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Why This Former Trump Fan Doesn't Support Him Anymore
Townhall.com ^ | January 26, 2016 | John Hawkins

Posted on 01/26/2016 5:36:15 AM PST by Kaslin

I understand why people like Donald Trump because I was a big fan of his as well.

I loved the fact that he's a charismatic, politically incorrect fighter and a successful businessman. I am also genuinely grateful to him for changing the debate on immigration and starting a conversation about Muslim immigration that we should have had a long time ago. I don't believe a ban on Muslim immigrants would ever pass Congress nor do I think it's practical (How would you realistically implement it?), but I do think blocking future refugees and immigrants from countries where Al-Qaeda and ISIS hold sway is more doable because of Trump. That's a little ironic because he was initially in favor of bringing in Syrian refugees, but it's true. Additionally, after years of being ignored, scorned and poorly represented by Republican leaders in Congress, it's nice to have a politician who actually goes overboard to pander to conservatives.

Additionally, I find it OFFENSIVE when Trump is called a fascist or people attack his supporters. At the end of the day, to beat Trump you have to convince his supporters to go elsewhere. You don't do that by insulting people for their choice of candidates.

That being said, the support for Trump reminds me of an old Jeff Foxworthy joke that went something like this.

Kid: Look up in the sky, mama, it's a plane! It's a plane!

Mother: Oh, look, he knows that! He's just so smart, isn't he?

Jeff Foxworthy: Smart? He's 12 years old!

When you have genuine affection for someone, it's easy to block out his faults. In Trump's case, this is being taken to such an extreme that it's starting to feel like we're in Jonestown a few days before the Kool-Aid is handed out. Tell me I'm wrong if you like, but even Trump made reference to that when he said,

"And you know what else they say about my people? The polls! They say I have the most loyal people. Did you ever see that? Where I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters. It's incredible."

Since when do conservative engage in this type of blind loyalty towards ANY politician?

Similarly, Donald Trump talks incessantly about polls that are favorable to him, but the polls have also consistently shown that he loses to Hillary Clinton. Worse yet, his favorable/unfavorable ratings are 33/58. That's the same as Jimmy Carter in early 1980. It's WORSE than Walter Mondale. Trump even has a higher unfavorable rating with the general public than Nixon AFTER Watergate. It would be easier to rehabilitate Enron's image than to make Trump President with those poll numbers.

Saying that a candidate with those poll numbers couldn't win an election without a miracle is something that anyone who knows something about elections would normally agree on.  Yet, with Trump, many people seem unfazed. Basically, they think he's going to use some kind of "Trump magic" that will guarantee a victory.

The problem with that is that successful though Donald Trump may be, he fails all the time. He's had four bankruptcies. Then there's Trump steaks, Trump Vodka, Trump the Game, Trump Magazine, Trump Mortgage, Trump Airlines, Trump University, Trump Casinos, the New Jersey Generals and happily, he also lost a lawsuit and was unable to take a widow's home via eminent domain so he could build a limo parking lot. Trump has been a successful businessman, but an awful lot of investors who put money into his ill-advised projects because they just assumed he'd find a way to win have gotten burned doing business deals with him. Again, barring a miracle, that's what would happen to all of his supporters if he becomes the GOP nominee in 2016. Many of them don't see it for the same reason Ron Paul's fans couldn't see it in 2012. Sure, Paul had a diehard following that voted for him in Internet polls and showed up at his events, but he alienated too many people to ever win a general election while he was building up his fanbase. Trump has done the same thing, except a little bigger and better.

Getting beyond that, early on, I was willing to give Trump an opportunity to flesh out his policies and prove he's a conservative. Unfortunately, he never did that and there's little reason to think that a man who has switched political parties 5 times in his life and has never voted in a Republican primary suddenly became a diehard conservative in his mid-sixties. People who wouldn't buy this from any other politician are swallowing it hook, line and sinker with Trump even though his positions on some issues have switched from week-to-week.

