Guest Post by
In addition to the 21% of responses in the “dishonest/don’t trust her” category, another 7% of Americans use even stronger words in a similar negative vein, including “criminal,” “crooked” and “thief.” Nine percent say they dislike her. Smaller percentages (shown at the end of this article) associate her with Bill Clinton, with the controversy surrounding her use of a private email server while secretary of state and with the Benghazi terrorist attack.
The perceptions of Hillary Clinton as dishonest are not new. When Gallup asked the same question in 2008, “dishonest” was Americans’ most frequent response.
– Results of a recent Gallup poll
Before I get into this post, I want to make one thing clear — I don’t have a dog in this fight. I’m neither a Hillary Clinton nor a Donald Trump supporter; in fact, I’ve spent quite a bit of time sharply criticizing both of them here on these pages.
Donald Trump checks none of my important boxes when it comes to policy. He’s horrible on civil liberties, shows no real interest in reining in Wall Street criminals, and is unlikely to view the Constitution any more respectfully than Barrack Obama or George W. Bush before him. I simply cannot support such a man. With Trump, one has to hope he’s the anti-Obama, i.e., says all the wrong things but then does the right thing. In this sense it is possible that Trump could be a decent president, but he could also be an unmitigated nightmare. He’s the ultimate wildcard, potentially far worse than even Hillary, but also conceivably far better. There’s simply no way to know for sure.
Hillary Clinton on the other hand is a guaranteed disaster. She will take the oligarch-controlled U.S. Banana Republic institutionalized by Obama and embrace it like no one else could or would. She won’t begrudgingly acquiesce to plutocrat demands, she will enthusiastically and shamelessly push forward their agenda without the slightest hesitation or passing thought regarding the wellbeing of the peasantry. Every single negative trend in American society we’ve seen develop over the past several decades will be thrust into overdrive, from neocon militarism to Wall Street criminality. I’ll put the odds at her being a decent president in terms her donors can understand, 0.0001%.
As such, the only question in play right now when it comes to the election is whether or not the American public is prepared to take an enormous gamble on Donald Trump when the only alternative is the creepy status quo political creature that is Hillary Clinton. My answer is yes.
However, it’s not merely a willingness to take such a gamble that will likely propel Trump into the Oval Office, it’s also a function of his talents. For all his flaws, Trump has many unique gifts. I’ve identified three so far: Force of personality, self-awareness and an uncanny ability to tell people what they want to hear. It’s that last one that most helps him in the political arena, and it’s also why he’s been able to lay waste to all the career politicians in his path. It’s also the one which was on full display during his speech yesterday to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.
As Chemi Shalev described in his Haaretz article:
On Monday night, Donald Trump showed how and why he might be elected president of the United States. Invited to participate in a candidate’s forum at AIPAC’s annual conference, he came, he spoke, he conquered. In future history, the 2016 AIPAC Policy Conference might yet be viewed as a watershed event on way to the Trump Era.
Trump entered the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. as a prime suspect but emerged clean as a whistle. In less than half an hour, he took a skeptical and apprehensive audience and turned them into gushing cheerleaders. He went into the arena as a racist demagogue but soon came out as an ostensibly serious contender. He faced a tough test of his mettle but passed it with flying colors and hardly any effort. He came away with a kosher “K” certificate, issued by one of the most powerful and influential organizations in America.
Trump proved that he knows exactly how to press the right Jewish buttons, much as he has shown his expertise in manipulating the fears and resentments of middle class, white Americans. He told the AIPAC delegates exactly what they wanted and what they’re used to hearing — and they loved it. He mocked other candidates for pandering and proceeded to pander as if there’s no tomorrow.
Perhaps it was stronger than them. Everyone was well aware of the problematic invitation issued to Trump and if anyone had missed it, AIPAC officials repeatedly cautioned the crowd to act with respect and refrain from embarrassing spectacles or protests. But they could have saved themselves the effort. Like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, Trump played a beguiling Israel-pleasing tune that captivated the audience, calmed their fears, dissolved their doubts and then enticed them to proceed from hesitant applause through louder acclimation all the way to standing ovations and a crescendo of cheers.
