Here we are at the end of 2015, and it’s still all Trump, all the time.

Trump’s juggernaut campaign remains a total mystery to the Washington Insiders, especially the Republicans. Michael Medved, one of many pretend conservatives on talk radio, pees his pants every time he hears Trump’s name. Wonder where Trump’s campaign funds come from? He takes Medved’s lunch money every day –  and Bill Bennett’s, and George Will’s, and Karl Rove’s and a whole bunch of other wimps.

Here’s the latest CNN national poll results and my unfiltered opinion of each.

Pataki (withdrew)- 0%:  Ptooey.

Santorum – 0%:  Nice guy, desperately means well, but Rick, it ain’t ever gonna happen.

Graham (withdrew) – 1%:  His (my) own conservative state can’t stand him – it took Democrat votes via our open primary system to keep him in DC. He wants strong military and open borders. Huh?

Huckabee – 2%:  Bright. Maybe devious. For some reason I wouldn’t want to buy a used car from this guy.

Kasich – 2%:  Why can’t we all just be friends and play nice together?

Fiorina – 2%:  She is so smart and so strong-willed. Oh wait, that scares the hell out of most people.

Paul – 4%:  He really understands the Constitution. Sadly, nobody cares.

Bush – 3%:  Sigh.

Christie – 5%:  He says his greatest attribute is his desire to make deals with the liberals. Next.

Carson – 10%:  Brilliant, and conservative. But people who visited his house said every square inch of wall space is covered with pictures of Ben and awards presented to Ben. He may have a bigger ego than Obama.

Rubio – 10%:  Gang of Eight. Next.

Cruz – 18%:  If I am ever caught in a dark alley with a menacing gang of debaters from Harvard, I want Ted on my side. He will shred any opponent, including Hillary. He’s smart, tenacious, ambitious, conservative. A few weeks ago he chaired a Senate committee meeting, and not a single Republican senator attended, leaving Cruz to face a roomful of Democrats alone. His fellow Senators absolutely HATE him. That’s good enough for me.

Trump – 39%:  At first I was really put off by his personal insecurity (“I’m really smart!  Really I am!) And I was convinced he had no depth of thought on any issue. I still sometimes think he might be a few fries short of a happy meal. But I’m starting to get it.

I listened to a complete hour-long Trump speech tonight, for the first time. And I found that he actually does address important issues, albeit in his own odd way. He talks off the cuff, and his stories wobble and wander all over the place. His over-use of adjectives and hyperbole is almost criminal. He spends too much time talking about himself and his lead in the polls, which he defends, saying, “But I am leading the polls!  Jeb Bush sure doesn’t want to talk about the polls.” I guess maybe saying “we’re number one” is not a bad marketing pitch.

If you get down to the nitty-gritty, you find that his message is usually right, and sometimes even illuminating. Tonight Trump talked about a friend who had always bought Caterpillar tractors but just bought a new Komatsu instead.  “It’s the devaluation of their currency, Caterpillar can’t compete, ” Trump explained.  That led to talk about international trade, and the exodus of American manufacturing companies overseas, and the billions of dollars of offshore profits held by American companies due to our outdated and unfair corporate tax structure. “It’s called ‘corporate inversion'”, Trump said.  “I doubt the other candidates have heard that term.”

I have mixed feelings about his admission to “paying off politicians” for business favors.  I don’t get the feeling he could be bought, though.  And I know damn well the vast majority of our elected officials are, shall we say, influenced by big contributors.

Most of his positions and proclamations are just populist common sense, but they shine brightly in a world that has gone PC.  I think his strong stand against unfettered immigration and refugees is the biggest bullet in his pro-second amendment clip.

“He can’t beat Hillary,” they whimper.  It seems to me he is probably the only Republican candidate who will smack Hillary between the eyes with her blatant lies, her stinks-to-high-heaven “charitable” foundation, and her coverups for her violently lecherous husband.  Yep, he can beat Hillary.  And the recent revelations that he has strong followings among minority groups doesn’t hurt.

Am I in the Trump camp?  Not yet.  But I’m like the caller on Little Mikey Medved’s show the other day.  Medved challenged him, “If it came down to Trump or Hillary, would you vote for Trump?”  The caller responded, “No question.  I’d crawl over broken glass to beat Hillary.”

Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side

So take me from the wreckage
Save me from the blast
Lift me up and take me back
Don’t let me keep on walking…
Walking on broken glass

Walking On Broken Glass – Annie Lennox

One of the all-time greats, Annie Lennox has got it going on!