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presidential election 2016

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Political Opinion: Donald Trump’s Exit Strategy

I think everyone has it wrong, Donald Trump has an Exit Strategy. Donald Trump has never wanted to be president. He has wanted the notoriety of running for the presidency but never the responsibility of the office. He has wanted the attention and to be placed on the same stage as those who would assume the office but he never assumed that he could win the office. Donald Trump’s ego forces him to seek the stage, the limelight but he could never risk not winning. If Donald Trump loses in a ‘fair’ fight or election, it would diminish his brand. Donald Trump could never have that.
Indeed, Donald Trump has expanded his domain. He has expanded the Trump brand. His brand is bombast, entitlement, pugnacious temperament and an air of never retreating from a fight. He has acquired a constituency of older white men who will forever be in his debt for making them feel empowered and in the right, as they see ‘their America’ fading due to a relentless demographic change in the American landscape. They will forever buy the Trump brand of goods for the ‘virile,’‘powerful’ man. Trump Cologne, Trump clothing, Trump real estate, golf course membership and so on.
Donald Trump has succeeded in positioning his business interests among those who he feels will continue to support him and purchase his goods and services for the foreseeable future. The Trump business empire will expand. Watch for the announcement of his next reality television show and see how the networks and cable television executives will fawn over him and enter into armed combat with each other for the ‘privilege’ of producing his show. The network executives will assume that his ratings will be beyond belief because, that older white male demographic will be sure to tune in. The ratings will be ‘HUGE.” Brilliant!
Trump has succeeded in capturing an entire constituency of the Republican Party. Notice you don’t hear much about the Tea party these days, to the chagrin of Ted Cruz and others. We now have the Trump wing of the Republican Party. He could be a Kingmaker. He now has political power to go along with his considerable social media and traditional media acumen. Trump knows how to manipulate the media and expertly leverage the combination of media and political power. We have all been seduced and co-opted by his magnificent illusion. Watch how many of the Republican candidates come to kiss his ring as they mount a bid to become the 45th President of the United States. Trump has won! Regardless of which party wins the White House, Trump will have a voice and a seat at the table because he has his following. I repeat, Trump has won.
Now he has to escape the birdcage of campaigning. Trump has repeatedly stated that he would consider running as an Independent if the Republican Party did not “treat him fairly.” He has now artificially created a crisis of American identity by proposing the unfair and unconstitutional premise of barring Muslims from entering the country. Trump in one fell swoop has coalesced the opposition to him by every candidate and the entire Republican leadership establishment. I guess he will consider this as ‘unfair treatment’ and decide to pick up his marbles and leave the candidate stage. white-blank-space
The Exit Strategy is revealed. He will threaten an Independent run but will decide against this for the ‘good’ of the party; only to remain in the conversation as an outside element. A VERY powerful position that he will be able to continue to drive the conversation and terms of this election. If the Democrats win he will assume no blame because it will be another candidate’s loss. If the Republicans win, he will assume some of the responsibility for victory for having the ‘brass appendages’ for creating the environment for success. The Republican president will owe him favors and he will have unprecedented access. Trump wins.
We have all been witness to the genius of Donald trump. I am very impressed.

