Dear Mr. Trump,
The moment it was out of the mouth of Bret Baier I knew that that something was going on and I for one, wasn’t exactly sure why it was so important…not just to me, but to anyone watching the Fox News debate/debacle.
Why would Bret use such a seemingly paralyzing question to start off the evening when there were so many more important issues to cover over the course of the next two hours?
The awkwardly timed commitment gave everyone on that stage the internal awareness that they were part of something they had no control over yet were as participatory as the lone executioner flipping the switch at the behest of the warden.
Collective breathes were measured as one by one each candidate realized the significance of that one glorious beautifully crafted question. Their confidence broke across their faces as it dawned on them that the cavalry had arrived and their biggest foe was going to finally get what was coming to him…just rewards in a system that doesn’t take kindly to outsiders.
Privately, each candidate had experienced an internal envy regarding their party’s front runner and yet they understood how much importance you brought in the previous course of elections. Republican candidates from the past presidential primary had passed thru your Manhattan penthouse to secure an inside consultation from the man who’s opinion was valued and highly sought after.
Inside you must have struggled with the truth captured in that moment. You’d sink or swim on your next action…everyone waited breathlessly to see what you would do.
If this was a schoolyard fight between two bullies, it couldn’t get more electrified.
Sure it’s easy out on the campaign trail to stand in front of a cheering crowd and punch holes in the whole political process just to stir things up…but here…this was something different entirely. This singular moment was going to isolate you in a way you hadn’t foreseen; all the prep didn’t include this particular vein of thought.
The lights glared at you from every angle as time appeared suspended waiting for the answer already stated thousands of times over and over on the internet. Even I knew what your answer was…what it had to be…the only question in my mind was would you hold your ground?
Human nature desires to be liked…it’s a scale of DNA written on the heart of every ego ever made. You’re no different that way…but over the years you’ve developed a discipline of keeping that instinct in check. It’s one of the reasons I believe you’ve been so wildly successful. It’s one of the reasons you’re on this stage on this night…in this moment.
Down deep inside, you must have smiled to yourself knowing your time had come…the fleeting thought that perhaps out of all the times of being in the spotlight had been only a small precursor leading up to this very instant. You suddenly understood the feeling of being born for a purpose and you stepped into it fearlessly.
This is what it feels to be an outsider…to be shunned by everyone on your team. This is how it feels to be out in front…facing the competition face to face and knowing you’re the only one able to go the distance. True leadership is made in the crucible of life, but it’s only fully tested when (in the heat of battle) clarity of thought prevails.
The cameras panned the assembled candidates and came to rest on the only man with his arm confidently raised in the air. There was no clearing of the throat…no stammering of words. You spoke as clearly as the day you announced your candidacy:
“I understand,” you said multiple times. “I can totally make that pledge if I am the nominee; I will not run as independent.”
The powers that be saw this as ‘the gotcha moment’ of all gotcha moments. They didn’t see what the rest of us saw. We saw a man who knows how to win based on the cards he holds…the deals he stuck over the years came from having a very real appreciation for looking at things the way they are thru a prism of truth…good, bad or ugly.
You could have gone off into the sunset with a whole new group of friends pattin’ you on the back; welcoming you into their club. They’d be happy as can be because now you’re one of them. Now they can get back to the business of slowly getting you out of their tent and all those pesky, narrow-minded tea party types who just gum up the works of their “party” machine.
But you didn’t.
You knew better. If you would have made that pledge you would have given up your “Trump” card to keep the GOP in check. (I can’t believe I just wrote that.)
But, those of us out here watching you understand you don’t want anymore friends much less need them. You have all the friends a person could honestly stand. We also recognize that this is a process of delivering a message so it resounds throughout the length of your run to the Whitehouse.
You can’t be bought. You get things done. You’re not beholden to anyone but what’s best for the American people. Thank you for standing your ground.
