I hardly ever venture into politics here, but today am making an exception.
This morning's New York Times ran a story about Donald Trump's relative popularity among Republican voters. According to the article, of all the traditional Republican enclaves, Utah has the weakest showing of Trump supporters.
Now, I don't say this very often, but, WAY TO GO, UTAH!
I'm neither a Utahan nor a Republican, and therefore in no position to explain this dynamic. Hopefully some of my Gentle Readers will weigh in on this in the comment field.
Mark says it's because Mormons adhere to organizations and therefore oppose Trump and his rejection of the Republican establishment. I see his point, only I'm pretty sure there are a sizable number of Rand Paul supporters in Utah - and he's hardly a team player either.
Could it be that Utah Republicans are too smart to buy a used car from a flamboyant blowhard who looks like he should be plugging the ShamWow?
Maybe. - But then they will buy an old beater from a reticent navy-suit who looks like he should be managing a crooked hedge fund. They'll even throw in 10% of their income.
Could it be the hair? I have to admit, that lacquered combover almost makes the Mormons' genetic male-pattern baldness look sexy. Almost.
Perhaps I'm overthinking things. What the heck, it's the holidays, and on this rare occasion, Mark and I find ourselves on the same side as the Utah Republicans. At least for the moment. That's reason enough to break out the champagne - even if it weren't New Year's Eve.
Cheers and Happy 2016!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
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I guess even Utah Mormon madness has its limits. In the case of the 2016 election, that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Donna.
And to you as well, Ahab! Thanks for reading and commenting this year.
DeleteMaybe I'll be able to set foot in Utah again someday. Who knew?
ReplyDeleteJono UT is beautiful and the non-Mormon areas - Park City in particular - are really quite fun!
DeleteIt's because he's not Mormon. If he were Mormon the very same Donald Trump would be at the top of their list to save the US constitution. Either that or they are just waiting to be told who to vote for.
ReplyDeleteIf he were Mormon he wouldn't be nearly as interesting as he is now. (And I don't mean that in a good way.) When I linked this post on Facebook I learned that some UT Mormons are still holding out for Romney to jump into the race. Hmm...he may not be REALLY smart or REALLY rich, but Ann does own a couple of Cadillacs.
DeleteI wish Donald Trump would go away.
ReplyDeleteMe three!
DeleteTwo thumbs up!
DeleteTwo thumbs up what?
DeleteMormons will vote for anyone who validates them. Flatter them and they'll eat it up.
ReplyDeleteTrump is too much of a non-conformist and a loose cannon. Mormons want a solid white Christian who looks like they do and carries the banner of Conservative Mormon Values™ and appears to at least acknowledge the possibility that Mormons are pretty darn awesome.
Good point, AT. The Donald would be too condescending around the leaders of the one and only true church.
DeleteAs far as I can tell, most of my TBM republican family members try and stay away from him in conversation. To me that means they don't care for him. I can only hope. He's an embarrassment to anyone with a thinking thought in their head.
ReplyDeleteWell, good for your family for staying away from him. I do think that the average Mormon is too sophisticated - or at least appearance obsessed to go along with Trump's vulgar, xenophobic message. They might agree with him, but actually admit to it? No way.
DeleteI live in Utah, and I've had quite a few conversations about Trump with family and at work. I think Mormons like his message, they just don't like his delivery. He's mean, rude, and foul mouthed at times. That's what I think is turning people off. At the moment, most Mormons are really confused by the field. Some like Carson whose speaking voice is reminiscent of Elder Scott's sleep inducing drone. Others like Rubio, but I wonder if they would be willing to accept an exmormon. Cruz may emerge as the favorite, and it wouldn't surprise me. He's the confident, smooth-talking, seminary teacher type, that, if he were Mormon, would have been made a Bishop by age 28, a Stake President by 32, Mission President, by 39, and on the fast track to be a General Authority. The thing you have to remember is that most Mormons hate the Clintons and have an "anybody but Hillary" attitude, and the fact that she's a woman makes her even less appealing.
ReplyDeleteSo, I predict that when its all over, Utah will still disappoint you by voting overwhelmingly for the the eventual Republican nominee, whoever it may be.
And I agree, Park City is a really fun town.
Ha! Well, I certainly can't see UT going for Hilary. In that sense if Trump's the nominee (and I hope he isn't) it would be amusing to see how the Mormons cringe when their candidate boasts about how he loves the Book of Mormon - it's right up there with the Bible and The Art of the Deal.
DeleteInteresting perspective on the other candidates. I love that analogy about Cruz. It's so on the money it's almost a little scary!
My favorite paragraph: >>Could it be the hair? I have to admit, that lacquered combover almost makes the Mormons' genetic male-pattern baldness look sexy. Almost.<<
ReplyDeleteI don't descend from the pioneers, so the men in my family missed out on the baldness gene. Some of them have complained about other blessings or honors they've missed due to not being of exalted lineage, but they hadn't paused to think about their luck where the baldness gene thing was concerned. I' sure none of them have tied it to not being descended from long-standing Mormon royalty. (We're short-termers, and as such will likely not climb higher than our present highest rung of the ladder.)
I'd love to know what my grandfather thinks abut Trump, but I would have to speak to him in order to ask him, and that ain't going to happen. Maybe my uncle could ask him for me. My grandfather would be just stupid enough to support Trump.
Well, it's good they missed out on the balding gene - as well as other "blessings."
DeleteImagine if the Donald's hair was part of the Mormon DNA. That would be truly terrifying.
It's scary enough that Donald was able to reproduce and pass the hair (and other traits) along to his own limited gene pool.
DeleteWill little miss goody two shoes. Your Mitt Mormon Romney didn't get elected so what say you.
ReplyDeleteIt's because he's a jerk. That's why we don't like him -- from an actual Utah Mormon (originally an actual Washington Mormon)
ReplyDeleteThanks for weighing in, Stephanie! I like your reasoning. :)
Delete