Ten Reasons Why the Left Should Be Grateful to Trump

Donald Trump has poisoned the climate in American politics. He excels at crudity, turns ignorance into a virtue, sets black and white against each other and has an ego bigger than the Grand Canyon. If lying were an Olympic discipline, Trump – given his unbridled immodesty – would probably make a bid for gold, silver and bronze. Because Trump never does things half-heartedly (“My whole life is about winning”).

He often finds himself to be the center of mockery. He is being compared to Hitler and Mussolini, but does not seem to suffer from these comparisons. He almost wantonly revels in the numerous verbal hits below the belt because he knows: The harsher the critique, the more publicity for Trump Ltd. That is what matters.

But let us be completely honest here: When it comes to superficiality, Trump and many of his critics are well-matched. They find him to be a nauseously arrogant Froot Loop who should not be taken seriously. End of discussion. Too bad, because the debate on the causes of his enduring popularity (nationally five percent down on Clinton) is too interesting to cover with a blanket of “out-with-Trump” smugness.

Even if, come Nov. 8, he infamously loses, his political barking will not be silenced. In these times of “fact free politics,” his rabid ideas appeal to too many Americans.

In the meantime, nobody seems to realize that his political crusade could be beneficial to the left wing. Maybe there will even come a moment where left-wing politics will say, “That Trump huh, we should be really happy about that, in hindsight.”

Er… Left, happy with Trump? Yes!

So here are ten reasons why the Left should be grateful to Trump:

1. The extremely weak Hillary Clinton could not have wished for a better opponent. She is just as experienced as she is controversial. She is just as clever as she is unreliable (according to more than half of the voters). She is popular, but definitely not loved. If Hillary wins, she’ll have Trump to thank. Thank you, Donald.

2. Never before has just one right-wing politician damaged his Republican ally in such a short period of time. OK, the calamitous reports of the end of the Republican party are a little exaggerated. But the internal panic is complete. And rightly so. Hurray for Trump.

3. Trump has completely changed the outdated moral agenda of the Republicans. The GOP, the Grand Old Party, is stuck in the 20th century. America has, for quite some time now, entered the 21st century: legalization of marijuana and gay marriage, more support than ever for green politics, dwindling support for death penalty, prison reform. Trump barely even mentions all of the outdated GOP hobbies. Away with moral dictation. A party for progressive America.

4. God does not even have an invisible role as prompter in Trump’s life. George W. Bush still thought of Jesus as his most important guide. And Trump? His great guide? Would that be himself? No need for Jesus. What a nightmare for the religious fanatics who, on Sundays, listening to a boring sermon in church, like to muse about the good old days (from way back…) from The Moral Majority and Religious Right. The Trumps never suffer from boring, long-winded sermons. Donald and Melania have never been caught for regular church visits.

5. Trump spits on the political correctness of the Washington insiders. The paralysis on Capitol Hill is deadly. A fresh breeze of Trumpism in the stuffy trenches of Capitol Hill will do them good.

6. Trump shocks every colored minority. Black Americans: Despite his recent and very transparent flattery (“I like black Americans”), he won’t be getting any votes from them. His hateful statements on Latinos (“criminals,” “rapists”) confirm and strengthen the existing trend: Latinos prefer to vote for the Democrats. Trump is getting this fast-growing group of voters (they make the difference between winning and losing) on a silver platter. Thanks a million!

7. Immigration: It was bound to happen. Democrats cannot ignore the fact that millions of undocumented migrants are taking jobs away from conservative white people. (The FC, Trump’s “F— You” boys). This costs the Democrats precious votes from low-income voters. Trump is very extreme (deporting 11 million illegals), but opens up political room for more moderate yet still very sturdy proposals. Trump functions as the Democrats’ political fig leaf.

8. Because of Trump’s political whining, chances that Democrats will recover a majority in the Senate have gone up. A dishonorable defeat for the Republicans, who are as proud as they are short-sighted. You get what you deserve, Trump will say. “Bad things just happen, you know.”

9. A Democratic majority in the Senate leaves the way open for a predominantly progressive Supreme Court. That would have huge consequences for topics such as abortion, gun ownership, Obamacare, positive discrimination and immigration. Trump has created a void which can only be filled by a left-wing Supreme Court. The consequences will be felt for decades to come. What more could the Left wish for?

10. Imagine all these nice left-wing dreams coming true, then the ultimate test awaits progressive America: not giving in to precocious left-wing greed. Deep down, America, even with this 21st century democratic tailwind, is still a right-wing country. And Democrats should actually be happy about that. It will have a cleansing effect.

Did left-wing victory start with Trump?