Name:   copperline - Subject:   What does Trump mean? Date:   8/22/2015 5:25:32 PM

Watched Jimmy Carter's announcement and discussion of his cancer and then tuned into to watch Donald Trump's stump speech in Mobile yesterday.     The contrast in personalities couldn't be stronger, could it?   Carter impressed me greatly, again.  He is thoughtful, compassionate, humble and intellectually honest.   Fundamentally, he is what I would want in a US leader... a Statesman-like approach, well reasoned, with the ability to competently assess complex issues and give coherent, relevent responses.   He values peace, reason, and compassion toward his fellow man.  

Trump's presentation is amazingly simple and empty of any substance we should be looking for in a President, completely opposite of Carter's personality.     He has a remarkable ability to perform on stage, and does it while completely avoiding meaningful statements or indepth policy positions.   He is a TV star who is blowing the others off the stage because he looks so comfortable in front of a camera, not because he has decent leadership skills.   He doesn't mind being a bully, in fact, he thinks that his insults are clever and will endear him to his supporters.   And he appears to be right about that.

Looks like possibly 20,000 people turned out for his rally in Mobile.   Jeff Sessions may (or may not) have endorsed him on the stage, and he is going to try to make states like Alabama his foundation for electoral votes.     Most commentators have expected him to flame out before now, but he is gaining ground.   The fact that he isn't being held to account for his insults is just testimony that the US public would rather be entertained than choose a competent, statesman-like Commander in Chief.   

I am amazed, but honestly... very worried what this means about the US voting public.   At least this segment of the voting public is embracing a hostile, angry and arrogant point of view that... if he was elected to office... would be devastating to US Domestic and International relations.    

Like the song says "I know what I was feelin', but what was I thinkin'?"   US voters should be more thoughtful about their choices, and not just endorsing a candidate because he is saying in public the same things they are shouting at their TV sets after a few beers.