Posted on 09/01/2015 6:17:26 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In the late 1970s, TV Guide ran a poll to find out which sportscaster fans liked the most and which one they disliked the most. Howard Cosell finished first in both categories. Which brings us to Donald Trump, another loud, over-the-top, brash personality.
According to the latest Quinnipiac University national poll, when Republicans were asked who they would vote for if the primary for president were held today, Trump finished first. When asked who they definitely would not support for the nomination, the very same Donald Trump finished first again.
Being a polarizing figure didnt hurt Howard Cosell. Even people who said they didnt like him tuned in to watch the game and, truth be told, to watch him, too. But politics is different. In that arena, you can get away with being polarizing after you win the election Barack Obama is proof of that. But polarizing pols have a tough time winning in the first place; the math doesnt add up.
So, if these were normal times, the numbers would be bad news for The Donald. But these are not normal times. Pundits who are still confidently saying he cant win the nomination are the same ones who said hed never get this far. Or to put it another way: The smarties arent as smart as they think they are.
When voters were asked what the first word was that came to mind when they thought of Donald Trump, respondents said arrogant, followed by blowhard and idiot.
And when voters were asked what the first word was that came to mind when they thought of Hillary Clinton, they said liar, followed by dishonest and untrustworthy.
Note well: These two are the front-runners! Rodney Dangerfield got more respect.
So which party is in more trouble? You can make a case that its the Republicans.
While 26 percent of Republicans say they would never vote for Trump, only 11 percent of Democrats say they would never vote for Clinton. Democrats dont have the same kind of ideologically pure wing that has hurt GOP presidential candidates in the past. Democrats, it seems, are more practical. They may prefer Bernie Sanders, or one of the others, but when push comes to shove, almost all of them will vote for Clinton. Why? They want to win.
I recently received an e-mail from someone named Carl who described himself as a conservative Christian, and he wrote, I have voted Republican since Eisenhower beat Stevenson, and if Jeb, Christie, Kasich, or Graham are nominated, I WILL STAY HOME!
Carl is not alone. I received similar e-mails during the last two presidential campaigns and millions of the ideologically pure who normally would vote Republican did in fact sit home, if not handing the elections to Barack Obama, at least making it a lot easier for him to win.
These purists have told me that theres little or no difference between a moderate Republican and a liberal Democrat. Theyre delusional, of course, blinded by their hard-right ideology, but thats what they believe nonetheless. And depending on who the GOP nominee is, they could represent big trouble for the party.
Finally, consider this: In the last six presidential elections, 18 states have voted for the Democratic candidate every time, totaling 242 electoral votes just 28 short of victory. That means Democrats are about 90 percent of the way to winning the White House even before the actual voting begins.
Of course, anything can happen. Technically, history tells us only about the past. But its often a good indicator of what lies ahead.
So if Republicans hope to win in 2016, they will have to unite and support the GOP candidate whoever he or she is. Republicans, who today are vowing to never support Donald Trump, will have to reconsider, should he win the nomination. And the conservative purists, who swear they will never vote for a moderate, will have to abandon their ideological purity or abandon all hope of a GOP victory.
This wont be easy. But its the only thing certain in this summer of uncertainty.
Bernard Goldberg is a news and media analyst for Fox News and the author of Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News. His website is BernardGoldberg.com.
"Meh. They may not be all THAT delusional."
There is a common theme here: “Trump is awful, so let’s let the same people keep running things”
Screw that
:: I recently received an e-mail from someone named Carl who described himself as a conservative Christian ::
That would be “Carl Spackler”, right?
If it is a choice between Jeb, Christie or Kaisich, I’me all for “costing the GOP the White House.”
Only if the goal is "GOP victory". My goal is a conservative victory.
This guy’s logic is why America is as it is today. Unprincipled, in the toilet and filled with liberals in power.
Those GOP victories in 2010 & 2014 have sure worked out well.../sarcasm
I think the grass roots are telling the establishment that the PARTY is going to cost the GOP.
Anyone remember how the GOP was carrying the water for the NATIONAL Chamber of Commerce regarding immigration? Any pundits ever think that might have been a tipping point?
Pure “Whorse” crap. They want a civil, malleable, left leaning, leader like Jeb to usher in a Hillary. Boehner/McConnell proves that leadership is just too hard for the GOPe. RINO sophistry would have you believe that mushy Mittens was too dividing. Truth, he lost because he listened to his advisers and didn’t fight.
If there is no difference in the candidates/parties, what would be the point of elections?
RINOs EARNED TRUMP!
I prefer Cruz, but someone has to kick their A$$!
Cool by me.
I’d rather put the GOP out of its misery once and for all and start over. After four years of what is sure to be a very Liberal Democrat administration the Chamber of Commerce types will be ready to cry uncle and come crawling, begging our forgiveness.
Let me fix that...
GOPe Backstabbing Their Own Base Could Cost The White House in 2016
National Review hasn’t been discernably conservative in a long time.
I cancelled my subscription years ago.
“Democrats ... more practical.”
Like electing the most liberal Senator.
It would be so delicious to have him write an article about having to unite behind a Conservative.
Pray America is waking
get ready for 8 more years of Obama
“Purists”.
Like “whack-o birds”, “hobbits”, and “crazies”
Hey, that worked out so well, lets do it again.
‘Id rather put the GOP out of its misery once and for all and start over. After four years of what is sure to be a very Liberal Democrat administration the Chamber of Commerce types will be ready to cry uncle and come crawling, begging our forgiveness’
They have already had 8 years of Socialist control of the country. Do you think another 4 years will change them? Leftists have infiltrated every governing body in the country. I was appalled when I realized that the Methodist Church, nay the National Council of Churches, is completely controlled by far Leftists. The time to argue/fight is in the Primary......if we don’t unite behind one candidate, our country is officially over. I fear even if we do unite behind one candidate in 2016, the country is already beyond resurrecting..
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