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Trump: The Glass Half-Full Perspective
Trump Ice bottled water was forced into receivership in 2006. Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal
As I drive my kids to school I switch between Fox News and Glenn Beck, and when each station plays the incessant My Pillow and 877-Kars-4-Kids commercials, we enjoy some morning Zeppelin.
My youngest boy (almost 11) registered his newest complaint of the moment: “Why do we always get the red lights? It takes sooooo oooo oooo looong.” His whine-du-jour always annoys me. Being raised in England, that whole stiff-upper-lip thing was ingrained in me, so complainers always get my swift correction.
I asked him if he knew the metaphor, “The glass is half full/empty” and what it means. He nailed the answer (proud Dad). Then I asked him to use it in relation to the red light. He nailed that, too: “The red light means I get to spend less time at school and more time with you.” (Gushing proud Dad.) Lesson of the day, done.
After dropping them off, I turned back to Beck’s laser-like prosecution of Trump. He was going through a litany of reasons why Trump is not a conservative, from his endorsement of Obama to his “great friendship” with Hillary and Bill, to the likelihood he would have billions more today has he just let the interest from his inheritance compound instead of investing in myriad failed business schemes. The list went on and on, and my head nodded approval like an Oprah audience member.
His supporters apparently believe Trumps’ populist promises of great Trump Healthcare, fantastic Trump Schools (Trump University, part deux?), and the finest, most delicious Trump Steaks government cheese and spam, spam, spam, bacon, and spam. This will all be provided to the proletariat while Trump turns the Middle East into a 70s Coke hilltop commercial (sorry, Trump “perfect harmony” Cola). China, Japan, and Mexico will all bow at the knee of “Dear Leader Donald.”
His appeal to the working class (can we stop calling them Reagan Democrats, please?) is taking a page from the progressive class warfare handbook that promises to tax the wealthy (a.k.a. the upper-middle class) to pay for it all, while filing Chapter 11 and clearing the national debt. All of this can be done because we’ll sock it to those evil overseas marketplaces who provide cheap labor so Americans can enjoy cheap commodities (dey took our jerrbs!).
A pretty negative outlook from someone who just told his kid to find the positive in the situation. So, this Dad will live by his own words. Here is my feeble attempt at optimism:
1. By winning the nomination Trump will force the GOP to restructure. Trump as a Republican could turn the GOP brand into kryptonite. However, true conservatives (pointing at you, Freedom Caucus) will have an opportunity to redefine American Conservatism.
The Jordans, Duncans, and Brats in the House should corrall the GOP congress and establish a simple 2016 Contract with America. Take the initiative and proactively communicate the message of conservative ideals to a new audience. Who’s that new audience? Those “angry” new and old voters who have felt ignored and are now coming out of the woodworks to support Trump. This is a ready-made audience looking for clarity. They want to learn. They are eager to improve their lot. Let’s teach them how free markets are the answer. How regulation stifles innovation and affects growth. Introduce Econ-101 real life lessons, and explain how less regulation means more dollars in local business owners pockets, equaling more jerbs. Not just saying the words, but educating them with examples of successful people telling their stories of entrepreneurship.
2. Trump, with all his faults, will get some Democrats in his column. He will triangulate issues, and the growing liberal-conservative split of the past 30 years will become nebulous. New alliances can be formed. Instead of playing defense against phony “wars on women,” and being called racists, homophobes, and puppy killers, we can go on offense. Compare and contrast the decades of Democrat big government neglect of big cities that gave us Detroit, urban blight, crime, and the horror of union-controlled education. Democrats in Midwest rust-belt states want change. They never got it under Obama; in fact, it only got worse. Bring them over to our column by providing less centralized government and more local control.
3. Trump will need to select a strong, conservative vice-president. My suggestion is New Mexico’s two-time Governor Susana Martinez. There’s the obvious major demographic appeal (first Latina Governor), but she also has tremendous gravitas and publicly disagreed with Trump’s summer comments about Mexicans.
