And what it really represents:
Steyn stated, “Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says this is temporary insanity on the part of whatever it is, 20-something percent of the Republican base. I think it was Einstein who said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again, and expecting a different result, and the base supported the Republican Party establishment, delivered them a huge victory in 2010 in the House, and a huge victory in the House and Senate in 2014, and got nothing to show for it. And they’re tired of stiffed by the Republican Party establishment. And I think Trump’s rise in the poll, reflects actually nothing more sophisticated than the fact that the voter base of the Republican Party absolutely hates the Republican Party leadership and establishment.”
At least here in NH, you’d think that they would have figured this out with the losses at the top of the ticket. But yet, I hear nothing from that leadership – but I certainly do see what they are doing. Steyn continues:
He continued, “I don’t think he’s a Herman Cain character. If you remember, Herman Cain was asked about Uzbekistan, and I don’t think he’d heard of the joint. … And Trump, in that sense, is actually much more on top the facts. And he has found a real issue that resonates. And if he is just a flash in the pan, then the guy who succeeds him will be someone who taps into that issue. Now, Rand Paul, Rand Paul is a very smart guy, but he takes refuge in the same cliches. He said, in part of that statement where he called Trump’s voters insane, he says Washington is broken. The problem is, that if you’re a Democrat, Washington isn’t broken. It works very effectively for you. … If Rand Paul wants to drive a stake through Donald Trump’s candidacy, he’s got to have a better answer for that than the one he gave today.”
Indeed. Look, I actually like Rand and one of those that deserves to be in my top tier – but don’t be calling folks like me insane. Calling 20% of your potential voters insane is NOT going to get you voters by trying to “shame” them. His handlers and advisors (as if they would listen to this lowly blogger) had better set him straight or he’s gonna be seen as a Walt Havenstein Act II. Sure, calling the Liberty & Freedom teabaggers by an Establishment GOPper (which is what Havenstein did) is FAR worse than calling folks insane. However, lots of us are still rubbed raw by that slur and nerves are still twitchy; the urge to bell that cat again is still there. Keep making it personal and that personal will be returned.
I really do hope this is seen as being giving advice and not throwing knives.
Steyn also argued that Trump’s handling of some of his misstatements is “actually a lesson for other candidates, too. You know, the strangulated, constipated artificiality in which the candidates talk about things, where they say something mildly infelicitous, and then some spokesperson comes out and regrets that they misspoke. Trump basically does nothing but misspeak, and he never apologizes for it. Even the Hispanics don’t seem to mind him saying that Mexicans are just a bunch of rapists.”
Steyn is both a delight to listen to or read, and in this case, is absolutely right. Trump really isn’t the issue and what Rand should be doing (yeah, more unsolicited advice from someone who is in the Liberty & Freedom wing of the R party) is figuring out how to better his message to those folks.
It ISN’T insane to be mad at the NH GOP – it IS insane to not be after their own actions belie their words.
(H/T: Breitbart)
