I am truly baffled by the current presidential election. Most particularly by the way Donald Trump has seemingly steam-rolled to the forefront of the Republican pack.
Everyone keeps saying it's because he's tapped into the "anger" of the Republican party. Well, the same can be said of Bernie Sanders for Democrats. But look at the difference. The anger of the right boils up into aggression against anything "other". Anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-Islam, anti-gay, anti-Black, anti-women, anti-poor people. Are they actually for anything? Other than business, that is? The anger on the left is all about inclusivity. Pro-living wage, pro-equal rights, pro-fair taxes, pro-education access for all....
I mean, when your supporters are yelling to set people on fire because they're protesting at your rally, and you don't tell them to stop, what does that say? Or they beat a protester up, and a presidential nominee says "maybe he should have been roughed up"? What. The. Fuck.
This is not "passion". This is not "high energy". This is violence. This is mob rule.
What has happened to the Republican party? I used to be a Republican. I was raised in a Republican household. My parents and brother are Republicans. As a teen I was part of a Young Republicans group. My first votes were Republican. Now I'm embarrassed to even write that! How did it get hijacked into this festering morass of hatred and ideology that serves to impose a puritanical religious view on the rest of the country? That seems to be divorced from common-sense, practical fiscal policies to pro-business-no-matter-what? From utilizing scientific fact to demonizing it? What the hell happened?
I really wish one of my Republican friends or family would explain to me how voting for Trump just because he's a Republican, just because he's not Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders is smart? How does that work? How would he be a better president than Hillary Clinton? He says nothing. (Other than insults when challenged.) What will his policies be? What does he stand for? Other than kicking anyone and everything that isn't white and male to the curb? What business skills does he actually bring to the table? Bankruptcy? Making the same one real estate deal over and over and losing money? Consistently choosing inept business partners or partners that grow to dislike him and his business so much they seek to break contracts?
THAT is better than Clinton or Sanders?
Realistically, we know what Clinton is going to support. She's been in politics long enough. And with Congress as divided as it is, we know nothing much is going to happen. Sanders has been pretty vocal on what he wants to do. And with Congress as divided as it is, we know nothing much is going to happen.
So here's my challenge Republicans. How is Trump better than either Clinton or Sanders? And no name-calling (i.e., liar, criminal, socialist, communist). No Benghazi, either, or the email server. Substantive policy issues please. Can you do it?
