Posted on 07/22/2015 5:09:35 PM PDT by mandaladon
It appears to be sinking in with top Republicans that the upcoming GOP debate, featuring star performer Donald Trump, could prove to be a full-blown disaster. Politico has this amusing report:
Trump’s presence at center stage — his reward if he maintains his lead in the polls — is likely to transform the first Republican debate into a major media event, bringing big ratings to Fox News, the debate sponsor. By the same token, however, it will likely turn the traditionally policy-focused event into a pageant of personality, which is a potential nightmare for other candidates.
“I think you have to assume he’ll be loud and aggressive and do everything he can to stay on offense,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who gave the most commanding debate performances of the 2012 primary cycle, told POLITICO. “Trump is very smart, he has lots of TV experience and is absolutely uninhibited.”
Considered almost unthinkable just five weeks ago, Trump’s appearance at center stage is now the most inconvenient of truths for the would-be Republican front-runners. From Milwaukee to Miami, campaign aides are already wrestling with the Trump factor — strategizing on how to engage with him (if at all) and how to stave off his attacks.
The Hill adds this amusing tidbit:
Republican insiders are reconciling themselves to the idea that Donald Trump won’t be exiting the stage anytime soon — and their main concern now is limiting his damage to their party…it looks virtually certain that he will be included in the first major televised debate, hosted by Fox News on Aug. 6.
For all the handwringing among Republicans, I think it’s very possible that Trump-palooza might not actually end up mattering that much, if at all, over the long term
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
They’re so scared. :)
There it is. The candidates are trying to strategize how to engage Trump. Can I suggest? Scratch their nuts and act like men. Say what they believe Nothing more, nothing less. Well, not Graham about the nuts thing. Ya’ll understand.
Anybody who runs for President, or hopes to win the election, must have a decent group of advisers to help him with debating, presentation, and overall maintenance of image.
Simply being an incendiary won't result in winning the race.
In order to do that Trump will need to be much less careless in what he says. He doesn't have to change what he believes, but he must learn to present the issues in a thoughtful way, so as to not alienate potential supporters with needless barbs.
At some point, Trump will have to face the fact that he will need to unify a majority of Americans, if he is to have any chance of winning.
If he doesn't stay in for the duration or win the nomination, he can still be a kingmaker by getting his followers to throw their support behind the ultimate winner of the nomination.
I think that this is one of the reasons that some of the wiser candidates, such as Ted Cruz, are not getting hysterical about Trump's politically incorrect statements.
In my humble opinion, there will be plenty of political incorrectness to come from some of the other GOP candidates, such as Ted Cruz, and that will be a good thing.
There's no doubt that Trump will espouse many positions which will rankle strident or mainstream conservatives, but with somebody as maverick as he is, I'm willing to overlook a lot of that, because, on balance, the positives would far outweigh the negatives.
Trump's libertarian leanings, as well as some views which could be considered "liberal", will doubtless prove unpalatable to many "litmus-test" ideologues, but, on the other hand, I think that there's the potential for a rather broad coalition of independents, Republicans, and Democrats, wherein Trump may enjoy significantly deeper support than the establishment anticipates.
It certainly appears that Trump is a force to be reckoned with, and, on balance, that's a good thing, IMHO.
LOL!
I think a lot of Freepers will need diapers too.
We have all had a chance to observe Trump over the last month.
His weakness seems to be delivering long speeches. He does not use
notes or a TelePrompTer. So, his long speeches tend to be a bit unorganized.
However, the debate(s) will show his strength.
As his short and to the point responses will be an asset.
Other than Cruz, you can bet the other clowns will soon be visiting their
nearest grocery store to pick up a bundle of depends(adult diapers).
The worst part is, they would have been doing exactly that.
I was thinking of that. Thanks for posting.
The only one who’ll try to hijack the debate is that crazy ass Perry, who’s about to blow a gasket on Trump because he’s at 2% in the polls and Trump is leading or near the top. Hopefully Perry won’t be on stage. What a slimy moron.
Old Greg is the official Obama Soros prop st the Wash Compost. in the sea of Compost Wackos .
Greggy is way beyond hard left.
I think he qualifies as Psycho Left.
Hugh is a fraud. He is pure GOPe. He is mesmerized by the D.C. elites.
I’m enjoying the hell out of Trump but in a real debate, Cruz will destroy everyone in the room.
I LOVE it!!
I think Trump will likely flame out at some point, but before he does so I hope he flushes out all the establishment/Chamber of Corruption candidates on their immigration positions.
presuming cruz is actually there
who’s the moderator or don’t we know yet?
True.
But this will not be a “normal debate”.
However, don’t be surprised if you see Trump and Cruz “team up”.
What a bunch of H.S.
I love the smell of fear in the MSM.
Trump will bring in many more views, which is a good thing.
Hopefully, they will see Cruz shine.
My fear is that the moderators will try and sabotage Cruz. They will do so with either inane questions or just outright ignoring him or cutting off his answers.
Yep.
“I hope he flushes out all the establishment/Chamber of Corruption candidates on their immigration positions.”
Since November, 100% in the bag for Obama.
And liberal apologists like Sargent need to see a shrink.
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