It's not that I think people are ignorant, I just dont understand why all the Trump supporters are so defensive and why Trump and Trump alone is not to be judged by his past stances or called out on any qualifiers he slyly inserts into questions that might drive a wedge between him and the base.
Here, lets try this:
I'll pretend to be Trump, and I'll have a reporter ask me questions and I will answer using the techniques I think Trump is utilizing.
I will declare strongly a very conservative and concise answer like “if we dont have a border, we aren't a nation” and “they have got to go!” with less memorable qualifiers said only once very weakly, like “the good ones can come back quickly” and if asked a follow up question I simply restate one of my non pc concise answers “they have to go!” or I attack you for aksing an unfair question.
See how this works?
Ask me about gun control?
Sure! I strongly believe in the 2nd amendment right to bear arms! I think some common sense restrictions should be placed on that right, but I think an armed society is a polite society!
um... mr.. Trump.. what sort of “common sense restrictions” would you support?
to which I answer 1 of two ways:
HOW DARE YOU! ask me such an unfair question!
or
I support the 2nd amendment right to bear arms!
see how this works?
Mr Trump, What are your views on abortion?
I believe that abortion is terrible!
That's great Mr. Trump but would you support any restrictions on it?
I might support some common senses restrictions on it like if the life of the mother were at stake or something of that nature.
What restrictions besides exceptions to save the mothers life might you support? and would you appoint supreme court justices that might overturn Roe V Wade?
Trump then replies! WHAT AN UNFAIR QUESTION! I can't believe you would ask me such a thing! I already told you Abortion is Terrible!!!
I could go on and on.
Which if I am right is all he wanted you to remember, quick easy to remember sound bites, while hoping you missed all the qualifiers in quietly inserted and refused to expound upon.
Technically correct, but I'm referring to the fact that his formative experience and career was not as a politician.
I could go on and on.
I have no doubt, but what kind of answer would satisfy you?
For example, during the debate Chris Wallace asked Trump for "proof" Mexico was sending their criminals.
How was Trump supposed to answer that question? Does anyone think he kept affidavits from border patrol agents under his podium? If you ask a nebulous, open ended question, you can't bitch when you get a nebulous, open ended answer. To expect more of an answer than you asked of a question is intellectually dishonest.
Conversely, if you expect him to sacrifice his entire legislative agenda just to make you comfy, your vote costs too much. You only get to be an unknown quantity once. Many of the questions you want him to answer limit his bargaining position.
If you can't be satisfied with what he's already promised, well then you can just support someone who will lose and accomplish nothing.
I just dont understand why all the Trump supporters are so defensive and why Trump and Trump alone is not to be judged by his past stances or called out on any qualifiers he slyly inserts into questions that might drive a wedge between him and the base.
Sure you do. The snark and hyperbole is the classic indicator of someone too smart by half that can't bear not to telegraph they think they have you on the horns of a dilemma. The problem is for any syllogism to work everyone has to agree to the same premises, and we most certainly do not.
Finally, past "stances" are of only limited utility where Trump is concerned. We have no record of what he actually DID as opposed to what he said, unlike most politicians. We have their record, such as pro-life Jeb refusing to intercede for Terri Schiavo. The only analog we have with Trump is him promising to build things, and whether or not they got built. m referring to the fact that his formative experience and career was not as a politician.