Say anything, Donald!
In any other election, Donald Trump would have long ago been labeled as flip-flopper, an accusation which has derailed many a candidate better than he. Over the years, Donald has been on both sides of virtually every fence, back and forth and sometimes back again:
He was once, in 2000, in favor of an assault weapons ban, but now he's not.
He said he was "very pro-choice" in 1999, but now he wants "punishment" for women seeking abortions.
In 2012 he declared Hillary Clinton to be "a terrific woman" who "I really like." Three years later, she was "the worst secretary of state in history" who "lost everything."
In 1999 he said, "We must have universal health care." Now he says health care "must follow free market principles."
"You have to," he said in Sept. 2015, speaking about the U.S. taking in Syrian refugees. In Nov. 2015, he said, "They're going back. We can't have them."
March 3, 2016: "We should go tougher than waterboarding." "If I say 'do it' [illegally kill an enemy's family members], they're going to do it." March 4: "I will not order a military officer to disobey the law." March 5: "As far as waterboarding is concerned, we're gonna stay within the laws. But we're gonna have those laws broadened."
Back in 1999, Trump said he "would tax people of great wealth," calling for a surtax of 14.25% on incomes over $10 million. His tax plan of 2015: "It's actually a big tax reduction, including for the upper income." On May 5, 2016, he said, "I am not necessarily a huge fan" [of tax cuts for billionaires].
The point is that, moment to moment, he doesn't really know what's going to come out of his own mouth and he doesn't much give a shit. He just blurts out whatever comes to mind and continues his fart-in-a-skillet bounce-around bluster. (Too many TV execs have told him this is "entertaining.") If he's wrong or offensive, it doesn't matter to him -- he'll "fix it" later by saying the exact opposite thing, or by denying he ever said it in the first place then acting like nothing happened. This schtick is diabolically inspired: By being shamelessly and intentionally all over the place, Trump leaves it up to you and me to figure out what he really thinks, where he really stands. And the easily manipulated, low-info people believe they've heard what they wanted to hear.
Here's what I think. What Donald Trump really thinks is nothing much, and where he really stands is nowhere in particular. What's most important to Trump, what he's consumed with, is himself. He's Narcissus.
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