Bill Clinton never should have been president. Many people have said it, but in a two-party system, it couldn't be closer to the truth. Many have said the same about most of Canada's recent prime ministers. Unlike in Canada, American presidents are almost always elected by a simple majority of votes, excepting rare electoral college situations like the one in 2000. Even then, George W. Bush only lost the popular vote to Al Gore by 543,000. In 1992, Bill Clinton lost the popular vote by almost 14 million votes, but was able to scoop up 370 of the 538 electoral votes for a massive majority. The man to blame for this rare American anomaly was an obscure billionaire named Ross Perot. Perot ignited a conservative revolt that would repeat itself 23 years later.
The Reform Party
In 1995, Ross Perot founded the Reform Party and ran as their presidential nominee in 1996. By then the steam had dissipated and Perot barely won 8% of the vote against Bill Clinton and a drowsy Bob Dole. After that, the Reform Party was accused of being an engine to promote Ross Perot's personal ambitions rather than a genuine political party. By 2000, a battle ensued between Pat Buchanan and a physicist named John Hagelin, causing the party to fracture. Being a prominent Reform Party member, Minnesota Governor, Jesse Ventura had the perfect candidate in mind to stitch the pieces back together.
Following Ventura's advice, Donald Trump entered the Reform Party's 2000 presidential race. However, despite their efforts, Trump and Ventura saw no future for the party and dropped out, letting the party's nomination go to Pat Buchanan. Buchanan went on to win 0.4% of the popular vote in the infamous 2000 election against George W. Bush and Al Gore. After that, the party continued as a mindless fringe party fraught with endless infighting and court battles. Today, the Reform Party means about as much to Americans as the Communist Party.
Although it was short-lived and fruitless, the Reform Party not only connected the aspirations of two billionaires, it set the course for conservative populism in America and renewed a gradual rebellion against the Republican establishment. Fast forward to 2016 and it's Donald Trump leading that rebellion.
Ronald Reagan
Back in March, Rolling Stone did what Rolling Stone does best. The tabloid magazine for misinformed, failed musicians disparaged Trump as an idiot for claiming he had come up with his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again”. Their columnist, Matt Taibi, ridiculed Trump for not knowing how to use Google. This, coming from a magazine that glamorizes terrorists and slanders anyone who doesn't offer hugs for thugs. This, from a magazine that had to retract a fake rape story and that couldn't trouble itself to google the facts behind Trump and his slogan.
During his own campaign event, Trump organizers passed out pamphlets that clearly attributed “Make America Great Again” to the man who first coined it in 1979. Ronald Reagan.
For further reference, Matt Taibi is the same obnoxious uber-progressive who called Clint Eastwood's American Sniper “too dumb to criticize”. If it looks or sounds even remotely conservative, Matt Taibi will invest all his energy into slandering it. If you'd like to spend a few minutes snickering at his stupidity, you can read his review of one the better modern war movies here.
Had Taibi bothered to do research, he would have learned some important details about Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan.
Most people remember George Bush Sr. as Ronald Reagan's vice president. Most people forget that George Bush and Ronald Reagan were Republican rivals in 1980. Both men had to battle for the Republican nomination, but George Bush was the establishment candidate that most Republican donors and elites wanted. Ronald Reagan was the outsider who threatened to turn the entire establishment on its head. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
When candidates plan to run for office or a party's nomination, they set up exploratory committees and finance committees. Donald Trump was on Ronald Reagan's finance committee from 1979 to 1980. Both Donald and his father were at Ronald Reagan's public announcement for his candidacy.
It's unlikely that Trump and Reagan were the best of friends, but it's just as unlikely that they hated each other as the Wall Street Journal and Politico have claimed. Donald Trump, being a resident of deep blue New York, donated to local Democrats just as most corporations and businesses do. The tactic is called “hedging” in the political/business world. In New York, Democrats are 75% more likely to win office than Republicans. Nationally, their chances are about 50/50.
Former Reagan administration official, Roger Stone, has also confirmed Trump's personal loyalty to Reagan. Although their personalities aren't comparable, their similarities are uncanny. Both men were loathed by the Republican establishment and both had to step over a Bush.
The Clintons
The most contentious Trump connection is the Clinton family. For most multi-billionaire magnates, befriending high level politicians on both sides of the aisle is considered normal. If you're an outspoken billionaire who wants to take their jobs, it's a different story.
Just like Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton doesn't think she should have to earn the presidency. She thinks she's entitled to it because of her name and her connections. Hillary thinks it's her time.
The loose friendship between the Trumps and Clintons will dog Trump right up until November 8th. It won't weigh on Hillary as much because American mainstream media won't let it. They'll be too focused on every meaningless nuance of Trump's campaign. The latest “derogatory slur” to come out of his mouth will muster up more attention than Hillary's genuine corruption.
The media's reluctance to smear Hillary could benefit Trump when it comes to his financial connections to the Clinton Foundation. Luckily, Hillary's foundation won't get much attention on CNN or MSNBC because of a little book called Clinton Cash. The book by Peter Schweizer sold enough copies to make it #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and bring Hillary's poll numbers down to 42%. The book blew open the methods used by the Clintons to earn $130 million while Hillary served as Secretary Of State. The book also links the Clinton Foundation to international companies like UrAsia Energy and alleges that Bill took lavish payments for speeches from donors with a special interest in deals that were being made at the State Department.
Both Trump and his daughter have given a total of $105,000 to the Clinton Foundation. This could add to the evidence of a Clinton-Trump conspiracy, but only if you discount all the other organizations Donald Trump has donated to. Just as most wealthy magnates have done, Trump has spread his wealth to several charitable groups, including the New York City Police Foundation, the United Way and the Ronald McDonald House of New York. Although its dealings are odious, the Clinton Foundation is considered a charitable organization. Trump's donations to the foundation also pre-date the release of Clinton Cash.
The Clintons even attended Donald Trump's wedding. The reason, according to Trump, was his donations to Hillary's senate campaign and the foundation. Trump hasn't made any effort to beat around the bush about how relationships between politicians and their donors work. That could be what voters like about him.
Anytime Trump has stepped away from business and into politics, it has never been as a Democrat. His first attempt was the most anti-establishment of all. His second, in 2016, is as a Republican hated by the party's establishment and Democrats. If he loses the nomination or the general election, he'll go back to being a businessman who forms mutually beneficial relationships with politicians. Trump may not be everyone's first or second choice for president, but if he wins the Republican nomination, that will change.
Whether he's the best choice or not, Republicans must rally behind Trump if he wins the nomination.