Skip to main content

Donald Trump: Is he for real?

Many people seem to be questioning whether Donald Trump is the real deal. Does he genuinely wish to be the next President of the United States, or is this all a publicity stunt?

For one, he has changed party affiliations various times throughout the years. Today he comes off as an ardent Republican, but not too long ago he was rubbing elbows with Bill Clinton and making sizable donations to his campaign. The blustery real estate mogul has called himself a Republican twice, and both a Democrat and independent once.

One thing is for sure: When Donald Trump talks, people listen. Like President Obama, the man oozes charisma. What distinguishes him from his fellow candidates, though, is that he speaks his mind with no restraint whatsoever. Indeed, when it comes to the Donald, there's no holding of the tongue: if you don't like what he has to say, he couldn't care less.

There's no denying that Donald Trump is shaking up the establishment. Many of his comments and views are controversial, yes, but he is certainly doing his part to fire up the base. In fact, comments he's made about Republican opponents like Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have prompted them to come out and defend their positions. When you have a considerably crowded field of GOP candidates -- right now there are 16 -- you need all the visibility you can get.

Trump has also stolen a bit of the spotlight from Hillary Clinton, whom many presume is a shoo-in for the Democratic nomination.

Presidential races have gradually evolved into something of a popularity contest. Politicians have themselves become walking brands. The Bushes and Clintons are dynasties in the world of politics, while most people know Donald Trump for his high stature in the business world and his regular appearance on "The Apprentice" and "Celebrity Apprentice."

Trump has stated that if he fails to secure the Republican nomination, he may strongly consider running as a 3rd party candidate. History has shown us that third party bids are rarely successful. Take the Presidential election of 1912. After failing to clinch the Republican nomination, Teddy Roosevelt (who served two terms as President from 1901 to 1909)  formed the Progressive Party to run against incumbent Republican president William Howard Taft and Democratic nominee Woodrow Wilson, who ultimately won the contest. And we saw a similar scenario play out in the 1992 presidential election, with Bill Clinton defeating incumbent president George H.W. Bush and independent Ross Perot.

I might disagree with a lot of things Donald Trump has to say, but I can't deny he's energetic and entertaining to watch. I'm looking forward to seeing him duke it out with his fellow candidates in the Republican debates.

How do you feel about Donald Trump?  Do you think this is all a PR stunt, or does he seem genuine when he says he's the only one who can make America better again?

Share your thoughts and be sure to read previous posts by clicking here: How to Understand People

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually.  Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker.  Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar.  When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n

Misconceptions about quiet people

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put