There is no question about it, the race for the GOP presidential nomination is heating up. Sixteen candidates are officially in the race. I asked my brother the other day if John Kasich’s cook would like to join the fun. I figured he might as well, since everyone else is jumping in. Can you imagine what the first debate is going to be like? They may have to rent the Super Dome, just to have a big enough stage for all the bodies and the accompanying egos.
The biggest news of the campaign, thus far, is Donald Trump. The man is doing what he does best, being Donald Trump. I have enjoyed more than a few chuckles at his antics and at the people getting all up in the air because of what he says. If they expected him to run his campaign any way besides the way he has always ran his public persona, they were sadly mistaken. Donald Trump has never been someone who has shied away from stating his mind. He says what he is thinking, no matter the consequences. It doesn’t even matter if he was actually thinking and he is not always tactful about it.
What he said about John McCain was offensive to some people. It even made me cringe a little because I have such high respect for the men and women who have served our country. McCain’s POW status is something to consider, but does it trump what Trump said? Does it make it untrue? Likely not. It is even more likely that Trump is giving voice to what a lot of Republicans have thought for years. They are just not as willing to be so clear about those feelings. Donald Trump is not known for being bashful about stating his mind.
Bashing John McCain isn’t Trump’s first foray into the minefield of “thoughts that shouldn’t be spoken”. He really stirred the pot when he spoke his mind about the issue of illegal immigration. The people who are getting upset about his remarks act shocked that he would say such dastardly things about the wonderful illegal immigrants who are gracing us with their presence. And I think that’s more than a little funny, that they would get so upset at hearing the truth.
Here again, Donald Trump is just being Donald Trump. He sees a spade and calls it a spade. He sees the issue, the real and present problem, that we have with illegal immigration in America and he called every one of us out on it. Anyone who really believes that illegal immigration is not a real danger to America is a fool. Trump is just brave enough to say the words. Most of the rest of the GOP field are too busy pandering to the elusive Hispanic voting block, even though history shows us that is a futile effort.
I was in a conversation with a fellow blogger this morning and he pointed out something that is more than a little true. The GOP establishment, as well as a number of the other candidates, are all shaken up, saying Donald Trump is going to damage the GOP brand by making the statements he is making. My friend pointed out that they have been doing a fine job of damaging that brand for years. They can blame Donald Trump all they want, but they had that process well in hand before he said a word.
This is not an endorsement of the campaign of Donald Trump for President. It is merely a recognition of what he is doing and how he is doing it. The establishment of the Republican Party, seemingly intent on shoving Jeb Bush down our ever-gagging throats, should probably take a hint. They don’t necessarily have to like what Trump is saying, or how he is saying it, but they should realize one very important fact. The reason the man is gaining traction is simple. People are tired of being lied to for their vote. They are tired of hearing the same old pandering.
Donald Trump, right or wrong, is a breath of fresh air in a room full of stale and repeated political slogans and rhetoric. That’s why so many regular people, ie. those who are not the establishment of the Republican Party, are so scared of him. They and their grip on power are being threatened and they are not happy at having to defend that. They are used to the status quo and Donald Trump is most certainly not the status quo. I can’t help but like that about him.
