Trump an opportunist

Dear editor:

After World War I, Germany was humiliated by defeat, impoverished by inflation and demoralized with hopelessness and in need of a leader with a dream of a better future. Adolf Hitler satisfied the need. Enormous crowds became ecstatic hearing Hitler speak words of optimism, pride, prosperity and world dominance.

In checking the internet, one of the most interesting and surprising facts I learned was Donald Trump's fascination for reading Hitler's speeches. This fact was published in a Vanity Fair 1990 article concerning Donald and Ivana Trump's divorce. In the interview, Ivana Trump said she told her lawyer, Michael Kennedy, that Mr. Trump kept a book of Hitler's speeches by his bedside. The book was "My New Order," published in 1941. At the time, people were surprised that Donald Trump read Hitler's speeches. When Trump hurls vindictive insults at his rallies, its evident Trump did not only read the speeches, he was influenced by them and even modeled his campaign speeches from them.

"Repetition" was the outstanding characteristic of Hitler's speeches. His supporters trusted him and believed he could solve all of the country's problems. He told his followers that they had been disenfranchised by the ruling class and if given the authority, he could make their dreams all come true, they would be strong, proud and powerful. He promised the crowds at his rallies, "I will make Germany great again."

"Repetition" is the outstanding characteristic of Trump's speeches. His appeal to his followers is that they trust he will solve their problems. He tells his supporters that they have been disenfranchised by the Washington establishment, the elected United States government. He promises the crowds at his rallies, "I will make America great again."

Trump is an opportunist, but is no more menacing than that. He is not a Hitler. However, his misleading extends to everything he says and there is no limit to his reprehensible behavior. He has no need for logic, credibility or believability because he narcissistically tells us his followers don't care. He switches from one position to another with the swiftness of a cheetah. His irrational behavior is a sign of his supreme manipulation of Trump companies, where truth doesn't matter and he cannot be contradicted. His method is to manipulate both truth and lies, never admitting he is wrong, never forgiving and never apologizing. Trump crushes all opposition using humiliation, nasty attacks and revengeful defamation of any challenger's character.

The March issue of the National Review stated "the Trump campaign has already driven Republican politics, sinking to new levels of vulgarity and, that Donald Trump is unfit to be the President." An incredibly small bloc of Republican leaders display personal integrity by not endorsing a nominee that they, in good conscience, believe is incapable to be president. Unfortunately this small bloc who see reality are unable to convince their fellow Republicans that the country is at great risk and Donald Trump is not the leader he claims to be.

George Lindholm

Hot Springs

Editorial on 06/26/2016

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