According to Libertarian Republic,
As governor, Martinez has been consistently conservative, refusing to raise taxes and balancing the budget without doing so … she is ardently pro-life and staunchly supports the 2nd Amendment, including the right to concealed carry.
Martinez supports strong border security, ended New Mexico’s “sanctuary state” policy, and has been trying to convince an uncooperative legislature to repeal the state’s “dangerous” practice of issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.
Imagine a strong-willed female candidate, overwhelmingly supported by Hispanics, introducing herself as the voice of reason who works directly with Trump. Given her substantial executive experience, many would consider her a safeguard against Trump’s propensity to waffle on conservative ideals. Trump should suggest Martinez will play an active and instrumental part of a Trump administration.
Inquisitr imagines her Trump Tower acceptance speech:
“I don’t see eye to eye with members of my own family about everything, so it should be no surprise that Mr. Trump and I have disagreements about some key issues. But we completely agree that decisive steps need to be taken to create jobs and restore America’s economy.
“We also agree that preventing Hillary Clinton [insert other Democrat] from carrying out a third Obama term is of utmost importance, which will require the Republican party to be unified.
“He has promised me, moreover, that I will have a seat at the table during any major decisions made by the Trump administration.”
So, not so bad, right? Yes, Trump may not be my candidate of choice, but let’s stop the handwringing, look for the silver linings, and take the initiative.
Trump may be able to herd cats into the Republican column, but it is up to true conservative leaders to convert those cats into life-long conservative lions.
Published in General
Sewing a silk purse out of a sows ear, making lemonade out of lemons, play the cards you are dealt, every cloud has a silver lining; so many metaphors, so little time.
Minor clarification here. If Trump goes into the convention with a majority of the delegates, it won’t be a brokered convention. Trump would be the nominee, period.
The rules say you have to have a majority, not just a plurality. If no one has a majority it will be a brokered convention, even if John Kasich is the one with the most votes.
Trump winning won’t cause a brokered convention. Failure to get a majority will.
On the glass half full, and I know this is wishful thinking, but maybe a Trump victory would unite the members of Congress into taking back the powers they have ceded to the Executive Branch over the past half-century or so.
It would mean reasserting the power of the purse, advise and consent on war powers, etc. Yes, it would also mean compromise between the two parties (or however many will exist when the Conservatives break from the Reps and the Socialists break from the Dems).
Respectfully, I believe this is wishful thinking. Congress is led by a pair of free spending, open border, chamber of commerce types.
Trump is a dealmaker who prides himself on doing things and supported such nuttery as the Obama/Pelosi stimulus.
Trump is a godsend to Ryan/McConnell. They can go hog wild feathering the donor’s nests and then if it all goes to hell blame it on Trump.
Excellent post. Extra points for tying one of Trump’s many ill-advised ventures into your “Glass Half Full” title.
Yes. Yes. A thousand times, Yes. (To be fair, not just interest but also dividends and reinvested capital gains.)
This has been in the back of my mind since Trump entered my consciousness back in the 1980s when I was a young, NYC yuppie who read Spy magazine (coiner of the Trump descriptor “short-fingered vulgarian”–they had Trump’s number before anyone else did). I have mentioned this a couple of times on Ricochet. To paraphrase Bastiat, with regard to Trump’s wealth, one should not look at that which is seen, but rather that which is not seen–namely, the opportunity cost of his various endeavors.
Trump’s performance looks even worse when you consider the relative risk of the S&P 500 versus investing in real estate, casinos, bottled water, steaks, vodka, etc. Not only would he be more wealthy if he had simply put his inheritance in the stock market, but he also would have subjected himself to far lesser risk.
Higher risk, lower return. Not a result to boast about. The narrative of Trump as a business genius is a myth.
Yep. Coming at them with a “Excuse me, do you have a moment to talk about our lord and savior William F. Buckley?” approach is only going to cement conservatism’s image as a let them eat cake club.
