On this week’s Davin’s Den I pressed Joe on why he had this unwavering support for Donald Trump when he clearly has many weaknesses as a candidate but is extremely prolific in vague promises and bluster. Joe said Trump makes him feel good. Has it come down to that in our society? I admit, the man puts on quite a show and it is in stark contrast to the joyless and painful campaigns that Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton are droning endlessly on with. And Donald is tapping into something that both President Obama and the Tea Party tapped into which was a thirst for something different from business as usual. I understand that and long for that as well but there needs to be some substance and accountability behind it.
Joe and I agree that when it comes to children, participation trophies are lame and really in the long run do our children and our nation little good. In the short term it makes the children feel good. Just like Mr. Trump. It feels wonderful to hear he is going to make our nation great again. (If you buy into the notion that our nation is no longer great but there was a time that we can harken back to where we had no problems and we were great). It is not a notion I buy into. I still think our nation is great in many ways but like throughout our history there are certainly areas where we can improve. But if you buy into the myth it is wonderful to hear I am going to fix healthcare and replace it with something “terrific.” I am the “best” at jobs. I am going to make Mexico ISIS but I will not tell you now. I know how to negotiate and Putin will fear me. And on and on and on. A lot of bluster that is great to hear. I also believe that a fairy godmother will be showing up around midnight to turn the pumpkin into a carriage and take me to the ball. I also found these magic beans that will lead to the golden goose. I believe these things because to do so makes me feel good. Unfortunately we do not live in simple times. We can’t just will it to be so. It is no longer who has the biggest military (we still do by a lot!)
We are part of a global economy and now we compete with nations directly. Trump has said as much. However, we just can’t make the world bend to what we would like. If they don’t comply are we going to bomb them? Are we going to be a nation perpetually at war? Does that make you feel good? Of course not. To get what we want we need nuance.
Anyway, Trump has made all of these proclamations and a significant part of the population is willing to let them stand without answers. Healthcare is not great. It could be better. It is better than it was for many and worse for others. How are you going to fix it Mr. Trump? Single payer? It will certainly be more streamlined in some regards but your current political affiliation does not want that. I am all for competition between healthcare providers across state lines. Big health care is not. Are you going to tackle big pharma? Are you going to allow Americans to buy medicine from other countries? Currently we can’t. Are you going to continue to force the healthcare companies to serve people with pre-existing conditions? Before Obama they didn’t. How Mr. Trump? You can’t go it alone although at times we see president Obama has tried for better or worse.
How are you the best at jobs? Illegals helped build Trump Towers China making their goods more expensive in the USA
You said you know how to defeat ISIS . Are you going to send ground troops in? Where are you going to station them? Syria Iraq ISIS . Nobody wants to send troops. See we are not fighting a nation. We are fighting an ideology Mr. Trump. Ideology is everywhere. We have seen this. It is in our midst. It is not as easy as just pounding them into submission. We have to change minds. Pounding them into submission only emboldens them. They want us to do it. They want to be martyrs. They want to take as many of us with them both civilian and military as they can. You say you get your information from the generals on tv. That is like me saying I get my ideas on space travel from Star Wars. I still don’t know why we don’t all have x-wing fighters. They have been in existence for at least 40 years. How are you going to defeat ISIS Mr. Trump?
The Republicans have always prided themselves as being the adults in the room. Yet the leader in the polls has shown to be incapable of having an adult conversation. Instead he insults Rosie O’Donnell and whines that certain reporters are not nice to him. I guess when they are meanie poo poos he does not feel good. We all want to feel good. Unfortunately Mr. Trump I am an adult in the room and empty promises do not make me feel good. They make me feel like you are just like the vast majority of the empty suits who run for the office you may or may not desire. I don’t need a politician to make me feel good. I don’t need a politician to make me prideful in my nation. I don’t need a politician to exaggerate the good and the bad that makes our nation what it currently is. I need a politician that is thoughtful, forceful, nuanced, has a command of the issues we face as a nation, can work within the current political climate while still attempting to mold it into some form of functionality, and is not bought and paid for by corporations. You have some of those qualities Mr. Trump but you do not have all of them. I am sorry if this does not make you feel good. When and if that candidate arrives I will feel good. Damn good.