A Two-Step Process to Slow the Trump Juggernaut

 

shutterstock_196597007 (1)Yesterday, Jon raised the issue of how Republican candidates should deal with Donald Trump’s presence in the presidential race. That happens to also have been the topic of my weekly column in the Orange County Register. My diagnosis:

That Trump’s candidacy is getting some traction is partially the fault of his GOP rivals. In recent years, many mainstream Republicans have abandoned any criticism of illegal immigration because of fears that they will be branded racists. But, as the recent murder of 32-year-old Kate Steinle – in the sanctuary city of San Francisco – by an illegal immigrant demonstrates, falling silent on these problems doesn’t make them go away. How many innocent lives, exactly, ought to be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness?

That timidity among Republican candidates has left the field wide open for people like Trump. It’s a similar dynamic to the one in Europe, where elite aversion to talking about real problems related to immigration works to the benefit of the overtly nationalistic, fascist parties that are the only ones even willing to broach the topic. Crazy doesn’t beat sane. But it does beat silent.

Thus, the first step to undermining Trump’s ascendancy is for more mainstream Republican candidates to start taking the issues surrounding illegal immigration seriously. Carly Fiorina – who has consistently been one rhetorical step ahead of her GOP rivals – got off to a good start on Sunday when she noted on ABC’s “This Week” that, “I think Donald Trump taps into an anger that I hear every day. People are angry that a commonsense thing like securing the border or ending sanctuary cities is somehow considered extreme.”

Undermining Trump on immigration, however, is necessary but not sufficient. The Donald happened to luck into a resonant policy issue, but it’s style, not substance, that fuels his candidacy. It’s that personality – truculent, unbowed, politically incorrect to the point of tactlessness – that appeals to Republicans fatigued by mealy-mouthed politicians.

This is where things get tricky for [RNC Chairman Reince] Priebus and anyone who’d prefer that Trump go away rather than publicly conflating his bull-in-a-china-shop brand with the GOP. Because The Donald has positioned himself as an antagonist to the status quo, attempts to marginalize him only further his cause. Cut him out of the presidential debates, and you only accentuate his case that he’s the one man who scares the establishment. It’s generally a mistake to murder a man so hungry for martyrdom. What Republicans need is someone who can challenge him on his own terms.

That’s where Chris Christie comes in.

You can read the full thing here.

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  1. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    Pseudodionysius:

    We will soon find out. I do think that what annoys the pundits is that Trump’s media offensive and (allegedly) deep pockets have the potential to ruin the normal Kabuki theatre which they can report on and analyze and turn it into something the media has far less control over than in previous elections.

    Conservative pundits, perhaps.  I think the media like the idea of a Trump “outrage of the day.”  Trump always seemed to be in the New York press anyway, whether it was the divorces or the feud with Rosie O’Donnell.

    On the conservative side, I think what annoys a lot of people is that we have been hearing for months that this was going to be the most impressive crop of candidates ever and they have been overshadowed by a celebrity who has never held elected office and whose conservative views are newly minted.

    • #31
  2. billy Inactive
    billy
    @billy

    I kind of think Trump might be a net positive for the GOP. He distracts the media with his silliness while the real candidates develop their campaigns on the ground.

    • #32
  3. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    So the Christie idea was a good one, but it seems Rick Perry has decided he’s the man for the job instead.  He might just have the Texas bluster to pull it off, too.

    I’m still utterly unconvinced that there’s any reason to take Trump’s rise more seriously than any other flavor of the month.  Sooner or later, his shamelessness and lack of political experience will catch up with him.  He’s fun for a little while, but his shtick will wear old.  The man boasts shamelessly about his wealth, treats others with contempt, exaggerates his abilities beyond all credibility, and lies flagrantly and obviously.  As actual voting approaches, people will think about the nuclear button and realize they have other ways of sticking it to the Establishment.

    billy:

    The Trump Show won’t last past the first few primaries. The real front-runners will emerge from top three winners in Iowa, NH, and SC. To succeed in those a candidate will have to put a lot of hours into meeting the voters in small groups over and over again.

    Trump won’t do that.

    I think this is true.  Or even if he did, I don’t think it will work for him.

