Posted on 07/22/2015 10:51:13 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
If there's a small silver lining for the Republican Party in the bonanza of insanity that is Donald Trump's candidacy, it's this: He's single-handedly managed to make the rest of the GOP field look downright reasonable by comparison.
There's less talk of a "clown car" primary when the main attraction is the ringmaster of his own circus.
Each day, Trump seems to reach new heights of absurdity, offensiveness, and popularity among Republican poll respondents. On Tuesday, he called fellow candidate Lindsey Graham an "idiot" and handed out the South Carolina senator's cellphone number — a response to Graham referring to Trump as a "jackass."
Everyone knows Trump has a ceiling, and he's probably nearing it. Graham's frustration aside, some of Trump's rivals for the Republican nomination are seizing the opportunity to appear more mainstream by distancing themselves from his bizarre comments. In that way, Trump is quickly becoming the Sister Souljah of the 2016 GOP primary.
The problem for the GOP is what the selective repudiation of Trump reveals about the party's priorities. Fearful of a backlash among anti-immigrant grassroots voters, the candidates have been far harsher in attacking Trump for insulting Sen. John McCain than in castigating him for his fervidly anti-immigrant positions. Sen. Ted Cruz even applauded Trump after he said Mexican immigrants are drug dealers and rapists.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hit that nail fairly squarely Tuesday in a speech on the Senate floor.
"When Trump insulted the senator from Arizona, a member of his own party, Republicans couldn't denounce him fast enough. But when Trump called immigrants rapists, there was nothing but silence. Nothing but silence. There's an ugly truth behind that silence, and it's this: When it comes to immigration policy — and, frankly, most other policy — there is no meaningful difference between the Republican Party and Donald Trump."
In fairness, several Republicans did, to varying degrees, dump on Trump's comments on Mexican immigrants, but not nearly as vociferously as they jumped on him when he said he prefers service members who weren't captured by the enemy.
Republicans are worried about what all of this will look like in the first debate of the GOP primary next month in Cleveland. And there's good reason to be concerned that the spectacle could put the raucous 2012 debates to shame. But at a time when most Republicans are trying to prove their mettle for the presidency, Trump is offering one very useful service: He's showing exactly what it looks like to be unfit for the presidency. That might prove helpful to Republicans who want to demonstrate that they can pass the unofficial commander-in-chief test.
Who knew turds could speak?
No barf alert! What gives?
For sure, I’m not a fan of Trump. He represent only The Donald. He is a Egomeniacal aristocrat. He is self serving and arrogant. I doubt he cares about the future of the country beyond how it affects him personally.
I wish he would get this much publicity for comments about Hillary and Sanders. That would help the whole party. But alas, the GOP prefers the circular firing squad over the rampart in politics.
Annoying the homos at vox is a plus in my book.
When Trump wins, the suicide rate on the left side will skyrocket. Hollywood would look like Jonestown.
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Sheesh.
Trump didn't say that.
Actually, with the exception of Cruz, he makes the rest of the clowns look weak.
He forgot to pull up Reid’s earlier opinions on “immigrants”
I would really laugh if Trump keeps the lead and then at the last minute comes up with a reason not to run but throws his whole following to someone else he recommends. I have no idea where this whole thing is going but am enjoying the establishment GOPers skulking around with their tails between their legs not knowing what to do about him. In the meantime, I am stocking up on popcorn.
The silver lining in Trump running is that Trump doesn’t need the job. He is free to say the hard things no one else will. A career politician must guard their job security and career path. Trump has no such limitations.
Trump must be right over the target given the amount of flack he is getting.
Then, he can choose to subcontract the job, or do it himself. But either way, to get it done correctly, it'll be under his watchful eye and critical commentary.
I want the building rebuilt, and I want it done right. That's why putting Trump in charge is a real good idea.
Trump also brings interest.
Republicans couldn’t buy this much attention.
“There’s no such thing as bad publicity” isn’t quite right all the time. But in this case, the publicity helps Republicans get noticed. Trump gets his own negatives. Republicans get positive notice.
I like it.
He got that part right.
-PJ
“The federal government has been grossly irresponsible in its neglect of mounting immigration problems, even as these problems place unbearable burdens on states like California,” Reid wrote at the time. “It is regrettable that states have reached a point where the only avenue they have for justice is the courts. It is even more regrettable that this Administration and this Congress stand by and allow the federal courts to decide the nation’s immigration policies.”
“Taxpayers simply cannot continue to sustain new populations the size of San Diego or the state of Nevada every year,” Reid wrote, adding “California is sending up the red flag tat [sic] Washington should heed. Unprecedented demands are being placed on job markets, schools, hospitals, police, social safety nets, infrastructure and natural resources. Unlimited new arrivals pressuring these systems threaten to overwhelm them.”
- Harry Reid
Should Trump win, he will be running a government full of pathological liars. I’m not sure even he can stand up to that bunch.
With 16 candidates in the GOP primary race, nobody is breaking out of the pack except Trump. The rest are in the back of the room sniping at Trump. All of the air in the other candidates campaigns have been sucked out of the room by Trump. Some of the guys are going to need oxygen tanks to breathe soon if they can't figure it out.
And who do you think is running that's not in this race for their own self-interests? I like the passion and enthusiasm Trump has. If he takes that to the White House, more power to him.
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