Posted on 02/23/2016 5:25:22 PM PST by Jarhead9297
Let's play the hypothetical what if game. In this what if game let's hypothesize a voting record we have been unable to capture because said person never served. Be it as it may I will attempt to lay out my case as to why I am unable to vote for Donald Trump. I will also lay out the case of the way he would have voted on very important decisions for conservatives had he been a member of Congress. I will attempt to do this by utilizing his own words, his actions and beliefs that are well documented and compare some of these same positions to RINOS (yes RINOs) and liberals we have railed against for many years here within FR. I will also utilize imagery of support for another that is not tied to voting but support of an individual; be it good will or otherwise.
If is my belief, that it is for the very reason of not being in Congress that FReepers willingly support him. It is much easier to walk backwards or change positions verbally and claim you are reformed or changed stances. It is altogether something different had a Congressman over years of physically voting for unsupported Conservative positions. I pose said candidate would never see the support light of day here at FR from anyone.
Maybe it is the psychological action of physically voting that completes the act yet disconnects the similarities. FR is thoroughly saturated with extremely intelligent people; yes even those I disagree with who support Trump. They too I consider FReepers and most FRiends. I am surprised no one as of yet has married these two together.
Well here is my attempt and I hope I am painting the intended picture.
1) The hand shake/half hug heard round the world.
Everyone knows it and has never let it rest. Never so much so than in FR. Christie's hand shake and half hug. If I recall it was shortly after a natural disaster and during campaign season. Christie showed respect and thanked the president for having the decency to visit;regardless of intent.
Christie who we cheerleader for years I'd say was the original anti media basher and plain spoken person pre-Trump. He had had positions and votes we questioned before this moment with Obama but quietly cheered for him during those moments where he'd take it hard to the media. Hell even I enjoyed those moments. But it was that single handshake and half hug that separated completely FR support from Christie forever. To this day folks demean him because of something simple as his weight struggle. The tie in......
Trump: For years he has donated mightily to Democrats, supporting them financially through many election cycles. He'd even invited the Clintons to his wedding. To me that is akin to a handshake and a half hug. It supports that candidate, their stances, their positions, and belief system. His mighty donations during Obamas reign to both Pelosi and Reid campaigns has helped pave the way for what we are witnessing today. One thing a conservative does not do is compromise on their core values and principles. Why now?
2) Immigration: As recent as 2012 (might I add a pivotal election) Trump railed against our only hope of dethroning the "One." While we in FR held our noses we prayed that Romney (delivered by GOPe) could and would do better than its present occupant. During the campaign Romney floated the idea of Self deportation. Yes a half hitched attempt to rid ourselves of illegal aliens and while meager at best a start. The tie in...
Trump: Being never one to run away from a camera Trump proclaimed Romney's plan as "mean spirited." "The Democrats didn’t have a policy for dealing with illegal immigrants, but what they did have going for them is they weren’t mean-spirited about it,†Trump says. “They didn’t know what the policy was, but what they were is they were kind.†Based on those comments (as recent as 2012) one must ask would a conservative flip this quickly to a wall and kicking them out based on a core conservative principle and firm belief or utilize emotion as did Obama to initiate an anger brewing for years within the public to garner support? One must ponder this question. My case for this on Trump that had he been in Congress and a vote concerning this policy come up he'd have voted with Democrats and never been considered on FR. Why now?
3) Ethanol mandates and crony capitalism: As recent as a few months ago while stumping in Iowa Trump revealed his inner big government liberal lean by trashing a core principle of conservatism and anti crony capitalism by siding with the big business lobby pushing it. He opted to stake his votes to an industry that trashes vehicle engines, costs consumers more to utilize and produce so that the few wealthy mega corporation land owners would therefore wallow in the cash.
I pose that had Trump been in Congress and this came up for a vote OR he had and influential seat within Congress to steer votes, he'd have sided with big government mandates and as a result of casting that vote he'd not seen any support from FR. Yet FReepers support him. Why now?
4) Planned Parenthood: The golden rule of a Conservative is one never ever in their life supports PP or any Congresscritter muttering a word of defense on their behalf. One does not break this tenant in FR and ever escape chastising in FR; rightfully so.
