For a good part of his life...Donald Trump described himself as a Democrat. So why did he register as a Republican in 2009? It's quite simple.
When Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in 2008...and subsequently was elected President...Trump knew - as did most people in the United States - that, if she wanted it, Mrs. Clinton was never going to lose the Democratic nomination in 2016. And that not even he...Donald Trump...as a Democrat...had any chance of beating the former Secretary of State in the primaries. Therefore...the billionaire businessman thought - that with all his money - he could win the Republican nomination over just about anybody. And he did. Combine Trump's big bucks...with his big mouth...along with his "superstar" status - as I noted in June 2015 when he announced his candidacy - and that formula would be a winning combination to secure the GOP nomination in 2016. Obviously, I never envisioned Trump being victorious over Hillary Clinton. And neither did most other Americans.
In many ways, Donald Trump has been "to the left" of Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Mario Cuomo, Ted Kennedy, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren...and me. Well...maybe not to the left of me. Few people, if any, are more liberal...more progressive...than I am. But as I have written throughout the last year...it wasn't just Trump's 2016 political stance that I opposed...it was Trump...the person. If Donald Trump ran for President as a Democrat...I could never endorse him. His offensive behavior and his insulting demeanor would prevent me from ever voting for him.
All that being said...can a true Democrat...lead the country...as a Republican? Maybe yes. Maybe no. However...could Donald Trump change political parties midstream? There is no law that says he can't.
In a 2004 interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer...Donald Trump acknowledged..."In many ways, I probably identify more as a Democrat." Five years earlier - in 1999 - Trump told Larry King on CNN that he was "very liberal when it comes to healthcare" and that he believes in "universal healthcare." Also in 1999...in an appearance on Meet The Press with Tim Russert...Trump described himself as "very pro-choice"... and stated..."I just believe in choice." And in Trump's book, The America We Deserve...he wrote that he's in favor of an assault weapons ban and a longer waiting period to purchase other firearms. Nobody with those liberal views somersaults to diametrically opposite opinions on matters of such magnitude. Unless he has...an ulterior motive. And that motive for Donald Trump...was to be President of the United States.
As recently as 2015, Donald Trump blamed the "Great Recession" in 2008 "because of mistakes made by President (George W.) Bush." Trump is also quoted as saying..."It just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats than the Republicans. We've had some pretty bad disasters under the Republicans."
In 2005, Trump told radio personality Howard Stern that Hillary Clinton was a "fantastic Senator." And in a 2007 CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer...Trump admitted... "I think Hillary (Clinton) would do a good job as President."
Plus...according to The Washington Post...Trump made contributions to Mrs. Clinton's political campaigns in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007. And he donated at least 100-thousand dollars to the Clinton Foundation. Yet Trump spent a year or more calling Secretary Clinton..."Crooked Hillary"...and threatened to..."lock her up." But now...Trump insists he will not pursue any legal action against Mrs. Clinton - for any reasons whatsoever - which is the smart way for Trump to go since Hillary Clinton is not guilty of any crime.
So let's see what happens after Trump takes his seat behind The Oval Office desk. Republicans seem to think that their leader is going to totally demolish the Affordable Care Act...that he's going to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border...that he's going to nominate a conservative jurist for the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court...and that his choice for Justice must want to overturn both Roe vs. Wade and marriage equality. I'm not so sure Trump will do any of the above. In fact...I'm almost confident...that he won't.
Republicans generally don't believe in climate change and global warming. And Trump - in the past - has called climate change..."a hoax." But in recent weeks, he has expressed a growing interest in the Democratic Party's views and has met with environmentalists including former Vice President Al Gore - who, in 2007, won the Nobel Peace Prize - and Academy Award winning actor, Leonardo DiCaprio.
So will Donald Trump move forward with his promises to supporters...that he will make every effort to carry out his campaign pledges? I don't think he ever had any intention of doing some of what he vowed to do. And why? Because I don't believe Donald Trump wants to be President for more than four years. He has no desire to run for a second term. Therefore...he doesn't need to be loyal to those who voted for him...nor does he need to be loyal to the people who work for him. Trump only needs to be loyal...to Donald Trump...and to what he himself really wants to do.
Let us remember that Donald Trump is the..."You're fired!" guy. We have seen him "hire" people for his Administration who have displeased and disgusted many Democrats. But I don't expect the bulk of those individuals to still be part of The White House staff...one-year after his inauguration. As he did in his campaign, there will be those who Trump will terminate as fast as they can say...Mar-a-Lago. But then...some aides and advisers will be so disappointed...so annoyed...and so angry at Trump...that they will quit him like a bad habit.
But Trump isn't going to tip his hand...not before he's ready. And I don't think he really trusts anybody - one-hundred percent of the time - not even his children...and certainly not his wife. After all...Trump's been married three times...so no matter how much he loves Melania...today...he can't be certain that such affection will remain forever. So Trump is not about to let on to anyone that he plans to exit The White House on January 20th, 2021...and return to Trump Tower. But not knowing that...there will be "true Republicans" who will challenge Trump - a sitting President - for the GOP nomination. And those candidates will start campaigning as early as 2018.
Donald Trump is the type of person...who needs to prove...that he can accomplish with the utmost success...whatever it is that he sets out to do...no matter how lofty the goal might be. Most people know their limitations. But not Donald Trump. And I suppose such a quality should be admired. That is...unless to achieve it, he has to physically, mentally or emotionally hurt others.
Let us suppose that Trump simply wanted to add President of the United States to his resume...merely to checkmark an ambitious desire off his so-called..."bucket list." So here's my prediction. Donald Trump will do as Donald Trump has always done. And that is...whatever he wants to do. Trump has shocked Americans for more than a year and a half...so he figures to continue in that fashion, but by turning the tables. Watch as Trump will shock Republicans...and delight Democrats. After all...I don't see Donald Trump - a longtime...if not, nearly lifelong liberal - changing everything about himself...at 63...or now, 70 years of age. So don't be stunned when Trump nominates a Supreme Court Justice who brings smiles to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic Senators. Don't be astonished when Trump makes liberals stand up and cheer while conservatives suffer from angst and anxiety after being blindsided by their President.
Many readers are sure to think I'm nuts with my notions. But then...few people ever anticipated - a year ago - that Donald Trump could be elected President.
Campaign 2016...and the election that followed...was the surprise of the century. But I think there are more surprises to come...some of which I have described in this column. And possibly...surprises beyond what anybody could ever imagine. Except of course...me.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
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