You can skip to the Trump analysis at the end, but you should read it all.
Donna, excellent article whether you support Trump or Cruz. The primary actors in the both parties are the Political Theorists and the Unprincipled Politicians. They support each other (I suspect that the Theorists knowing support the unprincipled). As a result, in any scenario, they all get richer and more powerful, while the people get screwed. In the GOP, the role of the theorists is to keep the great unwashed (including Trump) on the outside - lest their private gravy train get derailed. Sadly, Principled Politicians who make politics their career will be compromised because they crave political viability. Long ago, politicians solicited my support. All of them failed to answer my most important question: “What are 3 to 5 things so important to you that you are willing to lose rather than compromise them?” Only a few answered that question. They were the only ones who I supported.
The Donald is a phenomenon that is perfectly understandable. Unlike John Galt, from the Ayn Rand novel “Atlas Shrugged”, he has NOT retreated and gone into hiding, but is right out there at the forefront and both living and defending the principles of the virtues of capitalism. There are those who say The Donald is the epitome of “crony capitalism”, but he has spread both his wealth and influence in ways that are often at cross purposes with real crony capitalism. The Donald is acquainted with all the big players in both political power influence and money matters, but it is in the way a master poker player is acquainted with all the players at the table.
The Donald is very good at negotiating deals, which is what every bid in a poker game is. Not necessarily betraying what his next step shall be, part of the deal is to let the other player make an overbid that cannot be covered, all the while giving the rival the chance to back down, or if the rival does not back down, going in for the calling of the bluff. In poker, it is not always the holder of the high cards that wins, if that player cannot cover the next bid, and is forced to fold. A full house has been beaten by someone holding a pair, it is a matter of who lets a “tell” slip, or who has the sturdiest nerves.
The Donald is in the position of being able to stay in the bidding right up until the others opt out. Most of the time, he does not have to even show his cards.
This is a really good essay. Thanks for posting!
In addition to what others have written, I would add the following: Trump is eclectic in political theory and pragmatic in political methodology. This is probably also true to one degree or another of most conservative politicians and voters. What distinguishes Trump is his aggressive temperament. His willingness to stand up to political correctness and the Republican Establishment gives voters hope that he would, if elected, stand up for the United States against foreign leaders, the Muslim insurgency, and the flood of low functioning migrants who are intent on helping themselves to what we have and reducing us to minority status. As has been mentioned, Cruz is more cerebral than Trump, but what we need in a leader at this point in our history is someone who is more of a warrior than a scholar. This assumes, of course, that Trump would actually follow through on what he has proposed and not change course once in office.
Great piece - and Theodore Roosevelt Malloch has made it possible for me to once again like George Will... Will’s a man of thought and principle... but it’s on that nice theoretical level... Seen that way he’s not the spoiler I’ve mistaken him for...
My concern is that Trump as President will be another Arnold Schwarzenegger, i.e., conspicuously not carry through.
What don't you instead provide us with the salient points?
Yes, a great article. Thanks.
Nice read.
He’s not a career politician, but he IS a brilliant businessman, CEO- which is what we need to run this country.