Posted on 12/28/2015 2:25:51 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Outraged by what Donald Trump says? You are not alone. No high-polling presidential candidate in the modern era has so intrepidly drawn the ire of so many within the American electorate. And there remains no end in sight.
Yet in rendering one voting bloc utterly apoplectic, he has appealed viscerally to another. The balance of middle ground politics is not, shall we say, Mr Trump’s bailiwick. But America is no longer a middle ground country. We are already scared by our division — and it is getting worse.
The simple truth is, the more provocative his language, the deeper and more passionate his support. He is no dummy; there is a method to his proverbial madness. Mr Trump says — to the growing legions who will listen — what tens of millions of Americans are already thinking. Respect or revile him, the man has hit a vein.
I spent three hours in a deep dialogue focus group with 29 Trump supporters. The phenomenon of “The Donald†is rooted in a psyche far deeper and more consequential than next November’s presidential election. His support denotes an abiding distrust in — and disrespect for — the governing elite. These individuals do not like being told by Washington or Wall Street what is best for them, do not like the direction America is headed in, and disdain President Barack Obama and his (perceived) circle of self-righteous, tone-deaf governing partisans.
Trump voters are not just angry — they want revenge.
Mr Trump has adroitly filled the vacuum of vitriol, establishing himself as the bold, brash, take-no-prisoners megaphone for the frustrated masses. They see him as the antidote to all that Mr Obama has made wrong with America. So to understand why millions love Mr Trump so much, you have to take a step back and listen to why they hate Mr Obama so much.
Here, my Trump voter focus group was particularly illuminating. Some still believe the president is not Christian. Many believe he does not love America. And just about all of them think he does not reflect the values the country was built upon. Indeed, within this growing faction, Mr Trump has licence to say just about anything. As we have seen repeatedly, the more outrageous the accusation, the more receptive the ear.
Mr Trump delights in unleashing harsh attacks on Jeb Bush, the Republican establishment and the “mainstream mediaâ€. His childlike joy in ridiculing his critics is tantamount to healing balm for the millions who have felt silenced, ignored and even scorned by the governing and media elite for so long. Is it any wonder that his declaration of war against “political correctness†is his most potent and predictable applause line?
Straight-talking candidates are nothing new in American politics. From Ross Perot in 1992 to John McCain in 2000, from Howard Dean in 2004 to Sarah Palin in 2008, they rise like a rocket on the fuel of their seemingly fresh and unencumbered aversion to traditional politics. They purport to say what they mean and mean what they say — bucking established electoral trends and ruffling established political feathers. Then they crash. The media turn sour. The message grows stale. The electorate gets bored.
Mr Trump is different. The media attacks on him have been fast and furious. Yet he has defied electoral gravity because the blows are delivered by an institution that is distrusted and an elite political and business establishment that is detested.
Meanwhile, voters consistently tell pollsters like me that negative attacks do not work; they hate the ad hominem assaults. Mr Trump? He dines out on them. As his devotees see it, it is not Mr Trump going negative. It is him telling the truth. And when he fights back, he’s throwing punches on their behalf. He said something outrageous? “He’s simply raising an important issue nobody else has the courage to talk about.†He insulted someone? “That’s just him campaigning. He won’t do that as president.†He changed his position? “That was a long time ago. Everyone’s entitled to change their mind.†He doesn’t have many policy specifics? “He doesn’t need them. He’ll surround himself with smart people.†They will justify any action, explain away any contradiction, and dismiss any criticism because they are so personally and passionately invested in him.
And here is the prediction that will furrow brows on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr Trump’s supporters today will be Mr Trump’s supporters next November if he is still a candidate — no matter what party banner he runs under. Half will follow him out of the Republican Party if he breaks his promise and declares as an independent. For better or worse, his supporters will follow him to the ends of the Earth — or to the White House. Whichever comes first.
Come on, Diana. Don’t soft soap it. Tell us how you really feal.
As we have seen repeatedly, the more outrageous the accusation, the more receptive the ear.
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I’ve yet to hear Trump say anything even remotely “outrageous”.
It sounds like frank is the one in it for revenge.
Pitch forks are for woosies. Blow-torch and pliers is what they should face.
Trump is my pitchfork and Cruz is my torch. They’re going to dc and hells going with them.
And we have plenty of lampposts.
And plenty of volunteers for the all-night machine guns at RFK stadium.
“How can anyone respect a wealthy man who can’t buy a decent toupee or learn to go bald??”
Funny, but totally meaningless. I think its good because it means he doesn’t care if you like his hair. But congratulations, you just single-handedly invalidated the 19th amendment.
Trump is tearing though the tissue that is pc.
Unfortunately, I think he’s the only one to be able to do this because he’s so insulated by his money and his loving family. No one else has the courage because they have too much to lose.
It’s that fearlessness that is why I am supporting him.
Has the 19th Amendment totally invalidated the meaning of fake hair? I didn’t know that.
Damn right the people in this administration who broke laws, shredded the Constitution, and stole from the taxpayers should be held accountable by a non corrupt attorney general.
I would say "Don't Worry, they said the same thing about us when Obama was elected, how crazy white people would kill any black president, blah blah blah, and look, 7 years later he's still alive because we are actually not like that..."
But then I remember that most assassinations come from the Left. So yes, it's a valid fear.
Who in their right mind believes he IS ?
They all need a personal and practical introduction to Existential Cage Theory.
I haven’t enthusiastically voted for a Presidential candidate since Reagan.
I held my nose and voted for George HW “I’m not a wimp” Bush.
I held my nose and voted for Bob “Viagra” Dole.
I held my nose and voted for George W “Compassionate conservative” Bush.
I held my nose and voted for John “Straight talk” McCain.
I held my nose and voted for Willard “Severe conservative” Romney.
If Trump or Cruz doesn’t get the nomination, I will write in one of them in place of the establishment toadie.
I’d cheerfully see them all before a military tribunal followed by a summary execution by firing squad or by gallows. If the former, citizens should be able to participate in a lottery for firing positions. If the latter, I want the cigar and single malt concessions.
Any good revenge recipes should be posted here.
And,dang it, I want to see Obama’s real birth certificate, his real social security card if he has one, his real draft registration, his academic records, and any other relevant documentation regarding his citizenship. And if these records reveal that he is not a citizen of this country (let alone a natural born citizen) I want every person from Nancy Pelosi, every judge, and anybody else, right down to the electoral college prosecuted for treason!
revenge...
hmm
interesting
HEADS ON PIKES ,
dang
need more PIKES!
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