Posted on 11/20/2015 11:30:00 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
As has been made abundantly clear by his incessant mewling and pathetically thin skin, Donald J. Trump is not in fact an unwaveringly resolute tough guy of the type you would hope to find standing next to you in the trenches, but an insecure attention seeker who cannot help but pander to his audiences' prejudices. In the past few days, Trump has been asked variously whether, if elected, he would use his power to close mosques; whether he believes that Muslims should be registered in a special government database; and whether or not it would be a good idea to suspend the Fourth Amendment for anybody who prays to Allah. In all cases he has either demurred completely or eschewed the more traditional "yes" and "no" categories in favor of some choice hedging. "That may have to be done," Trump says. "There's no doubt." "We'll look at that." "We'll consider all the options." "We're going to have to look at a lot of things very closely."
So painful has this tendency become that I have begun to hope his interviewers will get a little surreal, just to see what he says:
"Will you replace your hair with spaghetti and your fingers with soup spoons?"
"Sure. We're going to look at everything."
"As president would you consider taking suspected burglars and parachuting them naked into lava?"
"That's something we'll consider. You can't have all this crime. Terrible."
"Do you think it's fair to say that you are the egg man, that you are the egg man, that you are the Walrus?"
"We're going to examine a range of possibilities."
"GooGooGooJoob?"
"I'll be looking into that."
Perhaps the only thing that is worse than Trump's silence is what he does say.
The most common defense of Trump's perpetual acquiescence has been that he did not explicitly say "yes" to the more controversial among the questions, and that he cannot therefore be accused of endorsement. In truth, this isn't quite right; speaking to NBC last night, he did seem to suggest affirmatively that Muslims would be required to sign into his hypothetical database or face consequences. Either way, I'm struggling to see how this defense can be acceptable to his admirers. Trump, recall, is supposed to be courageous. He's supposed to be steadfast. He's supposed to be a no-holds-barred badass who will make great deals and stare down enemies and Make America Great Again. How, one wonders, does a chronic inability to say "no" fit into that mien?
If there is one quality we need in a president, it is the ability decisively to say "no" - especially, I would venture, if that president hopes to advance conservative goals. When a sane person is asked whether he would institute a tracking database for Muslims or force one religious group to carry special ID cards, he says, "Of course I wouldn't." If Trump is unable to manage even this, how would he rein in spending or limit illegal immigration? More to the point, as Trump might ask sneeringly of others, how would he deal with Vladimir Putin?
Perhaps the only thing that is worse than Trump's silence is what he does say. Even if we are generous and assume that the man does not actually believe any of the specific proposals to which he has given his tacit consent, the attitude he is exhibiting is positively Wilsonian in character. In Trump's world, America will be restored to glory when his handpicked team of experts is permitted to experiment upon the public outside of the usual constitutional limits. Nowhere in his rhetoric will you find any reference to America's pre-existing cultural and legal traditions, or to the necessary bounds that free men insist be imposed upon the state. There is no talk of "freedom"; no reflexive grounding of ideas in the Declaration and the Federalist Papers; no conceptual explanation or underlying philosophy. There is nothing, except will to power. By his own admission, Trump's are the politics of doing enthusiastically what works in the moment; of Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt; of the administrative state and of bureaucratic expertise; of the Prussians and the French and the Singaporeans. Whatever he might claim before his adoring crowds, Trump is not in fact an antidote to Barack Obama. He is his parallel.
Calvin Coolidge said "no" over and over and over again because he understood that the federal government existed for a handful of specific reasons, and that any action it took outside of its carefully delineated tramlines was inherently suspect. Donald Trump's only visible constitutional opinion is that someone strong ought to make sure the trams run on time. There's a word for men like that, and it sure as heck isn't "conservative."
You don’t follow Trump. The “problem” is not what Trump says, actually. It is always the interpretation of what he said, and the editing of this kerfuffle by the media, and the opponents breaking the gate to jump onto a mirage.
You can trust Trump, because from the beginning he has always plead Guilty as charged, when he was guilty as charged. Then he proceeds to dismantle the media with the synopsis of why he was guilty and why, back when he was guilty.
Trump takes his guilt and spits squarely in their eye.
It is disarming the way he handles the media and panelists and opponents that mess with Trump, and who hang on his occasional past political contributions required for domestic and foreign property business.
If I wanted to get a job being a paid poster where do I apply ? How much can I make? Under Obama Im close to going broke
Well stated.
Well done.
Amen and it’s going to get worse....we need to stay on our toes....(lol NO not bushy)...
Cincinatus’ Wife
is a GIRL/WOMAN!
I’ve known HER here for years.
Asa Trump hater I have to admit I like him more and more...Thats the best I can do right now...I am trying to get ready in case he wins so its not too much of a shock.
Good point/question.
All the candidates signed a pledge. . .I think it is time for the GOP to sign one also.
Why are you asking me?
That’s a good way to look at it........it could happen. I’m hoping better minds prevail though....it’s not over til it’s over.
Whoever it is has not denied it is a dude, and has even gloated about it.
I thought she was. Thank you.
What's amazing to me is the number of sycophants and easily fooled people who aren't troubled by the numerous contradictions Trump has had in policy/position in recent times.
Other candidates with similar histories are rightly mocked and denounced.
Trump himself acknowledges you have to be “dynamic” and he cares not if it's good or bad press as long as he's the star. ...and people know this very well.
I have been under the impression that she is a woman.
I think you’re wrong on this.
I’m not sure what exact conversation you had, but others seem to know her, so as I said, I think you’re wrong.
It’s not that big a deal to me, but I’m sure you want the truth of it.
People should prepare to be massively disappointed, then.
At this point it’s a tough call....
Haven’t been able to stomach O’Reilly for a while new. But must admit to being stunned by George Will.
Understood ...but I’m not a Dude....maybe a Dudess!
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No. I have better things to do.
You realize of course my analogy was making the point that there is no way that Cincinatus’ Wife will ever accept Trump no matter what anyone says..........much as me and the current pope.
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