Posted on 07/09/2015 5:45:10 PM PDT by Kaslin
On the left and the right, he's called a buffoon and a blowhard, and occasionally Donald Trump lives up to those descriptions (see his presidential announcement speech). And despite covering him constantly, most in the media insist Trump's candidacy is unserious and his viewpoints are dangerous.
And yet -- and yet -- he is doing well in public opinion polling -- so well that more than one headline has referred to his "momentum." He is leading among Republican primary voters in North Carolina, according to a recent Public Policy poll. A CNN/ORC poll has him trailing only Jeb Bush among Republican voters nationally.
That could simply reflect how visible he's been the last few weeks, but I think there's more going on here.
Trump's rise is a reflection of Americans' utter distaste for politicians and the way they speak, not their identification with most of Trump's views.
After all, everyone has an uncle or a buddy who talks like Trump. "And another thing!" you can hear them saying at Thanksgiving or the neighborhood bar. They don't speak in canned sound bites. They don't focus-group their opinions. They don't quote Edmund Burke. They don't refuse to answer questions that aren't pre-screened. They don't worry who will be offended. And, yes, they exaggerate from time to time.
Donald Trump's announcement speech was, frankly, a conversation you could hear at half the dinner tables in this country. And lest you think straight-talking boasts and cranky complaints about the decline of America are the sole domain of the right, take a listen to Bernie Sanders. Everybody's got an uncle like him, too.
For the past decade, both parties have stalled on immigration reform. It may feel like President Obama's executive actions granting temporary amnesty to millions was a big deal -- and it was -- but it wasn't a big solution. We still have a broken immigration system, and the sad secret is that both sides like it that way. Republicans get to rail against sanctuary cities, and Democrats get to call Republicans racists.
So for average Americans who hear Trump say he'll build a giant wall, even if it isn't a solution they agree with, it's one they can appreciate. It's simple. It's direct. It isn't wrapped in politically correct, insincere promises that no one believes.
Likewise, when Trump says he'll "bomb the hell" out of the oil fields in Iraq to combat the Islamic State, it isn't that average Americans think that's necessarily a good strategy. It's that, after feckless foreign policy created and then failed to contain the rise of this terror group, and a president who won't even call it "Islamic extremism" out of political correctness, Trump's uncomplicated and unreserved response is refreshing.
Now, all that said, do Americans want a president with some polish, discretion and discipline? I think so. We should demand that our commander-in-chief be informed by more than his gut or the fact that he "just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China."
But who knows how deep Trump goes, because few are challenging him to get specific or substantive? Most reporters just find 10 different ways to ask him how much he hates Mexicans. But how would he getMexico to pay for a fence? What would he do with the "dreamers," the undocumented immigrants who were brought here as kids and were raised as Americans? How would he create jobs for Latinos? I don't know if he has good answers to those questions or not. But if someone would ask him, we'd find out pretty quickly whether he was a serious contender or more on a par with your neighborhood barfly.
There's a case to be made that Trump makes the other GOP contenders look good. Voters like straight talk, but they also don't want their leaders to fly them into a mountain. But there's also a lesson here for those hoping to compete in a Trump primary: Drop the politician's polish and talk like humans talk. Dump the focus groups. Ask your uncle instead.
Only if you members and supporters (aka jock straps) force a flaccid GOPe establishment candidate on us! Prepare to loose!!! We held our noses and voted your picks for a few rounds! Now it is YOUR turn!!!!! Only we don’t want you to hold your nose, we want you to grab your balls if you got ‘em!
I’d actually rank Trump’s seriousness above Rand. Paul left the common sense reservation a couple years ago. He’s fine in the Senate, but terrible as candidate. He panders and vacillates constantly to appease. Trump is on offense and he is fearless. I don’t support him and won’t unless he is nominated (which I do not expect). That said, he’s ahead of the gang right now in resonating with the disaffected.
Why don’t you share with us who isn’t a Rhino. Both sides of the aisle are loaded with them, like camelons they change however the climate requires.
But Trump doesn’t care...you get what you see...and that appeals to people no matter how you or anyone wants to label him. After all this is a campaign to run for President.
I think things will of course narrow down the closer we get to the debates etc. but gosh..he’s refreshing and shaking things up...and that’s good.
Trump is no Reagan, but like Reagan he knows how to speak over the heads of the MSM directly to the voters, in a language they understand.
He is campaigning to American citizens. All but he and Cruz seem to be campaigning to illegal aliens. Methinks Americans are sick of being second class citizens to people who aren’t even allowed in the country.
He's what is quaintly known as "a breath of fresh air," even if this only proves just how stale the air has become.
I never really liked the guy, but he keeps on comin', you know. He built that Trump building in Chicago, and honestly the one thing that actually changed my view of him was his success rebuilding the Doral golf course, which everybody loved, as far as I could tell. So, you know, a winner!
This lady does not know anything. Her article is saying that Trump needs to be listened to but does not have a chance because he is not serious. Are you kidding. He has 30 years of accomplishments.
If she had done her homework, she would know that the way he would make the Mexican government pay for the fence is by levying duties on products coming into the US.
She just wants to not offend the pro Trump crowd and the anti Trump crowd so she writes an article pandering to both.
It is not easy to accomplish what Trump has done. That shows a lot of competence. Right now Trump is simply flushing out his enemies and his friends as the first phase of his negotiations for the presidency.
He is leading and taking the body blows and he seems like he is totally in control. Let’s see where he takes it. So far so good.
“Trump’s rise is a reflection of Americans’ utter distaste for politicians and the way they speak, not their identification with most of Trump’s views.”
Right. Pretty much everybody I know wants the border secured, immigration laws enforced and illegal aliens gone.
Good comments from most!
I was thinking that he actually sounds like an AMERICAN! It’s been a very long time since I’ve heard an American speak, publicly, and it’s like music to my ears. Do I agree with everything he’s saying? No, but the fact that he’s willing to speak about what HE thinks, in plain, American, non-pc group speak, is exactly what I want candidates to do!
As a voter, I want to know what the candidate thinks about various topics, and what he thinks should be done about it. What a novel idea, huh?
The man has nads and a spine to go with them. Seems like forever since we’ve seen anything like that.
I also think this man has good leadership qualities. He’d have to, to rise in the economic world as he has. AND, If I’m not mistaken, he’s also been broke...horribly broke, and rose back up.
I’m sure Trump has some financial ideas for the nation, the government, and for business to function as businesses which can help us all, but I’m not convinced he’ll be in a position to succeed in those efforts. He’s simply, not God and right now I think we are in spiritual trouble which has impact upon how things all work together.
But, aside from the spiritual aspects of things, if anybody has the skill to help us economically, I think that person is Trump.
I just hope he has the wisdom to surround himself with excellent advisers.
In any event, he’s a refreshing change from the bland, unpalatable typical politician. And his face has been out there for quite some time. We’ve seen him function. He doesn’t fear the public the way ‘Billery’ does.
Let’s just hope he didn’t use the wrong color toilet paper somewhere in his life because if he has, it’s going to fly at some point. Think Herman Cain.
You are right. My son and my parents all love what Trump is saying and like his attitude. They like what he is doing. I was struck by the similarities in what they say about Trump despite a 50 year difference in age.
LOL.
Mr. Trump’s ability to overcome all filtered media is a grace, of success amongst few, in our culture. He has the unique position of saying the truth, with actual positive consequence, regardless of the sold out politicals- killing US.
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