Posted on 01/18/2016 5:05:23 AM PST by Kaslin
To win the White House, you must make all four bases in the game of political baseball. The Republican National Committee is trying to win by skipping the bases altogether—a recipe for striking out.
Winning the White House in 2016 is so close you can taste it. The problem is, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and his chummy club of elites have been secretly brooding over what to do if—gasp!—Sen. Ted Cruz or Donald Trump wins the most delegates at this summer’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
By Priebus' own admission to TIME, as well as insider leaks to the Washington Post, we now know that GOP elites have been quietly meeting for months to discuss how to handle or broker the "problem" of an outpouring of support for Trump or Cruz in Cleveland.
"I'd have a certain disadvantage," Trump said when asked about his prospects of winning a brokered national convention. "These kind of guys stay close. They all know each other. They want each other to win," he said of the GOP elites.
We all know how the 2012 brokered election turned out, where the elites overrode the delegates to nominate Mr. Unelectable, Mitt Romney. Voters hunger for a strong leader—not a moderate flip-flopper. Here are the four bases the RNC must run if it hopes to win in 2016. As of now, the RNC is attempting to win without all four.
First Base: The Wizards of Words
"Do you speak any Spanish?" Barbara Walters asked Trump in a recent interview. "No. This is an English-speaking country, remember?" he answered.
Walters' decision to ask Trump silly questions to "vet" him for the presidency is unsurprising. She's a mainstream media fox. What is surprising is the RNC's desire to pander to the Barbara Walters of the world more than its own media base.
I hate to break it to you, Mr. Priebus, but you'll never win the White House without conservative media. America's most-listened-to talk radio host, Rush Limbaugh, rarely lets a day go by without criticizing the RNC's efforts to win by running a moderate.
Rush is not alone. I tune into four-to-five major conservative talk radio shows a day and I can tell you that there is substantial support for Trump and Cruz on the airwaves. Meanwhile, very few hosts or callers are singing the praises of amnesty aficionado Jeb Bush and Common Core crusaders John Kasich and Chris Christie.
Last week, the RNC used its prime TV opportunity to present its plan for the future to trash its own all-stars: Trump and Cruz. In her official response to the State of the Union on behalf of the GOP, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley referred to Trump and Cruz as "the siren call of the angriest voices" whom "we must resist" the "temptation to follow."
Haley admitted to Vogue in 2012 that she became drawn to politics after listening to Hillary Clinton speak. That's right, Haley's political muse is one of the angriest sirens in recent memory—most famous for screeching "What difference, at this point, does it make?!"in response to a question about the circumstances leading to the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi.
Haley is motivated by Clinton but might bristle when frontrunner Trump uses the word "anchor baby" in contrast to "American babies"—whom he plans to prioritize as president. Does that make sense? Bottom line, the RNC could have an abundance of support from talk radio and online conservative media—if the GOP elites would stop attacking their own star players.
Second Base: Republican Voters
By maligning the policies espoused by Trump and Cruz, the RNC is also trying to win the White House by missing second base, namely its natural base of registered Republican voters.
The majority (54%) of Americans agree with Trump's position on allowing Syrian refugees into our country, which is to disallow them until we have a proper vetting system. This is not surprising given what we know about the terrorists responsible for the November 2015 Paris attacks. Americans don't want to see copycat attacks on their own soil.
"Ahmad al Muhammad," was the fake name on the passport of one of Paris suicide bombers. Shortly after the attacks, evidence surfaced indicating that he had smuggled himself into Europe by blending in and feigning to be a destitute Syrian refugee. Europe's porous borders have recently been crossed by hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking asylum—including terrorists.
It's unclear who the RNC is trying to appease by snubbing candidates who support strong borders in line with the wishes of most Republican voters. After all, the majority of Americans concur with Republican voters on the topic of Syrian refugees.
Third Base: An Electable Candidate
Moderate Republicans are unelectable. We learned that the hard way in 2008 and again in 2012. Only the RNC didn't learn the lesson. GOP elites are still employing the tried and failed tactic of running a Republican disguised as a Democrat.
The latest poll numbers show that the Republican frontrunners are Trump at 33% and Cruz at 20%. On the Democrat's bench, Bernie Sanders is only two points behind Clinton.
Sanders' appeal lies in his transparent agenda and passionate demeanor. His enthusiasm for socialism is akin to the energy that Barack Obama possessed on the campaign trail in 2008. (I know that makes you nauseous to read, but it's true.) The way to beat Sanders is to run an equally passionate and transparent Republican. Jeb Bush could win as the president of the National Society of Wall Flowers—not as president of the world's most electric and vivacious nation.
Don't skip third base, RNC. Run a strong conservative candidate.
