Why I Think Trump Can Win All the Marbles

Donald Trump has, I believe, moved from a curiosity piece-- viewed by many as a bombastic, unfiltered, blowhard-- to the front of the pack, and at the moment, has become the overall favorite to win the 2016 election.  Here's why:

• He puts America first.  After seven years of nonstop apologizing for America, from the Cairo speech to his denial of American exceptionalism, to his news conference in Malaysia where he said, "America has some work to do," Obama and his team have unloaded nonstop criticism at America.  "America is a nation of cowards," complained Eric Holder.  "Racism is in our DNA," proclaimed Obama.  Neither of those broadsides is true.  America is a nation of heroes, and entrepreneurship, independence and resourcefulness is in our DNA.  We need a leader that is willing to extol our virtues and be a cheerleader and advocate.  Our brand sells.  And sometimes we need our leaders to remind us about how good we have been and can be.  Trump starts with the slogan, "Make America Great Again as his starting point.   With the current officeholder, you sometimes wonder whose side he's on.  The image above is painful.  No American wants to see our sailors at gunpoint on their knees.  But John Kerry was not only ok with it, he thanked the mullahs for their prompt return of our sailors after parading them in this pose in their propaganda photos and videos.  Americans are tired of bowing.
• He bites back.  He is unafraid to take opponents head on.  When Hillary trotted Bill out to the campaign trail and simultaneously touted women's rights, he didn't hold back about Hillary's role in enabling Bill and destroying the women he preyed on.  When Cruz disparaged "New York values," he jumped on how New Yorkers responded to 9/11.  Trump is fearless when hitting back hard is necessary.  It's something Mitt Romney could never do.
• He is direct and truthful.  You might not like what he has to say, but he doesn't spend a lot of time clarifying his statements or walking them back.  People are tired of P.C., tiptoeing around issues, fear of offending this person or that.  In contrast, when asked about whether he would invade Iraq again (a question he had to know was coming), issued several clarifying statements after his initial answer.  I still don't know exactly what he said.  For better or worse, there is none of that with Trump.  When asked again about his proposal temporarily halt Muslim immigration to the U.S. after he was attacked by members of his own party, he simply refused.  He understands that we are tired of political correctness.  An anchor baby is an anchor baby.  Barring students from chanting "USA" (as Wisconsin sports authority just did) or barring professors from referring to America as "the land of opportunity" as the University of California did will not be well received in a Trump administration.
  
  
  But even worse has been the systematic peddling of untruths by the Obama administration.  From blaming Benghazi on a filmmaker, to claiming that ISIS is "contained," to asserting that "if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor," to Obama's refusal to use the term "Radical Islam," Obama's crew has tried to sell obvious falsehoods.  And most voters are tired of it.  Trump at least appears to be able to give it to you straight up, and let it stand on its own merits.

• Islamic terror.  I'm not sure a complete bar to Muslim immigration, even temporarily, is the correct answer, but Trump is at least unafraid to confront the issue head on.  Obama has consistently downplayed the threat and made American security subordinate to political correctness.  His staff can't even use the term "radical Islam."  He labeled ISIS as the "J.V." and asserted that it was contained.  He told Christians to get off their "high horse" on religious violence.  He is bleeding out dangerous inmates from Gitmo.  He is willing to take on Syrian refugees even though our vetting process doesn't work and the assaults on women in Europe are rampant.  Women in Austria are being told not to go out at night.  Jews in France are being warned not to wear yamulkes. ISIS has told the world that they have infiltrated refugees.  Trump wants to at least press the "pause" button.  He will not be constrained by P.C. in dealing with this real and complex problem.
• He comes off as a little impulsive.  Our adversaries know that they can act with impunity with Obama.  Iran fires off missiles and there are no consequence.  Russia invades Crimea and tells us to butt out of Syria and there are no consequences.  China builds islands and there are no consequences.  North Korea tests...and nothing happens.  It is good to remember that Iran released our hostages as soon as Reagan took office.  North Vietnam invaded the South only after Nixon left office.  In both cases, they were a little afraid of what the consequences would be.  A little uncertainty in the minds of our enemies can be a good thing.
• He is an outsider.  The Republican Establishment is flummoxed by him.  Somehow, the losses of Eric Cantor and John Boehner and the poll numbers of Trump, Ted Cruz, and Ben Carson haven't quite penetrated their minds.  The Republican Establishment is a losing horse.  Ronald Reagan proved that 35 years ago.  It is one of the reasons why Jeb Bush can't get any traction.  Hillary has more baggage than American Airlines and United Airlines combined could handle, but they only chance of beating her is outside the establishment.  That a missing persons report on Mitch McConnell appears to be ready to be filed should tell the RNC something.
• People are angry.  I like and respect Nikki Haley, but her gratuitous poke at Trump for being an "angry voice" evidences the tone deafness of the Republican party.  People are angry.  They are angry that their wages are shrinking.  They are angry about an overreaching, unaccountable government that encroaches in nearly every aspect of their lives.  They are angry over an America that is getting sand kicked in its face at every turn.  They are angry at being told they are bigots every time they express themselves.  They are angry  because they are struggling to feed their own families when we are letting other countries flood us with people that have to be supported with tax dollars.   Trump has figured out how to tap into that anger and frustration and responded to Nikki Haley in Trump style, "I accept the mantle of anger," he proclaimed.

This is not to say I am endorsing Trump.  I have lots of issues with him.  His animosity toward free trade is dangerous.  His bromance with Putin is misplaced.  His policies are devoid of details.  But I think I have to begin to come to terms with a possible Trump presidency.   

At least there will be no doubt as to whose side he's on.