Like you I work with SMB’s, please explain why you have conflated 2 separate issues.
Well said iWe, and thank you.
Remember who we are talking about here Brent… the primary cornerstone issue I have seen is opportunism.
Ned, not disagreeing, but starting to feel a growing sense of capitulation. I don’t know if we are going to have much of a choice, unless we want to give SCOTUS and the next 3 generations to the Left.
I was thinking immigration. Martinez could easily be an open border democrat.
Gosh David, I have never disagreed with you- a rarity in my Rico world indeed- but I have to here.
Shes very strong on illegal immigration. Stopped Sanctuary Cities in her home state and
Agreed. That’s where smart messaging and appealing leadership is crucial. Conservatism is about liberty, and I assume most people still like liberty.
What can we do to message this more effectively?
Here is her record on immigration:
On The Issues Vote Quiz[40]
Economic Issues————————–Social Issues
Thanks for doing the homework.
That varies quite a bit from Ben’s interview with her he wrote about at Ricochet. Reading his take on it does not endear her to a strong national sovereignty platform.
Edit: Concur with E. Thanks for the homework.
Liz and Brent,
Not sure why there is a discrepancy from an interview 4 years ago, but her record as Governor should be viewed as proof of her convictions. I don’t think Trump, even with all his inconsistencies, would ever choose an open border advocate for #2.
Anyway, the fight isn’t over quite yet, let’s see how next Tuesday shakes out. :)
Yours is the first evidence I’ve seen that she is at all strong on illegal immigration. She did rescind the drivers license, but now issues driving permits to illegals. I guess that is an improvement.
Agree. This is a long way from over. Trump is far from a sure thing. I still contend he could be taken out of the race with some contrition and hard work on the part of Republicans.
I just think the Republican leadership fears the alternative more than Trump.
Consistent, and still scary.
“If you ever try to go to Japan and sell something, forget about it. It’s almost impossible. They don’t have laws against it. They just make it impossible.” (emphasis mine)
So, his answer is to use the coercive power of the US government to punish another country not because of the actions of that country’s government, but simply because its people don’t want to buy what he’s selling.
This is a consistent message. As far as I’m aware, he’s never explained which of the Chinese government’s laws are “killing” the US either.
The VP position is always intriguing. I hope Cruz won’t have enough leverage to get it. Set up a new Circuit in Anchorage and make him a federal judge. He’s from Calgary, he’ll adjust to the cold. Kasich with leverage is a little hard to picture, ask again next week. A no leverage situation is what Trump wants, I’m sure. Have no idea where on the Robert Gates to Mark Cuban spectrum of resumes he’ll find inspiration.
He’ll round up his inner circle and early supporters for suggestions. Christie, Sessions, and the behind the scenes guys — Giuliani, Icahn — have his ear. Those who hope to advise this possible next President need to understand where the line forms. Make a slight right turn at New York Values, enter the tall glass building at 57th and 5th, and go up the escalator. Podium positions in upcoming states may be as yet unassigned.
I suppose those of us who boarded the train early on should savor the irony of seeing VP suggestions for Mr. Trump on Ricochet, of all places. “Ricochet, yeah. Am I up over 5% yet?” he’d ask.
Who knows, maybe the transition from Never Trump HQ to Let’s Help the Donald will be seamless. Today’s carton of NR eggheads is tomorrow’s Dick Cheney, picking his next VP in our own image.
I may have tried to (as Melissa said) make lemonade out of lemons, but my reaction to this can’t be stated in coc compliant words.
Therefore, here’s a little known artists rendering.
Unfortunately, as I should know, screaming doesn’t always help. :)
I know what you mean – today I switched to a CD of old show tunes – I couldn’t take it anymore!
I would agree, save that a harbinger foreshadows the future. I think it is more likely that Trump is the varnish on the coffin of the Republic. It died a long time ago.
Indeed.