By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
It’s unfortunate that the loony Left decided to rear its ugly head in Chicago on Friday night, Save Jerseyans. Their 60’s-style antics took everyone’s focus on this cycle’s most troubling figure, Donald Trump, who doesn’t like anyone infringing upon his own First Amendment rights but has no problem setting up religious tests or threatening enemies with libel law changes… after he already endorsed violence?
But let’s not get sidetracked. This week’s most revealing Trump moment was far more subtle than the Donald’s creepier Mussolini-esque attitudes toward civil liberties. In fact, you probably missed it altogether. I wouldn’t be surprised; there’s a lot of noise going on out there.
What did you miss? During Thursday night’s relatively sleepy debate, Donald Trump actually said something remarkable, something we haven’t heard another GOP front runner say: he’s not interested in doing anything to reform Social Security.
Yes. Trump specifically pledged to do “everything within my power not to touch Social Security, to leave it the way it is.” He promised only to eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse” from our country’s failing entitlement system which, as you and I know, is the single-largest driver of America’s deficit.
That’s insane, folks. Crazy!
For the 2018 budget (which would be Trump’s first), Social Security is slated to become history’s first trillion-dollar program according to CBO projections. Payments will increase by $60+ billion annually. The Center for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) recently explained that the $3 billion in estimated waste and abuse accounts for only around 0.4% of the Social Security system’s massive $900 billion a year in benefit disbursements. To save the program, Trump or any other presidential prospect would need to come up with about $150 billion annually to #MakesSocialSecuritySolventAgain.
Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz gave responsible answers that involved raising the retirement age for a society that’s living a lot longer. Republicans usually do supply responsible answers to this all-important fiscal question. Notorious “RINO” John McCain – whom Trump infuriatingly mocked for getting captured while serving his country – ran on privatizing a portion of the program back in 2008, an idea championed by George W. Bush. Mitt Romney backed individual accounts and the changes now championed by Rubio and Cruz and his 2012 running mate, Speaker Paul Ryan.
In 2016?
Our likely nominee is prepared to cede the single largest premise out there to the American Left, the same folks who hounded him out of Chicago on Friday night.
There’s nothing conservative (or mathematically coherent) about Trump’s position. We’ve come to expect that from him. But isn’t that the point? He’s crude but not stupid. He knows his supporters aren’t genuine conservatives. They’re cultural conservatives. Individuals who feel left behind by America’s demographic and economic changes but don’t support conservative solutions to address them.
Close the borders and protect the 2A? They’re on board.
Introduce free market changes to the Social Security system? No thanks.
They don’t want government telling their county clerks to whom they can issue marriage licenses, but they’re 100% okay with government intervening to keep a company from relocating a factory.
Let’s be honest about who we’re dealing with, my friends. Lying to yourself isn’t productive even if it’s comforting for a time. As Ben Carson let slip in his shameful Trump endorsement this week, there are two sides to Donald Trump. Like Obama before him, we can’t be sure who the “real” Donald is. “I play to people’s fantasies,” Trump wrote in The Art of the Deal. “I call it truthful hyperbole. It’s an innocent form of exaggeration — and a very effective form of promotion.”
All we can be sure of sitting here today: Thursday night’s Social Security exchange made it clear that NEITHER Trump persona sees any utility in classical liberal doctrine.
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#Trump2016AmericasCEO
DONALD TRUMP 2016 ALL THE WAY
100% ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
You ordered it…now choke on it.
Yeah how did it work out for Christie saying he was gonna reform Social Security? Let him win the election than deal with it I have faith that Trump will do right by the people that worked hard and deserve social security!
So you want a candidate who runs on a lie? And you expect the Dems who helped put him in to not bolt after he’s in? And avoid huge down ballot consequences? What is the basis for this faith? Gotta think this one out, but thank you for at least answering the question!
WELL YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 8YRS. THEY DID NOTHING BUT PUT US DEEPER INTO DEBT. I’M SORRY TO SAY BUT THE HO– USE AND SENATE ARE BRINGING HOME A HEFTED PAY CK. WE THE PEOPLE SUFFER , LIVING PAY CK TO PAY CK. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT ONE. ALSO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THERE HEALTH INSURANCE!
