Reluctantly I write about politics. In today's climate it's impossible to start such a conversation without talking about Donald Trump, and like many Americans, my invigorated interest is exclusively attributable to him. Trump is beyond single-word descriptions, unlike his lackluster rivals in the Republican field. Trump's flamboyance is actually his cunning genius expertly concealed that enables the masses to identify with his message quickly and effortlessly. In truth and in fact, it's the sound bites that resonate with the common people and not these sermon-like speeches where it's hard to distinguish whether the speaker is addressing a political bunch or Sunday's congregation. In keeping with his punchy plain speak, Trump has drawn new audiences and injected excitement into the otherwise stagnant and boring world of politics.
Right now people are understandably stuck on Trump's showmanship, perhaps even mesmerized. I'm one of those people because I see a skillset very few people possess - like when he turns an unflattering remark into an opportunity to highlight some underlying success associated with a failure. It's a quick, "delete and replace" method, and it works brilliantly. This is part of something bigger with Trump that a lot people are wholly, or at least partially, missing with the Wharton graduate. Let me explain. I was one of the estimated 24 million who tuned in to watch the debates, and putting aside the suspect crowd, something struck me when one of the moderators quizzed Trump on his commercial bankruptcy. I wish at that point Trump had pointed out that failing is a quintessential component of success, and every great convenience or luxury that we enjoy today was initially cloaked in failure. From Edison to Franklin to Ford, to the medicines we rely upon, all undeniably touched failure in some way. While the simple minded will suggest that I'm putting Trump in that group of notable greats, instead, I'm putting the personality denominator, and that is unwavering and unabashed perseverance in the face of adversity. The trait of a true winner.
Turning to a bigger and more relevant question, what is worse? The isolated instances of business failure over the course of decades and thousands of transactions or being the CEO of a public company whose business failures have wiped out billions of dollars of market capitalization and eviscerated at worst, dented at best, the investment portfolios of pension funds and retirement accounts of millions of Americans? I guarantee the latter had more of a sweeping economic effect than smartly and legally contained bankruptcy proceedings.
Trump's cerebral qualities extend much further than the zingers that have made recent politics worthy of watching. The complexities of guiding a global business that employs thousands certainly dwarf those required in visiting bingo parlors and getting legislation approved for some dilapidated bridge. That's not to say those functions are not important, but they don't rise to the level of intellectual horsepower that America needs right now. Trump does indeed have that, and that is undeniable.
It's never been so sadly en vogue that it's better to be fake and snuggly tucked under the blanket of Political Correctness than to voice our true thoughts. But what I really wonder is how much different are the conversations at the homes of these political pundits when they're shaving in the morning or drinking their coffee before they put on their masks. I venture to say they are much different and their attitudes morph when they cross into the lobby of the studio.
Let's not forget the effect Trump is already having on the economy because of his surge and his universal interest. You can bet the networks are making more because they are charging more for advertising. It would be foolish to think that Fox didn't figure out a way to parlay that 18 million rise in viewership over the debates of last year.
Here are some questions I think everyone should consider (honestly), and they are probably closer to the Trump camp than they think.
Who would you rather have negotiate your mortgage?
Who would you rather have negotiate your kids' college tuition?
Who would you rather have negotiate with nefarious countries?
Who do you think better understands the needs of your small business?
While I don't believe that Trump has all the answers, he's certainly the one I would call upon to get things done. When I listen to the other candidates, their answers are circular, and leave the distinct absence of direction. I don't think Trump's problem is his inability to answer "tough" questions from the media. I think a greater challenge is having the patience and discipline to wade through a debate where everyone but him is lobbed softballs while he fights the institutions of political correctness. But I think the tide is slowly turning, and The Donald will ride it further than anyone might think.