What Trump knows that you don't

The Washington Examiner ^ | August 27, 2015 | W. James Antle III

[2ndDivisionVet]

When pundits call Donald Trump a "know-nothing," they are not just using a historical if pejorative term to describe his immigration stance. They really mean that he appears to know nothing about public policy or governance.

On the charitable assumption that his blustery, content-free stump speech isn't an act, you'll get no argument here. But Trump does seem to know a lot more about politics than many of his detractors, including those critics who are well versed in the finer details of entitlement reform or international trade policy.

Trump's success in the polls has been particularly frustrating for wonky conservatives. How can so many people buy into the business expertise of someone who so often gives technically wrong answers to economic questions?

Worse, why do so many conservatives seem enamored with a candidate who has taken unconservative positions on issues like taxes, abortion, healthcare reform and entitlements — that is, most of the conservative domestic agenda — and in some cases hasn't even bothered to move to the right on them?

Pat Buchanan gave us a hint in his 1992 Republican National Convention speech, when he spoke of "conservatives of the heart" whose political convictions were more visceral than intellectual. "They don't read Adam Smith or Edmund Burke, but they came from the same schoolyards and playgrounds and towns as we did," he told the delegates.

Many Americans, even those engaged enough to identify as liberal or conservative much less Republican or Democrat, aren't systematic political thinkers. They vote for candidates based on who they like or trust. They cast their ballots on the basis of real and perceived self-interest. To the extent that they approach politics in a more ideological or partisan way, it is often through a nexus of loyalties and identity as much as a specific preference for how high the capital gains tax should be.

A lot of conservatism is based on an inchoate sense that something important about the America of old is being lost. Maybe it's because the government is getting too big, or social values are changing, or the demographics are different, or even a feeling that the country's foreign enemies are ascendant. But conservatives haven't always thought it was morning in America.

Mainstream Republicans have capitalized on these sentiments many times. Party leaders from George W. Bush to Sarah Palin have rallied attitudinal red staters. Trump has just taken this identity appeal to the next level.

But in terms of policy, it isn't just that some conservatives haven't read Hayek. They fundamentally disagree with him. At the grassroots level, the American right has always had strong strains of nationalism and moralism. That's not an inherently bad thing, but the modern conservative movement has generally tried to wed these tendencies to a more limited or even libertarian view of government.

Nationalism and moralism can easily be expressed through strong, activist government as well. The platforms of right-wing parties in Europe and the rest of the world are frequently anything but libertarian, even in the loose sense that Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan were.

Trump also understands that many voters across the ideological spectrum aren't looking for a detailed political platform or five-point policy plan as much they want leadership. They want their government, and the people who lead it, to fix things and get things done. They want someone who will fight for them.

All of this annoys conservative intellectuals, who patiently point out to Trump voters that they shouldn't want leadership from someone who supports single payer, or conservative activists, who with increasing impatience try to explain that the right can't be led by a Hillary Clinton/Harry Reid donor.

But certifiably mainstream conservatives, from Andrew Breitbart to Ted Cruz, have employed the fighting terminology long before Trump, with varying degrees of specificity. You knew whom they were fighting — the Left, big government, the establishment, Washington — but they didn't always have the same answer about the ultimate purpose.

Before Reagan, Richard Nixon won two terms in the White House successfully pairing populist, culturally conservative Silent Majority rhetoric with frequently quite liberal policies.

The Donald knows that for many people politics is a team sport. The fans who cheered Brett Favre in Green Bay booed him in Minnesota and vice versa. Trump is trying out for the GOP team and has the marketing experience to sell it. While his pitch may seem crude, with the thrice-married braggart invoking the "great Billy Graham" and calling the Bible his favorite book, but is it that much cruder than the fundraising appeals conservative and Tea Party groups send out daily?

In retrospect, Trump's 2013 appearance at Graham's 95th birthday celebration in North Carolina might have been the biggest tip-off that he was serious about running for president.

When Trump came on professional wrestling broadcasts and trash-talked Vince McMahon, the crowd loved it. He is simply applying the same approach to Jorge Ramos, Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton. The crowd still loves it.

Finally, as somebody whose success comes as much from his fame as his real estate fortune, Trump gets the celebrity culture. Americans are obsessed with it and reality TV has blurred the lines between entertainment and, well, reality.

The citizenry's desire to keep up with the Kardashians and its anger at the political class has proved a potent combination. Many Americans think the people running their government are jokes, self-promoting blowhards with bad, expensive haircuts engaged in pointless political theater.

