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.
how would you describe Bernie?
“Conservative Purists Could Cost the GOP the White House”
Why is it always the “Conservative Purist” that could cost the Republicans the White House? I believe it’s the rino progressives, the do nothings who compromise and don’t do anything to stop the democrats.
I was going to quote that passage but you beat me to it. My response - KMA, Bernie.
Exactly! I turn him off IF I even have BOR on.
Had to look that one up. Thought it was a typo and should have been a "D", not an "L"
>> the correct approach here is to read the headline only and then produce a violent outburst based on preconceived notions <<
Indeed. Seems to be more prevalent every day.
I guess name-calling is always more fun than step-by-step analysis and refutation of an opponent’s position
One issue no one seems to have mentioned — suppose President Trump really does take office on January 20, 2017. Who in congress would he work with to accomplish anything? The Democrats disdain him, but worse, the Republican contingent detests him. How would he get any legislation passed?
Bernard Goldberg is not GOPe nor is he a RINO.
Aaahhhh...don't ya know that the reason they lost was because the conservatives didn't vote for them? Never mind the fact that the liberals, and a majority of those confused, cowardly individuals who call themselves "independents" didn't vote for him either. It's all the conservative's fault. Simple fact is that if tacking to the middle to woo the "independents" was a winning strategy, the GOP-e would have been sitting back for the last 8 years rubbing it in conservatives faces and making fun of them mercilessly.
Are you referring to GOP losing? I crossed that point finally. what difference would it make? Hillary or Jeb? I won’t bother to vote.
Quote:
“One issue no one seems to have mentioned suppose President Trump really does take office on January 20, 2017. Who in congress would he work with to accomplish anything? The Democrats disdain him, but worse, the Republican contingent detests him. How would he get any legislation passed?”
Three ways of looking at that:
#1 Congressional leadership works with the President or risks the wrath of the voters in their home district.
#2 The President works with the conservative members of Congress to oust the current leadership.
#3 By precedent and by Congressional abdication, Barack Obama has, by “executive order,” and SCOTUS by decree, have demonstrated that “The People’s Representatives” i.e. the Congress, is irrelevant.
The “Law” is whatever a Supreme Court Justice or the President says it is.
If it's between those two, I will not vote. I don't see any difference, and I would much rather be mad at a democrat for being a leftist, because we expect that, than someone I voted for betraying my principles. Screw the Republican party if they run crap like Jeb. And no, I don't freakin care.
They will.
And the conservative purists, who swear they will never vote for a moderate, will have to abandon their ideological purity
We won't.
Anybody thought of the possibility that we may have FOUR candidates for President: GOPe candidate that they select; Donald Trump; RAT selected candidate and Bernie Sanders?
That presumes that SWMNBN is in jail.
I have seen and met lots of people who accuse others of being purists.
Conclusion: "conservative purists" are as real as unicorns and the Easter Bunny, and of use to those who need to believe in them in the same way unicorns and the Easter Bunny serve needy human fantasy.
First, Trump has shown an ability to move the approve/disapprove numbers in his favor. If memory serves the highest "will not support" number belongs to the Man With No Name, Jeb. And the more Trump speaks, the more support he gets.
Goldberg says Hillary has 90% loyalty among RATs, Trump 75% among Repubs? Conservatives? Tough to say. Will that number increase? I believe so. Will Hillary's support go down? Undoubtedly.
Moreover, what I believe is a much better question... How many Repubs would ever vote for Hillary? And how many RAT votes would a Trump receive? To ask the question is to answer the question.
And the last question: would Hillary or a different RAT nominee get more support from so-called independents? Trump or another Repub nominee?
I'm not buying what he's selling.
I believe Trump's ability to employ the bully pulpit will amaze even his supporters. Besides what better guy to have on your side negotiating a deal?
I don’t care if the White House goes to a “republican” big governmetn liberal. What matters is that it go to a small-government conservative of whatever party. This is not a football game where someone I despise can put on the right jersey and earn my cheers.
At one time to be you might get 60-75% agreement with the GOP for something conservative, now you can barely get 25% if that and we conservatives are the purist?
We just want an opposition party and at last some compensation in the form of results for a conservative agenda for our support and effort. This give us money, work and support and vote for the liberal Republican candidate regardless, then shut the hell up and go to the back of the bus ain’t going to fly anymore. No democrat constituency group save the blacks would put up with this treatment and conservatives have finally said enough.
Purist Bernie? Take a look in the mirror and be honest with yourself for once in your life sir.
RINO purists have been costing us elections for a long time. How about running a Conservative winner for a change ?
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