The Trump Effect, and How It Spreads
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD - DEC. 10, 2015 419 COMMENTS
Go ahead, deplore Donald Trump. Despise his message. Reject his appeals to exclusion and hatred. But do not make the mistake of treating him as a solitary phenomenon, a singular celebrity narcissist who has somehow, all alone, brought his party and its politics to the brink of fascism.
He is the leading Republican candidate for president. He has been for months. The things he says are outrageous, by design, but they were not spawned, nor have they flourished, in isolation.
The Republican rivals rushing to distance themselves from his latest inflammatory proposal — a faith-based wall around the country — have been peddling their own nativist policies for months or years. They have been harshening their campaign speeches and immigration proposals in response to the Trump effect. Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush want to allow only Christian refugees from Syria to enter the country, and Mr. Cruz has introduced legislation to allow states to opt out of refugee resettlement.
And party officials around the country, attuned to the power of fear, have developed homegrown versions of the Trump approach. In 31 states, governors — most but not all Republicans — have formed an axis of ignorance, declaring their borders closed to refugees fleeing the Islamic State in Syria. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has sued the federal government and a nonprofit relief agency to keep refugees out. Indiana’s refusal forced one family to seek refuge in Connecticut. Georgia is seeking to deny displaced Syrians federal benefits, like food stamps, and keep their children out of school.
Civil rights organizations — the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Immigration Law Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center — are defending the displaced against blatant discrimination. That it is even necessary to protect the victims of Islamic extremism from being victimized again, in the United States, is a national disgrace.
This is the force that Mr. Trump feeds on and that propels him. It is bigger than he is, and toxic. Not a vote has been cast in the 2016 presidential race. But serious damage is already being done to the country, to its reputation overseas, by a man who is seen as speaking for America and twisting its message of tolerance and welcome, and by the candidates who trail him and are competing for his voters.
Mr. Trump has not deported anyone, nor locked up or otherwise brutalized any Muslims, immigrants or others. The danger next year, of course, is giving him the power to do so. And the danger right now is allowing him to legitimize the hatred that he so skillfully exploits, and to revive the old American tendency, in frightening times, toward vicious treatment of the weak and outsiders.
The internment of Japanese-Americans in World War II, as some Republicans have either forgotten or never understood, was a dark episode in American history. It is remembered today with regret, as something the nation struggled with, learned from, and moved beyond. But there are millions of Muslims who have good reason to fear that the darkness is falling again.
The time to renounce Mr. Trump’s views was the day he entered the race, calling Mexico an exporter of criminals and rapists. He played to the politics of nativism and fear that was evident last year, when a wave of Central American mothers and children, fleeing gang-and-drug warfare to the Texas border, presented themselves upon the mercy of the United States, and were met with derision and hysteria.
The racism behind the agenda of the right wing on immigrants and foreigners has long been plain as day. Mr. Trump makes it even plainer. After his remarks on Muslims, how many of Mr. Trump’s rivals have said they would reject his candidacy if he won the nomination? As of Wednesday, none.
He says what a lot of Americans think and feel on at least some of the issues, therefore people like him for that. He is not afraid to tell you what he really thinks and what he will do if he is elected. He is not a politician. People are sick of slick talking politicians. They want someone who is not afraid to be politically incorrect and NOT apologize for it. His statements are also what he really thinks, not just some rhetoric devised to sway public opinion. People like that also.
He's a serious contender, one can only imagine when he gets to debate Hillary, she'll be all lady like and he will confront her and win those debates. He likes to be a gentleman, but he will get down and dirty when he has to, he's a New Yorker, he doesn't take any crap.
TRUMP just got a thumbs up from Putin, who called him "An Absolute Leader" So much for the naysayers who complain he doesn't have enough foreign policy experience to be Commander in Chief.
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump as “talented: and “outstanding”, welcoming his stance on Russia.
"He is a very outstanding man, unquestionably talented," Putin told journalists after his annual press conference in Moscow.
Asked about the prospect of a new US president during the three-hour news conference, Putin, whose relationship with Barack Obama is strained at best, said "we first have to understand who it is going to be."
"Whoever it is, we are ready and want to develop our relations with the United States," he said, adding that unlike the US, which "always tries to tell us... who to elect and who not to elect," Russia doesn´t do any such thing.
"On domestic politics, his manner of speaking, what he employs to raise his popularity" -- that is none of Russia´s business, Putin said. "It´s not our concern to evaluate his work." "He says that he wants a different level of relations, tighter and deeper relations with Russia, how can we not welcome that? Of course we welcome it," Putin said.
http://www.geo.tv/article-207673-Putin-calls-outstanding-talented-Trump-an-absolute-leader
TRUMP just got a thumbs up from Putin, who called him "An Absolute Leader" So much for the naysayers who complain he doesn't have enough foreign policy experience to be Commander in Chief.
