The Ideology of The Donald is a Box of Chocolates.

Trump Cuomo If you watched Donald Trump’s interview with Chris Cuomo last night, you saw Trump reveal his political ideology, his philosophical underpinning - what “makes him tick.”

It’s one word: Results.

Trump has no ideology. That’s why on policy, he’s like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates - you never know what you’re going to get.

Trump doesn’t believe in principles, process or point of view. His organizing principle is pragmatism. He’s the ultimate centrist, committed only to the quality of the outcome. Was it a good deal or a bad deal? Did we get what we want?

This explains why Trump would give money to a Democrat one year and a Republican the next. Why he switches positions on issues. Why his approach to China is not based on a belief in free markets or protectionism, but instead on sending a “good negotiator” like Carl Ichan. Because “I know he’ll get a good deal.” Because the end justifies the means.

Conventional politics abhors this, yet it’s exactly why Trump is connecting with millions of angry voters. They agree that “stupid” politicians who are rigidly committed to political platforms -Republicans and Democrats alike - have broken our system and failed us.

Make no mistake - Trump is suggesting that ideology is the enemy of progress. When Trump says “I’ll get a good deal without a political bent”, he’s squarely fixing blame for our inability to get things done on the political class and their rigid adherence to principle. That’s why he says people like border patrol agents “just want to do their jobs.” The implication is that politicians - and their intransigent inflexibility - are the obstacles to success.

Flexibility - the ability to do whatever it takes to win, the cornerstone of the “Art of the Deal” - is the ideology of Trump. He believes it’s how he will Make America Great Again.

And, so far, enough frustrated people agree with him to keep him at the head of the negotiating table for the biggest political prize in the world - the American presidency.

Hillary Clinton’s Toughest Opponent is Not Joe Biden

This past week, I had the pleasure of spending time on the phone with one of the best political reporters in America, Salena Zito. I don’t know anyone who is more connected to, or giving better voice to the struggles and fears of working class voters. We talked about what is really going on with Hillary, Bernie and Joe, and from that conversation she wrote a terrific story that you should read here. Or here at Real Clear Politics.

The substance of our conversation was how many Democrats are becoming terrified that this is “second verse same as the first” for Hillary.

Hillary Clinton - The NY Jets of US Politics

It’s becoming clear that the problem with Hillary is not Obama, it’s not Mark Penn, its’ not Patti Solis Doyle, and it’s not Bernie Sanders.

It’s Hillary. She’s the New York Jets of American politics.

All the damage comes from inside her own locker room. The blows aren’t struck from outside, but from her own non-campaign. Her own server. Her own emails. Her own foundation. Her own remarks like “dead broke.”

The toughest opponent Hillary Clinton is facing is Hillary Clinton. And she’s losing to her.

I feel her pain.

As Hillary shrinks (and as the latest polls show that shrinkage is real), the law of politics abhorring a vacuum takes its inevitable hold. Angry Republicans desperate for leadership didn’t hear a voice in tune with them early? Hello Donald Trump.

Now, working class Democrats see in Hillary an out of touch elitist who can’t shoot straight because she’s tripping over her own rules that she made up as she’s gone along. And while Bernie Sanders makes millennials and celebrities swoon, most folks just see a goofy socialist. Like those same Republicans with Trump, Democrats who don’t live on Park Avenue want to hear an echo of their struggle, their pain, their concern about the future.

Enter Joe Biden. The same Joe Biden who has always been the champion of working class Democrats. The same Joe Biden who was a bridge to those Democrats for the current president.

And the same Joe Biden we were reintroduced to during the tragic, agonizing passing of his son Beau. The Joe Biden who above all politics has always first been a thoroughly likeable, relatable and decent human being.

Hello Joe Biden. Please pick up the white courtesy phone. An important call is waiting.

Why the Rick Perry Campaign is Not a Walking Dead Episode - Yet

Political campaigns don’t die, they just run out of money.

When they do, candidates have to ask staff to work without pay.

So Rick Perry has a new mascot that would make my friend Brad Todd proud. Perry’s campaign is now made up of these:

And it was fun to talk it over with Kate Bolduan from CNN’s This Hour. Kate asked all the right questions. Story from CNN site and a link to the whole segment below.

CNN This Hour with Kate Bolduan, August 11, 2015

After the CNN appearance, also had a chance to chat with Jessica Taylor of NPR. Jessica is a rising star in DC media circles - and I would not say that just because she is a great Furman Paladin, she’s truly good.

