05-18-2016, 04:55 PM
(05-17-2016, 11:56 AM)Cynic Hero Wrote: You do not get it; the democrats are not going against the neocon, pro-free trade, Randian GOP that we have known since 1980. They will be going against the new populist, economic protectionist GOP that Trump is creating.
You don't know what Trump is creating because they is no evidence of what Trump believes. You cannot go by what he says, because he says diametrically opposing things all the time. For example some think Trump is promoting a more isolationist policy. One can find lots of things that Trump says that supports this idea. But then there is that hat Trump wears, displaying his slogan Make America Great Again (like the Donald is). When asked when was America great, Trump responds with periods when the US was kicking ass militarily overseas. Kicking ass overseas and isolationism are mutually incompatible. So what does Trump really want to do, withdraw from the world, or kick ass?
Trumps signature policy is his wall. But now he is saying maybe half a wall, or maybe the wall with have a door in it. Is he really serious about the wall, or is this just a talking point? After all, everybody uses them.
One thing I think Trump is serious about is restricting trade. He expressed this same position in the 1980's and at various times since then. It's the one thing on which he has been consistent.
As for social issues, Trump is both pro-life and pro-choice at the same time. He is pro-gay and anti-gay at the same time. He is anti-Muslim or pro-Muslim, depending on the situation. As he says, he makes deals and will be whatever he needs to be to make deals.
One thing is pretty clear. Trump knows little about policy, suggesting a lack of interest. It is unlikely he will develop an interest in policy, which means he will have no particular policy beliefs (with the possible exception of trade). Since he is a Republican, I would expect him to pretty much go along with whatever the GOP establishment wants, once in power. He will probably make a deal with them to do whatever they want in exchange for some project that will establish his own greatness. And maybe that will be the wall, or a major war against ISIS that will consumer his administration like it did with Bush II, who knows.