Posted on 01/21/2016 5:51:42 AM PST by Kaslin
No one, with the possible exception of Donald Trump, could have predicted six months ago that the billionaire real estate magnate would be sitting atop the Republican presidential nomination field less than two weeks before the first caucus in Iowa.
But there is little doubt that that is where he is. According to Real Clear Politics, national polls have Trump at 35 percent, Ted Cruz at 19 percent and Marco Rubio at 13 percent. The site has Iowa's Trump average at 28 percent and Cruz's at 27 percent. In New Hampshire, which is more moderate than Iowa, Trump is at 31 percent, followed by John Kasich at 13 percent.
It's been a big week for Trump. He spoke at Liberty University, a bastion of evangelical higher education, and was endorsed by Sarah Palin in Iowa. As if this wasn't enough bad news for Cruz, who is attempting to solidify the evangelical base of the Republican Party, Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad accused Cruz of being "heavily financed by Big Oil." Branstad went on to state that, "once Iowans realize that fact, they might find other things attractive, but he could be very damaging to our state."
If, when watching Trump, you still can't quite determine why people are supporting him, take a look at the story Matthew MacWilliams wrote this week in Politico Magazine titled, "The One Weird Trait That Predicts Whether You're a Trump Supporter."
MacWilliams writes that "a single statistically significant variable predicts whether a voter supports Trump -- and it's not race, income or education levels: It's authoritarianism."
While the media and commentators have been focusing on race, age or gender, attempting to pigeonhole Trump supporters, MacWilliams sees something very different in the data.
How did MacWilliams determine the authoritarianism of the respondents? By asking questions that "pertain to child-rearing: whether it is more important for the voter to have a child who is respectful or independent; obedient or self-reliant; well-behaved or considerate; and well-mannered or curious," the article said. "Respondents who pick the first option in each of these questions are strongly authoritarian."
According to MacWilliams, it's not just Republicans who have the authoritarian trait, but also "39 percent of independents ... and the 17 percent of self-identified Democrats who are strong authoritarians ... it's very possible that Trump's fan base will continue to grow."
A second statistically significant variable was "fear of terrorism." In a time of uncertainty, whether from the economy, national security or an increasingly complex world, being unsure could lead people to follow leaders who seem able to solve their problems, thereby making their lives better.
When Palin endorsed Trump in Iowa this week, her comments reinforced MacWilliams' analysis. Palin talked about needing Trump so that there would be "no more pussyfooting around." She continued by asking the crowd, "Are you ready for a commander-in-chief ... let our warriors do their job and go kick ISIS' ass?"
Palin continued by providing a narrative of how a Trump presidency would make their lives more secure, "Ready for someone who will secure our border,
to secure our jobs and to secure our homes."
The appeal is for a leader who is strong, who can make us safe in an uncertain world.
This week, Iran swapped prisoners with the United States. We were given four, and gave them seven. This past Wednesday marks the 35th anniversary of the release of 52 U.S. hostages, which happened minutes after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president. It ended a crisis that had lasted 444 days, and was among the reasons Jimmy Carter lost his bid for a second term.
This is a small view of the national security backdrop for this election.
This past Monday, when introducing Trump to the Liberty University students, President Jerry Falwell Jr. talked about why his father, Jerry Falwell, had supported Ronald Reagan over Carter. The younger Falwell said Reagan's ability to lead was the reason for his father's decision. "When he walked into the voting booth, he wasn't electing a Sunday school teacher or a pastor or even a president who shared his theological beliefs; he was electing the president of the United States with the talents, abilities and experience required to lead a nation."
It will be fascinating to see if evangelicals in Iowa and South Carolina follow the same line of reasoning when they walk into the voting booth and decide whether to vote for Trump.
Nice try. You know as well as I that I'm referring to the "forgive/forget all the past" approach many people in this forum are giving Trump about his past stances. Obama's throngs did exactly the same thing in 2008.
The Trump Derangement Syndrome is strong in this one.
The new headline shows a picture of William Jefferson Clinton with “It Berns” underneath as the title
Just above Clinton’s ugly mug.
Notice who they quote in the Bloomberg article- weasel Eric Cantor.
I love Ted Cruz, but at this point I think we NEED Trump.
A victory by his unorthodox campaign will help drive a stake thru the heart of the Old Guard.
Plus he is leading the fight to destroy Political Correctness which, truth be told, is a greater threat to the Republic than any foreign enemy we currently face.
Devil’s Advocate thinking here: If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result, then isn’t voting for Trump the only SANE thing to do? Flame away.....
Oh yea, noticed. We should all ask ourselves why exactly would these “businessmen” have any interest what-so-ever in America choosing to have a moratorium on Muslim immigration? What could that possibly matter to them? Why is trying to keep my wife from being groped in the parking lot a “problem” for them?
Zero has made fascists out of conservatives, begging for "freedom."
Hint: one never asks a king for freedom. Wherever there is "noblesse oblige," there is always "droit du seigneur."
That is really scary. I'll take that job, thank you.
Cite one quote in which Trump talks about going through Congress to get something done. One.
This is about means, not ends. Electing Trump will inculcate electing a king. When the king comes form the left, you will learn your error.
Strong does not necessarily mean authoritarian. The word Leader assumes strength.
Obviously this message scares the bejezus out of Washington and the MSM. These people seem to have a vested interest in the destruction of this country.
Liberals are so confused. They can’t imagine why people who believe in God also believe that there can be authority in His teachings, and those teachings should be reflected in the way to raise their children. Liberals are so open-minded, their brains fall out. They cherry-pick a word or phrase here and there, and brandish it as a new discovery of truth! While ignoring — or denouncing — the canon of truth in the history of Western Civilization.
And I find that to be scary.
Jesus Christ: You can't impeach Him and He ain't gonna resign.
The liberal media will probably be running with this notion now that someone has brought it up.
He says it every day about he’ll go through Congress while he’s saying that Cruz can’t and couldn’t and wouldn’t and won’t. Maybe he says it 10 times a day. I’ve heard him say you have to get all the parties together 100 times. I’ve heard him say the executive orders are BS and why can’t we go back to the Reagan and Tip model.
Hey! He's our JBT!!
I think the word "Caesarism" also applies. He never talks about division of powers, judicial overreach, GOP caucus underperformance in the Congress, all conservative issues.
I'm afraid that at the end of the day, he's just another guy with a pen and a phone.
Hate to break it to you, but the E-GOP is already cozying up to Trump. They're "pragmatists" after all ..... the guy they really hate is Ted Cruz. Not 'tree-house' material at all.
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