Is Donald Trump "putting on" America ala the TV character created by Stephen Colbert on his former show ???
-- real issues presented in outrageous manner!!!
Should we take this candidate at his word and seriously?
What are the repercussions for all of us if some do?
Is his type rhetoric what is required to arouse people to take action to resolve these long-standing American problems?
Just asking!
Thanks for putting these questions to us. Trump is a baffoon but this is getting serious. When he first came on the scene I welcomed it because I am a died in the wool Liberal and figured he would just show up the ridiculousness of the Republicans and their lack of interest in the middle and low class in our country. I am not surprised to see that the easily led public is behind him but if he were actually to win it would make our great nation a laughing stock (or worse) all over the world. Whatever happened to the America where we encouraged integration and actually grew from the interchange of world-wide ideas?
ReplyDeleteLaughing stock around the world may well be true for many.
DeleteWhat annoys me is that the election isn't until November of next year. I vowed I wouldn't pay any attention to presidential politics until January, but Trump and the other candidates are making that difficult. What happens to substantive matters of governance when all this attention seeking behavior is going on?
ReplyDeleteI'm not fully invested in following all the candidates until 2016 either, but can't avoid some of the hoopla going on. The U.S. campaign period is much too long, seems to get longer each year, and does nothing to improve the quality of information we are given.
DeleteI think Trump's ego is too big for him to be doing this as a put on. What bothers me more than him. There are a lot of Trump types out there. What leads people to support him and like what he says when it's so full of hateful rhetoric? It's like the Old West with the lynch mobs. I don't remotely think he couldn't win either. I'd like to see a better choice from the left than Hillary. I think it's out there but whether Dems will look for it, that I am less sure of. I just don't trust her (Wall Street and war issues) and don't want Bill anywhere near the White House again. I am not the fan of him that some are. She might change my mind but this reminds me of when she ran against Obama for how I felt about her and my lack of confidence in what she'd do if she got in that position. I'd rather see Biden run and need to know more about O'Malley, where I know very little.
ReplyDeleteHe may be surprised himself with the response his possibly faux campaign when he started has received and just decided to take it to whatever the conclusion. I'll be interested to see who's in the picture and where the discourse is 6 mos., 8 mos., 12 mos. from now.
DeleteI, too, wish the Dems could find some candidates besides those up now. I'm just not sure Biden could win. The others have yet to shown me much. And, Le Donald, at this point, is beginning to be very scary. I hope his act folds soon.
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see who all become the candidates for Dems. If D.T. isn't putting on an act then I'm beginning to wonder if he's unhinged.
DeleteMr Trump is difficult to like; but, he's put out some exceedingly thoughtful ideas.
ReplyDeleteCop Car
Yes, he has brought up long-existing issues candidates need to address, not only with questionably workable solutions, but in a manner that seems to me to be counter to stimulating civil discourse.
DeleteThird and last attempt to leave a reply. What a dismal election process we face. Dianne
DeleteI don't know if Trump will be the GOP nominee, but he sure is entertaining. I wish the Dems could get their act together.
ReplyDeleteAye! Entertaining he is. Both political parties will have to get their act together methinks. Will we really not have a third party???
DeleteLots of interesting important questions coming to the forefront from the various candidates amidst the buffoonery. Already desperadoes seek the divisiveness best achieved by trumping up a social issue band wagon.
What scares me the most are the people who say they will vote for him. I don't take him seriously but some people actually do. What the heck! I wish the Democrats would come up with more choices too.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the support is a reflection of how desperate some people are for change -- any kind of non-discriminating change.
DeleteIt’s hard for me to believe how early candidates are running in this country. I think in England it is only 6 weeks before the elections and for France I don’t start receiving political emails until 2 or 3 months before the elections – and they spend so much money here– when one sees the states of roads and bridges here, or even the schools, I think it is terrible to witness the cost of these elections. Donald Trump is a change I think because he scares the other Republican candidates and I think he is funny – not a real candidate, but the type one might see on a TV show. Being from Paris though, where we have separation of church and state in Government and it is applied, it bothers me when the candidates keep talking about religion, faith, Christians, Muslims, etc., instead of the issues. I just would vote for someone who can be a good president – when I take a flight I hope to get a good pilot – I don’t try to find out if he has a religion or which one he has, or is even an atheist - just that he can fly an airplane.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! Very well said. The campaigns are much too long. I've long been disgusted with religious and social issues being introduced into Government. I think its often deliberately done in an effort to be divisive -- also to attract extremists. I fear some would turn this country into a theocracy, but they wouldn't like it if the religion wasn't their own.
DeleteAnd I agree with both of you, too. It scares me more that there are Americans who are taking Trump seriously. Sheesh!
DeleteJust now seeing your post. I, like some of the others, think Mr. Trump is quite the colorful character and has certainly created a lot of political chatter with his arrival on the presidential candidate scene. I quite honestly don't get all that interested in debates, especially Republican debates of late but due to Mr. Trumps arrival, I haven't missed one. Past that...
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine under any circumstance whatsoever that I would give him my vote. He just lacks any real knowledge of the many issues that plague our country and completely devoid of any expertise with the country's international affairs aka foreign policy.
Donald Trump's entry into the Presidential race so far is somewhat following the script of a really entertaining 2006 movie titled "Man of the Year" which is about a popular comedian (played by Robin Williams) who does just exactly what Trump is doing and captured the imagination of the voters. A colorful character who goes against the political establishment and gets himself elected President. Although in the film he is actually elected because of voting tabulation errors made my the vote tabulation company and not the popular vote. Nevertheless, if you haven't seen it this would be a great time to do so just to see the similarity.
Interesting comment, Alan. Since I first wrote this piece Mr. Trump has continued to upset the Republican candidates political routine. He's introduced issues in a manner that other Party candidates couldn't ignore -- after they recovered from the shock of his statements. What amazes me are the number of people who seem to be seriously considering him for President, although just tonight news folks report his support numbers have been passed by another Rep. candidate -- one who presents issue concerns of his own from my point of view. I haven't seen the movie you mentioned, but sounds like one I'll enjoy watching, so thanks for the info.
DeleteThe Demo Party has had Mr. Bernie Sanders shaking them up a bit, too, on issues, but not in the flamboyant manner Mr. Trump has displayed. I think it's unfortunate Mr. Sanders refers to himself as a socialist since his approach does not mirror that of a true traditional socialist in all ways.
I think all political sides are fed up with many of the same issues. What the arguments are about is how to go about correcting the problems. Meanwhile, special interests are trying to protect themselves. I have to wonder who really has the best interests of the nation and the ordinary individual at heart?