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Military Strategist explains why Donald Trump leads and how he will fail
The Federalist ^ | December 16, 2015 | Dan McLaughlin

Posted on 12/23/2015 11:29:42 AM PST by iowamark

No matter how much you dislike Donald Trump and his effect on the Republican presidential primary race, and there are many, many good reasons to do so, you have to spare a little grudging admiration for the sheer madcap genius of Trumps ability to disrupt, unsettle, and exploit the primary system.

We can better understand what Trump has done successfully, as well as his ultimate limitations as a candidate and why he would be such a terrible president, using the ideas of military strategic theorist John Boyd. Trump has been, thus far, the true Boyd candidate in this race, yet he is already exhibiting symptoms of precisely the flaws that Boyd saw as fatal in combatants.

Observe, Orient, Decide, Act...

Few of the factors that have allowed Trump to trigger fear in his Republican opponents would even apply in a general election.

Do Rubio and Cruz have that ability to operate inside Clinton's OODA Loop, shifting the ground under her feet without being trapped themselves in a self-reinforcing closed loop? That too is unproven so far.

But both men are 24 years younger and have shown an impressive adaptability of a different kind so far, Cruz with his ground game, Rubio in his skill at bobbing and weaving. Of the two, it seems more likely that Rubio's skillset is the one more ideally suited to exploiting a candidate who is overly deliberate in her ability to communicate and her feel for a fast-moving environment.

Either could potentially ride a Boydian approach to political strategy to the White House. Both would be well-advised to try.

(Excerpt) Read more at thefederalist.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: California; US: Florida; US: Iowa; US: New Jersey; US: New York; US: Ohio; US: Texas; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: 2016election; baseballcrank; bencarson; california; carlyfiorina; chrischristie; cruz; danmclaughlin; decisioncycle; election2016; florida; iowa; jebbush; jimgilmore; johnboyd; johnkasich; marcorubio; newjersey; newyork; ohio; oodaloop; rubio; srategist; strategist; tedcruz; texas; thefederalist; trump; trumpcult; virginia
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Long essay but interesting. Mr. McLaughlin appears to favor Marco Rubio.


1 posted on 12/23/2015 11:29:42 AM PST by iowamark
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His blog, BaseballCrank:

http://www.baseballcrank.com/

https://twitter.com/baseballcrank


2 posted on 12/23/2015 11:31:33 AM PST by iowamark (I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy)
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To: iowamark; GOPsterinMA; stephenjohnbanker; Clintonfatigued; Perdogg; fieldmarshaldj; BillyBoy; ...

I know a drug addicted prostitute who works in front of my Chase Bank branch. She told me how Trump could lose....


3 posted on 12/23/2015 11:32:38 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) since Nov 2014 (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: iowamark
No matter how much you dislike Donald Trump and his effect on the Republican presidential primary race, and there are many, many good reasons to do so...

One "many" wasn't enough.


4 posted on 12/23/2015 11:36:47 AM PST by 867V309 (Trump: Bull in a RINO Shoppe)
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To: iowamark

Boyd’s theory is all about speed. If you have handlers, you can only go so fast. I think Trump is unique in his abilty to react instantly. Cruz is almost as good. Rubio needs to check with his bosses.


5 posted on 12/23/2015 11:39:54 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (I don't know what Claire Wolfe is thinking but I know what I am thinking.)
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To: iowamark

I have been observing on this forum for months about how Donald Trump is operating inside of everyone’s (Media included) OODA Loops.

This nitwit finally figured it out, but is trying to use it to promote his favorite politicians.

Frankly, I don’t think any of the current crop of politicians or media pukes really understand the concept of the OODA Loop and as mostly effete, liberal scum, would look down their noses at any philosophy developed by a mere military person.

I believe that Donald Trump will continue to use the OODA Loop to confound all of his opponents on his way to the Oval Office. In the end, the conventional wisdom pukes will not understand what happened, other than that “the people had a temper tantrum”.


6 posted on 12/23/2015 11:41:15 AM PST by Redleg Duke (The Federal Government is nothing but a welfare program with a dress code!)
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To: stephenjohnbanker; NFHale

Is it’s name “Khent”?


