuition at colleges. What’s wrong with this picture?
Non-Citizens who are illegally here don’t have protections under the Constitution.
Trump is Nimrod (The mighty one). Nimrod built a tower; no not Trump Towers, the Tower at Babel. He was made king based on his greatness and promise of security. But the kingdom he built turned into tyranny. This scenario repeats throughout history and ends with the eventual breakup of the kingdom. Here we go again.
It’s not desperation, it’s wisdom.
You folks are like those who when given a choice to free one of two men, shouted “Barabbus!”
After all, he was the “fighter.”
"Don't look now, but while our best conservative is running a political campaign, Trump is leading a rebellion. Not as a liberal or a conservative politician, but as a successful red-blooded, can-do American capitalist.", Jim Robinson
Trump is at least as much of a Democrat as Bill Clinton, but often goes further into Michael Moore and Bernie Sanders territory. The fact that this forum isn’t as skeptical of him as they were of Giuliani and Romney is scary in and of itself. It means he’s got a lot more buyers for his snake oil than they did.
Shapiro’s Twitter feed is probably the best political feed on Twitter. Tons of brilliant insight and jocular wit.
https://twitter.com/benshapiro?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author
Ben Shapiro Verified account
â€@benshapiro
The Constitution says “advise and consent.” Shouldn’t Democrats know by now that when it comes to consent, no means no?
The GOPe is getting its ass fed to its face and doesn’t like it.
Whatever.
Theo, what is an ilpainter?
They courts have ruled that they do.
Here’s a better article relating to what rights illegals have,
But immigration proceedings are matters of administrative law, not criminal law. (As a result, the consequence of violating your immigration status is not jail but deportation.) And Congress has nearly full authority to regulate immigration without interference from the courts. Because immigration is considered a matter of national security and foreign policy, the Supreme Court has long held that immigration law is largely immune from judicial review. Congress can make rules for immigrants that would be unacceptable if applied to citizens.
Ben is brilliant. His is weak. We need a strong man to stand up to political correctness, the Clinton nightmare, the immigration problem and the media garbage.
Mr. Medved on the radio today 2/16/16 said that Trump does not represent Americans, Trump does not represent Republicans, Rubio needs to win South Carolina, Kasich needs to win Ohio, and Jeb has plenty of supporters.
He really wants Rubio to win and for a Republican president to repeal Obamacare.
I admire how Trump is doing in the polls.
That is the single most important issue in this campaign and will decide the fate of this nation.
Not taxes. Not 2d Amendment. Not abortion. Not Hillary's emails.
If we don't stop the uncontrolled flood of illegals, we'll never win a national election again. We'll be Venezuela.
All the intellectual debates about the theory of taxation, the heady discussions about the Constitution, and so on, will become moot.
The Cruzers don't get it. Every other issue hangs on immigration.
EVERY. OTHER. ISSUE.
The litmus test for "Conservative" means nothing if Conservatives are relegated to the dustbin of history with tens of millions of foreigners voting Democrat.
Immigration.
Immigration.
Immigration.
Again........................IMMIGRATION.......................
It also says most are entitled to a hearing, legal representation, and an interpreter. Trump didn’t seem to understand that in the interview I saw of him talking about deportation.
Deporting illegals can be done, without the army. All it takes is to enforce immigration laws on the books, along with laws concerning Social Services. No job, no assistance, no place to live, no social services help and most will leave. The criminal element can be dealt with as they are encountered.
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