Saturday Open Thread [7.25.15]

Filed in National by on July 25, 2015

The Economist: “You’d have to be astoundingly brazen to run for president, churning up toxic xenophobic sentiments, just to get the political leverage to win a huge tax break, or to build a casino or to stop somebody else’s casino. But Mr Trump is neither a meek nor public-spirited man. And, astonishingly enough, he may have actually succeeded in putting the Republican Party in a corner.”

“If cutting a sweet deal is what Mr Trump was aiming to do all along, we might have to admit that he is more than the attention-seeking buffoon he appears to be. It may be that he is a attention-seeking, buffoonish genius. In any case, Mr Trump has floated the possibility that he may try to wreck the Republican Party’s presidential chances unless it coughs up a little ‘fair’ treatment, whatever that means. If the GOP doesn’t think it can neutralize Mr Trump’s threat of a third-party run by utterly demolishing his reputation, then they’re going to have to consider a little fairness. Not a bad month’s work for Mr Trump.”

Lexington: “The Trump technique involves confiding in unhappy Americans that they are victims of a plot—and a plot, what is more, that could be easily thwarted. In his telling, scheming foreign governments have outwitted a soft political elite in Washington and preyed on America’s openness and generosity. He is tapping into a political tradition with deep roots. The Know-Nothings are only one example. The ‘America First’ movement of the early 1940s accused decadent Europeans and well-connected Jews of conspiring to drag America into a new world war. In the 1960s the John Birch Society saw communist cunning at every turn.”

“To difficult questions Mr Trump offers appealingly simple solutions, starting with this most painful puzzle for conservatives: if America is the mightiest country in the world, how come it feels so weak? His answer goes beyond blaming Barack Obama and the Democrats. The fault, he insists, lies instead with the governing class in both parties, which has betrayed a great nation.”

A new Market Insight poll in Louisiana finds John Bel Edwards (D) leading the gubernatorial jungle primary with 30%, followed by David Vitter (R) at 24%, Scott Angelle (R) at 14% and Jay Dardenne (R) at 12%.

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  1. SussexAnon says:

    Crappy trade deals, unenforced border policies, led by a soft political elite class only serving to keep themselves in power?

    If Trump wasn’t Trump, I would vote for him, too.

  2. bamboozer says:

    Interesting, like an energizer bunny from hell Trump just keeps going. I feel confident that the Republican elite and assorted billionaires are frantic to shut him up but it’s not happening. Last time around he didn’t get this far and went down in flames quickly, this time there just may be more fun to come.

  3. puck says:

    the Republican elite and assorted billionaires are frantic to shut him up

    Yes, but their usual tools (scorn and belittlement of their opponents) won’t work. What could they possibly do? Trump is a caricature of the GOP, so any attack on Trump would be an attack on themselves.

  4. Joanne Christian says:

    Oh geez, in DC at the Smithsonian on some business, into the American History museum, I’ve neglected the last longwhile, over visits to other areas. WOW! Talk about age hitting you in the face….I’ve worked with every pacemaker they had on display, and recognized every computer. Geez, I even remember some of those GOTV posters from decades ago. I feel like I should donate my Lost in Space lunchbox now. Ugh! Meanwhile, the AA Historical and Cultural Museum is coming along nicely for 2016, with a “teaser” mini display open. Nice. And I learned something incredible. I NEVER KNEW Ann Lowe was black! She was the wedding dress designer for Jackie Kennedy and referred to as ” society’s best kept fashion secret”. Geez. What a lesson, I am looking to investigate her further. Go see this place if in the area anyway….it’s small now……

  5. Jason330 says:

    I guess we know what Jack’s next thing is going to be – full time concern troll.

  6. SussexAnon says:

    What else is a moderate republican registered and elected as a democrat in a blue state to do other than troll?

    There is always think tanks, though. Is there an Education with Bike Paths think tank in DC?

  7. mouse says:

    I love the Gordon Pond bike path