Just last year Trump expressed support of PP by the following admission, "Donald Trump suggested he would not support ending taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood’s non-abortion services in two interviews Tuesday. “We have to help women,†Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an interview that aired Tuesday night. “So we have to look at the positives, also, for Planned Parenthood.â€
There is nothing "positive" about PP. To say one supports and organization but not their acts (abortion) is akin to voting troops to war then circling back and saying I don't support the war but support the very people continuing the actions in the war (the troops). A conservative doesn't get it both ways but for some Trump does and also a convenient pass. Had Trump been a member of Congress when any budget carrying support of PP came before the floor he'd not only have supported it through vote but also maybe taken the floor in its defense. Trump has broken the golden rule you do not break in conservatism but continues harping support on FR. Why now?
5) I'll stop here but I'll add the following as it relates to a long history and the way I'd see him voting. I could go on and on but I hope you see the picture I'm attempting to paint and ask FReepers when so many core principles dear to conservatives are not only not followed but also spat upon, simple words is all it has taken to flip our minds. Why, why, why? We are of much higher intelligence than this.
The list addons: full support of the bail out, recent comment on mandate but not Gov supported healthcare. Huh?
Show me a conservative bill that gets to Trump’s desk that he vetoes.
Show me how a liberal bill gets to his desk that he signs. Where are Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan promising they’ll hold up Democrats for months attempting to sign a discharge petition.
What if you aunt had balls?
Anybody with an actual voting record is vulnerable this year.
In order to invent a political record for Trump you have to invent one. Trump has no political record other then voting for Republicans almost every time. What you and others have to do is selectively cull a billion public statements in order to construct a political “record” for Donald Trump. In reality the ONLY record he has is the one he’s promising right now, today. And that record is overwhelmingly conservative. One would have to believe he’s lying about that record. Lying goes against Trump’s character. He was and is in a business where misrepresentation of a million dollar deal is criminal and/or actionable. There’s absolutely no reason for him to lie and no precedent for it from him.
Exactly what I was about to post. I early voted in the primary last week for a candidate other than Trump. But for the first time in my life, if my candidate does not win the nomination, I will gladly vote for Trump rather than hold my nose and vote against whatever evil the Democrats nominated.
So words and financial support is just cast aside as if merely an object of non support? I beg to differ. I feel anyone with a well doin enter record such as his and logically tied to a voting record is ripe for the taking and worth full discussion
What relevance does that have to the questions asked?
Gotcha. You have to elect him to see what he'll do.
Kinda like 'you have to pass it to see what's in it'.
What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
Fully expected from a member of the FR community who has bought into Alinsky style attacks without taking issue with the merit of the discussion. My write up was not condescending or vile in tone. Merely questions about the long record of one Donald Trump. But what has become customary in today’s culture is to not take the substance of the discussion at heart and attack its messenger.
Another shining example of irrelevant questions, thanks.
It makes perfect sense.
Perhaps to a Trump supporter.
Sure it does, if you are a short attention spanned college kid Twitter junkie receiving policy positions, Twitter wars (because they are so “cool) in 15 second chirps. But not from a FReeper serious about having a serious conversation.
He wasn’t. There is plenty to argue about without arguing about things that not only did not happen, but would never in God’s universe happen.
What if Elanor Roosevelt had been able to fly? Would WWll have been different?
But he isn’t. He’s a billionaire ten times over, a business success who has decided to try and turn this failing country around.
Marco and Cruz are the struggling congress critters, once again fighting and scratching for 2nd place.
What if ...what if. Trump could spend the rest of his days with his feet up, earning even more money, bedding more women—doing practically anything he wanted ... except maybe starting a dinosaur zoo.
But pushing 70, he’s putting himself through this ordeal.
We should thank God he’s got the fire in his belly to do it instead of silly wool gathering questions like, “What if he was a congressman, hmmmm.”
Why now? Good question. Because we are at the hail Mary situation. All of the other QBs keep grounding the ball. Hell even the defense (2010&2014) grounds it.
I hear Mr Trump and I choose to take him at his word. He is a brilliant man who has built much. I don’t think that the presidency can give him more than he has. It will probably cost him. If his intention is as promised he is far ahead of the others. Rubio and his amnesty family and Cruz with the hand wringing are not going to cut it.
You would have to stretch a conservative mind a complete 180 to not believe his long history of financial support for liberal positions and statements would not have equated to actual votes in Congress. You’ve made the very point that was set in the first few sentences. It is because he isn’t held accountable to the way he most certainly would have voted separates us from his actual actions of financial support and words.
So either Donald Trump never supported those liberal positions and never really meant to financially support some of the most liberal members of Congress over decades or he is a newly born conservative.
He was either lying then or he is lying now.
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