The Donald....idiot or savant?

Donald Trump will be on the Presidential ballot this November, fact.  Many people love him, while many loathe him. Many people think he's brilliant, while many others think he's an idiot.  I'm one of those who likes many of the topics he brings up, but don't understand how he gets away with saying what he does without telling us HOW he's going to do it. 

After considerable thought, though, I've come down on the side of those who think he's brilliant.  Think about it....due to his show biz background he knows exactly how to get the attention and support of the "30 second sound bite" generation.  It's straight from Marketing 101:  "Sell the sizzle, not the steak."   

Or to use another foodie metaphor, people today don't want to know how to bake a cake, all they want is to lick the icing off it.

But credit where credit is due, he and Bernie Sanders are right about one thing: "the system" is broken.  House Speaker Ryan said he is not ready to support Trump until/unless The Donald comes around to supporting the traditional (orthodox conservative) Republican Party agenda.  Trump says he doesn't need Ryan's support as "the people", based on the ballots they've cast, are who he answers to.  

Ummm...yeah. I suppose that's the way it works, or at least the way it's supposed to work.  Ryan seems to represent the tail trying to wag the dog.

I recently saw former Speaker Newt Gingrich on the tube talking about one of Trump's vanquished competitors (Graham?  Rubio?...can't remember) who has publicly stated he would not support Trump's candidacy.  Newt said shame on him, he owed it to the party to fall in line.

So the candidate and the card-carrying party members are just supposed to do whatever "the party" says?

This reminds me of the old Saturday Night Live skit....

    Customer:  "I'll have a hamburger, fries, and a Coke, please."

    Burger flipper:  "NO!  Cheeburger, chip, Pepsi."   

I'm very confused....do the people owe something to the party, or is the party, either party, just a support mechanism for the people's will?  

S

A wake up call

Politics is basically just a numbers game, right?  Whoever gets the most votes wins.  While the rich might have the money, it's the middle class, and to a lesser extent the lower economic class, that has the numbers (votes) necessary to win an election.  If you don't understand that, ask Mitt Romney to explain it to you.

So here's what I don't get:  Why does the Republican Party time and again shoot themselves in the foot by taking stands against the middle class?  Consider this....President Obama just yesterday appointed Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  He currently heads that Bureau with a recess (temporary) appointment, and now Obama is asking the Senate to make it permanent.

Senate Republicans have already said they would not support him or any candidate for that position.  It isn't that they have any particular bone to pick with Mr. Cordray.  They just don't like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, period.  I suppose it has something to do with "big government", "too much regulation", etc.  

Keep in mind the CFPB is charged with making sure mortgage lenders, credit card companies, and other financial firms (payday lenders?) play by the rules.  Heaven knows in years past they have been the most egregious of consumer abusers.  

By their opposition to the CFPB isn't the Republican Party in essence saying they condone such a royal screwing of the middle class?  That's sure how it looks from where I sit.

I'm sure they see it as a stand on principle, but all it's accomplishing is getting them run over by the proverbial bus.  Instead they need to get on board and help establish and enforce some financial rules that are fair to consumers yet allow businesses to make a reasonable profit.  

A "win-win" deal is always good.  A position where the side you favor (big money) wins big and the other side (the consumer) gets crushed will make you a consistent second place finisher.

Come on Republicans.  America's demographics are increasingly working against you already.  If you don't reasses your positions you'll eventually become irrelevant.  Wake up!

S

Can we just lynch Congress and be done with this? Why not?

NOW we're talkin'!  

(I stole this photo off my friend Kathy Mizell's Facebook page.)

What is it with these wacko nut job Tea Party-ers?  They can't even get along with half of their own Republican Party.  Since the Tea Party gained traction several years ago there have been numerous sitting congressmen from both parties say they would not run for re-election as they were no longer proud to serve in Congress.  They say going to work every day and confronting these Tea Party-ers is unbearable.  

I understand standing firm on moral matters, but nothing Congress does falls in the category of "morality".  That would be the ultimate oxymoron!  They're just a bunch of sleazeballs trying to get all they can while they can for themselves and their fat cat friends.

The American people are NOT extremists.  We believe in compromise.  In fact we founded an entire country on compromise.  It's worked for well over 200 years, but now all of a sudden these Tea Party-ers have a better idea?  They're smarter than our Founding Fathers?  Ha!  I'm surprised they can even walk upright!

Extremism didn't work for the Democrats back in the 80's, and it won't work for the Republicans today.  But until they can be eradicated they are screwing the American people like I've never seen before.

The "austerity" the Tea Party-ers advocate has been ongoing in Europe for several years now and is NOT working.  In fact it's making things worse.  While the goal (reigning in government) is probably necessary, the timing is atrocious.  You start cutting back when the economy is healthy and can afford to absorb the hit.  You don't kick people in the teeth when they're already down for the count.

OK, I feel better now.  Not really, but my fingers are cramping.

Now, go out there and have a great weekend.  Unless you're a Congressman.  Then get your ass to work.  Vacation request DENIED!

;)

S