Quote:This is not meant as a dig or to ridicule. I am simply trying to get an idea of the logic behind Trump supporters. I know many are voting for "Not Hillary" and don't want this to be about her. I have some questions about Trump which I am curious about. For those who will indulge me, I tried to make these simple yes or no questions, but welcome any additional commentary.


1. Do you think Trump is a RINO (Republican in name only)?

 

No.  Donald Trump represents an iteration of republican ideology that is more nationalist and populist than traditional republicanism but he is not "Democrat light" in his presentation as with most of those who are considered RINO.  



2. Do you think Trump is a conservative?

 

As Newt Gingrich stated, the concept of conservatism is a lot more of a broad tent than people realize.  The better question is, does he align enough with conservative principles.  I think that you could make the argument that he is going to put forth the most conservative tax plan since reagan, the most conservative immigration plan in our countries history and a stronger trade policy than we have had at any time in the post modern globalist age.
 


3. Do you trust / believe Trump?

 

For the most part yes.  There is an inherent level of gamesmanship in politics, we all understand that.  Trump gets in trouble because he is too open and honest, few politicians at the presidential level have that problem.  



4. Do you think Trump has defined his policies well?

 

Yes x 1000.  He gets almost no credit for being one of the most substantive candidates to run for president.  He's given major policy speeches on his tax agenda, regulatory agenda, trade agenda, education agenda, military spending etc.  He has also run a campaign base on being basically the most ubiquitous candidate in history.  He has been on with almost everyone almost everywhere almost all the time.  



5. Do you think Trump is rude / abrasive?

 

I think he's Brooklyn.  



6. Do you think Trump cares about the average American?

 

I think Trump Cares deeply about the average american.  People like to claim that the guy doesn't have a center, when you go back and look at the things that he has been talking about for decades, its been stronger trade policy and economic renewal for the American worker.  There are two types of developers, the guy who doesn't give a crap about anyone but his own family, and the guy who fundamentally understands that no matter how smart he may be that ultimately for him to be successful he can't dig all the ditches, run all the wires etc. etc. etc. and those are the ones that have an ingrained appreciation and respect for their employees and the dignity of an honest days work.  As someone who's family has worked in construction for many decades he strikes me as the later.  



7. Do you consider Russia to be an enemy of the U.S.?

 

I think that Russia is  a major international power that in many instances has interests that conflict with ours and other interests that converge with ours.  As a nuclear power, it's very unlikely that we are going to start WWIII with them any time soon.  The goal of our next president is to mitigate their advancement in areas that we diverge on and increase our cooperation in arenas that we agree, specifically the defeat of radical sunni terrorist groups in the middle eastern theater of operation.  That's going to require both a strong working relationship with Putin and the ability to put your foot down and demand respect.  



8. Do you think there is any truth to the accusations Paul Manafort and Carter Page have intimate ties to Russia?

 

Not really.  And certainly no more than 750k in speaking fees and millions of dollars in contributions to a family foundation surrounding the sale of American Nuclear Assets.



9. Do you think there are things in the tax returns Trump once promised to release which prove he has lied about his net worth, where he gets his income or where his personal borrowing comes from?

 

No.  As he said, the FEC already has some 150 pages of financial disclosures as part of his eligibility to run for president.  If there was a legitimate discrepancy then he would be dealing with subpoenas and civil litigation not just Mark Cuban chirping from the peanut gallery.  whether the number is 10 billion or 8 billion doesn't really matter all that much.  I don't think that there is anything in any one year of income tax returns that can tear down Trump Tower.  



10. Do you think he has the temperament to be president?

 

Yes.



11. Are you concerned a Trump presidency would alienate us from our closest allies?

 

If Donald Trump ascends to the presidency it will be because of the implicit endorsement of Megyn Kelly, the President of Mexico, and Ted Cruz paid for by the Media outlets that hate his guts...  You tell me?

 

Ultimately there are different groups within the Trump camp right now.  There are those who supported him early on, and then there are those who are supporting him out of party loyalty.  For the later, he has presented himself as a credible enough alternative to the Great Satan in pants suits.  For those who supported him early on, for the most part we believe that his approach to trade, taxes, and reducing regulation is the best path to economic renewal, and his commitment to a more national sovereign relationship to the world will preserve our national identity while not making us subservient to foreign governing bodies or having our borders language and culture overrun by multiculturalism.  

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