So you think that because Putin likes him he immediately has foreign policy experience? Really?
Could you explain a little better how one translates to the other please?
TRUMP just got a thumbs up from Putin, who called him "An Absolute Leader" So much for the naysayers who complain he doesn't have enough foreign policy experience to be Commander in Chief.
So you think that because Putin likes him he immediately has foreign policy experience? Really?
Could you explain a little better how one translates to the other please?
I would be wary of anyone that Putin likes.
TRUMP just got a thumbs up from Putin, who called him "An Absolute Leader" So much for the naysayers who complain he doesn't have enough foreign policy experience to be Commander in Chief.
So you think that because Putin likes him he immediately has foreign policy experience? Really?
Could you explain a little better how one translates to the other please?
I would be wary of anyone that Putin likes.
True, but I don't need Putin to know I should be wary of Trump.
[Edited on 12/19/2015 by bob1954]
Gina, when does Trump act like a gentleman? Have you seen the debates? He gets approval for NOT being a gentleman. Is it his scorn for Muslims that you admire?
He's a serious contender, one can only imagine when he gets to debate Hillary, she'll be all lady like and he will confront her and win those debates. He likes to be a gentleman, but he will get down and dirty when he has to, he's a New Yorker, he doesn't take any crap.
Geez...have you seen him debate, or present, or speak condescendingly, or whatever one wants to call it? If he is GOP last man standing & has to go one on one with HC, she will handle him quite easily. Gina, did you watch her multi hour responses to the GOP prosecutors (aka - Benghazi panel)? She made them look like cub scouts with her ability to deliver on both a macro & micro level. I doubt Trump can respond with the level of detail as Mrs. Clinton, and he certainly hasn't demonstrated the in-depth knowledge of issues like she has. He will go for fear mongering, abrasive talk, right wing ideology, hate speech issues, & demagoguery. Other than his hardcore constituency, I doubt he'll pull in many of the undecided voters & independents.
If he does become the GOP nominee, it will be interesting to see how far the party & especially the establishment Republicans support or campaign for him.
How does Gina get earth's internet on her planet?
How does Gina get earth's internet on her planet?
I have always felt the same way. 😉
TRUMP just got a thumbs up from Putin, who called him "An Absolute Leader" So much for the naysayers who complain he doesn't have enough foreign policy experience to be Commander in Chief.
So you think that because Putin likes him he immediately has foreign policy experience? Really?
Could you explain a little better how one translates to the other please?
Putin said that he welcomed his stance on Russia, which means Putin beleves he has a god understanding and grasp of the issues Russia is facing. While Trump has not been a dignitary per se, he apparently has enough knowledge to impress another world leader who would be happy to deal with him on issues effecting the US and Russia.
Gina, when does Trump act like a gentleman? Have you seen the debates? He gets approval for NOT being a gentleman. Is it his scorn for Muslims that you admire?
What I like about him is his direct style. He says what he thinks and he means what he says. I have seen the debates and yes he has crossed the line of niceities more than once. However, he has had experience with foreign businesses, he has built international properties, successfully navigated international laws to hire people and create jobs and run professional organizations. Someone can have very nice speech, but their actions are not nice. Obama for example is always cool, calm, composed and in control, and yet he orders the deaths of people by drones. He orders executions. So the outward expression of a world leader does not necessarily translate into the actions that they will take.
On the issue of Islam, Trump realizes there is a serious problem with the threat from Isis, even other Muslims have seen first hand how their practice of their beliefs differs from their own. They have slaughtered other Muslims. On Islam itself, I don't think Trump has much knowledge other than what the media has presented which is to show terror and promote the message 'they want to kill us all' so that is the perspective he is coming from.
Regarding Isis, I think there does need to be a wall set up to secure the border with Mexico. That can stop anyone including Isis fighters from coming in thru there. Until the war is contained his stance on people entering the other borders may seem harsh, but it may be necessary at this time because the US is unable to determine who is coming here to do covert attacks. We could have a ban on Visas and immigration from countries where there are active wars going on, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan. Those who already live here with visas or permament resident status could be allowed to travel back to their country of origin to stay for a period not longer than 3 months within one year and then return here.
Saudi Arabia protects itself by not granting Visas to non Saudi citizens unless they are sponsored by an employer there. Tourists are not granted Visas to come in and out of there. They can go to Dubai, which they call Shaytan's Shrub, meaning devil's playground but that is it. They protect their borders. Anyone who has ever been to Israel and has that stamp in their passport is NOT allowed to EVER enter into Saudi Arabia. That is one of their laws. That stops Mossad intelligence agents from coming to their country. They do not want foreign operatives in their country.