Rick Perry: No This Is Not a Walking Dead Episode Yet

Trump’s Jump, Hillary’s Lumps

Spent a few minutes talking with Rosemary Church on CNN about Trump and Clinton.

Trump is not going away anytime soon, folks. He has money. He has organization. And he has the lead. He’s even rolling out policy proposals.

Meanwhile Hillary is in more trouble than most Democrats are willing to admit. She’s her own worst enemy. Her problems are a matter of her own flawed judgments.

When a candidate can’t get out of the way of their own campaign, things get really tough.

The Face of the New South

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is having quite a run of success. She has recruited Mercedes Benz, Boeing and Volvo for economic development projects totaling thousands of jobs. She’s been a great fiscal champion fighting for lower taxes and less spending.

The spotlight is on her recently for her courageous call to remove the Confederate Battle Flag from the SC State House grounds following the horrific murders at Mother Emmanuel Church in my home state of Charleston, SC. I applaud her. It wasn’t easy, and I shared some thoughts earlier with The New York Times outstanding Jonathan Martin as to how difficult an issue this is for Republicans.

Republicans Tread Carefully in Criticism of Confederate Flag

The flag is a pretty personal issue for me and in my family. In 1998, I lost two elections on one night because of that banner. First, a race I was managing for the US Senate for Bob Inglis, and second SC Governor David Beasley, my brother in law, lost the governorship after calling for the flag to come down off of the Capitol Dome. There is a reason that both men have been awarded the JFK Profile in Courage Award. So it’s a bit of satisfaction to see those electoral sacrifices (Inglis had also courageously called for the flag’s removal) were not made in vain.

Moving the flag was the right thing to do. The symbols of state should bring people together as opposed to tearing them apart. And moving the flag was the conservative thing to do in my view. A limited government should waste no resources debating, flying, lighting and displaying, protecting, or otherwise maintaining a symbol that offends roughly half of the state in such a visceral, personal way. South Carolina’s precious fiscal, intellectual and emotional resources are better invested in creating jobs and improving schools.

Which made me all the more happy to talk about Governor Haley, the flag and the New South with Eliza Collins from Politico.

Nikki Haley Coming to DC Amid VP Buzz

What is Lindsey Graham Up To Anyway?

22 years ago I worked in the legal office of one of South Carolina’s greatest Governors, Carroll A. Campbell Jr. During my last year there I had the privilege to meet a bright, charismatic newly elected member of the State House of Representatives. You could say he’s gone on to slightly bigger and better things… like running for President. Mary Troyan of USA Today called (Thanks Mary) and asked for a few thoughts on his campaign, and I was happy to ramble on…

“It plays well in South Carolina where you have a strong military establishment … but it also plays well in certain parts of the Pentagon,” said Bruce Haynes, a Republican consultant who has worked in South Carolina politics. “He’s not doing anything to hurt him in his base home state and he’s not doing anything to hurt himself as a potential defense secretary.”

Graham Sounds Alarm on National Security Issues

What is this blog?

Hopefully, it’s something different.

The Rambling Man blog is my attempt to write, imagine, think, talk, and otherwise share some original thoughts and observations - and maybe even a challenge or two - about our politics, our culture, the world of sports, brands and matters of faith.

Can’t get in any trouble on any of those things, right?

How will it be unique? Well, I hope you’ll see a little different perspective come through in the things I write and say. As a native Southerner, I grew up with an emphasis on connections - family, relationships, and faith. Socially, I’ve got a very bottom up perspective. My dad was a mailman, and my mom stayed at home. I went to public schools, and helped put myself through college working in the dining hall and selling shoes in the local sporting goods store.

So it won’t just all be opinion. Sometimes insights come from the unlikeliest places, and I’ll share those too. I think that’s important.

Life and providence have been very generous to me since. Hard work has helped. I’ve had the opportunity to go amazing places, do special things, and work with some truly fascinating people. All the while, I hope, keeping a small town, working class, faith based perspective on life.

So with a definite hat tip to the Allman Brothers Band, the unquestioned architects of Southern Rock, the Rambling Man blog is ready to roll. And like the original Rambling Man, I’ll try to do the best I can, and I hope I can make you think, smile, and care.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to my generous colleagues at Purple Strategies who helped make this possible.