Posted on 08/15/2015 9:30:25 AM PDT by Kaslin
Unless you've been living under a rock for the last couple of months, you are undoubtedly aware of how Donald Trump has upset the apple cart when it comes to Republican politics. Famously known for his "Art of the Deal" and the Apprentice's "your fired!" tagline, Trump is a master of self-promotion. He takes seriously American author Damon Runyon's statement, "He who tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted." Indeed, when it comes to trumpeting his achievements, none of the candidates has the capacity to out-trumpet Mr. Trump.
And unlike some of his real estate and entertainment ventures, Trump's tactics in the political arena are proving wildly successful. Since he has entered the Republican presidential race, Trump is topping the field, garnering over 30% of the voters support according to the most recent polls. This, even after his boorish performance during Fox News' presidential debate last Thursday night. What's unclear is what these numbers actually mean. Do 30 % of Republican voters really think that Donald Trump would make a good president, or are they just sick and tired of politics as usual? Will his apparent lack of substance hurt him in the formidable Iowa caucuses or will his "shoot from the hip, tell it like it is, political correctness be damned" attitude be enough to sway voters to his cause? At this point all America can do it watch and wait to see if Trump can sustain his lead over the long haul.
In the meantime, the GOP has a big dilemma. Will it continue to cede center stage to an egomaniacal blowhard who deflects serious questions with hollow rhetoric and attacks his critics with insults and hyperbole, or will it have the temerity to end this embarrassing sideshow at the risk of alienating Trump's sizable support base? While this may seem an easy choice, politics is rarely a simple affair. Donald Trump has proven to be a man who will mete out revenge upon his enemies without hesitation. He has publicly refused to rule out a third-party run in the event he is not the Republican nominee, meaning that his is willing to cede the election to presumptive Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton rather than put his support behind any of the other Republican candidates. In other words, The Donald has leverage, and he knows it. Does Reince Priebus have the gumption to call Trump's bluff at the risk of putting another Clinton in the White House?
Of course, regardless of what the Party decides to do, it is always possible that the other candidates will tire of Trump's theatrics and refuse to take the stage with him, but this tactic could easily backfire. The media loves high drama and Trump delivers it in spades. Any candidate that refuses to mix it up with The Donald runs the risk of finding themselves out in the proverbial cold, a place where no politician wants to be.
So for the time being, the status quo is likely to remain the same. And while the timid souls at the RNC dither, Mr. Trump will continue to swing his wrecking ball. Just how long can the GOP ride this tiger, though, before the damage is beyond repair? Politics most assuredly ain't beanbag, as the powers that be at the RNC are being reminded every day. If the GOP doesn't disavow his candidacy soon, they will be saddled with the notion that the inflammatory rhetoric of the leading GOP candidate is representative of the party itself. It's hard to imagine anyone more saddled with controversy and negative publicity than Hillary Clinton, but Donald Trump just might test that notion.
The Iowa caucuses are six months away. The GOP and the American people have six months to cull through 17 candidates for the Republican ticket, and the longer Trump muddies the water, the faster these six months will fly. Cutting the head off of the political snake that is Donald Trump might be a risk, but it might be one worth taking if the GOP intends to wage a serious political battle for the White House. The sooner the political wheat is separated from the chaff, the better off everyone will be.
@Carl_C_Icahn
After last night’s debate I decided to accept
@realDonaldTrump offer for Secretary of Treasury.
3:09 PM - 7 Aug 2015
I would add keep pounding away at SIMPLIFYING the tax code.
BTW is Trump bs’ng when he disses Common Core and the EPA?
Trump is a big government insider -”his career has been built on big government projects.
How can he offer him the job when it is still 5 month to the Iowa caucus and over 7 month to the TN primary? It does not make any sense and I think it’s a lot of speculation by some in here
“...publishity...”
Shouldn’t that word have two t’s in it?
lol my play on words
Trump at this point WILL NEVER run third party he wants to beat these bastards as bad as we want them beat!!!! To Trump winning in a third party would not be the same as beating them in their own party!!!!!! This would be Trumps way of thinking!!!!
If Elected, Trump would put the most qualified People in Positions of power, just as Cruz would. No payback to Lobbyist’s and Donors.
Obama rewarded his Sycophants with Positions they were unqualified to hold and we are suffering the consequences.
If they had a Tan, they even got Bonus Points.
The 543rd Donald Trump hit piece this month. Because if the previous 542 hit pieces didn’t convince you, this one surely will!
Shout out to Donald....(figure you gotta be browsing FR) Hi Donald you are doing great...keep going strong and make America great again! Oh and great move meeting with Sessions the other day. End lobbyist Washington!
President Donald Trump 2016
IMHO, Trump will NOT go 3rd Party, unless: We arrive at the R Convention, with Trump ahead in the polls, and having won most of the primaries, but the suits in the GOPee go into a smoke-filled room and anoint Jeb the Republican Nominee anyhow; or some other underhanded trick.
At THAT point Trump would have every justification for honoring all the people who voted for him by going 3rd Party. And I guarantee you, if Trump goes 3rd Party, I DO, TOO!
REMEMBER: There are squirrels like George Will, et al, who are right now telling the GOPee to shut Trump out of the debates and not even let him run as an official Republican. Does ANYONE think he’ll hold still for THAT?! Or that he SHOULD hold still for it?!
I agree with everything you said in number 53. Right now,m I’m leaning to Walker, when we have the primary here in Illinois. Usually the nominee has it in the bag by the time we have our primary.
If Trump is dealt a raw deal, as you described, I could go third party with him.
Trump is no danger to the republican party, unless he’s screwed over by party big wigs. The GOP elite is the real danger, giving us candidates like Dole, McCain and the absaolute worse, Romney.
Trump consulting with Sessions on immigration...reported yesterday for those that missed it:
Game Change: Trump Consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on Immigration Strategy
Breitbart ^ | 08/14/2015 | Julia Hahn
Posted on 8/14/2015, 8:19:19 PM by E. Pluribus Unum
In what may be the most important development in the 2016 Presidential race to date, Donald Trump has announced, and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) office has confirmed, that the GOP front-runner is consulting with the Alabama Senator in crafting his immigration plan for the future of America.
The real estate mogul’s announcement will send shock waves through Washington D.C. and all across primary states. Game Change: Trump Consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on Immigration Strategy
Link here:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3324908/posts
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