Keep in mind that the most consistent political position Donald Trump seems to have held over the last 15 years is that we need a full government takeover in healthcare, which incidentally, would be WORSE than Obamacare. Trump was still pushing that less than six months ago, but now says he supports a free market plan. Do you believe him? If so, why?

In 2013, Ted Cruz was leading the fight against Marco Rubio's gang-of-8 amnesty bill while Trump was talking up amnesty, the Dream Act and comprehensive immigration reform. Nobody with half a brain in his head would believe any other politician claiming to be tough on immigration if he was fighting for amnesty three years ago. So, why believe Trump?

After having read several of his books, I can tell you that Trump has core principles that he believes in personally and in business, but that doesn't seem to be the case with politics. Since Trump is first and foremost a dealmaker, what makes you think you'd like the deals someone who doesn't share your principles would cut on your behalf any more than you liked the deals John Boehner made? What makes you think Trump would be any different than another celebrity like Arnold Schwarzenegger who talked a good game and then ended up governing from the left-of-center once he was in office?

Also, as entertaining and successful as Trump may be, he doesn't have the right temperament to be President. It's a serious, sober job and even if you like him, you have to admit that he's crude, mean-spirited, narcissistic, unpredictable and conspiratorial. Would you consider any other candidate who trashed POWs, "I like people that weren't captured," made fun of the disabled (He's done this more than once), said he never asked God for forgiveness and keeps making creepy comments about how he'd like to date his daughter, "(Ivanka) does have a very nice figure. I've said if Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her?" Even if you're willing to overlook those comments because you love Trump so much, people who aren't Trump fans will not give him a pass. That will be doubly true after the Democrats hammer him with a billion dollars' worth of negative ads that he won't be able to effectively respond to because even Trump admits that he doesn’t know how he would finance his campaign in a general election.

Trump also spends an inordinate amount of time insulting people on Twitter. It amazes me that anyone complains about people hammering Trump when these are just some of the comments on his Twitter account over the last three days….

"@Rketeltas: Rubio isn't experienced enough to be Commander in Chief. Rubio is a carbon copy of Obama. We need a true leader Vote Trump"

"@red77angelluis: @realDonaldTrump @NeilTurner_ @YouTube LET'S GET TRUMP!! GO TRUMP!! USA!USA!"

"@Knight276:  @C4Constitution trump right again #With_Cruz_you_lose! Nobody supports Canuck Cruz #MakeAmericaGreatAgain  #trump2016

"@M0ther0f2kids: @meetthepress @NBCNews @clewandowski Everyone B smart! U know deep down Trump is the ONLY 1 able to best LEAD"

A wonderful article by a writer who truly gets it. I am for the people and the people are for me. #Trump2016…

"@realOllieTaylor: Isn't it time we had a president? Let goofy Glen keep Canada Cruz who can't win. The American people have Trump!"

"@WhiteGenocideTM: @realDonaldTrump Poor Jeb. I could've sworn I saw him outside Trump Tower the other day! "

Trump wants to be the GOP nominee, but he sounds like one of the mean kids running for third grade class President.

Incidentally, the last tweet is from a white supremacist who spends a lot of time raving about Hitler and "Jewmerica." Despite the fact there were numerous articles criticizing Trump for retweeting a white power nut, he did not take down the tweet. If, let's say, you're black or Jewish, ask yourself how comfortable you are with Trump now that he's knowingly retweeting white supremacists?  

Look at all of this and tell me that you trust someone who is this petty, immature and erratic with the responsibility of handling the IRS, the DOJ, the DHS, our military and our nuclear codes. I certainly wouldn't. It's fine to say that you don't trust Sanders or Hillary either, but if even many Republicans don't think he's together enough to handle it, why would the American people?

