Trump threatens to sit out next GOP debate

The Hill ^ | December 16, 2015 | Lisa Hagen

[Cincinatus' Wife]

But the billionaire businessman said the majority of the GOP hopefuls were "nice to him," saying he was prepared for all 14 Republican candidates to lob attacks at him. "Ted Cruz was very nice to me, and I was nice to him. Most of the people were nice to me last night."

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Wednesday continued to bash CNN's debate coverage and GOP rival former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush a day after the network's Tuesday night debate.

The real estate mogul appeared at his first campaign rally in Mesa, Ariz., since the last GOP debate of 2015, again suggesting he may not attend the next debate.

"I'll bet you they get big ratings," Trump said at Wednesday's rally about CNN. "I think next time I won't do it," adding "just to see it tank."

Earlier this month, Trump had proposed only appearing at the debate if CNN paid him $5 million, which, he said, he would donate to wounded veterans. After CNN's president said the network would not pay, Trump reluctantly agreed to participate.

At the rally, Trump contended that "last cycle, no network even wanted the debates" and that the debates used to be considered a "wasteland."

CNN reported 18 million viewers watched Tuesday's debate, the network's third-most viewed debate this cycle. But Trump said he doesn't benefit from the high ratings. "You know what get out of it?" Trump said Wednesday. "Nothing."

Trump panned Tuesday's CNN debate moderators, accusing the network of asking questions that centered around the real estate mogul "just to get ratings."

"I think it is very sad that CNN leads Jeb Bush, Governor Bush, down a road by starting off virtually all the questions by 'Mr. Trump this, Mr. Trump that,'" Trump said during Tuesday's debate.

Trump pivoted to his heated exchange with Bush during Tuesday's debate, calling the former governor's attacks "low-energy."

"He said it just the way his pollster told him to say it, hit back very, very hard, we need strong people, we need sharp people."

Trump sparred repeatedly with Bush during Tuesday's debate, mocking Bush's low poll numbers and jabbing him for not being tough enough.

"We need toughness, I think Jeb is a really nice person, but we need tough people, we need intelligence and we need toughness," Trump said at the debate.

But Bush fired back at Trump, denouncing his controversial proposal and calling the real estate mogul a "chaos candidate."

"Donald is great at the one-liners, but he is a chaos candidate, and he'd be a chaos president," Bush said during the debate. "He would not be the commander in chief we need to keep our country safe."

Trump on Wednesday also took aim at Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who, at the last minute qualified for the primetime debate and singled out the real estate mogul several times Tuesday night.

"He doesn't have a chance. What is Rand Paul doing?" Trump said, continuing that he doesn't have the same "spark" that his father, Ron Paul, had while running for president.

"I love Kentucky, but I don't get it," Trump said, then switching to criticize Paul's Senate reelection. "How does this guy win Kentucky? Is this guy going to be primaried?"

But the billionaire businessman said the majority of the GOP hopefuls were "nice to him," saying he was prepared for all 14 Republican candidates to lob attacks at him. "Ted Cruz was very nice to me, and I was nice to him. Most of the people were nice to me last night."

Trump maintains his lead among the GOP field in national polls with 33 percent, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average. But he's in a tighter race in Iowa with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), falling into a close second.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I posted this as “extended” - if others flagged it otherwise, I have no control over that.

[CottonBall]

Sounds like a joke to me, “”I think next time I won’t do it,” adding “just to see it tank.””

Anyone getting their panties in a twist over this are just looking for something to get mad about.

[woofie]

Does “Drama Queen” come to mind?

[CottonBall]

PLUS Trump ‘s businesses had 4 bankruptcies in his entire investment career. That’s around a 95% success rate, given the number of deals done.

Pretty amazing for high risk ventures.

Someone with that kind of intuition should be president. Imagine how he can turn the country around. After all, he’s getting the media to fund his advertising!

[perfect_rovian_storm]

After checking out his posting history, it seems pretty appropriate to me.

[Theodore R.]

Update on Bill Mumy (Will Robinson):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mumy

[Theodore R.]

