Posted on 07/26/2015 3:56:05 PM PDT by conservativejoy
Sunday on NBC’s the ‘Today,” “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd claimed Donald Trump was “looking into how he could get on the ballot in 50 states as an independent candidate” and went on to say that if he “runs as a third party [candidate] it likely makes Hillary Clinton president.”
Todd said, “I’m not going to try to predict anything Trump might do. I think there’s a lot of us that thought he wouldn’t get this far. We didn’t think he would turn in the financial disclosure. I’m through making predictions about how long Trump stays wherever. I think he’s reportedly looking into how he could get on the ballot in 50 states as an independent candidate. He has the resources to do it. I could picture him deciding for he feels unwelcome with the Republicans. If he runs as a third party it likely makes Hillary Clinton president or whoever the Democratic nominee is. In his mind he would say I’m the reason she’s elected. And I can picture him wanting to have that honor.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
He is, in his own way, rolling out an agenda one issue at a time. Rather than coming out with a full plate for the press and others to attack him on, he started really with the economy-—but that quickly (and to his admitted surprise) shifted to illegals; then he began on Common Core; now he is on veterans’ issues. I suspect over a longer campaign, he will, one at a time, end up with a fairly specific position on everything.
But he has never answered any of the others when pressed. That is the point.
How, at this point, when we expect other candidates to know where they stand, does he not?
We'll see. Walker has the opposite problem: he has what I'll call "small" issues (not denigrating what he did with the unions) that he has to ramp up to national vision. Tell me, for example, how the WI unions and the dangers they present are national problems writ small.
Take Cruz, for example: the speech I heard had said we had to repeal Obamacare, and "replace it" with legislation that people agree on, such as portability. But he also went into Health Savings Accounts. These may be a laudible goal, but it absolutlely misses the central facts that Americans don't save as is (and this asks them to save more) and that the gains from the HSAs are tax savings (when many Americans don't pay taxes). Now, try connecting that to average Americans when what you need to be saying ONLY is "repeal Obamacare." It's fine to defer what you're going to do later, because the MARKET will, in fact, fix much of it. But you can't say that. So I (and I bet Trump) would deflect.
Trump doesn’t just deflect, though. He rambles and says NOTHING of substance. Listen to his interviews...Tappers was telling.
His plan for healthcare: Repeal Obamacare (nevermind that I supported and still might, single payer)...replace it with “an awesome plan! A great plan! A plan people will love! An affordable plan).
Immigration: Shut down the border...put a fence on only parts of the border. Oppose amnesty, but allow hard working people to stay (how does he determine this). Oh, and Mexicans love me!
Iran: Bad deal. Persians a clever negotiators. Bomb oil fields.
BTW, did I, Trump, tell you lately that I am rich?
That pretty much sums it up. This “deflect” and not give enough information is a bunch of crap! We talk about how Trump talking loudly is setting an agenda...leading the way. WHY, then, would he HIDE the rest if he is leading the way? It doesn’t make sense unless he doesn’t know.
This is why, despite claims by his supporters, Trump is going to bomb at the debates. Besides, he wanted to run in 2012...he should have had plenty of time to formulate ideas.
“Also, I know people will call me a RINO troll, etc, but if Trump TRULY cared about the future of America, he wouldn’t run third party. He knows, as do those of us who aren’t blinded by Trump, that he won’t win a third party bid.”
Well, I won’t call you anything other than in my view, incorrect. I think you’re approaching this from the wrong perspective. I sense some sort of hope that after all is said and done that the gop will do the right thing and nominate a conservative. I don’t see any evidence of that.
My opinion hasn’t really changed one bit: I believe that the uniparty will get exactly which candidates it wants. At this point their preference is clearly jebito and piaps. If jebito crashes and burns, then walker is the fall back position. We have many months for skulduggery and duplicity. The uniparty has been doing this for a long, long time. They’re good at and I make it a habit to not place bets against the house.
“Thus, giving Hillary the win. All of his supporters keep saying that Trump loves America....well, he if this is the case, why destroy the next 4 years of this country by helping to elect Hillary. That having been said, if Jeb is the nominee, all bets are off.”
