There seems to be no limit to that ability.
Wishful thinking.
Actually, there's no need for rationalization. You see, nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to agree with any candidate's position on every single issue.
Ted Cruz is a perfect example. I support him, yet I categorically disagreed with him on some issues relating to the recent trade agreement and the associated "fast track" authority thet proponents insisted was necessary.
Eminent domain might very well be one of several issues with which I vehemently disagree with Donald Trump.
That doesn't invalidate my agreement with him on other issues, nor does it imply that he would be a bad President.
Feel free to keep trying to cause turmoil, however. Trump's media detractors and their arch-conservative purist allies don't seem to have much else that is working.
I suspect that the reason for that is because an individual is much more than the sum of his various parts: personality, issue positions, prejudices, and so on.
If I believe a candidate truly loves his country, marches to the beat of his own drum, and will make good on some of his stated pledges, then I'm willing to overlook other areas where I might disagree.
Holding a certain opinion on eminent domain is not some kind of litmus test, last time I checked.
Personally, I think Ted Cruz would make a great President. But for different reasons, I happen to think that Donald Trump would also make a great President. Indeed, I wouldn't mind if they ran together, and I'm not going to get hysterical about which of them would appear at the top of the ticket.
One thing I am sure of, though, is that all the naysayers about Trump are seriously missing what's happening here. Trump is a candidate who can draw voters from many different points on the political spectrum, and that, in and of itself, has the makings of an electoral landslide. And any electoral landslide which obliterates the Democratic nominee will be an unqualified blessing.
I'd love to see some other GOP candidates, such as Cruz, catch fire. But if they don't, it's going to be Trump, and we could certainly do much worse, IMHO. Romney or McCain, for instance.
The "sky is falling" gnashing of teeth from both the lamestream media and hysterical conservative purists is truly entertaining, and I expect it to continue to be.
Go Cruz! But, if it's not him, then I say more power to Trump.
Anti-establishment, anti-uniparty, anti-PC is what is going to carry the day this time around. The silent majority will be heard.
Don't worry, you'll still be welcome even if you jump on the Trump bandwagon at the last minute. And, if it comes to that, you will jump on board.
Anybody but the Democratic nominee, Romney, Bush, or Graham will be acceptable to me. And this is coming from somebody who had Jeb as governor of my state.
Definitely agree with that.
There are still minimum standards of integrity and principles. Otherwise their stated positions can't be trusted and become irrelevant. Trump is in this category - very obviously I believe.
If I believe a candidate truly loves his country…
Trump has sacrificed what is good for his country for what is good for Trump many times in the past. What he truly loves is power, fame, attention, money. This is the one constant in his public life.
I happen to think that Donald Trump would also make a great President.
I disagree for the reasons above.
Trump is a candidate who can draw voters from many different points on the political spectrum, and that, in and of itself, has the makings of an electoral landslide.
He's already peaked. Just as he did last election season. I do definitely consider electability when supporting a candidate; but, Trump fails here also.
Thanks very much for your time in thoughtful reply.
Eminent domain might very well be one of several issues with which I vehemently disagree with Donald Trump.
Anyone who supports Kelo cannot be a constitutional-small government - individual rights conservative. Remember Trump tried to do the same thing: use his own power to manipulate government to trample the rights of an individual.
His statement on Mount McKinley /Denali reinforced it for me. It is a dictator mindset. I'm not saying you support dictatorship, please don't misinterpret my point here; but the signs could not be clearer.
Trump, IMHO, has the attitude that he will use his power for good; but he does not have the grounding in conservative principles that the president should not have that power. As regards constitutional limited-government conservatism, Trump is by far the worst candidate we have.
Thanks again for your post.