His “Make America Great Again”. Terrific example of how to puncture and take advantage of political correctness: It’s totally politically incorrect to say that Obama is a loser because the statement might be evidence of racism. So, don’t argue Obama is a loser. Don’t even mention Obama. Instead, just say “Great Again”. Smart play.

How will The Donald (TD) get Mexico to pay for the wall? First, don’t clearly explain for a while so that get more free time for publicity, e.g., to criticize Mexico. Also, as a side benefit, say that the leaders in Mexico are smart, smarter than our leaders as a way to stick it to Obama and the Democrats without even mentioning either of them.

I suspect that eventually TD will say something, maybe threaten to get rid of NAFTA, to put a tariff on cars and auto parts, find a way to pressure Mexico, maybe some international rule on trade, over the flow of drugs from Mexico to the US.

Maybe TD will use some analogy: When your neighbor’s dog is making a mess in your yard, it’s up to your neighbor to build a fence to contain his dog, not you. Ah, borrow from FDR and his remark about neighbors and garden hoses!

Yup, for TD to push on Mexico over paying for the fence, TD comes across as no loser, pussy, softie, pushover, e.g., like Obama was in the Iran nuke negotiations, like W was in throwing trillions of dollars and thousands of US lives at rag heads, in Iraq not getting the oil, in Akrapistan leaving the Taliban back in power, and leaving Iraq de facto partitioned in a civil war with about a third of Iraq too close to Iran, etc. Nice work TD.

I wonder just when and how TD thought of that, that is, as you put it, “lean forward in his saddle”, all on his own, with some friends, just from his own frustration at seeing the US lose, just from what he’s done in business all along, e.g., not look like a loser so that others can have confidence in his ability to deliver as promised, so that he doesn’t look like a wuss on his side of the negotiating table, etc.

In comparison, the other candidates look like losers: They had their mini-debate; TD didn’t show; and the press said that it was boring. They look like they are carrying water for the Koch brothers and for a substantive answer on any issue would have to call back to one of the Kochs for instructions. On issues, they won’t be serious. not on small or large ones; e.g., they won’t really address immigration. So, TD gets real and talks issues.

I’m beginning to see his hat as a smart move: Now he’s nearly always photographed with his hat, red or white, with “Make America Great Again”. So, his hat might have the effect of a distinctive and attractive ‘brand’ or some such. My guess was that the hat was mostly for his supporters, but so far it’s been part of his ‘brand’. Maybe in time a lot of people in his crowds will be wearing his hat — that could be powerful.

TD seems to think that his approaches will work; so far they’ve worked great, from the polls, attention from the press, poor responses from the other candidates, etc.

I like what I’ve seen so far. He should be careful not to make a gaff or put his foot in his mouth, but I believe you are correct — he’s thoughtful, not really shooting from the hip or incautious, and more careful than he looks. Maybe he will go all the way. Someone will — who else?

It’s a long time until the primaries, conventions, and elections — maybe somewhere in there one of the candidates will find a way to bring down TD. Somehow I doubt it: TD is looking like he knows what he’s doing, by analogy, he’s not just showing some architect’s drawing of a new building and instead is fully serious about making the new building real with a solid track record that he can.

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Whatever The Donald is doing one thing is for certain — it is not accidental.

The guy is shrewd. You don’t dance with as much success as The Donald has — really in many aspects of his life — without knowing how to dance.

I listened to some business shlub criticize his financial revelations saying he wasn’t worth $10.5B but only $4.5B whereupon one of the other talking heads said: “Isn’t $4.5B impressive enough?”

The Donald does not give an inch and I suspect part of the air time he is getting is the press trying to be the one who puts the bell around his neck. Not bloody likely.

The Donald’s criticism of the competence of politicians as a class of people is brilliant. No politician can criticize another politician as being incompetent because that same mirror will be held up to them.

The Donald can and he can trumpet his own achievements to support his hypothesis. If any politician tries to question The Donald’s competence, he falls into the trap of having to match his CV v The Donald’s.

What The Donald is doing is saying what everyone is thinking. Leaning forward in his saddle. Jutting his chin out and saying the magic words — Make America Great Again.

The big revelation? Nobody is arguing that America IS great. Everyone has conceded that America — under Obama — is NOT great. He did that without breaking a sweat.

How does he get Mexico to pay for the wall?

BRC
http://www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com

General Technique: Looks like The Donald likes to come out with outrageous statements. So, right off, he gets headlines. Then for some days later, the newsies keep asking him for details, and he gets more air time, gives a poor or no answer to the question, gets more newsies to ask him the question, lets out part of an answer, etc. So, he uses his original statement to get a lot of air time for a week or so.

Looks clever. But, he’s been good at getting free publicity from the press for a long time so maybe hasn’t had to think up anything new. He’s been so good at this he’s making all the other Repub candidates look like they showed up to play in a football game dressed for tennis or maybe just a book signing.

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Could be right. I think Trump has some “Chinaman’s chance”? but I don’t think Sanders does.

I think Sanders is going to force Clinton far to the left from which she may not recover.

I wonder how Jeb is going to create any excitement? He is a very plain guy. Might actually be his charm.

I am so unexcited by the prospect of another Bush as to sit out the election. I also don’t think he can overcome his brother’s enormous negatives.

If he can start out with Florida in his column, he has a good head start. But, maybe, Rubio brings that. Bush speaks very good Spanish, is married to a Latina, and that will count for something in one or two states that would swing his way.

None of this speculation is any more informed than a boiled egg. Just baloney really.

It is several life times before the election. Intellectually not much has changed with the electorate since 2014 wherein the Republicans managed to not defeat themselves.

BRC

http://www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com

The real battle is “Bush vs Clinton” vs “Trump vs Sanders” … old vs new.

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For some reason, we have reached backwards this cycle. Don’t know why.

That would be an interesting debate, wouldn’t it?

I always respect anyone who is “pure” in their governing philosophy.

I find the older I get the more liberal some of my views become. As an example, I am completely in favor of universal health care. When I ran public/private companies, I always provided comprehensive health care — health, vision, dental, life and wellness programs.

I don’t particularly like the delivery system for Ocare.

That would be a clash of purity.

I think The Donald is going to do just fine on Thursday for many of the reasons I wrote about.

BRC
http://www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com

The beclowning of the Republican nomination for President has begun and will rise to a new level on Thursday when The Donald mops up the field at the debate!

http://themusingsofthebigredcar.com/why-trump-oh-my/

BRC
http://www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com