It's great to be supporting a candidate who you believe is winning, but I think back to the saying, "Play stupid games, get stupid prizes." The prize for getting Trump to the finish line as our nominee would be losing to whomever the Democrats nominate and then watching helplessly as Obamacare stays in place, all of Obama's executive orders stand and the Democrats pick four more Supreme Court Justices.

If we nominate Trump, we'll have our third straight lose/lose election where most conservatives will have a candidate who doesn't truly represent their views as the GOP nominee. Of course, if Trump is our nominee, I will vote for him and I will try to do what I can to help him win, but it would be easier to ski uphill than to get a wildly unpopular Rockefeller Republican like Trump into the White House.  


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
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To: Gaffer

LIKE thousands of others, we liked it that Trump could give thumbs down to the main stream media. But like Charles Colson, I am standing by his advice, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PERSONS RECORD, not his words. The Trump record is VERY disconcerting. I am going with Ted Cruz...even against all odds. It is the way elections work.


161 posted on 01/26/2016 6:36:49 AM PST by rovenstinez
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To: uncitizen

No, I understood your comment and agree with it completely. There’s not a reason in the world that this could not be accomplished. If fact, THIS initiative could be implemented VERY quickly by a WILLING new administration. And it would build momentum for building a “wall” and actually begin to get serious about deporting illegal.

From a Western Civilization perspective, it could serve as a great example to emulate by other civilized nations and help show them the route away from national suicide.


162 posted on 01/26/2016 6:37:16 AM PST by House Atreides (Cruzin' [BUT NO LONGER Trumping'] or losin'!)
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To: Charles H. (The_r0nin)
So let's examine the responses. Do we have any rebuttal? Any reasons why this opinion is wrong? Any evidence or experience that shows why Trump will govern to the right? Nope.

Your duplicity is appalling. This thread is FULL of rebuttals.

"Cherry-picking" is does not help your original, fallacious assertion.

163 posted on 01/26/2016 6:38:05 AM PST by papertyger (-/\/\/\-)
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To: Obadiah

So am I, but like the author writes at the end of article if Trump is the nominee he will vote for him. I also will vote for him if he is the nominee.


164 posted on 01/26/2016 6:38:24 AM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him. He got them and now we have to pay the consequences)
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To: rovenstinez

I don’t begrudge your support of Cruz. I like him. My key interest is if you will support Trump if he gets the nomination. All the other stuff will work itself out if we do not descend into a pack of bickering dogs lashing out at each other.


165 posted on 01/26/2016 6:38:47 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Charles H. (The_r0nin)
So let's examine the responses. Do we have any rebuttal? Any reasons why this opinion is wrong? Any evidence or experience that shows why Trump will govern to the right? Nope.

Post of the day, which could apply to every single political thread.

One trick ponies are mildly amusing. They quickly become boring and it goes all downhill from there.

166 posted on 01/26/2016 6:39:08 AM PST by don-o (Where did my tagline go?)
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To: papertyger; nclaurel

“What a total pant-load.”

That is about on par with the level of discourse of most Trump supporters.

“We are looking for a strong leader who loves America...”

Thank you nclaurel for the polite reply. My problem with Trump is that one can love America and have no idea HOW to make America great. His enthusiasm within recent times for Obama, Hillary and DeBlasio concern me. His thin skin bothers me as well, and has since the first Megyn Kelly flap. I find his “tweeting” embarrassing for an adult.

But unlike Hillary and Sanders, I’m sure he does love America.


167 posted on 01/26/2016 6:39:09 AM PST by Mr Rogers (We're a nation of infants, ruled by their emotion)
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To: don-o

The only think I ever heard him say was that the “Supreme Court has decided”. Is that what you refer to as support?

Honestly, I see no difference with Cruz’s response: “It’s a question for the states.”

Both are saying, “Not in my in-box at this moment in time.”

Neither want to make opposition a key issue at this point in their campaigns, and neither give any indication if they’ll fight and how they’ll fight.


