Posted on 08/27/2015 8:56:11 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
When pundits call Donald Trump a "know-nothing," they are not just using a historical if pejorative term to describe his immigration stance. They really mean that he appears to know nothing about public policy or governance.
On the charitable assumption that his blustery, content-free stump speech isn't an act, you'll get no argument here. But Trump does seem to know a lot more about politics than many of his detractors, including those critics who are well versed in the finer details of entitlement reform or international trade policy.
Trump's success in the polls has been particularly frustrating for wonky conservatives. How can so many people buy into the business expertise of someone who so often gives technically wrong answers to economic questions?
Worse, why do so many conservatives seem enamored with a candidate who has taken unconservative positions on issues like taxes, abortion, healthcare reform and entitlements — that is, most of the conservative domestic agenda — and in some cases hasn't even bothered to move to the right on them?
Pat Buchanan gave us a hint in his 1992 Republican National Convention speech, when he spoke of "conservatives of the heart" whose political convictions were more visceral than intellectual. "They don't read Adam Smith or Edmund Burke, but they came from the same schoolyards and playgrounds and towns as we did," he told the delegates.
Many Americans, even those engaged enough to identify as liberal or conservative much less Republican or Democrat, aren't systematic political thinkers. They vote for candidates based on who they like or trust. They cast their ballots on the basis of real and perceived self-interest. To the extent that they approach politics in a more ideological or partisan way, it is often through a nexus of loyalties and identity as much as a specific preference for how high the capital gains tax should be.
A lot of conservatism is based on an inchoate sense that something important about the America of old is being lost. Maybe it's because the government is getting too big, or social values are changing, or the demographics are different, or even a feeling that the country's foreign enemies are ascendant. But conservatives haven't always thought it was morning in America.
Mainstream Republicans have capitalized on these sentiments many times. Party leaders from George W. Bush to Sarah Palin have rallied attitudinal red staters. Trump has just taken this identity appeal to the next level.
But in terms of policy, it isn't just that some conservatives haven't read Hayek. They fundamentally disagree with him. At the grassroots level, the American right has always had strong strains of nationalism and moralism. That's not an inherently bad thing, but the modern conservative movement has generally tried to wed these tendencies to a more limited or even libertarian view of government.
Nationalism and moralism can easily be expressed through strong, activist government as well. The platforms of right-wing parties in Europe and the rest of the world are frequently anything but libertarian, even in the loose sense that Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan were.
Trump also understands that many voters across the ideological spectrum aren't looking for a detailed political platform or five-point policy plan as much they want leadership. They want their government, and the people who lead it, to fix things and get things done. They want someone who will fight for them.
All of this annoys conservative intellectuals, who patiently point out to Trump voters that they shouldn't want leadership from someone who supports single payer, or conservative activists, who with increasing impatience try to explain that the right can't be led by a Hillary Clinton/Harry Reid donor.
But certifiably mainstream conservatives, from Andrew Breitbart to Ted Cruz, have employed the fighting terminology long before Trump, with varying degrees of specificity. You knew whom they were fighting — the Left, big government, the establishment, Washington — but they didn't always have the same answer about the ultimate purpose.
Before Reagan, Richard Nixon won two terms in the White House successfully pairing populist, culturally conservative Silent Majority rhetoric with frequently quite liberal policies.
The Donald knows that for many people politics is a team sport. The fans who cheered Brett Favre in Green Bay booed him in Minnesota and vice versa. Trump is trying out for the GOP team and has the marketing experience to sell it. While his pitch may seem crude, with the thrice-married braggart invoking the "great Billy Graham" and calling the Bible his favorite book, but is it that much cruder than the fundraising appeals conservative and Tea Party groups send out daily?
In retrospect, Trump's 2013 appearance at Graham's 95th birthday celebration in North Carolina might have been the biggest tip-off that he was serious about running for president.
When Trump came on professional wrestling broadcasts and trash-talked Vince McMahon, the crowd loved it. He is simply applying the same approach to Jorge Ramos, Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton. The crowd still loves it.
Finally, as somebody whose success comes as much from his fame as his real estate fortune, Trump gets the celebrity culture. Americans are obsessed with it and reality TV has blurred the lines between entertainment and, well, reality.
