Donald Trump

Tea Party | Political Movement

has great gifts in the art of vengeance and humiliation. It is a ribald form of wit that can make voters laugh with the scornful jeer that, for a moment, irons out the inequalities between the one percent and the rest of the nation.

Donald Trump is possessed of great gifts in the art of vengeance and humiliation. It is a ribald form of wit that can make voters laugh with the scornful jeer that, for a moment, irons out the inequalities between the one percent and the rest of the nation.

is largely dissatisfied with both parties: Too many republicans (e.g. George w. Bush) were rinos, or republicans in name only, they said... and too many democrats were preoccupied with social and gender issues that held no interest for them.

My fellow Tea Partiers were a gallimaufry of Christian fundamentalist, libertarians, small-business owners (particularly accountants), Ayn Rand fans in 'I am John Galt' T-shirts, with a modest sprinkling of loudmouthed racial bigots. Most of those I met were gentle, middle-aged, middle-class people (the conference cost $549, plus hotel room and travel). They showed me photos of their children, and told me how they felt betrayed by both major parties. Too many Republicans, including former President George W. Bush, were RINOs, or Republicans in Name Only, they said... and too many Democrats were preoccupied with social and gender issues that held no interest for them.

is a movement whose dream of ending political correctness and multiculturalism, of a simpler, more common-sensical politics, and of a strongman who would 'tell it like it is' has come true in the figure of a coarse-grained New York billionaire and celebrity game-show host.

The Tea Partiers' dream of ending political correctness and multiculturalism, of a simpler, more common-sensical politics, and of a strongman who would 'tell it like it is' has come true in the figure of a coarse-grained New York billionaire and celebrity game-show host. It was Mr. Trump who picked up the baton of birtherism during his 2011 soundings for a presidential run. And it is he who has inherited the mantle of speaking in public like a well-oiled barfly from the man who turned out to be the star of the Nashville show: Andrew Breitbart, founder of the eponymous right-wing media outlet.

Jonathan RabanjanThinkers

Jonathan Rabanjan