Fourth Base: Independent and Swing Voters
Young people like Trump and Cruz. Of all the political candidates, Trump has consistently received the highest rankings among young people who lean right. Furthermore, only one in four Millennials strongly supports bringing Syrian refugees into our country according to a brand new 2016 Ipsos Public Affairs survey. Less than one in four (19%) of Millennials rank "Immigration" among their top three national concerns. You won't be surprised to hear that the economy and terrorism are Millennials' top two concerns according to Ispos research.
At 95 million strong, the Millennial generation has the power to determine the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The RNC would be wise to start listening to what young people care about rather than trying to shove an unwanted message of amnesty down their throats. This will only cause them to defect in droves for Sanders.
Given a choice between a boring Republican with a penchant for flip-flopping and a passionate and consistent liberal, young voters will go with the latter every time.
Dear Mr. Priebus, take your committee out to the ball game! Buy them some peanuts and Cracker Jack! Share this column with them so they root, root for the home team and run all four bases. For it's one, two, three strikes you're out at the old ball game!
I’ll see the establishment Republican party burn to the ground before I countenance another John McCain or a Mitt Romney in the form of Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio as its savior against a Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton.
I’m just not gonna play that silly game any more.
Priebus is playing with fire. Does he really want to be chair when the GOP disintegrates?
I think their backup plan is to focus resources on an ‘independent’ candidate in one state like Ohio. Have the independent win Ohio, neither the GOP or RATs get 270 EVs, and the House of Reps picks the President.
We are watching GOPe/RINO self destruct.
The president is the head of the party, and as such, appoints the head of the RNC. If Trump or Cruz win, Reince is finished, and with him, all his moderate candidates for office!
It is over for the GOPeahens. If they blow this they will be swept away by either a populist party or by four years of Herself. Frankly, if Hillary wins we are doomed.
The Hillary winning scenario might play out. But that is still not going to get me to vote for a Jeb or a Marco. I am not threatened that easily any more.
We all know how the 2012 brokered election turned out, where the elites overrode the delegates to nominate Mr. Unelectable, Mitt Romney.”
I don’t recall this at all. I recall Romney winning a bunch of primaries.
“Moderate Republicans are unelectable. We learned that the hard way in 2008 and again in 2012. Only the RNC didn’t learn the lesson. GOP elites are still employing the tried and failed tactic of running a Republican disguised as a Democrat.”
You have to assume that what they are doing is wrong and they don’t know it. The GOPe cares about one and only one thing. Cheap labor. And the rats are more than happy to send it to them. In exchange the GOPe gives the rats their social contract.
If the GOPe refuses to accept a Trump or Cruz victory, they are finished forever.
So the RNC has become the Republican National CLUB and it’s not open to the voters just the “special people”.
Obviously if they cared what the voters thought they would understand why Trump pulls such large crowds.
WE ARE PISSED and not being taken into consideration. THE CLUB needs to start listening!
I would have to respectfully disagree. One man is doing this. Actually, fear of one man is doing this.
“At 95 million strong, the Millennial generation has the power to determine the outcome of the 2016 presidential election”
This is troubling to me since I see an awful lot of millennial supporters going for Bernie and all his free stuff
The GOP/RNC has one goal in 2016 and it is not winning.
The goal is to block the citizens from electing anyone who would stop The Cheap Labor Express.
BILL BENNETT COMMENTS ON TRUMP ! (IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR EVERY AMERICAN) Interesting take on Trump! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to Bill Bennett (http://www.billbennett.com/) http://www.billbennett.com/ Bill Bennett's Morning in America A fast-paced, eye-opening morning show featuring intelligent conversation with top guests from the worlds of politics, media, sports and entertainment. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is said below is exactly what is now happening.
They will kill him before they let him be president. It could be a Republican or Democrat that instigates the shutting up of Trump. Don't be surprised if Trump has an accident. Some people are getting very nervous: Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Eric Holder, Hillary Clinton and Jon Corzine, to name just a few. It's about the unholy dynamics between big government, big business, and big media. They all benefit by the billions of dollars from this partnership, and it’s in all of their interests to protect one another. It’s one for all and all for one.
It’s a heck of a filthy relationship that makes everyone filthy rich — everyone except the American people. We get ripped off. We’re the patsies. But for once, the powerful socialist cabal and the corrupt crony capitalists are scared. The over-the-top reaction to Trump by politicians of both parties, the media, and the biggest corporations of America has been so swift and insanely angry that it suggests they are all threatened and frightened like never before.
Donald Trump can self-fund. No matter how much they say to the contrary, the media, business, and political elite understand that Trump is no joke. He could actually win and upset their nice cozy apple cart. It’s no coincidence that everyone has gotten together to destroy The Donald. It’s because most of the other politicians are part of the “old boys club.†They talk big, but they won’t change a thing. They are all beholden to big-money donors. They are all owned by lobbyists, unions, lawyers, gigantic environmental organizations, and multinational corporations . . . like Big Pharma or Big Oil, or they are owned lock, stock and barrel by foreigners, like George Soros owns Obama or foreign governments that own Hillary with their Clinton Foundation donations.