So Trump saying he wants to ban Muslims from coming here seems harsh, but if he worded it, people coming from countries where there is active war gong on, would that be better because the countries where there is active war are Muslim countries. There is a legitamite threat to the US coming from some of the people of those countries.
He's a serious contender, one can only imagine when he gets to debate Hillary, she'll be all lady like and he will confront her and win those debates. He likes to be a gentleman, but he will get down and dirty when he has to, he's a New Yorker, he doesn't take any crap.
Geez...have you seen him debate, or present, or speak condescendingly, or whatever one wants to call it? If he is GOP last man standing & has to go one on one with HC, she will handle him quite easily. Gina, did you watch her multi hour responses to the GOP prosecutors (aka - Benghazi panel)? She made them look like cub scouts with her ability to deliver on both a macro & micro level. I doubt Trump can respond with the level of detail as Mrs. Clinton, and he certainly hasn't demonstrated the in-depth knowledge of issues like she has. He will go for fear mongering, abrasive talk, right wing ideology, hate speech issues, & demagoguery. Other than his hardcore constituency, I doubt he'll pull in many of the undecided voters & independents.
If he does become the GOP nominee, it will be interesting to see how far the party & especially the establishment Republicans support or campaign for him.
Yes I have seen Hillary's responses. I remember during the debates when she was vying for the Presidential nomination last time. She has been in politics a long time and has learned how to handle opposition. The one thing I remember from her last run at the Democratic nomination was they asked her on the issue of drone strikes into Pakistan, now this was before any had ever been conducted, if she would she inform Pakistan in advance of the US deployment of the drones, her response was she would tell them when the drones were in the air. I did not like that answer because it was a policy of we will shoot first and then tell another country what we have done. I don't think that is good foreign policy.
I don't think WE should be launching drone strikes into other countries on their people. I think if we have info., we should have enough of a relationship with the other countries, we share info. with them and let them make the decision of what to do about it. Our policies are the reason Pakistan and Afghanistan would point the fingers at each other and say no that person is not here, we know he is in the other country. There was no trust between them and the US because the US just does what it wants to, they did not want civil war in their own country.
Even in the Afghan war since 2001, the allied nations did not expend or send many of their own fighters to join our campaigns. They don't want civil war in their own country. The UK has a well known Islamic insurgency but they manage their own affairs. That is what most countries want to do. They do not want to intervene in the affairs of other countries. It is only the US going to other countries telling them what to do, how to do it, and then trying to do it for them that has pissed them off and damaged the Middle East peace process. We have to stop that, Trump will get us out of those wars. When war comes to our shores, THEN and only then should we be responding to it.
[Edited on 12/20/2015 by gina]
Donald has brought out Sarah Palin tonite in Iowa. I think its his first big misstep on his part. She should stayed buried in the past due to her ditzy polarizing rehtoric will alienate moderates. Palin, Rove, republicans need to fade away.
Donald has brought out Sarah Palin tonite in Iowa. I think its his first big misstep on his part. She should stayed buried in the past due to her ditzy polarizing rehtoric will alienate moderates. Palin, Rove, republicans need to fade away.
I watched Palin's endorsement of Trump. She came off as a drunk 20 year old sorority girl. She's just beyond pathetic. I would love to see him choose her as a VP candidate so we could see more of her Comedy Central like performances. I mean...two entertainers on the same ticket - doesn't get any better than that.
Donald has brought out Sarah Palin tonite in Iowa. I think its his first big misstep on his part. She should stayed buried in the past due to her ditzy polarizing rehtoric will alienate moderates. Palin, Rove, republicans need to fade away.
If you really think that was his first big misstep, you haven't been paying attention.
Ooo the liberals are so scared of Sarah Palin.
She and the Tea Party wiped the floor in 2010 with the democrats. The largest loss of seats by a political party in over 70 years.
Still crying about Nancy Pelosi getting kicked out as the Speaker of The House?
Trump just picked up a huge voting block. This is just so much fun to watch.
Ooo the liberals are so scared of Sarah Palin.
She and the Tea Party wiped the floor in 2010 with the democrats. The largest loss of seats by a political party in over 70 years.
Still crying about Nancy Pelosi getting kicked out as the Speaker of The House?
Trump just picked up a huge voting block. This is just so much fun to watch.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Trump effect, or The Dumbing Down Of America 😛
I would be wary of anyone that Putin likes.
