by Mark Gibson
Before I address the GOP run of Donald Trump, I confess that I stopped watching mainstream television back in the 1980s, my basic theory being that popular television would corrode the brain and stifle not just creativity but independent thought as well.
In the years since, I’ve seen no evidence that I made the wrong decision. But I’m not up on the “American celebrity” appeal of Mr. Trump. What little I’ve heard from him is vulgar, inhumane and childish.
I did hear of the “Trump Taj Mahal” when it went bankrupt, a fairly common occurrence in the Trump business model.
The last Trump story I read was about women protesting at the “Trump” in regards to wage and employment practices. They have my sympathy.
The idea that Trump could lead the U.S. anywhere but down is laughable.
Political pundits do laugh, and say he’ll soon be out of the running. But the question remains, will Trump “knock out” a viable, centrist GOP candidate that I might have voted for? So far my “I will not vote for…” list covers all the current front runners. I will not vote for a Bush and I will not vote for a Clinton.
The dynastic approach just doesn’t work for me, in regards to both “top” candidates, and both seem dishonest and manipulative. Genetics, maybe.
So with Bush and Clinton “no go” on any ticket of mine, I would love to have the option of voting for a GOP candidate, or a Democratic candidate, with the proven ability to work between parties and negotiate honest compromises to the good of the nation. We used to call them “Statesmen.”
Candidates with deep commitments not to moral issues —b eyond their own behavior — but political, economic and human ones.
Such candidates are unlikely to get any traction with the GOP, especially with Trump rampaging on stage at every opportunity.
That said, Democrats are perhaps a bit too happy about the Trump run. "Today, Donald Trump became the second major Republican candidate to announce for president in two days," DNC national press secretary Holly Shulman said in a statement, “He adds some much-needed seriousness that has previously been lacking from the GOP field, and we look forward to hearing more about his ideas for the nation.”
A wonderfully cutting statement, I’m sure, but my plea to the GOP, and the Democratic National Committee as well, is this: Give me a candidate I can vote for.
No Bush. No Clinton. No Trump. Surely there is a decent candidate somewhere in the wings? Or was I right, and bad television (thank you Mr. Trump) has truly corroded the American brain beyond sense and sensibility?
by RaeLynn Ricarte
Donald Trump’s strong numbers in several national polls should be seen by “establishment Republicans” as a barometer about how unhappy millions of Conservatives are with their representation in Washington.
Instead of canned speeches that center on the themes “working across the aisle” and gaining “bipartisan cooperation” Trump tells it like he sees it and doesn’t back down from criticism.
It is estimated that three million Conservatives refused to vote in the 2012 election because they did not see candidate Mitt Romney as representative of their values.
Trump’s support is just further evidence that GOP leadership needs to listen more closely to the disgust of their constituents with the way this country is headed.
The fact that he is a successful businessman in the private sector and not a career politician is also playing well with many potential voters.
However, there are concerns about Trump’s true stance on issues that voters need to heed.
Speculation that he is a “Democrat plant” to sabotage the GOP’s prospects for the White House in 2016 is made possible by these contradictions.
He was an early supporter of Obamacare and friend of Hillary Clinton’s, donating money to her campaigns in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
In 2007, Trump called Clinton a “great appointment for secretary of state.” He reversed that stance earlier this year by referring to Clinton as “desperate” and “sad.”
Trump told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in 2004 that he identified as a Democrat. He supported President Barack Obama’s massive economic stimulus package in 2009 that greatly increased the national debt.
He has also flip-flopped on other issues, including abortion, which he once supported but now claims to be against.
The remarks he made about John McCain not being a hero because he was captured and held prisoner during the Vietnam war was a huge gaffe for Trump as far as gaining veteran support. Especially from a man who got a medical deferment to avoid going to war.
Perhaps Trump has changed his stance on many issues because he realizes that big-government tax and spend Liberalism is killing this country economically.
Time will tell whether Trump is a good choice.
If he does not emerge as the winner of the primaries, GOP leaders worry that Trump may run as a third party candidate against the Democratic hopeful.
The last time that happened, during the race between Pres. George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Ross Perot, also a wealthy billionaire, took almost 19 percent of the popular vote, which cost Bush the election.
Let’s hope Trump’s involvement in the election brings needed change and not harm.
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