These run-of-the-mill establishment politicians are all puppets owned by big money. But there’s one man who isn’t beholden to anyone. There’s one man who doesn’t need foreigners, or foreign governments, or George Soros, or the United Auto Workers, or the teachers’ union, or the Service Employees International Union, or the Bar Association to fund his campaign. Billionaire tycoon and maverick Donald Trump doesn’t need anyone’s help. That means he doesn’t care what the media says. He doesn’t care what the corporate elites think. That makes him very dangerous to the entrenched interests. That makes Trump a huge threat to those people. Trump can ruin everything for the bribed politicians and their spoiled slave masters.
Don’t you ever wonder why the GOP has never tried to impeach Obama? Don’t you wonder why John Boehner and Mitch McConnell talk a big game, but never actually try to stop Obama? Don’t you wonder why Congress holds the purse strings, yet has never tried to defund Obamacare or Obama’s clearly illegal executive action on amnesty for illegal aliens? Bizarre, right? It defies logic, right? First, I’d guess many key Republicans are being bribed. Secondly, I believe many key Republicans are being blackmailed. Whether they are having affairs, or secretly gay, or stealing taxpayer money, the National Security Agency knows everything.
Ask former House Speaker Dennis Hastert about that. The government even knew he was withdrawing large sums of his own money from his own bank account. The NSA, the SEC, the IRS, and all the other three-letter government agencies are watching every Republican political leader. They surveil everything. Thirdly, many Republicans are petrified of being called “racists†. . . so they are scared to ever criticize Obama or call out his crimes, let alone demand his impeachment. Fourth, why rock the boat? After defeat or retirement, if you’re a “good boy,†you’ve got a $5 million-per-year lobbying job waiting. The big-money interests have the system gamed. Win or lose, they win.
But Trump doesn’t play by any of these rules. Trump breaks up this nice, cozy relationship between big government, big media, and big business. All the rules are out the window if Trump wins the Presidency. The other politicians will protect Obama and his aides — but not Trump. Remember: Trump is the guy who publicly questioned Obama’s birth certificate. He questioned Obama’s college records and how a mediocre student got into an Ivy League university. Now, he’s doing something no Republican has the chutzpah to do. He’s questioning our relationship with Mexico; he’s questioning why the border is wide open; he’s questioning why no wall has been built across the border; he’s questioning if allowing millions of illegal aliens into America is in our best interests; he’s questioning why so many illegal aliens commit violent crimes, yet are not deported; and he’s questioning why our trade deals with Mexico, Russia and China are so bad.
Trump has the audacity to ask out loud why American workers always get the short end of the stick. Good question! I’m certain Trump will question what happened to the almost billion dollars given in a rigged no-bid contract to college friends of Michelle Obama at foreign companies to build the defective Obamacare website. By the way, that tab is now up to $5 billion. Trump will ask if Obamacare’s architects can be charged with fraud for selling it by lying. Trump will investigate Obama’s widespread IRS conspiracy, not to mention Obama’s college records. Trump will prosecute Clinton and Obama for fraud committed to cover up Benghazi before the election. How about the fraud committed by employees of the Labor Department when they made up dramatic job numbers in the last jobs report before the 2012 election?
Obama, the multinational corporations, and the media need to stop Trump. They recognize this could get out of control. If left unchecked, telling the raw truth and asking questions everyone else is afraid to ask, Trump could wake a sleeping giant. Trump’s election would be a nightmare. Obama has committed many crimes. No one else but Trump would dare to prosecute. He will not hesitate. Once Trump gets in and gets a look at “the cooked books†and Obama’s records, the game is over. The gig is up. The goose is cooked. Holder could wind up in prison. Jarrett could wind up in prison. Obama bundler Corzine could wind up in prison for losing $1.5 billion of customer money. Clinton could wind up in jail for deleting 32,000 emails, or for accepting bribes from foreign governments while Secretary of State, or for “misplacing†$6 billion as the head of the State Department, or for lying about Benghazi. The entire upper level management of the IRS could wind up in prison.
Obama himself could wind up ruined, his legacy in tatters. Trump will investigate. Trump will prosecute. Trump will go after everyone involved. That’s why the dogs of hell have been unleashed on Donald Trump. Yes, it’s become open season on Donald Trump. The left and the right are determined to attack his policies, harm his businesses, and, if possible, even keep him out of the coming debates, but they can’t silence him, and they sure can’t intimidate him. The more they try, the more the public will realize that he’s the one telling the truth.
What I find hard to understand is why our politicians support The Cheap Labor Express, and raised the minimum wage to $15/hour at the same time.
Unless voting by text or iPhone is legalized, I’m not too worried about that.
“If they blow this they will be swept away by either a populist party or by four years of Herself.”
If they blow this and Hillary wins, then Rinse and all his buddies can still keep their jobs. The downside of a Clinton victory is small to the GOPe.
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