Opinion: Democrats beware. There is a Republican Making Sense and he is a Threat

Governor_John_Kasich. .Wikipedia public domain
Governor_John_Kasich.
.Wikipedia public domain
Democrats beware. There is a Republican making sense and he is a threat His name is…John Kasich. This Ohio Governor made his mark during the recent Republican debate and his poll numbers are showing it. OK, self-disclosure time. I would describe myself as a center right democrat. I believe in a women’s right to choose and I abhor abortion. I am a supporter of the ACA, fondly known as Obamacare but I feel there should be reforms in the law for bringing malpractice suits against healthcare professionals. The government should be able to exert some controls concerning the purchase and costs of drugs. There must be cost containment in healthcare. I believe in the right to bare arms but come on; does anyone need to have 20 AK-47s in their closet??? Now that 50 percent of you hate me and the other 50% can barely stand me, let me tell you why Governor Kasich is such a threat to the Democrats. It is because he appeals to me. He has staked a position that speaks of his approach to governance. COMPROMISE. He is neither a flame-thrower nor a marshmallow. He has a temper that he has actively learned to control in public but he shows some spirit and passion when he explains his positions. He has not run away from the fact that his state accepted and utilized Obamacare to provide the uninsured population in his state with the opportunity for healthcare. He has addressed the incarcerated, drug dependent felon by not further punishing them for their drug related crimes but by providing resources to address their drug dependence. He has actively worked to rehabilitate them. The recidivism rate in his state is among the lowest in the country. Something is working. John Kasich is Pro-Life but he states he respects that others have the right to their position for a women’s right to choose.
I think Kasich has gotten a free pass from the media’s scrutiny because he was not considered a top tiered candidate (watch out Governor, some fastballs are coming your way, high and tight, a little chin music). His Republican rivals have not targeted him because he was not seen as a threat. He deftly co-opted Trump’s positions and did not antagonize him. He did not create an early enemy (Trump will be after him soon enough). The Democrats have not put him on their radar because of the confusion caused by the Trump phenomenon, Bush’s political malfeasance and Carly Fiorina’s slow start. I think that Trump will last for a long time because he has his own money, is not afraid of saying what everyone is thinking and has enough time to hire the right consultants to sharpen his message until he develops some political chops of his own. What do they say? Fake it until you can make it! Trump’s brash tone and take no prisoners attitude has capture the imagination of a portion of the Republican base that will support him until they think he is not electable (I think that Trump’s endgame is to be a King or Queen maker to gain access, leverage and influence from whoever wins the White House). Politically, someone will have to challenge Trump, not back down and take him out. I think that George… uh, Jeb Bush will go on the attack because he has to do something to show those who want to support him that he has the fire in the belly to go the distance. The Democratic standard barer will show Republicans no quarter and Jeb must get prepared to show some toughness by going through Trump. Kasich will be waiting in the wings. I don’t think that Rubio is ready yet. He is polished, very smart and a good politician. I just don’t think he is a great politician, just yet. Some more seasoning is required here. His message is still muddled (although that may change as the primary season gets into gear and he naturally sharpens his attack). Rubio does not yet represent the wider Hispanic voter, so his natural advantage is not yet fully formed but his appeal could broaden to capture a vice-presidential pick. Rubio has money to spend and backers willing to front him some more.
carlyforamerica.com
carlyforamerica.com
Carly Fiorina is a compelling figure. She is incredibly smart and knows how to position an argument. She must break through during the next few debates to show her ability to appear as a commander-in-chief. I have not heard her discuss topics concerning military engagement and geopolitical concerns. How will she illustrate that she can lead the military as well as she lead in the boardroom. Mr. Trump as well as Jeb Bush will test her bona fides. How will she react and respond to the pressure. She too, is an option for vice-presidential consideration.
Ben Carson,  (Wikipedia public domain)
Ben Carson,
(Wikipedia public domain)
I do not know what to think of Dr. Ben Carson. His lack of political background would expose him to some ridicule if this weren’t the Republican brand of politics (inquisition?). He is a very quick study and his appeal to the Republican base and the Tea-party insurgents will provide him with the cover he will need to last until the first of the primaries are over. I predict that he will fade and be gone from this political stage in a relatively short time. The rest of the gang of 17 will not make the top six candidates sweat for very long but I promise you it will be very entertaining.
That brings me back to Kasich. I think he is the greatest threat to any Democrat opponent who will be standing at the end of silly season. He is the real deal. Bush has a ton of money, so he will be around to test Kasich, as will Trump. Both of them will fall to the wayside. In a general election, I think that Kasich will be the most nimble of the Republicans, ready to pivot to the center and challenge for the White House. He is already in the center and he will be formidable. He strikes me as reasonable (I am really concerned now). This represents his worst quality and greatest liability as far as the far right is concerned. His very tangible qualities allowing for electability may prevent him from getting out of the Republican primaries; his ability to reason and be reasonable with Democrats. But if the GOP truly wants to recapture the presidency, they must have as a candidate, someone who is acceptable to the Independent voter and someone who does not totally scare Democrats and their base. Blacks, Hispanics, the LGBT community, people who don’t want to lose their ACA healthcare could potentially support and vote for this man. Kasich fits the bill unless he reveals a hidden, ultra-conservative, crazy rightwing agenda. He can beat Hillary, Biden or Sanders. Imagine a Kasich-Rubio ticket. The sound you hear is the RNC leadership salivating. Hillary better get on the phone (no email please) to call Julian Castro, she’s going to need the help.
Democrats beware. There is a Republican making sense and he is a Threat!

Prediction: Kasich/Rubio vs. Clinton/Castro

Wikipedia public domain
Wikipedia public domain