Let’s Do Better Than This - Trump’s touting of socialized medicine and confused position on taxes...

The American Spectator ^ | September 30, 2015 | Scott McKay

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[SNIP]

Republicans ought to be demanding an end to progressive taxation in this country—a flat tax at minimum, with a potential move down the line to a consumption tax eventually if that can be done. We shouldn’t be settling for a simple whittling of tax brackets from seven to four. And we absolutely shouldn’t be exempting anyone from federal income tax while we have such a tax at all. We have far too many people in this country who don’t vote like taxpayers; how do you think a no-talent hack like Obama managed to become president?

The hope had been that Trump would broaden himself during this campaign..... What made Trump interesting was the possibility that, as a businessman, he would apply clear-eyed fiscal analysis and technological innovation to the leviathan and show the way for a 21st century model of government...

...that simply hasn’t come to fruition, and at this point it doesn’t look like it will.

And reversing himself 180 degrees on taxes during the Pelley interview, after once again extolling socialized medicine, just shows that he’s not the guy.

The Democrats are flat on their backs in this cycle. When their first debate finally rolls around on October 13 it will become clear that none of their candidates could even survive at the GOP’s kids’ table. We have the opportunity to present the American people with a candidate who is unapologetically, nakedly, and provably conservative—and aggressive about it—and win in a rout reminiscent of at least 1968 or possibly even 1980..

We need to move on and vet the rest of these people. Trump is taking up too much oxygen.

[Lisbon1940]

Trump should run as the unity candidate as both Republican and Democrat. The election would then be all about the VP candidates—Cruz vs. Sanders.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I don’t hate Trump, but it makes you and others happy to say so because then you don’t have to look at what he’s done and is saying.

Trump isn’t what conservatives have been fighting for. It’s a stab in the back of conservatism to support this liberal huckster (we have one in the White House now).

[P-Marlowe]

Everybody was pretty much taken care of before Obamacare. The poor got taken care of and people who could afford health insurance had the opportunity to purchase a plan they could afford. Those who chose to not purchase health insurance risked losing assets if they ended up with a catastrophic illness. Then after they lost their assets they were poor and the Goverment picked up the tab anyway.

What we had was fine. What Trump proposes is better than what we had.

[P-Marlowe]

Carson’s a nice guy but,,,,,

We don't need a nice guy.

[CottonBall]

“-is that now many of the same posters who would TOTALLY REJECT that line of reasoning with any other candidate or elected official in office....”

Who thinks another candidate can get things done? I don’t see any of them as capable, either because they are a politician-type used to just giving speeches or are too willing to buckle to the establishment. Trump is neither, live him or hate him.

I ironically heard Rubio yesterday talking about those that talk and those that do. He was trying to bash Trump, but I took it as praise for Trump’s past achievements and putting down his own.

[DH]

“What are we to do?”

That was a facetious statement I wrote in jest. You misunderstood it.

BTW, my first choice is currently not the “hot flavor of the day.” It’s the Texas flavor of the day.

[Lakeshark]

Steven Spielberg couldn't help Hillary, and even if the two of us together were the best political advisers since Lee Atwater and had Steven on our staff, we couldn't pull ole Jeb the Mealy Mouthed over the finish line.

That being said, Trump's tax plan isn't bad at all, and we don't know what his health care plan is yet.

I still see a positive side to Trump as a candidate, and still give him 50/50 to succeed in spite of some of his troubling past and present meanderings. He has a lot of strengths, and more positives than CW and some here give him credit for.

[CottonBall]

“Promises to cut waste, fraud and abuse are utterly illusory and simply will not happen. Promises to eliminate whole departments like education and environment sound wonderful but no president has succeeded ever and eliminating departments which have gotten their tentacles into all sections of the economy.”