168 posted on 01/26/2016 6:39:19 AM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: TurkeyLurkey

I’m just looking to score one or two meaningful conservative victories and get points on the board. No other GOPer will deliver, either because they won’t get elected or if they do get elected, they just won’t nail it shut.

We’re at the point where we have lost the political and cultural war. We’re stuck with it for a half century or so, at least. It’s not going to be undone. We need to mitigate damage and score some wins.

Cruz won’t do it. Most of the GOP field won’t do it.


169 posted on 01/26/2016 6:40:26 AM PST by Ted Grant
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To: dead

Fact is America needs BOTH the warrior AND the wonk and DT shot that synergy down, insulting 20 million Trump/Cruz fans needlessly and unapologetically. If Cruz had done this instead, I’d be in Trump’s camp hoping Cruz fell down ASAP.

Of course I’ll pull for DT if he wins. Just not enthusiastically.


170 posted on 01/26/2016 6:40:29 AM PST by txhurl (I'm with the Nasty Canadian '16)
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To: Kaslin
I'll vote for Trump is he's the nominee as well.

That said, this article pretty much nails it for me.

171 posted on 01/26/2016 6:41:02 AM PST by skeeter
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To: papertyger

Pick a topic, and GW didn’t defend it. He wouldn’t even defend his own war or his search for WMDs.


172 posted on 01/26/2016 6:41:20 AM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: VTenigma
A cult of personality, seems this is how we pick our leaders now.

Because there has never been a US president who was picked in part because he had personality before now.

173 posted on 01/26/2016 6:41:25 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: papertyger
Stopped reading right there.

BOOOOOOOORING Can't you come up with something new?

174 posted on 01/26/2016 6:44:24 AM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him. He got them and now we have to pay the consequences)
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To: Gaffer

I have never said that Trump was anything except Trump. I have never claimed he was Conservative. I have never claimed that he was “anointed by The Almighty”.

The fact that Trump can’t be readily categorized is what is driving people bonkers. Trump is quite something we haven’t seen before. His business experience and know how will serve us well if he’s elected. I’m convinced of that.

This nation is literally in its death throes. Quibbling about party lines, religious affiliations and the fine points of polite speech are things we had the luxury of doing when our enemies weren’t pouring across our undefended battle lines and attacking us in our streets. Congress could have all the time in the world to politely and according to protocol, hash things over and over again before coming to a politically correct solution then.

This time in our history is a whole different world and it’s going to require a whole different approach to save any part of our Republic from the forces that are coming against it. It’s going to take a different kind of person to implement the push back. Donald Trump knows both sides of the coin when it comes to America, both the political and the business. How anyone thinks that that doesn’t make him more viable as a candidate than someone who knows only one is beyond me.


175 posted on 01/26/2016 6:46:58 AM PST by Aleya2Fairlie
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To: XEHRpa; ScottinVA
Au contraire...etc.

So apparently it's okay oppose Trump by speculating on what another part of government will do, but it's not okay to support him by speculating he WILL do what he says....

176 posted on 01/26/2016 6:47:15 AM PST by papertyger (-/\/\/\-)
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To: don-o
"The only think thing..."

Why do I always see those kinds of mistakes after I push the button?

177 posted on 01/26/2016 6:47:58 AM PST by xzins (Have YOU Donated to the Freep-a-Thon? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: papertyger

‘Yeah, ‘fearless’ as long as it doesn’t scare US.’

I’m scared Trump might shoot my cats, but I’ll risk it.


178 posted on 01/26/2016 6:48:05 AM PST by Arthur Wildfire! March (Cruz and Trump FRiends strongest when we don't insult each other.)
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To: papertyger

Case in point.


179 posted on 01/26/2016 6:48:08 AM PST by MarDav
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To: UCANSEE2

Sorry I did not complete my thought we already have a spiritual leader and hopefully a minister.


180 posted on 01/26/2016 6:48:27 AM PST by nclaurel
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