Tuesday 26 January 2016

Quote of the Day: Thomas Sowell on Donald Trump

“Those of us who like to believe that human beings are rational can
sometimes have a hard time trying to explain what is going on in
politics. It is still a puzzle to me how millions of patriotic Americans
could have voted in 2008 for a man who for 20 years -- TWENTY
YEARS -- was a follower of a preacher who poured out his hatred
for America in the most gross gutter terms.
    “Today's big puzzle is how so many otherwise rational people
have become enamoured of Donald Trump, projecting onto him
virtues and principles that he clearly does not have, and ignoring
gross defects that are all too blatant.”

~ Thomas Sowell, from his article ‘Do Emotions Trump Facts?

 

RELATED POSTS:

  • “So this is the world [the Republican money bags] and the rest of the smart guys have made: a primary season rapidly coming down to a hardcore base-shoring conservative vs a hardcore post-ideological neo-nationalist - leaving Gerson, Pete Wehner, George Will and the donor-bankrolled GOP establishment to mutter that it may be time for the Republican Party to go third-party.
        “LBJ said it was better to have Robert F Kennedy inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in. The GOP drove so many outside the tent to start pissing in that the the whole sodden canvas is floating off and out to sea.”
    The World They Made – Mark Steyn, STEYN ONLINE
  • “In a country with more than 300 million people, it is remarkable how obsessed the media have become with just one—Donald Trump. What is even more remarkable is that, after seven years of repeated disasters, both domestically and internationally, under a glib egomaniac in the White House, so many potential voters are turning to another glib egomaniac to be his successor.”
    Conservatives against Trump – Thomas Sowell et al, NATIONAL REVIEW
  • “Too many nations, in desperate times, especially after the established authorities have discredited themselves and forfeited the trust of the people, have turned to some new and charismatic leader, who ended up turning a dire situation into an utter catastrophe.
        “The history of the 20th century provides all too many examples … Eric Hoffer’s shrewd insight into the success of charismatic leaders was that the ‘quality of ideas seems to play a minor role,’ What matters, he pointed out, ‘is the arrogant gesture, the complete disregard of the opinion of others, the singlehanded defiance of the world.’
        “Is that the emotional release that Republican voters will be seeking when they begin voting in the primaries? If so, Donald Trump will be their man. But if the sobering realities of life and the need for mature and wise leadership in dangerous times is uppermost in their minds, they will have to look elsewhere.”
    A Lack of Quality Ideas: Trump and The Republican Establishment – Thomas Sowell, CAPITALISM MAGAZINE

3 comments:

Mr Lineberry said...

The last gasp of a failed Republican Establishment; they said the same thing about Ron Reagan in 1980, so there is nothing new here.

Like 1980 Trump will lock everything up fairly easily and quickly: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada over the next three weeks before humiliating all his opponents on 'Super Tuesday' by easily winning their home States.

I also expect Trump to win 42 or 43 States and 55% of the votes in November against Clinton.

Peter Cresswell said...

You have noticed, haven't you that with recent endorsements etc. Trump has now *become* the establishment candidate.

And you have realised, haven't you, that we're not debating whether or not he might win, but whether that win would be something to wish for.

Mr Lineberry said...

Yes, I realise all that. I think 5% tax rates, a President firmly supporting the 2nd amendment rights of citizens, a President calling a spade a spade, a pro business President, and giving ISIS what they have been asking for means he is definitely something I am wishing for haha!

His opponents - the people Mr Sowell and co. are supporting - people like JEB, or Rubio are wandering around the battlefield in a daze looking for a socialist or terrorist to surrender to. "Weak as water" as Mrs Slocombe used to say.