Why not have a candidate who will:

A.) Pick up issues with significant political appeal that the establishment in both parties won't touch

B.) Treat the system like the joke that it is and

C.) Lampoon the bad-haired self-promoters just by existing?

Trump may be a blowhard, the reasoning goes, but at least he's our blowhard.

This act is probably less sustainable than the entitlements Trump doesn't want to reform, but for a limited time it can be just as popular with its intended audience. The know-nothing may know a thing or two after all.

[maine-iac7]

BINGO

[JennysCool]

Err ... Um ... Really? You like the ‘businessmen” running it now?

[smoothsailing]

what kind of businessman running the country do you want?

[maine-iac7]

AMEN

[JennysCool]

As I said before, hosepipe, Cruz will be at hand for the Constitutional issues.

And do you REALLY think Donald “You’re Fired!” Trump would have a hard time reducing the size of government? Really?

So many here are like the old-line GOP-E who did everything they could to make sure that “troublemaker” Reagan wasn’t elected.

[maine-iac7]

I'll just refer you two to hosepipe's post no 40.

We need a lot more than just a business man now - a LOT more.

We need someone who will bring the Constitution back - get the gov't off our backs.

WE the PEOPLE can take care of the Business end...The duties of the gov't are very limited, Constitutionally - and those duties are being ignored...

[JennysCool]

Trump and Cruz — whose Constitutional credentials are impeccable — appear to have an alliance of sorts.

Trump has said many times he, like Reagan, would surround himself with the best people and let them get to work.

What are you afraid of?

[hosepipe]

constitution left the barn. Obamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh proves it. get over it. it’s gone. no one under thirty even knows there is a constitution. old racist white guys made it up.

---

I see so you do not know what the problem IS...

The RIGHT President can FIX THAT.. quickly.. efficiently..
Trump is not THAT MAN..
In weeks(maybe days) he could put Washington D.C. into a turmoil..
How to do FIX things there.. FIRE the wrong guys and hire the right guys.. any idiot knows that.. even Trump.
Hire guys to oversee the DEMISE of that(some) agencys..
Not all agencys just certain ones.. in an orderly manner..

Making BLOATED Rogue government more efficient fixes NOTHING..

REVAMPING Washington D.C. might... from A street to Z Street.. Cruz is that man.. Trump will only make it worse..

Trump’s all talk... he says he knows what do, HE DOESN’T..

Cruz is a Do’er.. AND knows exactly WHAT TO DO.. in the right way.. without busting all the china.. except that that needs busting..

Ted Cruz / Mike Lee... 2016....

[huldah1776]

Trump is an executive...how many steps above a community organizer? Just couldn’t resist the similarity except with an executive you are a capitalist and a community organizer is a communist/socialist.

Then there is Jesus, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Even Trump will someday kneel.

[DoughtyOne]

I was lucky enough to grow during the Vietnam War and witness the Left in that time in our nation. It left a mark on my psyche that never left.

There is no way I could ever be a Democrat. I can’t even be a died in the wool Republican any longer.

If Reagan were alive today, he’d say, “I didn’t leave the Democrat party. It left me. I didn’t leave the Republican party either. It followed the Democrats and left me too.” And it would be the truth.

My point is, with few exceptions, my core beliefs haven’t change during my life. Abortion is the one thing that I would say I had to come to terms with.

I was never in favor of it, but I didn’t focus on it, and I more or less agreed it was a matter of choice by default.

I confronted that issue in the mid 90s, and found I was off base. Since that time I have wanted to find a way to eliminate abortions as much as is possible.

It’s my take that Trump roughly parallels my pre conversion on abortion. He just never actually addressed many issues intellectually. He gave flippant answers that he thought were right.

He strikes me as a guy that worked long hours and spent little time actually studying political stances. Once he had to because he was coming into politics, it force him to develop a better understanding an hone his beliefs.

I don’t know what else to attribute his changes to. If he’s simply gaming us, it would have to be a very detailed effort. He knows stuff that only a true Conservative would have know.

The Bergdahl situation for instance. He knows he was a deserter. He knows six troops died trying to find him. He knows the six guys trade for him are top level terrorists and are back in the field. He knows that we shouldn’t have even cared about getting Bergdahl back. He thinks he’s a traitor. He also thinks Bergdahl was surprised he wasn’t treated better.

This guy isn’t just up to speed cosmetically. He knows what he is talking about. And he has made it clear, he wants to know more, by meeting with and talking to people like Sessions.