It was only Jane Wyman’s children who spoke highly of Reagan.

[oldvirginian]

Too.....intense.
That’s the word, intense.

[woofie]

I realize talking about women's looks is verboten. however I saw Trump's latest wife the other day for the first time and it blew me away. She is knock down gorgeous ....don't get me wrong.... but I swear she was created in a film studio special effects lab. I kept thinking she was going to break into a thousand pixels. Such artificial beauty is not of this world.... it belongs on film,on tv or in magazines. I cannot imagine her as first lady. Heck I cannot imagine her functioning as a real live human being.

Call me judgmental but I look at her and I think I know what she gets out of being married to Trump and I also think I know what Donald gets from being married to her

[MeshugeMikey]

SIt out?

isnt this rather peculiar notion that everything is about HIM gone just about far enough?

[1Old Pro]

Bottom Line, it’s time to get these debates down to the top 4-5 candidates. Any more and it’s not worth even having them.

[Kickass Conservative]

From what I’ve heard and read, Trump’s Bankruptcies were Chapter 11 Reorganization, not Chapter 13 Liquidation.

In other words, it kept the Business going and the Employees continued to get paid. It wasn’t the Michael Douglas character in Wall Street selling off the Assets for personal gain.

I’m sure it’s much more complicated than that, but the Chapter 11 Bankruptcies forced Banks and other Creditors to Renegotiate the Business Debts.

Nothing Unlawful about that, it’s the System that was in place long before Trump came on the scene. His Competitors take advantage of the same Laws if they can, and they do.

Trump is not alone in using the Bankruptcy Laws to his Company’s advantage. There are always winners and losers, and he abided by the Law, which is the only issue.

Don’t like the current Bankruptcy Laws, get Obama’s new BFF Speaker Ryan to change them. I’m sure he would get right to it at Obama’s bequest.

Just my $.02, your Mileage may vary.

[dp0622]

he was married to Jane Wyman? Wow

[dp0622]

I think Rubio is in double and I don’t even want him up there lol. He’s a prostitute. that leaves us with only two men worthy of being up there. But huck, like I said, was a stand up guy in the last debate. He wouldn’t take the bait to go after trump. I don’t want him to win the primary and he won’t but at least he got some zingers in about gay marriage.

[dp0622]

that reminds me so for some reason of when I used to sell vacuum cleaners lol. Electrolux. The manager said don’t agree with somebody about how bad the product is if it’s defective and then try to sell them a new one. Made sense. I can’t imagine Trump ripped people off and did so well long term

[Hugin]

I like Huckabee too, but it’s not about who I like. It’s about who has shown the ability to attract voter support and have a reasonable shot at winning. From that perspective it really should be Trump, Carson, Cruz and Rubio. Of course I’ve been saying from the get go that the format is all wrong. They should ask broad, open questions like “What would you do about (immigration, ISIS, trade, etc.)?” and give each candidate a chance to answer the same question in random order. But the current set up of having nine people, most of whom have no chance, then asking them to criticize Trump or occasionally one of the others is awful. If Trump decided not to play along I wouldn’t blame him.

[USS Alaska]

What is your considered opinion of Trump's Vietnam military draft history?

Don't know or care. I served in the Army my brother in the Navy, another bro-in-law was a Marine sniper another was in the Army.

We did our duty and whatever Trump did or didn't do is of no concern to me.

I'm a Cruzer, with the Donald as my backup. If he wins the primary, I'll support him but so far I've donated my money to Ted Cruz, and as long as he is viable I'll continue to do so.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Families like yours who have served, are special.

Thank you for your service.

[TontoKowalski]

Sounds like a joke to me, "I think next time I won't do it," adding "just to see it tank."

Agreed. All this was said in jest. Still... I bet Rand Paul's butt got extra puckered when he suggested that he should be primaried. LOL!

[exit82]

Trump’s bankruptcies mean other people paid for his folly.

Actually,no.

The four Trump business bankruptcies were all Chapter 11 restructurings,not Chapter 7 liquidations.

Debt was repaid.