The citizenry's desire to keep up with the Kardashians and its anger at the political class has proved a potent combination. Many Americans think the people running their government are jokes, self-promoting blowhards with bad, expensive haircuts engaged in pointless political theater.
Why not have a candidate who will:
A.) Pick up issues with significant political appeal that the establishment in both parties won't touch
B.) Treat the system like the joke that it is and
C.) Lampoon the bad-haired self-promoters just by existing?
Trump may be a blowhard, the reasoning goes, but at least he's our blowhard.
This act is probably less sustainable than the entitlements Trump doesn't want to reform, but for a limited time it can be just as popular with its intended audience. The know-nothing may know a thing or two after all.
By gum, THIS man gets it. TRUMP is our blowhard, and we love him for that. He may stumble, but he will not fall. He might bend, but he will not break. He is our Apprentice and learning more every day.
Thanks, SDV
This is just intellectually dishonest, and what it reveals rather than Trump supporters being fooled or impure, is that they are paying attention far better than this guy.
Trump has openly advocated a robust "private sector" replacement for Obamacare. He has advocated tearing down state border limitations on insurance companies, so that they can compete nationally. He has specifically stated he wants more competition to spur lower cost policies and a more robust array of policies available.
In what sense is this single payer. He's been saying this for over a month now.
It’s immigration.
Trump had national celebrity, he said what most people are thinking but not hearing from the political parties, and the Trump phenomenon caught fire and got out of control of the MSM.
The Kardashian reference was condescending. Everything else seemed about right.
I don’t disagree with much of this analysis. The country is changing and Conservatives have not really evolved with it. We fight every issue till it is meaningless and then wonder why we get no help or respect. For many of us, it is all or nothing. The Vince McMahon analogy was spot on. The country has come down to one big sporting event and we currently have the biggest loudmouth on our side.
By and large, they all want to see a royal coronation.
“. . . more visceral than intellectual.”
That’s seems to be the key.
Donald Trump isn’t a movement conservative.
But he is conservative in the sense that he wants to bring back an America many people feel is being lost.
The specific policy goals or ideological prescriptions matter less than the perception of fighting for the country.
Its with the latter that Trump excels. He gets what people think and conveys it with sincerity and passion.
Most of the GOP field offers a slightly improved version of the status quo. Trump says that’s not enough, we need real change.
No wonder he’s on top of the polls with huge leads other candidates can only envy.
Trump is a businessman and can and will run the federal givernment like a business..
WHICH is the total PROBLEM..
The federal givernment has BECOME A BUSINESS.. which it should not be.. and those in Washington D.C. have become government business people.. with clients and everything..
Unless the Constitution is WRONG... this should not be..
I guess we could scrap the Constitution.. be wise we don’t use it anymore anyway..
The United States Constitution HAS ONE purpose one purpose ONLY....
To limit the federal government.. no other reason for it..
That document is there to FORBID the federal government from becoming a BUSINESS..
To limit it’s effect on the State government and on local government...
And to make SURE the people are NOT FARMED like farm animals like they are now..
milked, sheared, bred, culled(abortion), fed, controlled, harvested, and PUNISHED for not producing..
TOO LATE Though.. the democrats and republicans have been FARMING the people for many many decades..
Putting a BUSINESSMAN in charge(trump) would only MAKE THINGS WORSE...
Putting A Constitutional Lawyer(Ted Cruz) in charge just might save the day...
I say MIGHT because (democrats) will not go away..
AND........ Democrats and RINOS LOVE THIS FARM.. being Judas Goats as they are.
Well I’ve read Smith and Burke and Hayek and I still like Trump.
You have to fight the battle you’re confronted with. Ours, or mine at least, is to stop and reverse the third world conquest of what remains of America. In California I’ve seen firsthand what happens when you don’t.
Damn straight!
I like and agree with your comments.
At least he’s our blowhard!,,,,,,,
I think that I just figured out Donald Trump’s appeal (success). He’s a born fighter, he’s Scots Irish. He’s Braveheart.
“Trump’s success in the polls has been particularly frustrating for wonky conservatives.”
What the heck is a “wonky conservative”?
His pin numbers?
Trump is an executive, not an administrator. He’s the bid idea guy that can manage the nuts and bolts administrators to achieve his goals.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.