(sorry Brad)
My view of Trump: he's the right's equivalent of Obama....he isn't offering any solutions just platitudes...instead of "Hope and Change" it's "It'll happen" or "They'll pay"
and most of his followers are as fanatical and driven by personality as Obama's were...you can ask them what exactly do they like about his policies and they'll quote from Cruz or Rubio's platform and assign it to Trump.
In fact, Trump is directly opposed to many of the ideas and beliefs that so many conservatives claim to have. He supports Planned Parenthood for example. He supports the whole idea of 'deal making'. He openly says he can 'be whateve I need to be'....meaning he has no core values.
In the debate last night, he blatantly lied about the 'many awards' he has recieved from Israel for example...does it matter? no, no one is concerned...it's more important that he makes them 'feel good'. And the media is playing right along...I listened today and not ONE TIME did the ABC radio I was listening to mention Cruz. It's as if he doesn't exist. Trump is presented in a good light, Rubio was applauded...but the second person in the polls, the one leading some polls is ignored.
it is appalling to watch our side fall into the same trap that the Democrats did eight years ago...with someone that openly admits he has no principles, no core beliefs other than self agrandizement (sp). He is an egoist that has already threatened people, encouraged his supporters to assauly dissenters, blackmailed people ("Be careful, you have a lot of secrets")...and this is the man they want to put in charge of the CIA and the IRS?
he will use the power of the Presidency for his own ego.
to answer your post about Trump :
I don't see the similarity between Obama and Trump - in 2008 Obama was essentially an empty suit who had no accomplishments. Trump has had a very successful career over many decades. you may not consider that his career has been a prep for the job of POTUS, but to compare him to a cypher like Obama is unfair and inaccurate
I'm not sure about Trump "fanatics", maybe some exist. I see Trump's flaws. And, I also see plenty of Bernie fanatics and robots voting for the corrupt liar Hillary who can't see any of their candidates hideous flaws.
Trump is appealing to a broad section of Republicans, conservatives and independents who feel left behind by both the Demcrats and the Republicans.
As far as specifics:
Trump will finally secure the border and deport illegals sapping our system
Trump will be a firm and hard negotiator with US trading partners,
Trump will punish American firms who hire illegals or ship our jobs overseas
Trump hates PC and doesn't care who he offends,
Trump tells the truth about corrupt liar Hillary,
Trump wants to reform the tax system to allow a reduction in rates and bring back to the US the Trillions which are sequestered in foreign countries due to our suicidal tax system.
Most importantly, Trump is competent at what he does best - negotiations. you can't say that for any of the other candidates with the exception perhaps of Kasich.
Now does Trump have a 100 page position paper on everything from AAA to ZZ Top? - hell no! and those candidates who have such position papers are generally liars and not going to abide by those positions once elected anyway
Like many Jess, Trump as evolved into a conservative over his decades as a business person. Reagan started life as a Liberal Democrat and became one of our greatest conservative leaders. I am proud of the fact that my first vote for President was for Reagan in 1980 and consider that former leftwing union member who was a Hollywood divorcee and who had signed one of CA most liberal abortion laws in 1967 to be one of America's greatest presidents.
Trump's financial support in the past of Democrats such as Hillary and Schumer was entirely business related. In big biz, you have to have "access" in order to be successful, you get access thru contributions. Trump's empire is NY centered, so that means he has contributed to Democrats.
Trump is prolife and does not support federal funding for Planned Parenthood, because of their abortion activities. Trump has made the comment that PP does some good work for women in the area of mammography and other screenings. this is true.
Trump as not lied about his support for Israel, which has gone back over decades and is well documented and acknowledged by Jewish leaders in both the Republican party and Democratic party.
Trump is self funding his campaign, he owes nothing to the lobbyists. unlike all of his opponents
You talk of Trumps core beliefs. really they are simple. Trump is an American nationalist. He will secure the border from the on-going catastrophic invasion from Mexico and elsewhere. Trump will negotiate good trade deals that bring back American jobs by not allowing foreigners to have unfair trading advantages of us, and punishing American companies who ship American jobs overseas.
not the crony capitalist deals that the Repubs and the Democrats have forced on us.
look at Trumps competition as of today.
Cruz has been totally ineffective one term TX senator. his only accomplishment was a failed filibuster. he is laughed at. he talks nice, but has accomplished nothing other than take millions from lobbyists
Rubio lied to the Tea Party and the voters of FL. He was elected to be an effective opposition to the Obama agenda. instead he pushed for amnesty for illegal aliens. another ineffective one term senator beholden to the lobbyists
Kasich comes closest to someone with an effective record. and I could certainly support him for Vice President.
what it comes down to for conservatives is this choice:
do you want a candidate who passes all of the litmus tests of conservatism based upon their position papers?
or, do you want a candidate who has demonstrated that they can accomplish the urgent tasks needed to save the Republic, but who may not pass all of the litmus tests.
