I don’t want to rehash all the reasons why Donald Trump is unfit to be president. Been there, done that. No, the man is certainly qualified to be president…he’s over 35 and presumed to be a native born US citizen, or possibly a robot from the Future, rejected by Skynet’s QC, (just like Hillary).
So I want to give you three of my personal reasons, aside from the Donald’s suitability or lack thereof, for rooting for a coup at the convention. Remember, these are my reasons, (your mileage may vary).
Number one: It could provide a candidate that I could affirmatively vote for, instead of being faced with the prospect of casting essentially a negative vote against Hillary. Most of the arguments I hear to vote for Trump, are couched in terms of preventing Hillary from becoming president. Affirmative beats negative, IMHO.
Two: I think it would be highly instructive to see if all the strident, self righteous, condescending voices telling me I have to compromise my principles and vote for Trump, whatever I might think of him, would immediately fall in line behind a candidate OTT (other than Trump), disregarding their own principles and any hurt feelings they might have, because “anything else is a vote for Hillary”?
Knowing Trump’s own slash and burn rhetoric, I will not necessarily hold my breath for this option.
Three: If all the ardent Trump supporters, who were certain he would win on his own, possibly without even support from Republicans, whose vote Trump is reluctant to court, (and despite my belief that Hillary will smoke Trump like a ham*), join with the #NeverTrumpers and the conservatives on the fence, to defeat Hillary, they would do so with an even larger margin, right? Plus, all of the down ticket races, where candidates currently feel the need to distance themselves from Trump, would benefit from an OTT candidate, perhaps further cementing the Republican retention of the House and Senate?
I’m not making any predictions here. These are merely my reasons. And, maybe pigs will fly…
*H/T Chris Stirewalt
So you want to tell millions of people that their vote has no meaning???? That a small group that was rejected in open elections will dictate who will rule over America. Tell me, what difference is there between you and a Fascist or Communist? Shame on you.
ReplyDeleteMillions more wanted and still want someone else. The convention is not a suicide pact, Gary. If Trump is the Republican candidate, Hillary cleans his clock, smokes him like a ham and fixes his wagon. You that big a Hillary fan?
DeleteBesides, I live in California. I'm used to my vote not counting in presidential elections!
Mike, I agree with you on a lot, but this one is a tough sell for you. (1) Not only not voting against Hillary, but actively campaigning against the Republican nominee is indeed tacit support for her Queendom. (2) I wonder (and I'm asking because I genuinely do not know the answer to this) did you compromise your principles and vote for McCain or Romney or Dole or any other less than perfect? If so, why is Trump any different than those faux conservatives.
ReplyDeleteLook, I'm no big fan of Trump, but I'm still willing to withhold judgement to see with whom he is surrounding himself. His SCOTUS list seemed pretty solid to me. That's a positive sign. Can you imagine whom Hillary might appoint (like say Loretta Lynch)? If at the convention the VP nominee is Gingrich instead of Christie (for example, I know neither are perfect but at least Gingrich has never embraced Obama), and mentions others who might fill his administration who are conservative, will you then cut him some slack?
The alternative, Hillary, is frighteningly bad. Badmouthing Trump at this point seems tantamount to pushing for a self-fulfilling prophecy on Hillary cleaning his clock.
I'm not actively campaigning against the nominee because at this point Trump is only the presumptive nominee. After the convention will be a different story. I will not actively do anything that leads to a Hillary coronation. Which is why I have opposed Trump, because if he is the Republican nominee, I believe Hillary wins in a blow out.
DeleteTrump is a great deal different than Romney or McCain, both of who I thought were the worst possible choice for a nominee and both of them proved me right. Trump is a bigger phony than either of them. He has been a liberal scumbag most of his life and has done little different since then other than put on a side show. He's quite the showman, you know.
A) I believe Trump is as big a liar as Hillary, and all we know about his new found conservatism is what he's said. See A)
His SCOTUS list did look pretty solid. It was giving me second thoughts about supporting him…for about 24 hours until he started walking the list back. And there's certainly nothing binding about the list. If he is elected and wants to appoint his pro-abortion sister, whom he said last year would be a "phenomenal" SCOTUS, what's to stop him?
As I have said, I'm not in the NeverTrump camp yet, but at least if President Hilary proposed a god-awful law and the Republicans hold the House and Senate, they could conceivably block it. If the Republicans have control of the House & Senate, and a Republican president offers up a god-awful bill, just how many in the party can we count on to oppose it?
BTW, fix me up a bed in your spare room. If either of these turkeys is elected I may come stay at your place!
I'd be happy to host you Mike.
DeleteSo if the convention doesn't oust Trump, will join me and vote for Gary Johnson?
ReplyDeleteMagic Eight Ball says "Ask again later."
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