I’m sure many people had very different views on Donald Trump then versus now. I certainly did.
A friend of mine sent an email that reminded a group of us what our thoughts were of the man 10 years ago. I find my thoughts fascinating in retrospect. Here’s what I wrote to the group.
From: Kevin Jackson [email deleted]
Date: 01/29/2016 6:01 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: [email deleted]
Subject: Re: Trump & Dems
Trump is nothing new to the political landscape. People like Allen West have long left the PC culture, and lesser knowns like myself have been shouting from the mountaintops that PC culture is destroying America. Exercise your 1st Amendment rights, and stop relying on, in my case black people, to say what you WANT to say.
Trump is just a reality show, billionaire version of the lesser voices. Despite his VERY inarticulate way, he’s managed to get the previously “taboo” discussions back on the table, and I and many other Conservatives are grateful. But is he saying something new? HELL NO!
People want truth, and the political establishment has been “status quo” for far too long. Rand Paul brought truth, but who is he, but a whiney (yes, he comes off “needy”) Kentucky “Tea Party” guy. But he shook things up. After that, it was Ted Cruz, who is HATED by the establishment Republicans (which should be a BADGE OF HONOR). Trump just brought panache, and plenty of it. People were ready for a kick ass and take names approach to dealing with the Left and the media. Trump’s bombastic style defied even the wildest odds.
Republicans are notoriously safe, and they just knew that Trump’s style would doom him. The Left tells Republicans what they can or cannot say, and heretofore, they have capitulated. Not Trump.
The real question is, “Is he loving the adulation, or does he really feel what he’s elicited in others?”
So far, I’m still tracking with my current views. However, here’s where I went wrong.
I believe he’s running on an adrenaline high. And when he comes down, he will be back to “The Art of the Deal.” Ultimately Trump will negotiate his Conservatism, which is NOT dyed-in-the-wool, as he would like us to think. He’s already showing kinks in the armor.
To Dave’s earlier points, he may be a benevolent dictator, one we believe is on our side. But all dictators turn bad, and America doesn’t need another one. Unless you are intentionally obtuse, it’s easy to see that Trump is about Trump. He adores you, WHEN YOU ADORE HIM. Turn on him, and as Shark Tank’s billionaire Kevin O’Leary says, “You’re dead to me.”
Trump’s style will be his undoing. All it takes to crack him is to START WINNING. I don’t know who it will be. To Tucker’s point, you can’t count him out. I believe that he will undo himself, and the other young Republicans are taking note on his approach. The closest is Cruz, but I noticed a turnaround in Rubio in the last debate.
We’ve been waiting for the imperfect candidate, and we got him, though person a bit more than we bargained for. But there is plenty of room for others. I’m predicting one or two will emerge, and honestly I’m anxious to see how The Donald handles the fall.
I don’t think Conservative America wants deals with Pelosi, Schumer, or any other Democrat. They want somebody who talks like Trump to ACT like Trump. And it doesn’t have to BE Trump.
Happy to be wrong.
While I was wrong on multiple levels, I still like my assessment at the time. I’m overjoyed to have been proven wrong.
Is Trump a staunch conservative, that’s debatable. But is he a pragmatist? And does he know how to get things done? Absolutely.
