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#NeverIndifferent
From a conservative perspective Donald Trump delivered an outstanding acceptance speech. He focused on the major issues facing our country, issues that Democrats refuse to acknowledge, much less propose to solve. And while his message was duly harsh on Obama’s policies and Hillary’s actions and character, it was also incredibly nonpartisan and optimistic. His commonsense approach was certainly accessible to a very broad section of Americans. He demonstrated more humility than bombast.
It is time to put the ugly and divisive GOP primaries behind us and look at the objective choice before us. The choice is clear: Either the executive branch will be led by this man (with GOP backing and serious conservative leadership in Congress) or it will be led by Clinton, Inc. Consider that conservatives have an opportunity under a Trump administration to promote conservative policies in a Republican administration that will likely be no less conservative than any post-Reagan administration. Debating with a somewhat receptive administration would be an outstanding outcome for conservatives, particularly when considering where we find ourselves today.
Trump is still Trump. That may be too big an obstacle for some of us. But for many non-committed American voters, the choice before us became clearer and more promising after last night.
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I’d love to argue with you, but I couldn’t watch. I had bathroom grout to scrub.
That’s my nickname for Ted Cruz, too.
I was only able to watch snippets of the speech, but I was generally pleased with the parts that I heard. In terms of aesthetics, I think that Trump needs to modulate his delivery a bit more as he tends to shout a little when reading off a teleprompter. Overall, it was a solid speech.
Did we listen to the same speech?
I respectfully disagree with that. I did notice that at several points, especially when he gave thanks to Evangelical Christians, he was humble. But he spent so much time talking about how he was the only man for the job. I’ve listened to Reagan speeches and most of W’s speeches. W and Reagan didn’t talk about themselves that much. Even when they did, they said something like, “I have a proven record of being for this policy and enacting legislation that helped this policy.”
I know that too much of Ricochet talks past each other with the NeverTrumpers and the Trumpers and I want to avoid. So I’ll propose something to negotiate. I’ll vote for Trump if anyone can convince me that he genuinely believes in the stuff he said tonight.
I am still NeverTrump, but I think Trump gave a very good speech that will appeal to lower middle class voters of all stripes. He promised everyone everything and didn’t ask a sacrifice by anyone. It was the perfect speech for the entitled society we live in.
As I said in the chat room, I think he gets a big bump from this speech and convention.
Nice post.
Assuming the Kasich story in the NYT about the larger VP role would play in a Trump Presidency is correct, then I’m fine with voting for Trump to get a President Pence.
Yep. And we’ve got at least 3-1/2 more months of it.
Did I listen to a different speech? I thought it was negative and loud. He shouted his way through it. I didn’t think it was particularly conservative either. Much more nationalist, populism than conservative.
The parts where he thinks he’s the best ;-), he believes those. Heck, most narcissists mean what they say at the time anyway, it’s later when the bill comes that they contemplate those promises.
It was negative and loud and populist. But the people in Fishtown are very down on politics these days, and negativity plays well. I really think Trump convinced the downwardly mobile that he will be their champion.
Great! But I don’t think anyone here can convince you better than you can. Keep an eye on cabinet appointments over the next few months. I think that will be the best indicator.
Yes, but those things aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. He was directing his speech beyond the conservative base, yet the issues he raised and their solutions were largely conservative-friendly.
I agree with your primary point, but I’d say the negativity was in there primarily because it was necessary in stating the problems, and consequently his solutions. The negativity wasn’t at all gratuitous, as is often the case with Trump.
This wasn’t a Romneyesque speech, but who really wants that in 2016?
I think you are about to find out how non-conservative and unprincipled Republican Congressional leaders really are. To date they’ve blamed Obama for their fecklessness. Who will they blame if/when Trump is in the White House?
I agree. The return to promising to end the NAFTA was bad policy and the promise to renegotiate Chinese trade deals was bad facts (there is no meaning to those words). He had too many separated sections on immigration. He repeated too much in general and could usefully have cut half an hour out of the redundancy. The shouting was ugly. The speech liked the vigor and vim of more spontaneous efforts.
That said, he generally didn’t say stupid things, he combined the shouty bits with sections where he used a sensible tone,and he had moments of genuine quality (humility about evangelical support and telling the crowd to chant USA instead of Trump).
Of the six Trump speeches I’ve seen, this was the best. That said, the last time I saw him speak well (the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s conference), I got my hopes up. The following day he corrected me. It seems highly likey that anyone hoping this is an improvement rather than a good moment is setting themselves up for pain.
Agreed. Relatedly, don’t forget to use the “recommend” tool. A solid little post like this shouldn’t have zero recommendations from members by the time an editor spots and promotes it.
(Now, I need to watch the speech; family emergency last night).
You know, for the life of me, I can’t help but like Ivanka. Besides being really gorgeous, there’s something very classy about her; her husband seems like a decent guy, too.
You know they have passed law after law to repeal Obamacare, cut spending, and govern as 1/2 of on 1/3rd of a three part symphony.
Under the GOP house leadership, discretionary spending growth has nose dived.
There is one problem, there are 435 House members with different interests and 240 or so are Republican and many of them disagree with me. That does not make them feckless. That makes them human.
If you want to eliminate a difference of opinion, there are othe systems of government,… Or strengthen your argument….
In spite of my dislike for the man, I’m voting for Trump due to secondary considerations: A Hilary Presidency and/or a Democrat Senate. Anything else positive about his candidacy is just gravy as I try to convince family, friends, and acquaintances to do the same.
I had long been at the point this cycle that I had reached with Romney and McCain: Tune out politics until November, keep my mouth shut, and vote based on the best balance of pragmatism and conscious that I could muster. I’d then try again next time to boost candidates in the GOP who embrace classical liberal values.
The way the Trump hacks treated Cruz has now changed my stance. They made clear that people like me are no longer wanted in the party. I will embrace my political exile and actively support the Libertarian Party this year, and until a genuine classical liberal alternative to the Republican Party forms.
So, yes, I am now #neverindifferent
I’m just about sick of this particular brand of goosestepping logic. “Ok, now that we’ve established that my candidate won a primary via a plurality vote, it’s time to get in line and follow orders.”
March, little piggies, march.
Trump is a megalomaniac and narcissist with no solutions and a dangerous ignorance of foreign policy and economics. I will vote for Johnson.
It appears your definition of “conservative” differs wildly from mine.
This is exactly right.
I tried to listen, I really did but one image kept flashing through my head when he was speaking and it was not a flattering image.
Correct:
Voted for Cruz in the Illinois primary. My buyer’s remorse has grown ever since.
Trump’s beginning to grow on me.
If nothing else the Left hates him and Pence with a passion, which makes them OK by me.
Meanwhile Ace of Spades Blogger had a piquant message for Never Trumpers.
How bad does a Republican have to be on foreign policy to get someone to vote Libertarian?!? LOL