Trump, Gingrich and Simpson

This year’s election run has certainly been one of the most interesting in recent memory with the surge of Donald Trump. Almost every day this candidate flouts the idea that he is not a statesman, has no ability to negotiate, and is unwilling to consider comprises. These are talents that are necessary in a president. We even know that dictatorial type leaders have not made good presidents. Our history is smattered with men who were excellent generals but then were only mediocre as president. The logic is simple, generals lead by command and presidents lead by mediation, and those are two very different types of talents. Trump blatantly exhibits the first and disregards the second.

So the question is then: Why is he so popular?

Humanity tends to have 30 year cycles. The popularity of first names given to babies comes and goes in such cycles. Scientific theories tend to return under new names in such cycles. Apparently, so too does political desires. Recall the fervor of 1994 when Newt Gingrich rode the “angry white vote” to the top. The theory was that there was a bloc of people (white males) that were tired of being excluded from special rights and celebrations. We can have a Chinese New Year, Black History Month, Women’s Rights and Gay Rights, but if a white male attempted to garner any of those then he would be a racist. There are no white history months or men’s rights to be had. In 1994, Gingrich provided a voice for this group and they were heard.

Now it is 30 years later and the same thing seems to be happening. Trump spews out racist and hateful epitaphs towards non-white groups and is riding the wave to the Republican nomination.

There is a big difference this time. Gingrich was a politician. He was familiar with how Washington worked and how things get done in politics. He knew that negotiations were part of the game.

Trump, on the other hand, shows the distinct lack of talents that are required to manage affairs in Washington and in the rest of the world. Allied countries are already deciding how to shun Trump is he was elected.

Obviously, this is not good for America, but still people vote for him. So, there is something else besides the resurgence of the angry white vote.

The final key to the puzzle is the equivalence of Donald J. Trump to Homer J. Simpson. The latter has been popular for two decades. The reason is that Homer says and does things that we sometimes wish we could say and do. Each of us has thoughts that run afoul of political and social correctness and are taught to suppress those thoughts in favor of correct behavior. Homer, on the other hand, has no such filter and he expresses thoughts that we keep well suppressed. Therefore, we find him humorous and entertaining.

That works well for a cartoon.

Trump spews out his ideas in much the same way. There appears to be no filter of correctness, and so perhaps he is touching on the same neurons that Homer does. To say the least, Trump is providing entertainment.

In reality though, Homer Simpson would make a terrible president.