Two distinct groups have now formed among the eight top Republican Party
candidates. The first group is the patriots made up of Donald Trump,
Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul. The second group is the statists
made up of Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Carley Fiorina, and John Kasich. On almost
every issue in Tuesday night’s debate these two groups came down on either
the side of less government and individualism (the patriots), or more
government and collectivism (the statists). There were some deviations, but
for the most part the patriots and statists answered true to their ideology.
The issues were covered in sophisticated style. The moderators, Neil
Cavuto, Maria Bartiromo, and Gerard Baker, conducted themselves in professional
manner. After three circus-like debates with previous moderators vying for
the title of most sensationalistic question asked, we finally got sanity.
Substance was the result of this fourth GOP debate.
But even though the evening was enjoyable rather than egregious as with
CNBC’s previous display of hubris, there were numerous exasperations and
errors that mere high school students would have avoided.
Immigration
Let’s take immigration for starters. Right off the bat Trump was asked to
explain the features of his stand regarding illegals. How, declared the
moderators, did he propose to get rid of 12 million immigrants in a feasible
manner?
Trump launched into his standard response on the issue by checking off his
declarations that 1) a wall would be built, 2) the illegals would be sent
packing, and 3) we as a country would return to a nation of rules regarding
who was allowed to enter America.
All well and good. But Kasich, Bush, and Fiorina attacked this litany as
lunacy, claiming that no humane nation was going to “deport” 12 million human
beings. To think of sending 500,000 Mexicans out of the country every month,
said Bush, was inconceivable. The statist group quickly piled on the Donald
and attempted to bash him into capitulation. This, of course, is impossible
to do with someone like Trump. But unfortunately in his response to his
attackers, Trump couldn’t get off his standard declarations. He would not
bring up the subject of magnets and why they must be eliminated if we are
ever going to solve the immigration problem. He handles them in his recently
released immigration plan, but he needs to also articulate them in televised
debates.
In other words, instead of talking about “walls” and “deporting,” Trump
needs to be talking about enacting E-Verify so illegals can be screened out
in the application process for jobs. He needs to explain to America about how
we have to end welfare services and free schooling for illegals. He must
elaborate on the need for Congress to nullify the anchor baby loophole
regarding the 14th Amendment. These are the four magnets that draw illegals
to America; they must be eliminated, or we are playing a ludicrous game of
make believe.
In addition Trump needs to explain that a new constitutional Amendment
does not have to be passed to end the anchor baby loophole as Fiorina and her
statist cronies maintain. So there is no need to round up and “deport 500,000
illegals per month” as Bush so preposterously claims. Simply enact E-Verify,
eliminate the other three magnets, and millions of illegals will gradually
“self-deport” over the next ten years peacefully all on their own. High
school students can grasp this, but Bush, Rubio, Fiorina and Kasich cannot.
Taxation
On the subject of taxation each candidate had a basic tax reduction plan
(when did a Republican not pay homage to “tax reduction”?). But none of the
candidates put forth consistent rationality regarding taxes. On this issue
patriot Trump joins the statists with a progressive rate plan. Only Carson,
Cruz and Paul grasp the essence of taxation in America, i.e., that it must be
proportional. In other words it must be comprised of “equal rates”
in a country founded on “equal rights.”
But Carson and Cruz put forth impossibly low 10% rate plans with Cruz
offering that a family of four that makes under $36,000 would pay no taxes.
This would increase the already staggering “zero-payers” and sabotage his 10%
rate before such a tax plan could even make it out of committee in Congress
because there would be no hope for revenue neutrality. Carson’s 10% plan
would encounter the same difficulties, but he says that his rate can be as
high as 15% to avoid massive deficits. So there is more rationality here.
Paul approached sanity with a flat tax of 14.5%. But both he and Cruz would
eliminate all “payroll taxes,” which would add billions to the deficit.
AFR has put forth a rational and doable “flat tax” plan that suffers none
of the problems encountered by the GOP patriots. See our National Independent
Report, pp. 8-14, http://afr.org/wp-content/uploads/reports/NI-Report.pdf
Unfortunately all the GOP candidates are engaged in making their wishes
father to their facts on taxes. The patriots get the philosophical aspect right
(i.e., proportionality), but fail to get the implementation aspect right
(i.e., revenue neutrality). The statists don’t accept proportionality and are
vague on the implementation aspect, which is par for the course with
statists. Vagueness is the foundation stone of their political careers. Never
be specific. That way freedom can be avoided and bigger government can be
smuggled into one’s offerings under the guises of necessity and
responsibility.