In honor of AIPAC, however, he undertook an extreme makeover, reading a tightly formulated speech from the kind of teleprompter that he usually mocks. He didn’t deviate from his prepared text, which wasn’t any different from the addresses made on Monday by Hillary Clinton, John Kasich and even House Speaker Paul Ryan, another AIPAC favorite. Ted Cruz, usually considered a far better speaker than Trump, suddenly sounded dazed and confused.
Some commentators, including this one, thought that the Trump Show at AIPAC would yield more protests and more turbulence, beyond the demonstrations outside. Instead, what we got was a standard AIPAC speech that promises the moon and garners applause even though everyone knows it’s just an empty slogan that isn’t really going to happen. Nonetheless it was good enough to transform Trump from a morally repugnant presidential candidate into a run of the mill contender who deserves as much respect as the others.
A friend who watched the proceedings on television said he felt the need to take a shower to get the stain off. But then I met a religious family walking back to their hotel, engaged in a deep debate over the evening’s speeches. I eavesdropped just as they reached a family decision to transfer their votes from Cruz to Trump. When I asked them why, they said because “he’ll be good for Israel.” And how did they know that, I persisted, and they looked at me as if I was an idiot. “Didn’t you hear his speech?” they asked, and rightly so. I saw and heard the whole thing, and still find it hard to believe.
The DNC will be remembered by history as playing an instrumental role in Trump’s election, due to its relentless forcing of the disaster that is Hillary Clinton down our throats. For more on this perspective, see:
Democratic Presidential Candidate Jim Webb Says He Won’t Vote for Clinton, Might Vote Trump
Why Hillary Clinton Cannot Beat Donald Trump
It’s Not Just the GOP – The Democratic Party is Also Imploding
Trump vs. Clinton – Two Tweets That Say It All
Watch Trump’s AIPAC speech for yourself here:
In Liberty,
Michael Krieger
I heard the speech compliments of Bill Still.
Is this an aspect of the Johari window?
The 25% of personal bias/”unknown to self”???
It is so interesting…facts v bias = nonsense
Some Christians seek a Holy Alliance with Israel,
sorry, I don’t get it.
Amazing how Krieger can totally discount the revolution that is being waged by Bernie Sanders, who skipped the AIPAC since pandering to Israel is not his bag.
85% of American jews will vote for the Democrat, whoever it is. I’ll never understand why the GOP falls all over itself pandering to Israel election after election. I was hoping for better from Trump (i.e. lets put America first instead of Israel first) but understand that sucking up to AIPAC is a requirement to get the nomination.
TC,
It’s an indirect appeal to the evangelicals. They think Israel is part of the Armageddon solution.
The video posted in the article (Trump’s speech) is basically a 26 minute 27 second BLOW JOB to Joos everywhere.
Donald knows how to play the game. He will NOT start WWIII to protect Israel …. Cruz will.
Hillary will maintain the status quo …. spread her legs and/or take it up the ass, however her Joo handlers want it.
Bernie will promise a free Gefilte Fish in every pot of Matzo Ball soup.
It was a great speech – very Presidential. For those of you that consider this to be Trump on his knees to Israel – did you expect him to dis Israel. Did you expect him to say the Iran deal was great and for Israel to learn to live with it.
It was just a speech to gain support.
kokoda- Wearing his ‘rose colored” Trump glasses again today.
Please look up Goyim……………..your picture will be next to the definition.
kokoda – I’d have a hell of a lot more respect for Trump if he said he was going to put America first and that we weren’t going to subsidize Israel anymore, which would be consistent with what he’s said about NATO, UN, Japan, etc. To his credit, he did NOT mention the foreign aid we send to Israel, so there’s some hope. As a fuckin’ broke ass country, we shouldn’t be sending money to anyone for anything.
Bea….If don’t care if someone is a Jew, Irish, Christian, Polish, Russian, etc. As far as Goyim – I am a non-Jew. So what.
