Posted on 08/23/2016 5:22:38 AM PDT by Kaslin
I asked a successful businessman the other day what he thought about Donald Trump. He turned his thumb down. Wow. "Are you going to vote for Hillary?" I asked with trepidation. "Of course not," he replied, almost insulted by the question. "I understand the concept of a binary decision."
I got a similar response when I asked oil magnate T. Boone Pickens whether he would vote for Trump. He looked at me with a quizzical expression and replied: "Well, who else is there to vote for?"
Right. Who else is there? Yet, amazingly, a caucus of lifelong Republican politicos in Washington are announcing to the world with defiance and self-righteousness that they will vote for Hillary Clinton.
They are mostly former Mitt Romney and George W. Bush operatives. They lost, and now they want people to believe that their anti-Trumpism is a principled act of heroism. They ingratiate themselves to The New York Times, Washington Post and team Clinton -- the sworn enemies of free markets and conservative values.
Somehow this doesn't offend their moral compass.
I certainly don't mean to disparage conservatives who say they won't vote for Trump. One's vote is a matter of personal conscience. But to actively support Clinton is to put the other team's jersey on and then run a lap around the stadium.
It's worth examining the case of the Republicans for Clinton, because none of the arguments make much sense.
First, many say that Trump can't win, that it's hopeless. These are the same political geniuses who a year ago assured us that Trump could never win a primary (he won most of them), then that he couldn't win 50 percent of the vote (he did), then that he couldn't win 50 percent outside of New York (he did), then that he couldn't win a majority of the delegates (he did). On every occasion, the Trump haters were wrong. How about a little humility, since they are batting 0.00?
The "Trump can't win" mantra isn't just wrong; it's subversive. Of course he can win. He is running against Hillary Clinton, for goodness' sakes. So why do they say this? Because the never-Trumpers want Trump to lose, because he is to the political class (Republicans and Democrats) the disruptor that Uber is to taxicab drivers.
Second is the complaint by some economists that Trump can't be supported because he is not for free trade. Longtime Washington insider Vin Weber reportedly has said: "The world economic order and the Republican Party" would be "all in shambles" if Trump wins. "I think markets would collapse."
Really? Hillary Clinton flip-flops every day on free trade, so why is it that only Trump would cause a recession? He doesn't get that the Trump movement is a revolt against the world order.
Meanwhile, Trump is calling for the biggest tax cuts and reforms since Reagan. He supports massive regulatory relief and school choice. Trump wants to kill Obamacare. On energy, Trump wants a pro-America drilling policy. Clinton wants to soak the rich, increase the debt, stop energy development, expand entitlements and double down on Obamacare. How is this a difficult choice for a free marketeer?
Third, the Trump haters say we must throw Trump under the bus and concentrate on saving the Senate and House.
This is a foolhardy strategy, because one can't win without the other. As economist Donald Luskin puts it in his historical analysis of presidential races and Senate gains: "It is clear from history that the House and the Senate move in the same party direction as the White House, and with the same magnitude. That means the presidential candidate is like a boat that congressional candidates are riding on. It's really stupid to torpedo that boat."
Finally, there is the view expressed by Bret Stephens, my former colleague at The Wall Street Journal, who wants to "make sure Trump is the biggest loser in presidential history" so that we can "rebuild the conservative movement."
If Obama/Clinton win a third straight presidential race, there won't be a conservative movement left to rebuild. The Republicans will move to the left. Worse, for Obama to effectively win a third term will validate all of the destructive policies of the last eight years. This will be one of the greatest victories for liberal governance of all time.
Do the "never-Trumpers" want to facilitate that? Do they want to hand the left its greatest victory for liberal governance of all time? If they do, they are the unforgivable betrayers of conservative principles.
If T. Boone is such an oil magnate, why did he try to scam us with his wind turbine crap?
Screw em
Yes!!!
Overthinking it a bit.
What we are seeing is the true nature of many who claimed to speak for Republicans. They are Democrat moles that have worked their way into the party, gained control and work hand in hand with the Democrats while giving lip service to those that voted for them.
Trump has pulled back the curtain exposing them for the “traitors” they are.
Shame and damnation to all of them.
I’m really getting fed up with the media reporting as truth that these nevertrumpers are in danger of losing because of Trump. They’re going to lose because we’re fed up with backstabbing elitist globalists.
They exposed themselves and we must oppose them at every primary. I cancelled my subscription to Kristol’s rag years ago.
Whose harm or benefit that absence vote redounds to isn't always clear - but in the case of the #neverTrump-ers it is blindingly obvious that the absence half of their vote benefits Hillary, the most dangerous candidate in American history - and, considering the power of the US government, arguably the most dangerous candidate in the history of the world.
Because when magnates spin they produce electricity.
:>)
Your post just made me think of something. “They are racist.”
That was cute! :0)
Because oil isn’t used to create electricity.
If you own the land to pump oil from under it, might as well put windmills on top of it and branch out to the electricity market too.
Shame on ALL #NeverTrumpers. They are real RumpHoles and I hope no one from the Bush family ever gets elected again.
The GOPe Hillary supporters are seeking revenge on the 13,000,000 primary voters who got tired of losing with GOPe candidates in 2008 and 2012. They cast themselves as heroes, when all they are are sore losers. If Hillary wins, and she taxes the pants off the rich, they possibly will regret their stubbornness, but they won’t admit it.
” But to actively support Clinton is to put the other team’s jersey on and then run a lap around the stadium.”
They are not “supporting” Clinton. Clinton is the puppet like Obama was the puppet. Democrats got the power and votes, Republicans got cheap labor. Everyone is happy except the American people.
The Globalists not only need to be defeated, they need to be arrested, put on trial at the Hague.The one thing Glenn Beck did right was document how everything is interwoven. Take that map and tear it all apart.
All I ask is for Trump to leave the journolistas for me.
You never heard of oil fired boilers to heat water to make steam to drive turbine generators?
“What we are seeing is the true nature of many who claimed to speak for Republicans. They are Democrat moles that have worked their way into the party, gained control and work hand in hand with the Democrats while giving lip service to those that voted for them.”
That needs be resaid, bravo
A financial magnate was on his death bed. He was under an Oxygen tent. At his side stood his loyal subordinate, tears streaming down his face.
“Do not grieve,” whispered the expiring tycoon, with considerable effort. “I want you to know that I appreciate your faithful services to me over the years. I am leaving you my money, my plane, my estates, my yacht… everything I have.”
“Thank you sir” cried the subordinate. “You have always been so good to me all these years. If only there were something I could do for you in these last moments.”
There is…there is…” gasped the half-dead man.
“Then tell me what it is,” implored the faithful servant, “tell me before it’s too late!”
“…stop pressing your foot so hard on the oxygen line…”
I have a theory about these congressmen against Trump. Maybe the special interests have financed their elections and now calling the shots for their votes in this election....or else?
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