Posted on 01/15/2016 11:38:31 AM PST by TBP
Byron York had an interesting piece on Donald Trump that is worth reading. At least anyone who might be interested in the real Donald Trump. Trump appeared in front of the ânon-partisanâ No Labels group who desperately wants candidates that will âcompromiseâ even though it is never clear what compromises will result in.
Donald Trump told this group, "Let me just tell you, the word compromise is not a bad word to me. I like the word compromise. We need compromise, there is nothing wrong with compromise, but it's always good to compromise and win. Meaning, let's compromise and win." Can you imagine the reaction of Trumpâs supporters if a Marco Rubio actually met with this group and said this? The cries of RINO would arise and say that Rubio is nothing but a tool of the Establishment.
York's thesis is that Trump is prone to saying outrageous things or beginning with outrageous positions so he can get what he wants. This is Trump the deal maker who understands you wonât get all that you want so you start with many positions that you know you can throw away to get what you want in negotiations.
As American Enterprise Institute Marc Thiessen noted, a portion of Trumpâs plan on immigration is actually an idea that came from Texas Moderate Senator Kay Baily Hutchison, who proposed Trump's âtouchbackâ in which you deport millions of immigrants to let them back in. You can decide whether this is a practical plan, but make no mistake, under Trumpâs reform, the vast majority of illegal today will still be here after his reforms. This means that the results will be no different than a President Rubio or a President Bush. If you donât believe me, listen to Trumpâs own words when he told CNN's Dana Bash, âI would get people out and then have an expedited way of getting them back into the country so they can be legalâ¦. A lot of these people are helping us ⦠and sometimes itâs jobs a citizen of the United States doesnât want to do. I want to move âem out, and weâre going to move âem back in and let them be legal.â
I have already made the case that Trumpâs plan is laying the basis for Republican compromise on immigration, and I am not the only one as National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru has made the same observations. Nor is that the only area that Trump will compromise on. As I have mentioned in past posts, moderate and liberal Democrats and conservatives have all agreed that any tax reforms will include lower marginal rates and fewer deductions since 2009. Even the President's own commission under moderate Republican Alan Simpson and liberal Democrat Erskine Bowles agreed with this consensus and Trump's own tax plans follow along those same lines. Trump's tax plans also have been sold as a boon for the Middle Class, using language similar to what Marco Rubio has said about his plan. (There are differences in details but Trumpâs tax plans are part of what the real consensus truly is.)
Trump has set the stage for his own version of the big compromise on both taxes and spending if elected, and his foreign policy is closer to the left than the right as he has supported the leftist position that much of the Middle East's problems are Bushâs fault and not Obama's handling of foreign policies, even though he has criticized Obama's deal making skills. In attacking Obamaâs deal making skills, he has not really attacked the basis of Obamaâs foreign policies. In the case of the Iranian deal, he has made it clear that he would not ditch the deal but simply ârenegotiateâ the deal. And his protectionist trade views are in line not just with the populist right but also the hard left.
The reality for Republican voters is that Trump is the most centrist candidate we have running, if you chose to read what he actually says as opposed to the image he projects. My own view of Trump is that of a business man who loves to make money; he has an instinct for conservative ideas but he is not the conservative that Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio is. Trump doesnât keep a copy of F.A. Hayek in his back pocket, and over the past decade, he has taken positions that are to the left of the GOP and other times, he sounds like the hard core right wing. If you look at Trumpâs supporters, they are more politically moderate than Rubioâs or Cruz's supports, and they are more blue-collar. They are not traditionally conservative but he is building a broader center-right coalition, leaving the question of will that be enough? And a Trump Presidency will be a centrist administration with something for everyone, but will it be a conservative administration? That is a question that one canât fully answer.
Just like every other spoken word Cruz says ...it's all about mis-directing it to say something they can use to manipulate the emotions of the masses.....and then the media runs with the story for ratings...never for the truth.
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Trump is an establishment Democrat.
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Way to Go!
Attack the messenger.
Some of us have seen this from the beginning. But others would rather attack an excellent constitutional conservative candidate because of misguided theories about his birth.
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He’s the Bullshitter that is stomping the hope for a conservative victory into the ground.
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You must have been at the rally where Trump turned the water in the swimming pool into wine...
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>> “Did Trump make his money solely by trading stocks?” <<
He made money by swindling retirement investors that put their money into his REITs before he redirected the cash and allowed the REITs to go bankrupt.
Thanks for the new info. I just read also how he swindled 40 million out of his “Trump University” deal. In addition there was some housing deals in Mexico he yanked out from investors.
Wonder if he ever dealt some three card monte?
Cruz was my first choice all along, but I liked some of what Trump said such as... real negotiators as apposed to Caroline Kennedy, things along those lines.
I was able to take him until he trashed Ted Cruz. Am wondering when Sarah Palin will come to Cruz defense. I understand that Sarah is in a tough spot but Cruz has been a genuine friend, Trump would have to be filed under fair weather friend.
If you did not see it I cant help you
I agree with you; I’d like to see her speak out, too.
It was always going to be illuminating, seeing the first clash between Cruz and Trump. I expected that the vast differences in character between the two men would be revealed, and thrown into stark contrast. I think that happened last night, don’t you?
Ah, I see.
Just throw out accusations without proof, got it.
FYI, if any FReeper was here tossing out that kind of BS I would be spanking them my self.
Thank you for revealing your purpose here.
Ooooh, a n00b love fest, get a room.
I’m curious as to why so many of Trumps detractors feel the need to tell everyone that Trump is no conservative? When has he ever claimed to be one? His political stands are more nationalist than anything else.
This election is not about Trump. It is about putting our self appointed “ruling class” in their place. The electorate is angry enough to take a hammer to the establishment and Trump happens to be the biggest hammer available.
On the plus side, his biggest concerns also concern conservatives.
Ron, you and I have always gotten along fine...I’m pretty sure I haven’t been openly rude to you.
But I give what I get, so take your Trump worship and shove it. You should have picked a better candidate.
And people here are now treating that constitutional conservative as if he’s the worst person on earth.
I have two candidates (Cruz, Trump) in this race and one enemy, Hillary.
Unlike you, I do not spend my time deriding one to prop up the other.
If your looking for candidate worship, I suggest you try the mirror.
It’s not necessary to deride a progressive buffoon in order to prop up a conservative.
The former is already low as can be, while the latter is above him.
Put them side by side, and the contrast is spotlighted. It’s too bad that some on our side still can’t even see the difference.
Whatever. You have a nice night.
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