Watching from the sidelines,
Roger J Conway
The moment it was out of the mouth of Bret Baier I knew that that something was going on and I for one, wasn’t exactly sure why it was so important…not just to me, but to anyone watching the Fox News debate/debacle.
Why would Bret use such a seemingly paralyzing question to start off the evening when there were so many more important issues to cover over the course of the next two hours?
The awkwardly timed commitment gave everyone on that stage the internal awareness that they were part of something they had no control over yet were as participatory as the lone executioner flipping the switch at the behest of the warden.
Collective breathes were measured as one by one each candidate realized the significance of that one glorious beautifully crafted question. Their confidence broke across their faces as it dawned on them that the cavalry had arrived and their biggest foe was going to finally get what was coming to him…just rewards in a system that doesn’t take kindly to outsiders.
Privately, each candidate had experienced an internal envy regarding their party’s front runner and yet they understood how much importance you brought in the previous course of elections. Republican candidates from the past presidential primary had passed thru your Manhattan penthouse to secure an inside consultation from the man who’s opinion was valued and highly sought after.
Inside you must have struggled with the truth captured in that moment. You’d sink or swim on your next action…everyone waited breathlessly to see what you would do.
If this was a schoolyard fight between two bullies, it couldn’t get more electrified.
Sure it’s easy out on the campaign trail to stand in front of a cheering crowd and punch holes in the whole political process just to stir things up…but here…this was something different entirely. This singular moment was going to isolate you in a way you hadn’t foreseen; all the prep didn’t include this particular vein of thought.
The lights glared at you from every angle as time appeared suspended waiting for the answer already stated thousands of times over and over on the internet. Even I knew what your answer was…what it had to be…the only question in my mind was would you hold your ground?
Human nature desires to be liked…it’s a scale of DNA written on the heart of every ego ever made. You’re no different that way…but over the years you’ve developed a discipline of keeping that instinct in check. It’s one of the reasons I believe you’ve been so wildly successful. It’s one of the reasons you’re on this stage on this night…in this moment.
Down deep inside, you must have smiled to yourself knowing your time had come…the fleeting thought that perhaps out of all the times of being in the spotlight had been only a small precursor leading up to this very instant. You suddenly understood the feeling of being born for a purpose and you stepped into it fearlessly.
This is what it feels to be an outsider…to be shunned by everyone on your team. This is how it feels to be out in front…facing the competition face to face and knowing you’re the only one able to go the distance. True leadership is made in the crucible of life, but it’s only fully tested when (in the heat of battle) clarity of thought prevails.
The cameras panned the assembled candidates and came to rest on the only man with his arm confidently raised in the air. There was no clearing of the throat…no stammering of words. You spoke as clearly as the day you announced your candidacy:
“I understand,” you said multiple times. “I can totally make that pledge if I am the nominee; I will not run as independent.”
The powers that be saw this as ‘the gotcha moment’ of all gotcha moments. They didn’t see what the rest of us saw. We saw a man who knows how to win based on the cards he holds…the deals he stuck over the years came from having a very real appreciation for looking at things the way they are thru a prism of truth…good, bad or ugly.
You could have gone off into the sunset with a whole new group of friends pattin’ you on the back; welcoming you into their club. They’d be happy as can be because now you’re one of them. Now they can get back to the business of slowly getting you out of their tent and all those pesky, narrow-minded tea party types who just gum up the works of their “party” machine.
But you didn’t.
You knew better. If you would have made that pledge you would have given up your “Trump” card to keep the GOP in check. (I can’t believe I just wrote that.)
But, those of us out here watching you understand you don’t want anymore friends much less need them. You have all the friends a person could honestly stand. We also recognize that this is a process of delivering a message so it resounds throughout the length of your run to the Whitehouse.
You can’t be bought. You get things done. You’re not beholden to anyone but what’s best for the American people. Thank you for standing your ground.
Watching from the sidelines,
Roger J Conway