Posted on 05/02/2011 3:35:48 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Now that Donald Trump appears on the verge of launching a presidential campaign, it is worth reflecting on the meaning of this low moment in American political history. Trump is a clown and a buffoon, and the odds of him winning even one Republican caucus or primary appear slim. But there is no denying that Trump has managed to tap into something genuinely worrisome in American politics. Democrats may be tempted to take pleasure in the fact that Trump will likely push the GOP presidential field to the right, and thereby help Obama in 2012. But this would be sheer myopia, and any delight over Trump’s arrival on the political scene is entirely misplaced. The Trump ascendancy calls not for glee, but for serious concern about the state of our country. It’s true that the media erred in awarding Trump such a large spotlight—did all the cable news networks really have to cover his press conference on Wednesday?—but, at this point, the Trump phenomenon does not seem to be a mere media creation. His popularity (he currently leads in several polls) can no longer be denied. So what is Trump’s appeal? Why do his message and vulgar personality resonate with such a significant percentage of Americans? Trump’s embrace of birtherism has been the most widely discussed aspect of his rise. But this only scratches the surface of the Trump phenomenon.
What Trump actually stands for is an exaggerated sense of victimhood. This is the theme that unites his personal style with the political views he has thus far expressed. Are you tired of being pushed around? Are you tired of our country being pushed around? Trump’s political acuity lies in his ability to take these grievances and turn them into politics. His foreign policy views in essence consist of a pledge to bully other nations. China is “decimating our country.” OPEC is imperiling the economy. And ungrateful Libyans and Iraqis are trying to build a society from oil that is rightfully ours. (“We won the war. We take over the oil fields. We use the oil.”) When Bill O’Reilly, in an interview with Trump, seemed taken aback by the idea that we could simply force OPEC or China to do our bidding, Trump appeared surprised that anyone could view international relations as anything more than a contest of machismo. “The messenger is the key,” Trump told O’Reilly. “If you have the right messenger and they know how to deliver the message … you’re going to scare them, absolutely.”
Trump’s thinly veiled accusation that President Obama benefited from affirmative action when he applied to college derives from the same theme. This time the victims aren’t Americans as a whole, they are white Americans; but the message—of anger, resentment, and victimhood—is identical.
America is currently engaged in three wars. The country faces major economic challenges. Global warming is continuing apace. There is no chance any of these issues can be solved by yelling at foreign countries, or stirring up anger at Iraqis or Libyans or minority applicants to elite colleges. Donald Trump has appointed himself spokesman for some of the nastiest impulses in American politics, and he seems to have a following. The sooner the Republican mainstream rejects him, the better. And we liberals should be cheering them along as they do.
The only thing thinly veiled is this is what has the author in such a froth.
Liberals, you supported the current president and vice-president. Donald Trump is in fact a buffoon, but you are about the last folks with any right to gloat about it.
OBAMA IS the catastrophe for America
And you think that its a bad thing that the far left media is in a complete melt down NOW ?????
“Trump’s thinly veiled accusation that President Obama benefited from affirmative action when he applied to college derives from the same theme.”
Uhm... Dumb0 DID benefit from affirmative action at Harvard as he himself admitted (in a NYSlimes article no less).
So taking Dumb0 at his word is now considered “racist”.
As the boardroom argument on primary poll leader Trump's reality TV show between a celebrity from "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and a former talk show host from "The View" was being interrupted so that President Obama could announce that he just returned from the White House Situation Room where they monitored Seal Team 6 putting 2 clips from a Sig Sauer into the head of Osama bin Laden, the most notorious terrorist in world history, I had a sinking feeling that it was going to take a lot of work to make the American electorate take the Republican party seriously again.
This is a 'in the moment' feeling that will pass, but I really don't buy the line that the price of milk or gas is going to magically erase the anticipated bump and moxy boost that Barack Obama is going to get from this.
It's very possible that the economy will do Obama in, but this isn't 1980. Obama is starting out with California and New York in his back pocket, and I'm not optimistic about knocking off any opponent who will be able to rack up the big states (which he WILL do; do not delude yourself) even with double digit unemployment, $5.00 gas, and trillions in debt.
“Global warming is continuing apace.”
Quite a cliche..
I quit reading at that point.
Why does the Left feel compelled to advise us who would be our best candidate? I guess they are trying to make the race competitive and not give Obama such an easy win. They pushed John McCain and look how well he did. McCain was a civil loser who refused to make any personal attacks while the Dem propaganda machine tore him to pieces.
The MSM and the Establishment (Dem and Rep) are trying to destroy Trump at all costs. They don't want him to enter the race because they lose control of what can and will be discussed. Trump may bring up issues that they don't want aired.
Trump is leading or up at the top of recent polls against the current crop of wannabees.
The Dems rely on identity politics and victimhood to win elections. I guess they don’t like anyone else using their playbook.
Unlike in 2008.
The GOP NOW controls the following swing states
Florida - just set up tough new voting laws and chopped t pieces the early voting scam.
PA
Ohio
Wisc
New Mexico
No more Acorn Seiu or earlier voting scams
This is the real game changer !
whatever you think about Trump...he’s made Obama toe the line-something no one else ever has.
Trump appeals to the same people (left, right and center) who were attracted to Ross Perot, Pat Buchanan, John Anderson, and numerous other third choices in presidential elections. People disaffected by Republicans and Democrats always either look to a third alternative, or to a D/R they believe will shake up the system. Problem is, most third alternatives are not truly of presidential character. They are either fringe wackos, or in it for their own selfish reasons. Occasionally, as I believe was the case with Perot, they are ringers. They are stalking horses actually trying to help elect the person they are running against by splitting the opposition.
Have you forgotten former Vice President Richard Cheney and former Governor Sarah Palin?
“Trump will likely push the GOP presidential field to the right, and thereby help Obama in 2012. “
What, and What?
The MSM is pretending very hard that Trump is a conservative. No, it’s not the tea party that’s killing off RINOs, and insisting on a Conservative, no, it’s the “Conservative” Trump who is influencing RINOs. What next will the “Conservative” Trump pronounce? Support of Gay Marriage? After all it was GOProud who brought Trump to CPAC when any reasonable person would think Trumps statements point to a liberal.
Do we have a Conservative Businessman who can run as a Liberal Democrat? Herman Cain could’ve done something like that. But he’s well known now. Just be good at attacking Republicans, when you’re announcing you’re actually a Democrat. And once you’re “More Liberal” because you’re more nasty to Republicans, you can reveal that “More Liberal” means Limited Constitutional Government. Just combine kooky Dem talking points with Conservative policy.
I like trump
I like trump
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