A Conservative's Musings on All Things Political

Living most of the last two decades in the tri-state area one cannot escape the presence of one Donald Trump. His presence is ubiquitous from the high end condo developments and office complexes to the billboards promoting his various ancillary ventures in media and branded products. Donald Trump is not a man, he is a brand that is bigger than life. In the business world, his record is admirable not just for his over the top promotion and resulting economic payout for him (he is very very rich), but as a survivor in an industry where may titans of today are dust in the wind tomorrow. Donald Trump is bigger than life and he knows it.

Donald Trump is also a political chameleon who has poured considerable money in to political campaigns, mostly democratic including the likes of Andrew Cuomo and Hillary Clinton. In stark political terms, Donald Trump has the political convictions of a weathervane. As the wind goes, so goes the Donald. Thus he has decided to run for President in 2016 and joins the 16 other declared major candidates. No person can deny the importance of money to the political equation and Trump brings the satchel filled to the rim. He also brings an incredible understanding of how to feed and manipulate the media machine who love a big mouth and love one even more if it is damaging to the Republican party. Trump is an amazingly shrewd self promoter and has acutely identified the frustration in the conservative base. For years we have been promised large and delivered light by Republican candidates and leaders. With so many truly viable and electable candidates as are in the GOP race this year, trump understands that a low teens popularity puts him near the top of the polls and his mouth has an unlimited ability to entertain.

While many of Trumps remarks this year are objectionable and have rendered him undetectable (Donald Trump will not the the 45^th President of the United States), what is most regrettable is that Trump has not brought his considerable business expertise to the debate around improving the American economy. In this area he has much to add and could have created a compelling case for a Trump presidency. Instead he resorted to his carnival barker roots and went loud and wild. Its not his policy proposals that are wrong, there are polls that consistently show a majority of Americans want real boarder control (ie a BIG wall) on the southern boarder and economic disincentives for Mexican illegals crossing the boarder have been discussed before, and need to be back on the table. Trump had much to add to the debate, but instead has emerged as one of the most destructive forces to enter conservative politics since Joseph McCarthy.

Donald Trump has introduced a tone of hate and negativity into this campaign which is not only destructive to both the Republican brand but also his own reputation. Additionally he is discrediting the very positions he is advocating by framing his positions with anger and hate. Mr. Trump is a big boy and he can answer to his own conscience for his positions and statements. I support the 1^st Amendment rights of any American even when their words are, in my opinion, vile and repugnant. But all conservatives and republicans should understand, the broader electorate sees Trumps rantings as being representative of the GOP. In 2012 the repugnant statements of Missouri GOP Senate candidate Tood Akin not only assured the reelection of one of the worst senators in recent history, Claire McCaskill, but contributed to the defeat of at least 4 other senate candidates and several house nominees. Donald Trump has the ability to make Akin look like a tremor to the earthquake that is Trump.

Oh how the media and the left are eating this up. They cant get enough of Trump and when some second rate poll shows him leading in the mid teens, they gladly anoint him the GOP front runner. These news organizations are run, without exception, by New York limousine liberals who are already planning Hillary’s coronation. The fact Trump makes good copy is just icing on the cake. All this is seriously eroding the Republican position in 2016. The election which on the fundamentals is strongly leaning in a conservative direction could well be handed to the Clinton left if they conclude the GOP cannot lead. Conservatives must understand, if the Republican nominee does not win, Hillary will be the next President, the very woman Trump has enthusiastically supported for more than a decade. One never really knows what motivates a person to run for president, but for Trump it is most assuredly not conservative principles.

Its time for those of us on the right to speak up for real conservative candidates, to speak in an inclusive and positive tone, not with hate. I came of age during the Reagan era when he sought an America which would be a shining city on a hill, not a junk yard dog fight in the Bronx. This is our time and this may well be our test. Decide carefully.