Sowell: The Trump Card

Creators Syndicate ^ | August 4, 2016 | Thomas Sowell

[jazusamo]

With Hillary Clinton's multiple misdeeds coming to light and causing her political problems, reflected in her declining support in the polls, both she and the Democratic Party have reason to be concerned. But both of them may yet be rescued by "The Donald," who can turn out to be their Trump card.

Donald Trump has virtually no chance of becoming even the Republican Party's candidate in 2016, much less being elected President of the United States.

The reason is not hard to understand: Republican voters simply do not trust him, as the polls show. Nor is there any reason why they should trust him, given his chameleon-like changes in the past.

Why then is he the "front-runner" in the polls?

One reason is arithmetic. When there is a small army of Republican candidates, each with a tiny set of supporters, anyone with enough name recognition to get the support of a fifth or a fourth of the Republicans polled stands out, even if twice that many Republicans say they would never vote for him.

When both kinds of Republicans are counted, Donald Trump is both the "front-runner" and the leading pariah. The danger is not that he will get the nomination, but that his irresponsible talk will become the image of the Republican Party, and that his bombast will drown out more sober voices that need to be heard, thereby making it harder to select the best candidate.

More is involved than arithmetic, however. Many Republican voters are so disgusted with their party, especially over its repeated betrayals of them, and of the country, especially when it comes to immigration, that they are immediately attracted to anyone who voices the outrage they feel.

[Lib-Lickers 2]

couldn’t agree more..

[Darksheare]

Buchanan?
Really?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I don’t disagree. I’m just not convinced that Trump is the one to lead the charge.

[yoe]

For all the bally-hew pro and con about Trump, a niggling little fact keeps rearing up....Trump’s success in business which means success in negotiating, which means deals are closed which means jobs are made which means wealth for many, not just Trump. I think he can handle himself in the boardroom....and I believe we have yet to see that demeanor.

[arthurus]

It doesn't really matter what Trump has been or will be. This next election is for Dictator, not president as we have known it and as the Constitution provides. Congress and the USSC have ceded their powers to the Executive, making him a Dictator and those powers cannot be given back. The choice that faces the Republic after the election, assuming a Republican or Conservative win is whether the new Dictator can squash the Democrats in the Bureaucracy, especially in the EPA and JD. If the new man works strictly within Constitutional limits e cannot succeed. He cannot get rid of EPA. Losing that one agency is absolutely necessary to rip the nation out of the hands of the communist/Moslems that run every facet of it now. The best man in the Running is unquestionably Ted Cruz. Cruz is a great resistor but I don't think he can actually break the EPA. He will rely on Congress to get rid of it. Congress will probably be solidly Democrat given the performance of the Republicans after they were swept into office with their great promises to defund and repeal. Even if Congress remains Republican it will oppose a Republican president if he attempts to shut down the Democrat totalist enterprise.

Trump is the only one with the Presence to be able to beat the Democrat monster, Would he? That remains the question. If the Democrats oppose him, he probably will,. If the Democrats are canny and make nice to him and go along with him on some minor reforms, then no, he will lose momentum and fail. Or he might just build his personal pơwer. This is the ideal time for that.

The only chance to effect real reform is the Article ̀Convention. I don't expect that to happen, either, certainly not soon enough to have any effect.

[arthurus]

Don’t blow Sowell off. Use his words to step back and take stock more carefully. You will get a better perspective. You might not change who you prefer but if you take a deep breath and take stock, you will see more clearly.

[BigEdLB]

Sowell, usually insightful is using the GOPe arguments against Trump, don’t think he understand this.

[RitaOK]

What personality would you suggest who could replicate fearlessness and the kind of movement wave happening before our eyes?

[rawcatslyentist]

He’s a Democrat stalking-horse,

Perot 2.0 for Clinton 2.0

SSDD!

[TNMOUTH]

Cue the “Thomas Sowell is a RINO shill” that will be coming from trump supporters...

[TNMOUTH]

Please look at the internals of these polls before spouting off...

Yes, I think Trump could be leading, but his support is usually not among REPUBLICAN Likely voters or Tea Party voters. He is underwater with Republican voters when asked if they will vote for him or not (60% said definitely not).

Look at the internals and then tell me WHY he is winning...it isn’t Conservatives giving him the nod.

[xjcsa]

The revolution has begun...and Trump is gonna lead it.

Then God help us all.

[xjcsa]

But, Trump is right in that the country needs to make some big changes.

Like Canadian-style single payer health care?

[Tau Food]

Por favor, Trump no le gusta Canada. Él dijo que le encanta México.