Donald Trump has a strange ability to inspire contradictory thoughts, some of which are sensible, some of which are not.
For instance: In the last week we’ve seen Trump’s nationalist base turn on Steve Bannon for being crazy/drunk/vain/whatever while also nodding eagerly along as Trump sat on television and suggested that he was open to a clean DACA bill/comprehensive immigration reform/whatever. As Allahpundit noted:
So which is it? Do people support Trump because they believe he can deliver specific policies? Or do they support Trump to support Trump, and will accept whatever policies he gives them?
Here’s another contradiction: Some people—I’m one of them, to be honest—would be much happier with Mike Pence as president. Mike Pence is quite conservative—certainly a great deal more conservative than Trump on just about every issue: abortion, religious freedom, deficit spending, the First Amendment, immigration, you name it. And don’t take my word for it: Democrats fear Pence’s politics much more than they do Trump’s.
Yet conservatives who think it would be better if Trump left office and Pence was president are often criticized for being in the tank for Democrats, or wanting to help Nancy Pelosi, or bring about a Clinton restoration.
But lest you think I’m casting stones, I’ve got my own contradictions. For instance: All things being equal, I think America would be better off if Donald Trump left office. In a perfect world, he’d decide that the White House was a dump, Washington was a dreary town, he’d accomplished what he wanted, and then he’d ride off into the Big Apple to commence being the most famous person in the world, but entirely on his own terms. Then Mike Pence would be president and we could start accomplishing more than a corporate-tax giveaway designed for the pleasure of the Chamber of Commerce.
But I would caution people that even if you think Trump is a dangerous commander in chief—as I do—to remove him would be a tragic mistake.
