Posted on 02/28/2016 6:00:35 AM PST by Kaslin
There he was, stripped bare and standing in the middle of the debate stage. Donald Trump was eviscerated in Thursday's debate. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz took turns pummeling the founder of Trump University with his own words, his own history, and delivering body blow after body blow.
It was more than enough to convince any thinking person he was not a serious candidate for president. But Trump isn't your typical presidential candidate. He's Barack Obama-light, in every sense of the term.
What does Donald Trump stand for? What will he do if elected? What core conservative principle will he advance?
If you're being honest, the answer to each of those questions is you have no idea.
Don't feel bad, neither does he.
That's not entirely true. He was fairly unambiguous about one thing he'd like to do: change the law so he can sue newspapers. When it comes to solutions to the nation's problems, Donald Trump is the equivalent of a constitutional dumpster fire; and that's just fine to his worshipers.
The day after being embarrassed in front of the world, in part because of the lack of specifics he's provided as to what he would do as president, Trump held a press conference to get specific - or at least specific-ish - about this proposal. He said:
"One of the things I'm going to do, and this is going to make it tougher for me...but one of the things I'm going to do if I win...is I'm going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money. We're going to open up those libel laws. So that when the New York Times writes a hit piece, which is a total disgrace, or when the Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because they're totally protected."
By the way, the reason "they're totally protected" right now is the First Amendment, that whole "Congress shall make no law" bit about freedom of the press. But who cares? Right, Trump fans?
It's the same stifling of speech outraging conservatives on college campuses; only it's Trump advancing it. If it's fascism when a student group proposes it, what is it when a billionaire does?
His supporters don't bother with strings of words ending in question marks. Their kryptonite is a simple "How?" or the dreaded "What?"
What does Donald Trump want to do as president? There is no answer yet articulated that wouldn't fit nicely on a bumper sticker. He wants to "make American great again," or "build a wall," or "destroy ISIS," etc., etc. How?
He has no answer. He makes proclamations like a dime store Juan Perón. Only he has no clue how a president must work with Congress to create or change laws. Trump supporters appear content to adopt the Barack Obama model of rule by executive fiat. They don't mind a despot as long as he's their despot.
Trump's "specifics," such as they are, about his signature talking point is a wall that grows by 10 feet each time Mexican officials say they won't pay for it. It's at least 30 feet higher than when it started, but we're no closer to learning how it will be paid for. It just will be...apparently.
Cheerleaders aren't even bothered by the fact that on his signature issue, immigration, he's imported workers rather than hire Americans. His claim of it being "impossible" to find Americans to do his jobs is right out of the liberal playbook of "jobs Americans won't do" for illegal aliens.
His supporters don't give a damn about his hypocrisy any more than Hillary Clinton's, Barack Obama's or Al Gore's do.
They love he's "self-funding" his campaign because he "can't be bought." Do they think that will hold? A general election will cost at least $1 billion. Will Donald Trump mortgage his business on the possibility that, after alienating more than half the GOP, he'll win?
He doesn't have a billion in cash lying around. Since he's hiding his tax returns, most likely because he's not nearly as rich as he claims (he's sued over that before and lost), there's little chance he'd be able to fund a tenth of a general election campaign.
He's gotten this far through free media. Sure, he's spent a few million once he absolutely had to, but the majority of his exposure comes from the cable networks taking every speech of his live, allowing him to phone in whenever he wants and being willing to broadcast any sycophant wannabe Trump staffer representing him unchallenged. Against Hillary Clinton that ends. He will need money, money he doesn't have.
He does have rich friends, and those friends would love to have a friend in the White House. And not because they'd find it "cool" to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom.
When Rubio and Cruz exposed Donald Trump's inability to explain what he'd do, and how, on any issue beyond his memorized bumper stickers, they did the country a great service. Unfortunately, blinded by anger and hatred, his devotees refuse to see their emperor has no clothes, nor clue.
There is no issue on which you can find Donald Trump speaking eloquently, passionately, and with any detail that doesn't involve his poll numbers or his wealth. We have only his word to go on about his wealth, and his word has not always been accurate. That people are willing to believe him, unchallenged, and take offense when others do challenge him, is the mentality that has led to dark places in world history.
Scapegoating is a powerful weapon of manipulation, and Trump deploys it better than anyone in 80+ years. His followers want to "burn it all down," so they're willing to blindly follow a pied piper down a very dangerous path. If they refuse to open their eyes, the dumpster fire they're franticly cheering will burn them down eventually too.
PS: I urge you to watch this video, any part of it, and try to spot a coherent or even complete sentence from Trump. It's the ramblings of a man unhinged and incapable of serious or important discussion of any issue facing the country. It may make you laugh, but does it inspire? Is it remotely presidential?