Westcoaster is still preaching to the church of Bernie?
How in the hell do you reconcile the self image of a Libertarian with that candidate? There must be some serious doublethink rattling around in that skull of yours.
TC….I would like to see all disbursements to foreign countries eliminated; I would like to see70% of our foreign military bases closed – some are needed.
Cash is just a bribe to foreign countries – wonder how many Trillions we have squandered for 60 years of cash to dictators.
Who benefits the most by electing Clinton or Trump?
Since Trump isn’t part of the corrupt POLITICAL establishment, and he isn’t a Shill for the big banks, unions, and many other big special interests, the ruling dictators will likely anoint Clinton because it will be easier to get what they want – whatever subsidies, benefits, bailouts, or tax breaks may be involved.
Always follow the money and who financially benefits the most. I support Mr. Trump but he may go the way of Barry Goldwater despite a strong base.
Poor Trump supporters who are aware of the jewish control over EVERY candidate running are still too emotionally invested by running their stupid mouths in support of him, suggesting he is only playing the Jew (like this kokoda character), when the fact is that these ignorant hacks are the ones being played.
There will NEVER come a solution from the R or D Parties.
NEVER.
BuelahMan
Other than your hatred for Jews, please provide us with your solutions. Your drivel is tiring.
Dem party is number two literally .The party of poo.
Newsflash >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There is some malfunction reported at the Denver airport.
TP CHEMIST
Long time no see. Good to see ya.
Westie rides the short bus to the (platform) everyday. LOL
This made me LOL… after all that knob-slobbing…
AIPAC Leadership Slams Trump for Anti-Obama Speech
Hours after members of an influential pro-Israel political conference welcomed Republican front-runner Donald Trump and applauded his remarks bashing President Barack Obama, the event’s organizers condemned Trump’s comments and chided its own members for supporting him.
On Tuesday morning, AIPAC President Lillian Pinkus issued rebuked Trump’s remarks, reading a statement from the stage ahead of an address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who appeared via satellite.
“Last evening something occurred which has the potential to drive us apart, to divide us,” Pinkus said. “We say, unequivocally, that we do not countenance ad hominem attacks and we take great offense against those that are levied against the president of the United States of America from our stage.”
test
WTF three posts gone
—- I just got a robo call apparently looking for illegal aliens,,, something about a program that will fast-track a person to citizenship. — What’s up with that?? — I’m guessing the Democrats a panicking and pulling out all the stops to register voters.
Is AIPAC’s condemnation of Trump Zionist, or was Trump’s AIPAC blow fest Zionist? I’m confused.
Would it be fair to simplify Zionism as Greater Israel (for some MUCH Greater)? Would the statement: all Zionist’s are Jews, but not all Jews are Zionists, be fair?
Not to offend Jews, Zionists or Jew/Zionist haters, but I get confused easily.
Jeb Bush endorses Cruz. All 10 of Bush’s supporters should turn the tide for Cruz.
“Would the statement: all Zionist’s are Jews, but not all Jews are Zionists, be fair?”
I think the last part of that statement is fair. Some fundamentalist Christian sects seem to be zionist. About non-zionist jews, this is from a Wikipedia page:
“The Neturei Karta see themselves as the “true Jews”, but are viewed as a cult on “the farthest fringes of Judaism” by mainstream Jews.[1] Neturei Karta opposes Zionism and calls for a dismantling of the State of Israel, in the belief that Jews are forbidden to have their own state until the coming of the Jewish Messiah.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neturei_Karta
Ed- Thank you for the input. I can see goals overlapping, such as Neocon and Zionist expansion/destabilization in the Middle East, I am just not sure if that makes Neocons, Zionists. Or if only true Jews can be considered Zionists, by Jews or Zionist, the rest being merely collaborators.
It’s probably best for me to take these questions on the road, as Jewish participation on TBP is limited to non-existent.
I remember the TBP take down, and it’s rescue, thanks to The Man with No Name.