A minority that is, 46%, want Trump.
At least, the ones who participated when it was still relatively tolerable to do so if you also happened to do something silly, like perceive and share the idea that Trump's "brand" of "brilliant business mind" (the thing his supporters are supposedly voting for, in essence) is BS -- he's third-rate with the real big boys at the same RE mogul game who are worth as much as four times what the Great Donald is.
Trump is the ONLY one among them who deliberately made himself a celebrity everyone recognizes. That's all. FReepers are smart, there's a reason they come here -- a majority of them at best would have Trump as their second choice, a good number put him out of the question.
Yet I would bet hard, cold cash that lurker who came to this site just to see what's up at FR, take a pulse, get the tone -- would read through a couple of threads and assume that Trump is wildly popular with the majority of conservatives and conservatives who reject him are so few that they don't even show up.
But the reality is ... the Trumpers are the minority, about 46%.
I moved three names from the non-Trump tally to the Trump tally because although these FReepers declare they prefer Cruz, the tone of their posts sure sounds the opposite. The tally is to find truth, not to advance an agenda. I want to know what real people are actually thinking, so I put them on the tally that I bet a casual reader would, as well.
Such a tally is pointless now because the golden goose slayer Donald Trump has destroyed FR, it appears to me. Romney almost finished it off in 2012, I suppose ... I don't know, but I bet everyone here was stunned when Romney lost -- no wonder they're so angry. They assumed that the people they had made this place a turn-off for, didn't exist. But they did, and they did what they said they'd do right here -- screw voting for a leftist, I don't care what party he's in.
They warned anyone paying attention going up to the election, and the same types are sounding warnings now, and it's just the primary. Trump will be in the race regardless because he'll run third party if he doesn't get the nomination.
Man. And I thought it couldn't get any worse than Romney.
Many Cruz supporters left in November and December.
An excerpt from 11/5 email to me when Trump totally lost me and I posted:
I have been put through the hit list and suddenly the language that is posted is stuff like FU, STFU (but it is spelled out completely) They will accuse you of being a SEIU plant, a wanker, a troll and many other labels that get sent along with a list of others that will go through with the attack process. When done with that and you have not succumbed to their agenda they will go after you personally> I have gone through the entire process so far.
I have never seen that poster post again. My sis who rarely posted quit looking here about a month ago. FR may as well be trump campaign headquarters.
My point is the exodus from FR began in early November if not before. Reasoned, logical arguments made by reasonable people who are treated with such disrespect - they just left.
That was before I was made aware that Trump had mocked a handicapped journalist, a man that has EVERYTHING thought it was OK to make fun of someone less fortunate than him, someone that has a real life struggle. Selfishly I still tried to keep an open mind in hopes that Cruz wouldn't be sidelined.
Then Trump used the 911 Victims to score a point against Cruz in the last debate, people who died tragically in an attack on our country and he continues to ruthlessly attack Cruz trying to damage his reputation in the Senate where Cruz is an American hero who stands up to the Cartel. Trump has showed horrible character traits that would scare me if he was only a neighbor. He disrespects everyone that gets within range of him even his own supporters that he made fun of with the Fifth Avenue remark. He is unfit for the office of the Presidency.
FreeRepublic is resilient and will recover as it always does. My wish is that FR could somehow go back to its roots of conservatism which it seems to have strayed from along with the rest of the country.
Dear Finny,
Someone sent me a copy of your post from “over there.”
Got news for you.
It’s not about Trump. It’s not about Romney. It’s not about McCain. It’s not about the GOP. It’s not about “ConservaTISM.” It’s not about me and it’s not about money and it’s not about FR.
It’s about the survival of America as a free nation, free people.
I would’ve given up my left leg to prevent Obama from ascending to the presidency in 2008, and my right leg to prevent Obama from gaining a second term to screw up our nation in 2012.
I regret that I had but two legs to give for my country.
Now we’re talking arms.
As long as God allows me to draw breath, I will give my all to help prevent another godless, America-hating Marxist/fascist/communist, ie, Hillary, Bernie, et al follow Obama to the presidency.
Other than that, hate to lose good friends.
God bless.