Monday, March 21, 2016

Anger, Frustration, Fear Fueling Americas' Preference

No Lindsey Graham! It's not a matter of death by drowning or poison!

New Conservatives still don't get it. America isn't buying their definition of the world. To their chagrin, we are not accepting their assurance that "we live in a global society and must conform to a globalist state of mind." Maybe trust, or lack thereof, has something to do with it.

The term "free trader," which once carried positive connotations, has become synonomous with "outsourcing American jobs offshore."

Former Governor's Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush are viewed as "the political class."

Last year, I recounted Henry Olsen's April 2011 article that appeared in National Review. It was entitled, "Dangerous Disaffection." You might want to google it for review. For those who take the time, Donald Trump's success will be clearly understood.

The "disaffecteds" account for 20% of the American population. 77% are white. Two-thirds are Independents. Most of their households generate less than $30,000 per year. Trump has connected with these voters.

Not to suggest that these voters are ultra conservative. They are not! But, they do not trust the federal government. As a whole they loathe Barack Obama. Oh, by the way! Most have little if any knowledge of the Tea Party.

Republicans have been attempting to court these voters for years; from the time that the Reagan revolution referred to them as "Reagan Democrats." They contributed to the "Gippers victory." As the years slid by, they resumed their place in the shadows.

The great depression, as Olsen recounts, hit these Americans especially hard. They are dismayed to learn that individuals in the country illegally often have easier access to entitlements. Hence, a resentment for illegal immigration takes on a more personal meaning.

The left driven media seems to equate everything out of their politically correct bubble as rascism, bigotry, fascism, homophobia and Nazism. Shame on them! Like the Republican ruling class, they are learning that these generalisms only fuel the fire.

It comes from the perception of being screwed! Middle class America is angry. Real angry! To the point of finally taking action. All that was needed was a leader. It appears that they have one in Donald Trump.

Conservative purists insist that Trump isn't one of them. After all, he is talking protectionism and universal health care, hardly Republican positions. Conversely, he is promoting border control, second amendment purism and a national defense that will be second to none. All resonate with the most conservative voters.

New Conservatives scorn Trump. Maybe it's because he represents all that they are against. His nationalism stands as polar opposite to their globalist tendencies. His opposition to the Iraq war was clearly inconsistent with the Neo-Con preference for engaging in pre-emptive wars.

This is a very dangerous time for the Republican party. That they scorn Trump goes without saying. But, the electorate has embraced him. If they push him aside in favor of a candidate more in sync with their aims, they could subsequently hand the White House to Hillary Clinton.







Ted Cruz' Last Chance

Ted Cruz has been simply outmaneuvered!

Donald Trump's insightful coalition and how it has impacted the Republican Party is another subject for a different post. But it has subsequently taken much of the wind from Ted Cruz' sail.

End game? Not yet!

Cruz should be congradulated with his disciplined, ground game. He has expertly positioned himself as the constitutional conservative. He had drawn a distinction between himself and the Washington, D.C. ruling class. His followers would literally "walk on glass," as the owner of Tea Party Nation, a conservative blog, once insisted.

Yet, he looks destined to finish in second place in this years 2016 Republican primary. True, there is always the remote possibility of a contested convention, where he finishes on top after several, gut wrenching votes. Smart money says that this won't happen! And, if it did, it would at best, hand the general election to Hillary Clinton. At worst, it could be "end game" for the party.

Can destiny be arrested?

Possibly. The question becomes, "is Ted Cruz the man who can(and will) do it?"

The nation is truly seething. There has not been this amount of anger since 1968, if at any time in my lifetime. Mainstream America feels cheated. There is a minimal amount of trust in elected leaders. Career politicians were greeted with unusual scorn in the 2016 Republican primary. No end appears in sight.

What is scarcely below the surface is the paradigm that America, as we used to know it, is beyond reprieve. The subjects that are being discussed today amount to "should illegal aliens be entitled to receive Obamacare?" And, "should we take Obama's liberal Supreme Court appointee because the appointee that Hillary Clinton might make could prove even more liberal?"

The second amendment is under seige. So is control of our families. The debt will soon reach twenty-one trillion dollars, thanks to accommodationist Republican wisdom.

Yes, we have problems in America. Everyone, including Ted Cruz has made us keenly aware of them. The difference has been in Donald Trump's ability to lay out solutions. True, they may be controversial. In fact, they may be futile to begin with. But, they are ideas that appeal to frustrated American ears!

Cruz cannot "out Trump, Trump!" He has been strategically beaten to the punch on the Nationalist front. The option that remains invokes a long ago argument that many consider settled.

Ted Cruz can remake the 2016 argument in one bold stroke. In doing so, he will likely siphon away two-thirds, if not more of Donald Trump's newly formed constituency. It can be described in five words: "Peaceful separation of the states."

No politician has dared to tread on these words! Yet, Ted Cruz can literally define himself once and for all as either a "run of the mill politician," or "a once in a lifetime reformer." The choice is his.

It would begin with Texas, which has the undisputed right to secede. Cruz' knowledge of the constitution could then serve him well. It has been argued since the mid-19th century that the union is voluntary. I am confident that Cruz could make a sound argument for every states right to break from the union.

The Constitution also provides for a "convention of states" in the event that the Federal government has become a threat to the overall nation. Considering the state of the pending Supreme Court appointment, I would say that we are there. But, what tangible advantage would there be for disolving the Union? Actually, there are many.

For those unfamiliar with the continent wide chatter toward new states and break-away regions, please google, "Cascadia movement." Then google, Tim Draper's "The six Californias."

Yessir! There are a lot of North Americans discussing their options. From a material standpoint, the proverbial "red" states would come out on the long end of the stick, if their individual resources went with them. In fact, it's highly probable that several blue states would split, based on individual county, ala West Virginia in 1863.

What are the advantages of a New Republic, outside of America first Immigration reform, a balanced budget, stronger focus on the family, more individual freedoms, a stronger military and a court system that was recasted?

I do see an intellectual such as Ted Cruz patiently explaining the merits of the "New and better America." It would start with the creation of a new "commodity based dollar." You heard it right!

The new currency would be fully backed by commodities, whether they were coal or corn, petroleum or pork bellies. Within months, it would be trading at many times the value of the Federal Reserve note, described by G. Edward Griffin as "fiat." Yet, legally, contractually, the new Republic could retire it's share of the federal debt with Federal Reserve notes.

"What about Social Security?"

As Rick Perry pointed out in a 2011 debate, Social Security is nothing but a "Ponzi scheme" anyway. Payments would continue in a seamless transition. Yet, they would gain value, as the new dollar's true worth made it's mark.

Without question, there would be critics. Most would predict that the goods sold abroad would be unaffordable. But, there is no guarantee of such. What could be expected is a different kind of America, a more federalistic America. It might even be an America sans the 14th, 16th and 17th amendments. Not to mention the grossly obese federal bureaucracy that has produced six of the ten most affluent counties in the U.S. that border D.C..

Would Americans listen to Cruz if he positioned "peaceful separation" as an option to a Hillary Clinton presidency? Absolutely! In fact, it is predicted that the roar would be so loud that the Trump thunder would become inaudible.

Amazingly, the introduction of a new America may be Ted Cruz' only hope of gaining the nomination. Not to mention being elected President. The surprising element in this discussion rests with "how many" Americans, south and north of the Mason-Dixon line, would embrace "peaceful separation."

Expect traditionally trendy California to be the first to embrace!