    And I note that even as he soared in meaningless national polls, he’s yet to crack Walker’s lead in Iowa.

    • #33
  4. Palaeologus Inactive
    Palaeologus
    @Palaeologus

    For the record, there is no “Trump Juggernaut.”

    He’s Herman Cain with a more obviously problematic better-known reputation, inferior charisma, a slightly nuttier disposition, less discipline, and bad hair.

    Trump has no chance.

    If the concern is a third-party type deal, the only context in which I find it remotely plausible is a Bush vs. Clinton scenario, and Bloomberg, not Trump, is the threat.

    • #34
  5. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    A Two-Step Process to Slow the Trump Juggernaut

    Why?

    What is the purpose exactly, the goal?  He is no true threat to anyone seeking the nomination and the hilarious idea that he would run as a third party candidate only has credence if some in the GOP are intent on goading the man into it through their feckless stupidity, ( which at the moment I will grant appears to be a reasonable supposition )

    That this carnival barker has any support at all is only a testament to the gross incompetence of the GOP. Hairpiece has only one lesson to teach and all who whine about him appear absolutely intent on not learning the lesson. I will spell it out slowly, we are discussing politicos here, craven obsequiousness to PC yields one absolutely nothing with conservatives, nothing but contempt.

    • #35
  6. Ricochet Member
    Ricochet
    @EustaceCScrubb

    I’m more interested in Process to Stop the Jeb! Moneyroll.

    • #36
  7. Ricochet Member
    Ricochet
    @

    Herbert Woodbery:This trump phenomenon is amazing. Wealth and a ability to self promote has its advantages……

    Yes, Ross Perot can certain attest to that.

    • #37
  8. Ricochet Member
    Ricochet
    @

    Quinn the Eskimo:

    The Cloaked Gaijin:

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    That’s where Chris Christie comes in.

    Regarding immigration, Numbersusa.com rated Christie an F just 4 years ago, but only a C- today.

    I think Troy’s suggestion is that Christie perform the equivalent of a murder-suicide with Trump. Few people think Christie will be the nominee, but he is enough of a brawler to go head to head with Trump if it came to it.

    On a related note, I am old enough to remember when people said that Christie could never be the nominee because his tough-talk routine wouldn’t play well in other parts of the country. I suppose in another year this will all play itself out, but it does seem like there is an audience for bluntness.

    Of course there’s an audience for bluntness. The only question is whether or not the audience is growing bored of said bluntness. After all, from Pat Buchanan to Tom Tancredo to Ann Coulter, blunt talk regarding illegal immigration has been the bread and butter of a lot of conservatism for the past 20-24 years.

    • #38
  9. Jim Kearney Member
    Jim Kearney
    @JimKearney

    Palaeologus:… a third-party type deal, the only context in which I find it remotely plausible is a Bush vs. Clinton scenario, and Bloomberg, not Trump, is the threat.

    Threat to them; beneficiary, option or “only way out” for voters.

    • #39
  10. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    Brad2971:

    Quinn the Eskimo:

    The Cloaked Gaijin:

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    That’s where Chris Christie comes in.

    Regarding immigration, Numbersusa.com rated Christie an F just 4 years ago, but only a C- today.

    I think Troy’s suggestion is that Christie perform the equivalent of a murder-suicide with Trump. Few people think Christie will be the nominee, but he is enough of a brawler to go head to head with Trump if it came to it.

    On a related note, I am old enough to remember when people said that Christie could never be the nominee because his tough-talk routine wouldn’t play well in other parts of the country. I suppose in another year this will all play itself out, but it does seem like there is an audience for bluntness.

    Of course there’s an audience for bluntness. The only question is whether or not the audience is growing bored of said bluntness. After all, from Pat Buchanan to Tom Tancredo to Ann Coulter, blunt talk regarding illegal immigration has been the bread and butter of a lot of conservatism for the past 20-24 years.

    This is the first time someone a wealthy, non politician, New Yawk entertainer has beaten the drum so loudly.

    • #40
  11. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    Trump v. Christie – talk about being caught between Scylla and Charybdis.

    • #41
  12. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    Carey J.:Trump v. Christie – talk about being caught between Scylla and Charybdis.

    Abbot and Costello

    • #42
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