I think his life has been in large part about him, and while I thinks its great when people view life from the perspective that there are bigger things than ones own achievements, everyone’s path to get there is different.
As to core values, Trump is a nationalist. He believes that people should work for a living, and hard work (or smart work) deserves reward. Sometimes that's self centered, but its a value non-the-less.
In listening to what he says, not so much what others say about him, despite his gaffs, he is pro-US, pro-success, pro-family. I believe he understands the importance of having a legal system that is followed and respected, as otherwise business suffers. His tough talk is a big part of his personality, which sometimes rubs me the wrong way, but I think, once in office, surrounded by the best advisers at his disposal, he will execute according to the law (unlike those in power today who circumvent the law at their convenience).
As far as being a cynic, I don't completely trust any of them. And professional politicians are the least to be trusted at this point, IMO. So its always our job to hold them to their promises, but the system is so broken that the people seem to have no recourse to do so anymore. The establishment is afraid of what would come with Trump, that is an accounting for the misdeeds. Otherwise they would not be in such a fit over his success in the primaries.
Thanks very much for the reasoned response. I’m afraid a lot of debates with Trump supporters quickly devolve into the “you’re a poopy head” level of discourse.
I agree completely that Trump the Republican presidential candidate generally isn’t considered a leftist. But there’s more to it than that. Until last year, for instance, he was on record supporting the Clinton assault weapon ban. Just recently he expressed support for Planned Parenthood, and said that his rabidly pro-abortion sister, who’s a fan of partial birth abortion, would make a great Supreme Court justice. He refused to support the First Amendment Defense Act (along with Jeb Bush) which would protect Americans from being punished by the feds for their religious convictions. All those things are things leftists would say or do, at least to me. I realize you may disagree.