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE! ! WE THE PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THERE HEALTH INSURANCE. THAT IS NOT FAIR, AT ALL!
If both sides are against Trump he must be doing something right. Can’t be any worse than the boy Kings reign!
Einstein said repeating the same action expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. We keep electing politicians expecting them to fix a mess created by politicians is insane. Time to elect a CEO. Remember presidents have advisors to assist them. Part of what makes a good CEO is judgement. I trust Trump over everyone else running. #Trump2016
You created him, R00ney…now reap what you’ve sown.
Everyone sees what’s going on in the world today, the chaos, the crime the mob violence… this is our chance to stop this from expanding into America, this may be our last chance!!!! TRUMP LANDSLIDE 3-15-16 LET’S END THIS THING NOW, AND TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!!!
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-worse-than-you-think-trumps-business-disaster-2016-03-04?mod=mw_share_facebook
DUH OHHHHH IT COSTS SOOOO MUCH BECA– USE THE BABY BOOMERS( ME) others are collecting it, because we paid our money in, & now POOF. PAYDAY HAS ARRIVED. U CAN’T CHANGE THE RULES NOW, BECA– USE ALL ( most) boomers are alive & starting to collect OUR MONEY. BUT U CAN DO THE RIGHT THING. COLLECT ALL INCOME FOR SOCIAL SECURITY % Rate. LIKE A BASKETBALL PLAYER OR MOVIE STAR GETS 20 million yr or picture tax the % rate u charge us minions. PLUS TO THE CONGRESS. PAWS OFF. BUT LIKE UR MOTHER TOLD U. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALL THE GOLD, MAKE ALL THE RULES. RICH RULE. U AIN’T GETTING JACK. E. V. E. R.
I am voting Trump not because I like him or everything he says. I dislike everyone else more. I will never vote for hillary or sanders period. The Republicans left kasich supports commoncore,weak on illegal immigration, when he spoke about social security cuts told old people “deal with it” when they objected,rubio gang of 8, and has worst attendance record he can’t show up to work now why promote him. Cruz, Cruz says one thing but his big donors are on the opposite side of what he says. That leaves Trump or stay home. I opt for Trump staying home fixes nothing.
Great piece — I could not agree more.
Gee was that true of Corzine too, he was a CEO did that make him a great Governor. I think not!
Stop Killary. ..
TRUMP 2016
CRUZ LIES
MARCO IS A PUPPET
SANDERS IS A COMMUNIST
AND NOBODY ELSE MATTERS
lets see how trumps devisive retroric plays in our diverse state, the hate and anger is amazing, you all need therapy, or a plane ticket outtsa here, cause you are soft, and greedy, and weak, and lazy.
Hey “Save New Jersey”, thank you for your STUPID post! You people had better get your minds right! Trump says he will repeal NAFTA and its progeny and if you are not for that then you are not for either NJ or the USA.
Donald Trump says he will seal the southern border and if you aren’t for that then you aren’t for “saving” NJ or the USA.
Donald Trump says that he wants to reform the tax code and if you don’t support that then you are for “saving” NJ or the USA.
Donald Trump has spoke. Out against the Bureau of Land Management, the rapacious acquisition of open spaces by the federal government AND he has vowed to disarm the BLM.
Trump is hitting all the right notes. YOU GUYS are the one who are troubling figures!
Only true conservative despite all the Trumpees lies about him
http://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommontruth.net%2F2%2Fpost%2F2016%2F03%2F-the-facts-on-ted-and-heidi-cruz-clearing-the-myths.html&h=CAQH9WYtd&s=1
So sorry… you thought you could use it… and control it.. but you couldn’t … and here we are…
So disingenuous a post! Just watched Trump explain his plan for SSA. Leave it alone as in not raising retirement age or tax amount. But that the most wealthy would not take it. Set an income limit and not raise percentages taken out of people’s pay. Also increase the amount of income taxable for SSA. Dead correct on how to fix it. Also regerate the manufacturing base in the country. The added taxpayers and better wages will solve the SSA insolvency. You all knew his plan…but still post this trash in an effort to spread Trump falsehoods. Go away.
STOP TRUMP NOW — I LIKE KASICH, HE HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND TEMPERMENT TO BE PRESIDENT.