7 posted on 12/23/2015 11:41:24 AM PST by GOPsterinMA (I'm with Steve McQueen: I live my life for myself and answer to nobody.)
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To: iowamark

>> he is already exhibiting symptoms of precisely the flaws that Boyd saw as fatal in combatants

The author is assuming, without supporting his assumption, that running for the Republican nomination is exactly like combat.

That’s a logical fallacy, because while vying for nomination has things in common with combat, it’s not at all the same thing.


8 posted on 12/23/2015 11:43:43 AM PST by Nervous Tick (There is no "allah" but satan, and mohammed was his demon-possessed tool.)
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To: iowamark

Put up a senator and watch Hillary walk away with the vote ... one term senator and outsider ... wasn’t that the meme in 2012? Doing it again is a surefire way to elect the Clintons and begin the American experience with totalitarianism with its attendant one party system.


9 posted on 12/23/2015 11:47:30 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Agreed. I believe Trump’s strength is an ability to recognize when to act, even as it isn’t obvious to other observers. He also knows he cannot possess all knowledge and would place the highest caliber operatives in their best positions to advise and to succeed. Toward that, he is adept at cutting ties to poor performers and wouldn’t hesitate to replace failing subordinates.


10 posted on 12/23/2015 11:49:12 AM PST by Sgt_Schultze (If a border fence isn't effective, why is there a border fence around the White House?)
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To: iowamark

Rubio will just give us the same old same old garbage that we have been getting for the last 27 years, no thanks!


11 posted on 12/23/2015 11:51:26 AM PST by HerrBlucher (Abortion is murder)
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To: iowamark

Long article full of wishful thinking by an arm chair strategist who doesn’t like Trump. Trump has all ready shows he can close his loop. When the trial balloon attacks on Cruz so spectacularly failed, he immediately pivoted away from them.

Contrast that with the author’s idol Rubio who doubled down on his failed NO SHOW strategy last week by failing to show up, again, for the Omnibus Budget Bill vote.


12 posted on 12/23/2015 11:52:39 AM PST by MNJohnnie ( Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered)
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To: iowamark

BLAH BLAH BLAH... you wish.. GO TRUMP!


13 posted on 12/23/2015 11:53:40 AM PST by rusureitflies? (Not much to say, yet.)
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To: iowamark

The Author misses the mark here because the driving forces behind participation are existential, not casual.
The Donald wants to close the borders and deport the criminals. Let’s absorb those we can through the melting pot and throw the hell out, those we can’t.
Trump supporters want this and understand the imperative.

The GOPe doesn’t give a Shiite.

That’s why OODA analysis and nearly every other analysis fails.
We are SICK TO DEATH of the GOPers, the Bushies, the Lindseys, the Marcos and all the rest of the “Ruling Class”.
To paraphrase, “Bomb the Shiite out of ‘em” suits me just fine.


14 posted on 12/23/2015 11:54:16 AM PST by Macoozie ("Estoy votando por Ted 2016!" bumper stickers available)
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To: iowamark

Did he harrumph first?


15 posted on 12/23/2015 11:55:34 AM PST by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: LS

For your interest.


16 posted on 12/23/2015 11:56:01 AM PST by StoneWall Brigade
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To: iowamark

I should trademark “it’s all over for Trump”


17 posted on 12/23/2015 11:57:03 AM PST by mykroar ("Never believe anything until it has been officially denied." - Otto von Bismarck)
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To: iowamark

Yeah, I remember reading how McCain, the fighter pilot, was in Obama’s Ooda loop. That didn’t pan out, either.


18 posted on 12/23/2015 11:58:03 AM PST by Defiant (RINOs are leaders of a party without voters. Trump/Cruz are leaders of voters without a party.)
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To: iowamark

Also by the same author.

Don McLaughlin: “To understand Donald Trump, look to Europe”
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-1215-mclaughlin-trump-european-nationalist-20151215-story.html


19 posted on 12/23/2015 11:58:40 AM PST by iowamark (I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy)
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To: MNJohnnie

“When the trial balloon attacks on Cruz so spectacularly failed, he immediately pivoted away from them.”

1. Cruz attacked first.

2. Trump then barely started flexing his muscles.

3. Cruz put up a music video, signaling that he didn’t want to go to war with the Donald.

I see nothing “spectacular” about any of these events.


20 posted on 12/23/2015 11:59:04 AM PST by proust (Texan for Trump!)
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