So what is there to say about
the “Donald Trump Phenomenon” that seems to be gripping the not only the
Republican Party but also the time and imaginations of political junkies of all
stripes? Maybe nothing original, but,
from the perspective of a self-described genuine conservative (a moniker that conveniently
allows one plenty of leeway), I think Mr. Trump’s still quixotic quest for the
White House can be summarized as follows:
Mr. Trump reflects and
largely embodies some very legitimate views and some very understandable
concerns about issues of vital importance to a large portion, perhaps the
predominant portion, of the electorate.
His stances (or, more properly, attitudes regarding; Mr. Trump has no
policy stances as far as one can tell) on, among other things, illegal
immigration, economic nationalism, and the incompetence and pusillanimity of
our preening politicasters are shared by legions of people who work, pay taxes,
and vote, and who have a large measure of responsibility, and should take a
large measure of the credit, for keeping this economy and country running.
Mr. Trump’s problem, however,
is at least two-fold. First, he is a
decidedly imperfect vessel for addressing the problems he highlights. He is neither trustworthy nor as competent as
he seems to think. He has a history of
stiffing creditors and taking a scattershot approach to his business endeavors along
with showing incredibly poor judgment in those with whom he does business and
in those frivolous activities with which he chooses to fritter away his
time. Note his being a paid cheerleader
for dubious multi-level marketer ACN and his beyond fatuous “The Apprentice” show. Those with solid judgment and a sense of
integrity don’t associate with the likes of ACN and those who place any value on their time don’t squander it on
trendy piffles like “The Apprentice.”
Second, Mr. Trump has a habit
of saying stupid, ill-informed, and gratuitously insulting and demeaning things
about people he doesn’t like or merely disagrees with. Everyone likes spirited debate and, truth be
told, we all like to aim a zinger at our opponents and feel a usually short lived
shot of satisfaction when such barbs find their marks. But one should at least be clever and
pointed in one’s insults. Comments
about the manifestations and origins of the anger of previously largely unknown
anchor people and the desirability of seeing certain women on their knees are
not only demeaning and gratuitously insulting; they are also pathetic, uncouth,
puerile, and reflective of an inability to control one’s urges or to
effectively express one’s opinions.
By making such inane
pronouncements and graceless, thoughtless, misogynistic attacks, Mr. Trump
delegitimizes the legitimate views and concerns for which he is acting as a
herald. He defeats his own
purposes…assuming that Mr. Trump has purposes that transcend gratifying his own
ego.
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