Donald Trump
3,487 pieces tagged “Donald Trump”, newest first.
TV Networks Make Waves for Trump
The fascination of the news media with Donald Trump is ironic, to say the least. For people who have long lamented the domination of Big Money in politics, these reporters are presenting Mr. Big Money himself with a ticker tape parade of free media. It could be considered hypocritical, too. Big Money is a bad thing — unless they're the ones making it. Fox's 24 million viewers for their debate proved Trump's market value; ever since that debate, it's been all media, all the time for him.
GOP Should Worry Less About Trump and More About Itself
Commentators and political consultants are working overtime to divine why Donald Trump's candidacy is explosively successful despite his breaking all the established rules. They're outthinking themselves. They say he is a flash in the pan, the darling of disaffected independents, the tea party's dream, a Clinton plant or the right wing's narcissistic alternative to Barack Obama. Folks, it's not that difficult. For many Americans — who knows what percentage? — the Republican Party is not an antidote to President Obama's seven-year wrecking ball.
Immigration Fault Lines
Many issues illuminate America's cultural fault lines, but none is hotter than immigration, and it's time to provide some much-needed perspective for no other reason than to counter the blizzard of b.s. being foisted on the American public. An American public that will be labeled nativist, bigoted or mean-spirited if they don't buy into every contemptible ounce of it. We begin where everyone begins these days with Donald Trump. Like him or hate him, he has done this nation an enormous service in bringing the immigration issue front and center.
Trump Defines Down the GOP
It has come to this: The GOP, formerly the party of Lincoln and ostensibly the party of liberty and limited government, is being defined by clamors for a mass roundup and deportation of millions of human beings. To will an end is to will the means for the end, so the Republican clamors are also for the requisite expansion of government's size and coercive powers. Most of Donald Trump's normally loquacious rivals are swaggeringly eager to confront Vladimir Putin, but are too invertebrate — Lindsey Graham is an honorable exception — to voice robust disgust with Trump and the spirit of, the police measures necessary for, and the cruelties that would accompany, his policy. The policy is: "They've got to go."
The Immigration Swamp
For years, immigration has been the subject of near-constant, often bitter argument within the GOP. But it is true that Trump has brought the debate to a new place — first, with his announcement speech, about whether Mexican migrants are really rapists, and now with the somewhat more nuanced Trump plan. Much of it — visa tracking, E-Verify, withholding funds from sanctuary cities — predates Trump. Even building the Great Wall is not particularly new. (I, for one, have been advocating that in this space since 2006.) Dominating the discussion, however, are his two policy innovations: (a) abolition of birthright citizenship and (b) mass deportation.
Taking Our Country Back: From Whom?
Let's assume, for fun, that Donald Trump's supporters are thinking with their brains, not their viscera. If so, they will want to know that the issue he has lassoed for self-aggrandizement has been utterly demagogued. Trump is playing them for chumps. A young woman was murdered by an illegal alien in a so-called "sanctuary city." Awful, of course. San Francisco's officials bear some of the blame for Kate Steinle's death by declining to enforce the law. But Trump has abused the trust of his audiences by suggesting that an illegal immigrant crime spree is the great threat to our nation. Trump admirers yearn to "take our country back." From whom? From Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Al Sharpton, The New York Times, Jon Stewart and Hillary Clinton? Or from Mexican illegals?
It's Time to Take on Trump
Is Donald Trump the Republican Party's "Music Man"? Is he the celebrity con man who's going to lead the GOP's parade of candidates from now all the way until next November? I hope not, but so far that's exactly what the 2016 script is looking like. Trump — a political novice — has been leading the Republican's presidential marching band all over the political landscape. His campaign's theme song should be "Seventy-Six Trombones." Trump — a political novice — has been leading the Republican's presidential marching band all over the political landscape. His campaign's theme song should be "Seventy-Six Trombones."
Donald Trump's Half-Serious, Half-Fantasy Immigration Plan
Donald Trump's six-page platform on immigration may not be, as Ann Coulter wrote, "the greatest political document since the Magna Carta." But given the issue's role in elevating the candidate to leading Republican polls, it merits serious attention. And at least some of the platform's planks are serious. Trump calls for nationwide use, presumably mandatory, of E-Verify, the government system that is supposed to enable prospective employers to verify a job applicant's immigration status.
