Six possible explanations for Trump's behavior

We expect politicians to lie. They also mix in just enough of the truth to make their lies more credible. But sometimes a politician′s actual intent, beliefs, and motivations are tough to pin down. Most politicians try to win over as many voters as possible, while everything out of Trump′s mouth seems calculated to excite a small number of people while upsetting everyone else. Trump′s strategy is completely contrary to everything we know about politics. Here are six theories on why he is going down this route.

The Strawman. Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part as a Gary Johnson supporter. But a lot of things that Trump says seem geared towards making people upset with him and distract from Hillary Clinton′s scandals. He’ll go through the motions by giving speeches and raising money, just so that the plan has plausible deniability. But if he starts leading in the polls, expect him to do something extraordinarily stupid later this month.

The Attention Whore. Running for President is a great way to sell books and get hits for your website. Maybe this is all part of a lucrative marketing strategy. Or maybe Trump loves being in front of the camera and the sound of his own voice.

The Figurehead. Trump has zero experience in government. Most aspiring future Presidents serve in the military or run for state and local offices before taking a shot at becoming the most powerful person in the world. Apparently, Trump is going to let Pence and other members of his administration do all the work and make all the decisions. The trouble with this is that I don’t think Trump even makes a good figurehead. Good figureheads manage their message better. Trump is like that friend of yours who will talk trash to the other thugs in the bar. And yes, America can kick the ass of every other guy in the bar, but when we go out to the parking lot we found our tires have been slashed and several of our allies have unfriended us. Trump has a 1st Amendment right to run his mouth all the time, but I don′t want his words to represent the country as a whole.

The Drunken Master. Trump may be trying to get Hillary Clinton and other progressives to believe that he is an idiot. He says all the wrong things on purpose so that he isn’t taken seriously. Liberal voters are less likely to turn out if they think victory is guaranteed. So look for Trump to start listening to his advisors and managing his message in late September.

It′s all for the lulz. Basically this is the plot of the movie ″Man of the People″. Wouldn′t it be funny to run for President and say whatever pops into your head when you are on camera and have half of the country eat it all up? I would have liked to do that if I ever got to be old, obnoxious, and rich. I′m just jealous that Trump got to do it first.

He′s telling like it is. Of all the possibilities, this one is the scariest. I hope that Trump is smarter than he lets on to be. I hope he is lying about wasting billions on a wall that won′t stop illegal immigration, ending key trade deals that keep the economy afloat, and using torture on people who have not even been convicted of a crime. If this really who Trump is and he really gets elected, we are in for a long four years.