...and doubly wary of anyone Palin endorses
Ooo the liberals are so scared of Sarah Palin.
She and the Tea Party wiped the floor in 2010 with the democrats. The largest loss of seats by a political party in over 70 years.
Still crying about Nancy Pelosi getting kicked out as the Speaker of The House?
Trump just picked up a huge voting block. This is just so much fun to watch.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Trump effect, or The Dumbing Down Of America 😛
_________________________________________________________________________
Sarah's speech last night was fantastic and she didn't need a teleprompter to tell her what to say.
It gets better everyday.
Now the Hillary Clinton campaign is accusing Bernie Sanders of being a racist because he does not support "reparations".
Desperate, Hillary Clinton fishes in the sewer.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Trump effect, or The Dumbing Down Of America 😛
Trump is the result of 40 years of Republicans spewing hatred for religions other than evangelical Christians, failing to uphold the separation of church and state that is the basis of US principles, and carping about abortion and gay marriage which are completely irrelevant to the running of government.
My barber told me Friday that the national religion of the US is Christian. When I said the US doesn't have a national religion, he was shocked. I said the US is a democracy not a theocracy. He polled everyone in the place. Yes, they all agreed the US has a national religion and it's Christian. Although it may be true that of Americans who claim to have a religion it may be predominantly Christian, but that's a far cry from being a state-sanctioned religion.
So, I guess there were 2 generations of people who never learned about separation of church and state in elementary school.
Trump is the result.
Ooo the liberals are so scared of Sarah Palin.
She and the Tea Party wiped the floor in 2010 with the democrats. The largest loss of seats by a political party in over 70 years.
Still crying about Nancy Pelosi getting kicked out as the Speaker of The House?
Trump just picked up a huge voting block. This is just so much fun to watch.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Trump effect, or The Dumbing Down Of America 😛
_________________________________________________________________________
Sarah's speech last night was fantastic and she didn't need a teleprompter to tell her what to say.
It gets better everyday.
Now the Hillary Clinton campaign is accusing Bernie Sanders of being a racist because he does not support "reparations".
Desperate, Hillary Clinton fishes in the sewer.
Mule,
I hope Sarah Palin is strictly an Iowa play because Trump is running well ahead of the others. Outside of Iowa why trot her out for an endorsement.
Election cycles change and so do voters impressions (just look at Christie, they were begging him to run in 2012) . No one wants to hear "Drill Baby Drill" in 2016... or see clumsy TV appearances from Palin or Tina Fey. It brings back too much baggage from the inept Bush II years. Bringing out Palin just relives the post traumatic Bush years all over again.
Trump campaign is not supposed to be about political endorsements from someone like Palin. His whole campaign is about getting inept people out of Washington and he is getting into bed with Palin? Makes no sense. She should fade back into the ALaskan wilderness.
I feel the Palin endorsement is much more about Trump sticking it to Cruz, than some ringing feather in Trump's cap.
I was over the moon to see her yesterday. God, I love that woman. 
[Edited on 1/20/2016 by gondicar]
My barber told me Friday that the national religion of the US is Christian. When I said the US doesn't have a national religion, he was shocked. I said the US is a democracy not a theocracy. He polled everyone in the place. Yes, they all agreed the US has a national religion and it's Christian. Although it may be true that of Americans who claim to have a religion it may be predominantly Christian, but that's a far cry from being a state-sanctioned religion.
Wow. And where was this?
adding Palin sure does spice things up. 😮
Sarah Palin’s son Track arrested at her home, girlfriend ‘concerned’ he ‘would shoot himself’
The day before former Alaska governor Sarah Palin offered her high-stakes, high-profile endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, her son Track Palin was arrested on domestic-violence charges after a fight with his girlfriend, who said she was concerned he would take his own life with an AR-15 rifle.
Super Tuesday is March 1st. Mostly Southern States where Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders haven’t a chance.
Who wins each primary is important but the voter turnout is a much more telling indicator.
Now sit back kids and watch the show. This is going to be fun!
Ooo the liberals are so scared of Sarah Palin.
She and the Tea Party wiped the floor in 2010 with the democrats. The largest loss of seats by a political party in over 70 years.
Still crying about Nancy Pelosi getting kicked out as the Speaker of The House?
Trump just picked up a huge voting block. This is just so much fun to watch.
Indeed, Palin is very scary for the following reasons: She's a loudmouth dimwit who, despite being galactically unqualified by intelligence and/or experience, keeps inveigling herself near the Presidency of the most powerful nation ever manifest on Earth (Trump/Palin 2016, anyone?), and: There are legions of other dimwits who believe she belongs there.
Wow. And where was this?
Two blocks from the Beacon.