Foreign Policy
The issue of foreign policy did not split neatly into the statist and
patriot camps. Trump and Paul were very much patriots here viewing the Iraqi
war as an abomination and cautioning any kind of strong involvement in the
Mideast. Carson was not as strong in this regard, but was skeptical of major
intervention. Cruz attempted to carve out a middle ground in which America
maintained a powerful military force but used it judiciously in the Mideast
and around the world. Standard conservative boilerplate, which unfortunately
gets talked about, but never implemented.
Patriots Trump and Paul overwhelmed Bush, Rubio and Fiorina on the issue
of Russia. Never in our history have we refused to deal with the man in the
Kremlin, and Fiorina’s declaration that she would not deal with Putin was
vehemently ridiculed for the imbecility that it is. Bush’s attempt to declare
a “no-fly” zone in the areas of Syria and Iraq was equally demolished by
Trump and Paul. “Are we going to actually shoot down Russian planes,” asked
Paul? “Let Putin attack ISIS; I welcome it,” said Trump.
In face of such apostasy the statists were outraged, and they responded to
Trump and Paul with hysterical accusations of irresponsibility and naivety.
Bush, Rubio, Fiorina and Kasich are strident neocons. They subscribe to the
necessity of American hegemony in the Mideast and to a great extent
throughout the rest of the world. Their espousals in foreign policy are
filled with odes to military glory. The grim realities of their never-ending
wars for world hegemony from a moral and financial standpoint are simply
ignored, which, of course, is the tyrannical ploy of all dictatorships. Dwell
on the alleged glories; ignore the inevitable realities.
The Verdict
What verdict can we derive from this gathering of Republicans? For
starters the GOP is clearly the more rational party over Hillary’s lugubrious
gang of grafters. But there are several moral, philosophical, and economic
discrepancies that prevail in the minds of both the patriot and statist camps
of GOP candidates. Far more in the statist camp, but the patriots have some
flaws that must be addressed.
Donald Trump and Ben Carson did themselves no harm; they will continue to
lead. Though both are weak on details and explaining the finer more technical
and factual points on each issue. Whether this translates into withdrawal of
support from the voters remains to be seen.
Unfortunately Carson lacks the strength of personality to be president. He
would be manipulated by the CFR and his principles sacrificed to the
intimidatory presence of powerful operatives behind the scene. Trump, on the
other hand, has the strength of personality to be president. He would stand
up to the CFR, and perhaps stop the rush to the New World Order despite his
lack of articulateness on the finer points of policy. Advisors can be
gathered around him to furnish these.
Ted Cruz is a mixed bag, staunch patriot and constitutional conservative
on all issues but foreign policy. He walks a tightrope when it comes to
trying to balance his patriotism with his militarism in foreign policy. But
he has a grasp of the finer factual aspects of policy and would be an
imposing opponent to Hillary. Could he stand up to the CFR elites who
dominate behind the scene? Very doubtful.
Rand Paul is a lost cause. Despite his strong constitutional stands and
libertarian economics he simply lacks the big personality to command the
stage and be presidential. We live in the media age, and big personalities
are a requisite. The days when a Calvin Coolidge could gain the White House
are long gone.
Marco Rubio again impressed with his assertive articulations and engaging
debate style. But the man lacks presidential demeanor, and worst of all, he
is a gushing New World Order advocate solidly in the neocon camp.
The other three statists – Jeb Bush, Carley Fiorina, and John Kasich –
come to the process “stillborn.” Bush radiates whimpiness and would be a
craven puppet in face of the CFR bullies of Washington. Fiorina is the
classical ice queen of neoconservatism who has memorized the New World Order
play book and will dutifully implement it once in office. Kasich is a forlorn
retread from the eighties. Hysterical and obtuse, he is, like his comrades, a
dutiful puppet.
Stay tuned; it is going to be a contentious and exciting campaign.
