One of Trump's most significant and overarching character traits is that he is selfish. To an extreme. In any interaction, any decision, any calculation, he is driven by a single assessment: what's best for Trump?

Finally, something we can agree on again. But I'd add one additional tweak.

So tearing out these longstanding planks of the platform isn't a promise of anything by Trump, but rather a clear indication that he doesn't think those policies are good for Trump.

Here's the tweak:
He doesn't think those policies are good for Trump now. Because he is completely ungrounded by any moral code, the moment he judges one of those policies has become good for Trump, he will openly embrace it.

Combine that with his transactional nature - he'll give up something he doesn't care about to get something he does care about - things like abortion or entitlement reforms or pornography become bargaining chips. He'll gladly let republicans pass a ban on porn if that's what it takes to get a tax cut for himself and his wealthy ... ummm ... I was about to say "buddies", but I think campaign donors would be more correct.

So I don't see his abandonment of those planks as anything but what he is doing right now to get elected. Once elected, those planks can come back if they become helpful to get what he wants.

--Peter