There’s too much going on there IMO< for him to simply be lying to everyone.

[Kickass Conservative]

Do you hold the same standard to every Republican running for President?

Most were Amnesty Supporters, but magically they have evolved. Flip flops as far as the eye can see. How many of them enabled Obamacare expansion? How many of them did nothing to stop the Obama Transformation of America?

Heck, I’m a Cruz guy and I’m not happy with his idea to increase H1-B Legal Immigration. I like Trump’s plan.

Trump with the help of Senator Jeff Sessions outlines an Immigration Plan that finally rids us of Anchor Babies and the Republican contenders are acting like Trump dropped a Baby Ruth in their Swimming Pool.

It’s a long process. I don’t have a Crystal Ball, but I do know that if the Republican Field doesn’t get their act together they will have a heck of a time taking Trump out.

[hosepipe]

And do you REALLY think Donald “You’re Fired!” Trump would have a hard time reducing the size of government? Really?

---

No.. I think Trump has no idea of reducing fed. gov’t.. BUT EXPANDING IT.. and raising TAXES to do it..

A more efficient fed. gov’t massive and rogue getting bigger is not the answer..

Even he deports some aliens.... a good thing..

BUT that will not FIX the fed gov’t.. Trump will feed the fed. gov’t..
Like the plant in that movie.. “FEED ME”.. and he will..

[JennysCool]

Just have to disagree. I don’t think Trump would stand for sloth and inefficiency, which is the federal government top to bottom.

[lewislynn]

Putting A Constitutional Lawyer(Ted Cruz) in charge just might save the day...

LOL! Yea he's one hell of a Constitutional Lawyer. I think it was Trump (Yea Trump the business man) that schooled the brilliant constitutional lawyer on what the words in the 14th amendment mean.

I won't even go into why a brilliant "constitutional lawyer" would vote for a plan that takes away HIS constitutional right of veto and give it all away to a anti-constitutional progressive, possibly putting us and Israel in jeopardy.

Yea, that's what we need more talking, debating, letter writing lawyers who admit they have to have bipartisan support to know how to proceed.

More dimwit lawyers is what this country needs "to save the day". Lord knows we don't already have enough. < /sarcasm >

[maine-iac7]

As I said before, hosepipe, Cruz will be at hand for the Constitutional issues.

If Trump is President, he wont want Cruz anywhere in the picture - or any other intelligent, competent man...and definitely not a woman. He has great disdain for women, altho' you may not have noticed. His slurs against and to women have nothing to do with Political Correctness, either. His remarks are plain gutter-crude. And there's a clue: if he were really a conservative, the dems and the media would've climbed all over him and run him out of town by now on just ONE of the ugly remarks. He's one of theirs - He's the Clinton's Perot. It worked for Bill, after all.

Trump isn't about to let the spotlight shine on anyone but himself....

Quote: Trump has long had some relationship with fellow New Yorkers Bill and Hillary Clinton. He donated to Hillary Clinton’s Senate campaigns in 2000 and 2006, her presidential campaign in 2008, and has given at least $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation. And Clinton sat in the front row of Trump’s 2005 wedding. Trump aides told The Washington Post Wednesday that Bill Clinton encouraged Trump to run for president. "

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/trump-hillary-clinton-had-no-choice

Y'all follow the Pied Piper off the wharf - I'll pass,

[Duchess47]

Thank you, couldn’t have said it better. :)

[hosepipe]

[JennysCool]

Er, you do know Cruz and Trump are doing a big event together shortly, do you not?

I think you’re working some agenda I can’t fathom.

[smoothsailing]

Well maine-iac7, since you enjoy referrals, I’ll refer you and hosepipe to the fact that the more you grunt and grumble, the stronger Trump gets.

And have you bothered to notice that Trump and Cruz are building a formidable team?

So keep on grunting and stomp your feet while you’re at it! It’s doing wonders! Trump and Cruz thank you for your support!!!

[hosepipe]

Yea he's one hell of a Constitutional Lawyer.
-----------------------------------------------

Thats right Louie.. he is..

How can "You" make judgments on who a good lawyer is, or not?..
What do you know?.. Do you know anything?..
Ted Cruz is easily researched as to his competence..

Easy to find out he a prodigy talent..
Alan Dershowbiz says he's the smartest lawyer he ever taught..

YOU?.... and you say he's not?.. are the you guy on the movie Princess Bride..