I suggest you think about what you’re going to do in November 2016 when jebito and piaps are the candidates. Jebito is the chosen one, as is piaps. Due to “sore loser” laws, Trump probably won’t be able to run as a second party candidate anyway unless he chooses to switch over soon. I don’t expect him to do so, although he probably will talk about it and threaten it.
Upshot: hope you like jebito or piaps. If not, you might want to start making those November 2016 vacation plans now and beat the rush.
I’ll vote in the election, but I will make my decision closer to time. I have sworn not to vote for Bush...
However, you keep talking about the uni-party running everything. Who, other than Cruz, is the Conservative in the race? Walker isn’t great, but he is better than the others. BTW, I am not sure Jeb will win.
How is Trump, who isn’t a Conservative, going to inspire the GOP to nominate a Conservative? It didn’t happen after Goldwater...not until Reagan. Again, the best way to change the party is from the inside. Primary these bastards and beat them. Not, like Trump is doing, splitting the primary vote against McCain for example.
Let’s assume for a moment that your question is reversed...what if it is Trump vs. Hillary? We have on Democrat against another. Are you still staying home? Will Conservatives? Trump running third party will elect Hillary...are you denying this?
Besides, Trump can “threaten” the GOP all he wants, but he just now decided NOT to do a debate in NH because the media was mean to him. Why would any serious person take his candidacy seriously?
Remember, if Trump wins the primary or if he runs third party, we will STILL have uni-party rule. Will we not?
What does it benefit him to give anybody something people can criticize when there is so much out there for him to criticize?
It’s like asking someone in a fire fight that he might get a better shot if he stood up from behind a barricade.
What if he said, “I can gut the cost of government by more than half. We are getting rid of departments.”
He’d be done by tomorrow, regardless of whether its a good idea or not.
“1/5 of El Salvador now lives in the US. I’m sending them back.”
Done.
“Iran won’t stop until someone stops them. I intend to do that.”
Done.
It’s enough to point out how what is going on right now cries out against what is logical, what is good for the middle class, and what is good for America strategically.
It’s enough that he plans to hold the rest of the GOP field hostage. Either they change their tune or I’ll go Indy. GOP can’t have that. They know that unless they keep conservatives on the reservation, they aren’t going to win.
So far, this works.
He is not going to hold Conservatives because he isn’t Conservative.
Again, your answers are cop-outs. Trump can’t answer these because he DOESN’T know...or he knows he will get blasted for his past stances.
Americans aren’t stupid. We ask all of our politicians to lay out plans. Give us more than talking points...he is much like Obama in this way.
Cruz will give answers about WHAT he will do if elected. Walker too (sometimes, unless he flip flops). My point is that Donald had better start putting together coherent messages.
If you get him in a debate, you will see how weak he really is...details matter. Otherwise, why vet any candidate?
Americans aren’t stupid......Shit, you ARE new, aren’t you?
Not new...but Romney would have won the last election if 4 million of us didn’t stay home.
We want Conservatives in office...not pretenders which is EXACTLY what many on here support.
I don’t think there is a conservative running. Ted Cruz had promise, until TPA. Walker is a uniparty shill with an anti union message, and jebito is beneath contempt.
As for voting, the question as I see it is whether its worth my time to register my one one hundred millionth of a voice of which candidate I prefer to have as emperor for 4 years. As the saying goes, welcome to the new boss, same as the old boss. The uniparty seems to be able to do that just fine without my involvement.
I enjoy the political strategy and the game but ultimately, I think the decision is already effectively made. That will become more evident by next spring. Its kind of like pro wrestling in that regard.
As always, I reserve the right to change my mind and vote. I doubt I will in this case. But its always possible.
I would be VERY hesitant to say that Trump "can't" do something or will be "bad" at something.
Come on, RKBA, Cruz is 98-100% Conservative. Who else is better?
He pulled out of the first Debate in NH...
So no, he won’t be there.
Don’t oversell Trump. You think that his detractors are wrong...we have a long way to go yet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.