Fox News Anchored in Stupidity on 14th Amendment
Based on the hysterical flailing at Donald Trump — *He's a buffoon! He's a clown! He calls people names! He's too conservative! He's not conservative enough! He won't give details! His details won't work!* — I gather certain Republicans are determined to drive him from the race. These same Republicans never object to other candidates who lack traditional presidential resumes — Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain, to name a few. I'm beginning to suspect it's all about Trump's opposition to mass immigration from the Third World. Amid the hysteria, Trump is the only one speaking clearly and logically, while his detractors keep making utter asses of themselves.
Trump Accused of Trashing GOP 'Brand' — By GOP Brand-Trashers
Donald Trump stands accused of "trashing the GOP brand" by many of the same GOP politicians and pundits who have no reluctance in "trashing" the most consequential recent decision made by a Republican president — the decision to go to war in Iraq. When asked a few months ago whether he would have authorized the 2003 war in Iraq, as his brother President George W. Bush did, Republican candidate and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush first said yes, "I would have." Then, when criticized days later, the younger Bush did a 180: "So here's the deal. If we're all supposed to answer hypothetical questions, knowing what we know now, I would not have engaged. I would not have gone into Iraq." Other Republican candidates — with the exception of Sen. Lindsey Graham — quickly jumped on board the "I wouldn't have gone into Iraq" bus.
Sanders and Trump: Two Peas in a Pod?
A new chapter in American politics has begun. Millions of Americans on the right and left have lost faith in their political parties, their government and even the economic system. Only 1 in 4 Americans are satisfied with the way things are going. Policy experts will offer various arguments why at least some of these people are wrong to feel this way, but the discontented will not tolerate arguments that amount to "don't believe your lying eyes — or wallets." In politics, feelings are more important than hard numbers.
Obama Caves Again, Corker Opposes Deal, Who IS Fringe
Weeks ago, Iran told us that it would refuse to allow U.S. personnel to serve on the international inspection teams responsible for verifying Tehran's compliance with the proposed nuclear deal. That should have been a non-starter for any American administration, but the Obama/Kerry team accepted it. Now the regime is making even more demands. [Monday], Iran's deputy foreign minister claimed that every U.N. inspector must be vetted and approved by Iran's intelligence service.
Trump's Immigration Plan Is Exactly Why He's So Appealing
The Donald goes with his strong suit in appeal to frustrated voters.
The Racing Form, Third Edition
Both presidential nomination contests having been scrambled by recent events — the FBI taking control of Hillary Clinton's private email server and a raucous, roiling GOP debate — the third edition of the Racing Form is herewith rushed into print. Legal disclaimer: This column is for betting purposes only. What follows is analysis — scrubbed, as thoroughly as a Clinton server, of advocacy. (Unless I simply can't resist.) *Hillary Clinton:* Ever since her disastrous book-launch performance, I've thought her both (1) a weak candidate and (2) the inevitable Democratic nominee.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton: Incapable of Embarrassment
August is traditionally a vacation month, and East Coast elites, following European tradition, are thick on the ground in the Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard (the Obamas' choice) and Nantucket. But news — in some cases, shattering news — keeps breaking out all over, at home and abroad this August. Actually that's not unusual. Saddam Hussein overran Kuwait in August 1990; Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland in August 1939; the great powers of Europe went to war in August 1914.
Trump, Trumpies & RINOs Trouble the GOP
Donald Trump did wonders for Fox News' ratings and Megyn Kelly's star power last week. But "The Donald" didn't do himself, the Republican Party or the conservative cause any favors. Millions of viewers saw clear evidence that Trump is not a serious Republican candidate or really a conservative. He espoused no conservative principles or policies. He offered no ideas or specific conservative solutions to any domestic or foreign problem.
Further Thoughts on the Trump Phenomenon
I learned a little bit about the Donald Trump phenomenon after my appearance on Sean Hannity's Fox News Channel show this week, as my comments led to galactic feedback on Twitter — some positive, some negative. Hannity showed segments of his interview with Trump and asked me and the other guests to respond to various aspects of it. Some of the Twitter critics were upset with Fox News, alleging that it failed to provide a balanced picture, seeing as all three of us appeared anti-Trump.