Trump packs.
Posted on 12/16/2015 9:28:09 AM PST by GonzoII
There are visceral messages conveyed by presidential candidates during debates that can be as important as anything they say.Richard Nixon was thought to have won the 1960 debates with John Kennedy by those who listened on radio. But those who witnessed Kennedy's cool demeanor and Nixon's sweaty visage on their TV screens felt Kennedy had won.
When Ronald Reagan during a 1980 debate demanded to be heard because "I'm paying for this microphone," his genuine anger and ability to take control of the situation projected strength. When George H.W. Bush glanced at his watch during one of his 1992 debates with Bill Clinton, it confirmed for people the lack of interest and paucity of inspiration that helped sink him against "the man from Hope."
Donald Trump's wild appeal to conservatives has always transcended his positions, and during Tuesday night's Republican presidential debate the basis for this appeal was unmistakable. With every gesture, every facial expression, and every statement, Trump projected strength and decisiveness, the qualities that President Obama lacks and that Republicans will require in their next leader.
When former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush repeated his canned line about Trump not insulting his way to the nomination, Trump brushed it off with an "Oh well" smirk.
"He's a very nice person, but we need toughness," Trump said of Bush. "Nobody cares," he said of Jeb's whole campaign.
Trump vs. Bush over ISIS, Immigration
When audience members booed Trump's proposal to track Internet activity in Syria and Iraq, an incredulous Trump faced down the audience - and won.
"I just can't imagine somebody booing," he said. "These are people that want to kill us, folks, and you're - you're objecting to us infiltrating their conversations? I don't think so. I don't think so."
The crowd applauded its own dressing down.
Trump attacked his questioners to their faces while feigning some pathos for Bush.
"I think it's very sad that CNN leads Jeb Bush, Governor Bush, down a road by starting off virtually all the questions, 'Mr. Trump this, Mister' - I think it's very sad," Trump said.
Trump Slams CNN
Many Republicans know the country needs a pugilist to right the country. Several of the other candidates just didn't seem to come ready to mix it up in the ring.
"This doesn't do a thing to solve the problems," proclaimed Carly Fiorino after Trump noted Bush was moving further away during each debate from center stage, where those polling best stand.
"Pretty soon you're going to be off the end," Trump quipped.
"It sounds more and more what my daughter said that in the beginning, all the fighting and arguing is not advancing us," garbled Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Republican voters, who have put Trump at nearly 40 percent, know better. They want a fighter.
Conservatives aren't worried about whether Trump can check every box on the Edmund Burke list of conservative bona fides. He gets important stuff, like controlling immigration, fighting terrorism and avoiding bad trade deals. Those issues resonate, and he knows it.
What conservatives know is that the country's situation has grown so dire in so many areas that only a personality with steel, vigor, determination and even ruthlessness can possibly make things right. Getting every detail correct - but not having the stamina or forcefulness to carry out the plan - won't cut it.
The GOP Establishment is worried about Trump not just because of what he believes, but because they think he can't win the general election. But what they are missing is that almost everyone has fear about the future. Not just conservatives, but many Democrats, too. And Latinos. And African-Americans. And women. And every other demographic the poobahs think Trump will never appeal to.
"I will do everything in my power to beat Hillary Clinton," Trump said Tuesday with unequivocal, unreserved sincerity and power.
Listening to it, and watching him, one could not help but believe it and think that he would find a way to make it happen.
Did we watch the same debate?
I think the author of this editorial is confusing hot air with strength.
But this was a leadership forum. Who can lead? Who shares their values? Trump apparently won that walking away.
The title goes overboard. I agree that Trump did well, but I wouldn’t use the word commanding for anyone in that debate. I thought Trump’s triad response was weak, I thought Cruz’s attempt to jump in and in and in was a bad visual moment, I thought Rubio was stunned by the Chuck Shumer linkage, and Christie tried his outrage schtick, but didn’t quite pull it off.
Bush defines visual uncertainty. Carson just might be the nicest person up there, but he needs some fire. Fiorina seems to have memorized some scripts that she pulls out. Paul has great reasons for non-intervention but can’t seem to sell them with his Vulcan introvert’s style of relaying information. Kasich just needs to drop out. He is flailing and not connecting.
That was nearly a Trump Cruz love fest last night. They were last seen heading for one of those Elvis impersonator wedding chapels there in Vegas.
As for Trump getting hammered about suggesting we kill the families of the COWARDLY radical leaders of these muslim murderers, issuing a death warrant for the families of these people might cause them to reconsider dispatching their brainwashed and largely illiterate fellows to murder US if THEIR families will die.
General Sherman correctly observed that “War is hellâ€. We’re in a WAR!
What’s so different from Trump’s idea than the allied fire bombing of Dresden in February, 1945, 6 months before the German surrender? An estimated 100,000 to 500,000 men, women and CHILDREN were killed. The exact number could only be estimated because there were so few actual intact corpses to count! Many historians believe it was an act of pure revenge for Hitler’s indiscriminate bombing of Britain and they’re probably right.
Then, of course, there was Hiroshima & Nagasaki in August of ‘45. Scores of thousands of Japanese women and children died to save American lives by avoiding an invasion of the home islands.
All Trump is suggesting is that an EARNEST PREEMPTIVE threat to these SAVAGES MIGHT save the lives of OUR INNOCENT WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHEN THE FIGHT HERE ON OUR SOIL REALLY GETS CRANKED UP. THANKS TO OBOZO AND HIS IMBECILIC “IMPORT AN ISLAMIST†PROGRAM, IT SOON WILL!!
We have a President who has LITERALLY given us all the finger—and more than once. A street fighter from Queens is the perfect response.
Sure did.
‘Zactly.
Trump and Cruz did well last night. The rest looked, well, like the rest. No competition. They may say it’s a three person race, but that’s only for the GOPe to save face. It’s clearly not.
“The GOP Establishment is worried about Trump not just because of what he believes, but because they think he can’t win the general election.”
That’s bullsh*t. The GOPe is worried about Trump because they know he will win the general election if they don’t stop him now, and their long-running gravy train will be disrupted.
Having Jeb Bush lose to Hillary Clinton would be far preferable to having Trump win for these traitors.
I agree - we need someone tough, decisive and who has a vision.
Trump has those qualities. No one else in the Republican field comes even close.
The spirit of the times demands a fearless and determined man.
We’ve had enough of squishes like Obama.
I think many people think killing the families is a MODEST and moderate step. Many think you ought to just elinminate entire swaths of humanity there---as would have happened in any other war.
You better believe it. And I think there are some FReepers who feel the same way. They are the same ones who didn't vote for McCain...and gave us 8 years of a nightmare that is still unfolding.
It's okay you support Cruz and want the best for him, just realize that there are many, many others that feel Trump is the better candidate.
Trump packs.
Cruz is a nice guy but Hillary would cream him.
Its Trump or nothing.
Ask Rush Limbaugh he is echoing the same exact thing. I also saw a strong leader. That is what people want. Its what I want. Nothing less will do.
Bump!
Why the Trump/Cruz love fest? Easy......Trump for POTUS & Cruz for his VP!!! And.......add Ben Carson into a Cabinet positon!!! These three guys are a tight “Band-of-Brothers”!!! Imagine....a White boy, a Black boy & a Hispanic boy....terrific!!!
Jeb Bush....dead politically...the moron just cannot accept that fact!!! The good news is a group of rich idiots just threw millions of their dollars down the sewer!!! Shucks....they should have given my some of that cash, they wasted. They must not be too bright in th brain department!!!
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