Real estate mogul Donald Trump should be the 44th President of the United States. Don't buy that he would be a first-rate president, or that he could win as an independent? His presidency would be more beneficial to our nation than Hillary Clinton or generic Republican values candidate v3.0, as he is competent enough to run an efficient government.
Sure, he might cut programs dear to liberal activists, but it is a fair trade as he wouldn't be into fanatic religious conservatism. The Donald could bring us together as a nation: we fight about the little things while he fixes the infrastructure of our country, operating almost above the fray. Plus, imagine the infamous Hurricane Katrina presidential briefing. Trump and FEMA director Michael Brown approach the map of New Orleans, the president melodramatically turns away from the press corps to make a simple declaration, "Brownie, you're fired."
Why is it so easy for me to convince you a Trump presidency is the greatest idea since sliced bread? It is really an issue of what we need from government versus what we ask for. The mere mention of a draft Trump movement is such an immediately appealing idea because the level of discourse at all levels of politics is only slightly below the vomit I flushed down my toilet last night.
At this point, we would be fortunate to have Donald Trump win in 2008. Hear me out. He's pro-choice and anti-gay bashing. Pro-long prison sentences yet says capital punishment is a deterrent like violent TV leads kids astray. He believes in universal health care and thinks competition from school choice would force public schools to be better.
Our country needs to find a way to utilize the talents of all citizens if we are to remain the best in the world. Each citizen is an employee and because the constitution acts as their union, government must find a way to give them training necessary to be productive. I believe this should be the role of a president, not bandying about the nation signing documents allowing the brain-dead to live on.
As much as the public appears to plead for rationality in government, they are the reason ideologues continue to get elected. Sure, everyone complains about Wisconsin's Legislature and their Achilles heel: doing important work. My endorsement of Donald Trump addresses this problem because like values issues, a celebrity running for office seems the only other way to garner public interest.
Since Ronald Reagan, America has been unabashed in proclaiming the Presidency is a ridiculous contest to see which rich guy is most likeable, can best pretend to speak the language of the people or fills our hearts with the most optimism.
Along these lines, I have a radical question: who cares? I don't care whether you are a cowboy — going hunting the day before an election won't win you any brownie points with me, and I don't find the use of multi-syllabic words offensive. I know a lot of really bad people who attend church weekly. It doesn't matter whether you tell me you plan to 'kill' terrorists or 'bring them to justice.' Good for you if you change your mind on things once in a while so don't be ashamed of it.
Where in the constitution does it say the president must be an all seeing, all knowing divine being? And why does it matter if gay people get married? Grow up. Further, I don't care whether you're banging Bavarian hookers on a trapeze in your summer home or if some muckraking reporter found the terms women + lifting heavy things in your Google search history. We should care about whether politicians are capable of doing their jobs.
These days, there is little substantive debate on important issues as politicians carefully triangulate positions based on which interests they want to appease. If you want proof, how about recent local TV news coverage of legislators shopping on eBay, or finding some sweet travel deals on Expedia.com during the gay marriage amendment debate. It looks like the Legislature is finally one step ahead of us on this one. They know they are a professional debate team.
The difference between college debate and professional legislative debate is like the difference between collegiate and professional wrestling. Instead of reasoned, practical judges, the winner is decided by which masked wedge issue can smash the other over the head with the steel chair of voter turnout while reasonable thought's back is turned.
To put the 'govern' back in government, you can draft Donald Trump in 2008. Or remember to vote in your local races this year. Otherwise, quit your whining. Just visit www.donaldtrump2008.com.
Bassey Etim ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in political science and journalism.
