BOCA RATON – Let’s be honest: Donald Trump is in it for himself.
Yeah, ok. Duh, right? But holy mother, it’s such honest selfishness.
This might explain why the folks — the regular folks — at the Trump-centric rally on Saturday repeatedly offered the same reasons for why they like the guy so much: He’s better than you or me. He’s richer than you or me. And damn it, he’s honest about it.
“He comes across as authentic. He is who is he,” said rally attendee Elizabeth Bonczar (For the record, her husband informed The Daily Caller that both he and his wife had Ph.Ds). “What you see on TV is what you hear. He’s consistent.”
This was the theme among those who attended the rally. Trump was “As seen on TV” and folks felt that they were getting what they paid for, as opposed to not getting what they bargained for.
“What else do we like about Daw-nald?!” asked Marie Owens excitedly turning to her husband, who sported a nice pair of black shoes and white socks, along with his cool detachment. The Owens said they were from Boca Raton and had been there so long that they seemed to have developed a peculiarly thick NYC accent. “He’s not a typical politician,” said Mr. Owens. The couple had their act worked out like sunscreened Burns & Allen and Mrs. Owens picked up right after Mr. Owens. “And you know what .. he doesn’t care what people say. He’s not, you know watching his words. He says it as it is.”
“I feel your pain,” said Bill Clinton. George W. Bush, in the midst of his campaign had “real solutions for real people.” The humble son of a goat-herder, who vowed real “Change” is struggling with that promise.
Enter Trump, who says: I’ll be running for president (maybe) because … well, look at me! I’m awesome.
It’s the Me Doctrine. One hundred percent American.
Trump has somehow distilled Candidate Obama’s one-word campaign to an even more universal theme. Me. Like all good politicians, Trump uses this theme as a starting point for every reason you should elect him for President … if he runs. As a result, no traditional presidential candidate talking point is left un-Trumped. In his 50-plus minute speech before a crowd of 2-3,000, Trump interjected himself into nearly every topic. And why not? It’s what he’s selling and what the people are buying.
So if Trump runs, he’ll be giving more speeches like the one he did in Boca Raton. Whether it’s in Iowa, New Hampshire or Wisconsin. Above all, expect him to be consistent on the subject of Trump. It’s almost as if those other areas most potential presidential candidates touch on are just window dressing for a 22nd floor penthouse. Observe:
Trump understands your area because he probably owns it something in it
“You know, my second home is right down the road in your little competitor’s community called Palm Beach, you know that right? I love Florida, I love it.”
Trump would like to remind you that he has a second home. This was his first line after thanking Rep. Allen West for the friendly words. It was a classic introduction of any campaign speeches: connect with your audience on a local level, and it was genius. It said “we’re neighbors but only when I feel like it.” And everyone feels that way about their neighbor, even if they don’t have a second home.
Trump knows foreign policy because business is foreign policy
Has Trump ever served on the foreign relations committee? Ha! Can he speak a foreign language? Who cares. Businessman Trump has already spent years of dealing with foreigners. You should also remember that those foreigners have been important, too.
• On dealing with foreign leaders: “I know a lot of people in other countries. I know the top people. I know the wealthy people. They deal with me on a constant basis,” Trump told the crowd. “They tell me — not so much lately, by the way — but before this whole thing started, they would sit with me at dinners and say, ‘Donald, We can’t believe what we’re getting away with. I can’t believe it.” You know, these guys are talking to me, I’m talking to them.”
• On China loaning us money: “Now I know how to stop it. Most of you have read more on television, I know how to stop it. They have a problem. You know everyone says, oh, well, they’ve loaned us money .. hey I’ve loaned banks all my life, I’m doing very well. Doesn’t matter.”
• On diplomatic missions and agreements with other countries: You know, in New York, I know all of the great business leaders. And they’re vicious, ruthless, horrible human beings in person. And I want them negotiating for me. I don’t want a diplomat. You know a diplomat is a person that studies hard. You know what they learn? How to be nice to be people. I don’t want nice people.”
• On Israel: “There’s never been anybody worse on Israel than Obama … and yet I have friends …. they say ‘oh, You have to come to a fundraiser on my Park Avenue apartment. We’re having a fundraiser.’ I say ‘for who?’ ‘Obama.’ ‘Perfect,’. I say. “Why would you have a fundraiser for Obama?'”
Trump knows about public facilities because, well, he’s built them
“You know a little story … the Wollman ice skating ring in Central park … is a good example of what can be done in the free market. The city of New York spent 8 years and $21 million …. and were unable to get it to reopen. It was a political nightmare and a great embarrassment for the city. I asked to take over the project before Ivanka and my kids got too old…. I asked to take over the project after 4 months and 1.4 million dollars … it opened. ”
And in case you forgot who did all the work, just go to Central Park and check out the Trump Wollman Skating Rink.
Trump knows about writing good books
“I wrote one of the biggest selling business books, they say the biggest selling business books. And I have 11 or 12 books, virtually all of them were best sellers. Some of them No.1 best sellers, so I know a lot about books.”
This was how Trump started off explaining the Bill Ayers-Obama connection, which the crowd loved.
“The man that wrote the second book, he made a big mistake when he wrote a second book. … The first one was written by Ernest Hemingway plus, the second was written by a high school graduate.”
Trump on Trump, or Meta Trump
“I’ve participated with people like this in many battles and I’ve come out almost always as the victor, and I have to say that because, you know,… we need that kind of person, who just says …”
At this point, the crowd began cheering, and it became impossible to hear what Trump was saying. But worry not. Trump got real meta, commenting on the Trump that was commented on by a Trump associate. The crowd loved it. After all they were there to see Trump.
“When I read that line to my wife this morning,” she said, “‘Donald, it’s too conceited.’ But we need people that win. We don’t need people that lose. When I said that, what I said, ‘maybe there’ll be boos, who the hell knows,’ but that’s what we need.”
“I beat many people and companies and I’ve won many wars. I’ve fairly but intelligently won many billions of billions of dollars and if I run, you’ll see that because I really look forward to disclosing my financials. I’ve built a great, great company.”
Other politicians might say that they’re running to ‘serve the public good.’ The public knows this is bunk. But Trump is refreshingly honest. He’s running (maybe!) because he’s smart. He’s conceited. “He is who he is.”
Trump is delivering the Me Doctrine, unfiltered and “honest.” It’s exactly what the American public wants. And as Mencken said, “they deserve to get it good and hard.”
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