Why not? Trump has managed to turn this race on it’s ear, dominate the news, confront the MSM AND GOPe. Nobody has even tried that to the extent he has, much less be successful. I’m sure his aggressive approach helped give the House conservatives the courage to remove Boohoo. Why can’t he apply the same abilities when dealing with congress? I’m sure he will try, to the best of his ability.

[P-Marlowe]

And his tax plan, making sure that half of the population pays nothing? That's another huge red flag.

You do realize that when the 16th Amendment was passed it was only going to affect the rich. Lower and Middle Class workers were never intended to pay income taxes. The 16th Amendment would never have passed a single state if they had suggested that it would apply to everyone.

[CottonBall]

I don’t think it was Carson’s lackluster debate performance that increased his poll numbers - it was his stating the truth about Muslims. Voters are sick of platitudes and lies, and seem to be finally rewarding courage and honesty.

[C. Edmund Wright]

sorry I missed that.....so many things that should have been facetious have been dead serious around here......that I was de-sensitized....

you and I share the fave flavor.

[C. Edmund Wright]

You do realize that when the 16th Amendment was passed it was only going to affect the rich. Lower and Middle Class workers were never intended to pay income taxes.

I do, but how that tax has gone from 1% to 40% demonstrates how wrong headed that was as well. That point really makes my case more than it does yours.

[C. Edmund Wright]

another case of totally missing the point......totally. Do you care to address my point? If so, I’d love to chat. If not, no interest.

[dp0622]

but he had already gained 10 points BEFORE that statement. that’s what boggles me.

[USS Alaska]

That's far far far from Reagan-esque on health care. It does sound a lot like Obama Care, Medicare, and all of this "I" stuff is un nerving.

Let me repeat, I'm on Cruz control.

Trump is OK with me, and if he becomes the candidate I'll happily vote for him.

Given my druthers, I want, and donate only to, Ted Cruz.

Unlike Wifey, I am not a lunatic over my guy, and realize that my first choice is very conservative and might not make it, so if it's the donald, I won't rant and rave about some of his positions that are shakey.

Is there a perfect candidate other than me?

[nathanbedford]

I am not at all sure that he will try, much less try to the best of his abilities because he is not acting as the Crusader you describe but as a typical politician out to get elected. He is offering everybody desert and not telling anybody to eat their spinach.

Now is the time for you to come up and say, first he has to get elected and then the true Donald Trump can come out. Now is the time for you to say the Donald is only doing what needs to be done, he is pandering only because he must pander to get the office.

Well, if that's the case then he is just another politician on the make. He may be the best one on the make but he is not a demigod. He is not a savior. He is another politician.

My believe is quite to the contrary, that is Donald Trump's biography is one of narcissism and opportunism mixed with a healthy (or rather unhealthy) dose of leftism. If one excuses his pandering now because he is something special one might be very disappointed to find that he will always be, just like Obama, what is biography tells us he is and always was.

[Buckeye McFrog]

1) His tax plan is along the lines of something Reagan would have done. Plus it has some populist aspects that could actually draw support from outside the Conservative base.

2) IMHO we are going to end up with socialized medicine anyway, as Obamacare has been allowed to progress too far down the tracks, and the collapse is imminent. And in the throes of that crisis nothing else is going to be sellable to the public. Sad but inevitable in my view.

3) Face facts, a Conservative is not going to get elected this time. The brand has been too badly damaged by bad policy, leftist media propagandizing and constant kowtowing to the Chamber of Commerce, all done under the alleged banner of “conservatism”. A populist is going to win this election. The only question remaining is do you want a right-leaning populist or a left-leaning populist?

[C. Edmund Wright]

I agree with that, except for the assertion, fatuous as it is, about ranting and raving. I like to needle the bots - but that’s different.

[okie01]

Well, if that's the case then he is just another politician on the make. He may be the best one on the make but he is not a demigod. He is not a savior. He is another politician.

He is a demagogue...???

[Lumper20]

You obviously need to read what Trump stated about his different healthcare plans and who they are for.