Baker and Trump Actually Share One Attribute:  ‘Nixonian Habits’

In his marvelously insightful book, A Man and His Presidents: The Political Odyssey of William F. Buckley Jr., Alvin S. Felzenberg recalls the 1960 presidential contest when the National Review founder saw then-candidate Richard Nixon as "less the leader of the GOP than as the 'amalgamator' of all the forces that composed it." Over a half century later, a sensible survey of the Republican party reveals that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and President Donald Trump are, likewise, "amalgamators." They share similar Nixonian propensities.

Despite the dichotomy in their respective personalities and philosophies, Baker and Trump understand 2017 politics:  recalcitrant Republicans — particularly conservatives — can be circumvented in the political process, and more importantly, in the creation of public policy. Baker and Trump exhibit a marked disdain for conservatives. As did Nixon.