Posted on 07/31/2015 7:59:26 PM PDT by nathanbedford
Trump as a candidate is almost entirely a creation of the media. That is not to deny that he is adept at manipulating the media, that is perfectly plain. But it is to say that a man adept at manipulating the media has met a media eager to expose Trump to further its own needs. The media gains readers and viewers and makes money off the Trump phenomenon. History tells us that the media habitually builds up that which they will later destroy when it simply begins to bore them or suits their politics.
There is a third element which is vitally important to understanding the Trump phenomenon: He has given voice to a burning frustration and actual fear in middle America that we are losing our country through feckless policies such as immigration and trade. He is right and he says it better than any other candidate. The media hates the message but loves to feature the messenger (whom they also hate) because it pays so well. The more the media attacks the messenger, the more frustrated and fearful Americans, quite rational in these feelings, instinctively side with Trump. The more Trump denigrates the media, the more middle America instinctively sides with Trump because middle America viscerally understands that the media and the two political parties are in cahoots. The disenfranchised middle has almost no choice but to turn to a maverick and the more Trump is positioned either by the media or by his own mouth to be out of the mainstream, the more he fits the role of white knight riding to the rescue with no motive other than to save the Holy Grail of our way of life.
How then will the media ultimately destroy Trump's candidacy? First it is necessary to understand that Trump's candidacy is a media event, not a grassroots movement, not a development within the party, not a political movement. It is a series of media events.Trump makes good copy and gives good video. Rather than a grassroots movement, rather than a bottom-up phenomenon, it is a sensory event, one that must occupy the screen and preoccupy the consciousness or fade out. A media phenomenon survives only so long as it is a phenomenon in the media. That implies that Trump must be ever more and more outlandish if he is to hold media momentum. He will be confronted with the choice: Either he burlesque's his own character ever more and more or he moderates. If he chooses the former he will eventually cross too many lines; if he chooses the latter he will lose the magic. His timing and stage presence must be exquisite if he is to keep the cameras rolling.
The choice Trump must make comes in the context of issues. We have already seen him start to dance on the issue of immigration: Who he will deport; how he will uncover them in America; how he will physically deport them; whom he will allow to return to America; upon what standard; whom he will make citizens; why?. His answer was virtually incoherent but even if regarded to be coherent, his answer was hardly confidence inspiring, in reality, it was not the kind of second act needed to keep the media bubble growing. Was he moderating his position? Has he continued to differentiate himself from other true conservatives like Ted Cruz? How is his immigration stand different from Scott Walker's? Sooner or later, Trump must say something other than, "I will make America great" he must choose. With choice inevitably comes opposition or disillusionment. Either he makes more enemies or he disappoints his supporters who need more and more.
The media creature can endure determined attacks in the media but he cannot survive disillusionment. Either the media bubble must grow and caricature itself until it bursts or it will spring a slow leak of disillusionment which only gathers speed and the whole balloon collapses. We have seen this time and again in American politics. Have we forgotten Herman Cain?
The upcoming debates might expose Trump to be a shallow opportunist who has diagnosed the problem but who has failed to rigorously think through his soundbite solutions. Most likely, the upcoming debates will not derail Trump's circus, it is still too early in the media cycle bubble, but it will begin the process.
Enjoy.
and his hair looks funny
donnies illegal alien plan
send the good and bad criminal home....and let the good ones come back
WOW what a PLAN
I am surprised Vegas isn’t taking odds on The Donald.
The media didn’t build Trump.
They can’t destroy something they didn’t build.
Hey, sweetie, come here we got another one! (Wife likes Trump) Another attempted hit piece gone fizzleiferous
Trump is the only one who understands how China is destroying the USA
Trump is the only one that can make illegals an issue and he did.
Scott Walker and Ann Coulter only ones that realize that legal 3rd world immigration as well as illegal immigration are the greatest threat to America even more so than #2 China
....”The upcoming debates ‘might’ expose Trump to be a shallow opportunist who has diagnosed the problem but who has failed to rigorously think through his soundbite solutions.... Most likely, the upcoming debates will not derail Trump’s circus, it is still too early in the media cycle bubble, but it will begin the process”.....
Regardless of how he does in this first debate I tend to think he’ll fall back on this is still new to him and the media will continue to give him a ride.
On the other hand ....Trump may very well do far more admirably then people might expect. The debates are getting down to “business” he may put on his best performance yet.
I have felt this for some time with Trump, but I believe the solution for the problem has already been dealt with.
Cruz has that grassroots organization you’re speaking of, and he and Trump have been meeting for months.
As/if Trump declines you’ll see Cruz pull those disgruntled Conservatives, and Reagan Democrats to him.
It’s going to take a delicate balancing act to shift the support, but I believe we have already seen the beginning, and will see more in the debates.
Just hearing Cruz inspires people, and unfortunately most Americans haven’t heard him yet. Watch for that to change after the first debate.
Your posts always provoke thought. however let’s see what his book portends and how he actually performs in the debate.
He’s going to have to give more than that at the debates. ...and he likely will do pretty well I think. Much like when he needs to get down to business when he makes deals.....
The other candidates aren’t certain what to expect so we will see..... But Trump now needs to have the substance his otherwise fan club needs to hear if he wants to win this.
Criticism is one thing; he's survived everything thrown at him so far.
Objectively speaking, your well written and thought out post is actually part prognostication, and part pontification.
I have always enjoyed every damn word you write, and I do this posting as well, but do not confuse what you've written with legitimate criticism.
Trump has research staff.
How many top selling books did Nathan Bedford write?
His name barely comes up on the search engine.
He is right and he says it better than any other candidate.
He can attack the bloodsucking political plunderers and their willing accomplices in the media, like no other candidate. He is not a professional politician. We need thousands more like him at every level of federal, state and local government.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
He is as independent from these self-righteous uniparty socialists as his declarations indicate.
America…American
He did build that.
They did build this…
$18,327,870,350,802 and climbing
Why haven't I thought of that? Now I will never again be discomforted, or challenged, in any opinion.
Really?
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