They are practicing their Alynsky techniques on an imaginary foe. It is all in preparation for der Hildebeast. The problem is, now they are dealing with pretty civil people. It won’t be a hayride later. I am hoping their training helps them write some great letters to the editor. Otherwise, they will be pathetic in their echo chamber.
He won that round, too. Go rewatch it.
As you say, many see things through a different lens, but I can’t think of a single exchange where Trump didn’t parry every thrust.
Remember I said: We are in the age of Reality TV. Trump gets it.
It sucks to be Rubio or Cruz
=== === === ===
That explains (to me) a lot of Trump’s blustering. He totally understands it. Fortunately for us, Hillary does not. The GOP does not. Rubio does not, Cruz does not. Just like Kennedy got the age of “TV” and Reagan got it.
It’s the era we’re in. I don’t like it but it is what it is. Trump gets it.
Rage without a plan is INSANITY!!!!
I believe Trump talks a lot meaner than he really is.
This is not just a guess. This is a result of understanding that he has been a WWE entertainment rassler for years.
Maybe this kind of hyper tough guy schtick is just the thing needed to express a new American resolve to make the process of becoming a liberal doormat, STOP!
Flawed, yes... sloppy, yes... confusing to some who don’t know where he’s coming from, yes...
And, I do not worship Donald. I do believe he’s worth some reverence like many other flawed historical figures. So what if he isn’t pluperfect. The glory ought to be going to God, once America gets back on its feet. And that’s for America to do. Donald can’t do it for America.
“...and his devotees couldn’t care less.”
Eat brains, zombie.
I read a post somewhere that described what has occurred is that the people have realized that they are the “Mark” and that Trump is up for battle because of it.
The post went on to illustrate how a Mark could be in a game of poker with 2-3 others. One to the right - the DNC - wins. Then to the “Mark’s” left - the RNC. The party across the table - one of our enemies - wins. And sometimes the Mark wins. Eventually, the Mark realizes that he has 20% of his money left and that he’s been had by at least one if not all parties.
“”Unfortunately I think this article correctly describes how most of you think.””
And I’d like them to point out anything in the article that isn’t true!
As for incomplete sentences, wouldn’t it be a hoot to listen to him give an inaugural or State of the Union speech? It would take a day with all the repeats....
The Elite believe that us peasants are entitled to THEIR opinion.
Do you think Trump micro-manages the thousands of people that work for him?
Most of us on here have railed against teleprompter speaking.
Apparently, many here prefer that.
Therein lies the problem.
Hayride, no.
Yeehaw, I think yes!
Gonna put a jackstraw saddle on Hellary, the Wicked Witch of the Western World, and ride her unceremoniously out of town. Git out those spurs Donald. Yeehaw!
Perhaps, if thousands of people are screaming the truth to you, you should pull your fingers out of your ears and listen.
...that type of speaking.
Don't need to, bolo.
I've been full up since birth.
I got some extras to spread around, and you appear to be a couple of quarts low. Shall I send them by? LOL! :)
Really? I thought between the Koreas we had a demilitarized zone a couple miles wide, guarded by some of our 28,000 troops and unknown numbers of ROK Marines.
What was your point btw?
He could endorse Cruz or Rubio, that might do it.
Your rejection does not make it untrue.
The Trump bot has no brain
Is Donald Trump as bad as his detractors claim? In no way is this the truth. Like all humans he has made mistakes along the way. As Jesus said let he without sin cast the first stone.
Are all of his supporters stupid knuckle-dragging retards? Only in the minds of those who consider themselves to be the enlightened ones.
Was Trump University a scam? This is still undecided, however, if it were a clear case then why is it taking so long to prove? Here's an interesting tidbit for you to digest. It is obvious that some harbor such hatred towards Donald that they will grasp at everything presented with eagerness, regardless of truthfulness.
Derek Hunter is clueless as are those who hold this up as yet another reason to denigrate Trump supporters.
Trump is the right person at this time. The fact that so many see this reality is unconvincing to you that he is. On top of that that it is beyond your capability to discern why Trump receives so much support because you have allowed yourself to become so biased in the belief that you are so smart and others are so stupid, that your viewpoint is valid and the viewpoints of others are illegitimate.
Time for you Trump haters to do a little self examination. You people border on irrational behavior that by and large have proven to be unfounded lies perpetuated amongst yourselves like a quickly spreading virus that is immune to any vaccine. Neither truth dispelling your innuendos and lies, or even plausible explanations abate the effects of TDS.
But we understand, I sucks to back a loser.
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