Posted on 11/03/2015 11:48:22 AM PST by conservativejoy
The main point from Donald Trumps interview on ABCs Good Morning America: he has started taking Ben Carson more seriously as a threat in the Republican primary race. For one, Trump showed up in person, a choice that he has only recently made rather than phoning in for interviews on television shows as he did for most of his time as a front runner. Trump also took aim at Marco Rubio in this interview with George Stephanopoulos, who has begun to assert himself and move away from the pack, but took a swipe at Jeb Bush, too.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump ripped into his Republican rivals today, saying Ben Carson doesnt have the experience or the temperament to be president.
'Its not his thing. He doesnt have the temperament for it,' the New York real estate mogul told ABC News George Stephanopoulos on 'Good Morning America.' 'I think Ben just doesnt have the experience.'
Trump also blasted Marco Rubio, whos emerging from the pack as an establishment alternative to Jeb Bush. 'Im not a fan. I think hes overrated,' he said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'would eat him alive.'
He also criticized Bush, saying he should 'absolutely' drop out of the 2016 race. 'He doesnt have a chance,'Trump said today.
An attack on experience is at least somewhat curious for Trump, who like Carson has never held political office. Both are neophytes in that sense. Trump has plenty of executive experience in the private sector, for better and for worse, but otherwise has exactly the same kind of office in public service as Carson , and less than Rubio or Bush. Part of the reason Trump and Carson are riding high in the polls is due to that lack of political experience, as anti establishment fervor has voters looking for outsiders rather than experience in the primaries of both parties.
An argument on temperament is even more curious. Carsons temperament is famously, perhaps even notoriously, calm and even tempered. Trumps the candidate that throws around insults , he calls Jeb Bush a 'stiff' later in the interview, garnering laughs from the crew on the set , and talks about how great and fabulous he himself is in relation to everyone else around him. The question of Trumps temperament has come up much more often than Carsons, although it hasnt exactly slowed Trumps rise. Bringing that up as a legitimate issue in the race has more than a little potential for backfire.
Trumps right, though, that the polling is very fluid at this point. Carson has definitely surged, but Trump is actually in about the same position as three months ago when he was the lone frontrunner in the RCP average.
Ben Carson is there to take away votes. Donald Trump is so far out ahead the plan has failed. I do hope that Trump really goes after the traitor and all around criminal Hillary Clinton. Take the gloves off.
That makes as much sense as anything else. If he’s smart enough to do brain surgery, he should be smart enough to know he has no qualifications to be POTUS.
I imagine Trump and Cruz are keeping their powder dry for Hillary. She’s a very big target!
What on earth makes you say that?
The biggest argument to me against Carson becoming President has little to do with his spotless integrity, obvious likability or stated conservative positions on most all issues.
Rather, it has to do not seeing one key trait I have seen with almost all super effective leaders...to good or bad ends.
Leaving aside any reference to my academic credentials (business and political)in commenting on this point, I instead refer to what I have personally and extensively witnessed and/or experienced in the military, in my business career and in my limited involvement with politics...all over the last nearly 48 years now.
I am talking about a particular trait that in hindsight I wish I would have had in more abundance with the various leadership roles in which I have served.
What key trait? I maintain that all super effective leaders, particularly those that must effectively lead organizations with lots of people beneath them, especially bright young people, have all somehow acquired the ability to convince others, particularly those in their organizations, that they are just this side of insane...and not susceptible to the logic or reasoned appeals of others pursuing divergent or contrary agendas.
Think about it. Yes charisma, salesmanship, circumstance all play a role...but how can one as a leader set and maintain a course in organization that exists within and is governed by civil laws and protocols. Leaders without this “just this side of insane” key trait tend to lean too heavily on reason and logic in making decisions - the assumption being their reason and logic is so compelling and obvious it will be accepted as reality by almost everyone. This flies in the face of human experience. Agendas define logic and reason. Leaders unable to employ this “just this side of insane” key trait tend to excessively rely on planning, coordination and control efforts to help everyone in the organization stay with the leaders game plan. Others find that creating crises after crises work reasonably well, at least for a while until a leader loses all credibility.
Reagan had this key “just this side of insane” leadership trait. Churchill had it. Hitler had it...to bad ends. I am sure if you think about it you can come up with many more historical examples.
Dr. Carson is always talking about how logic and reason will govern his decisions and policies...as if that will be enough to set the course and agenda to make a real difference. Washington is simply too much of a snake pit of competing interests and agendas...being pursued by really smart people.
In essence, what I am saying is because Carson has such an affinity to logic and reason, it highlights and frames an approach that presents a higher probability of success to those with divergent agendas hoping to sway or roll him when it comes to important policy decisions. He would be particularly susceptible to the logic and reason approach with those working closes for him.
In lieu of being able to burn your ships, like Cortes in the New World did to fix his agenda and foreclose the appeal of any divergent arguments or agendas, no matter how logical or reasonable, a leader getting others to perceive them as “just this side of insane” serves the same purpose today in any organized effort.
One could argue it is times like these which heightens the attractiveness of this “just this side of insane” factor in someone like Trumps.
Oh, and in case anyone wonders, I am not a Trump supporter. I like Cruz...the most, at this point.
Shot this off on the fly. Hope it makes some sense.
I asked myself today if Trump would choose Carson as his VP. Nope. How could he? I think it will be Cruz.
OK where’s the little black kid that says “That’s racis”?
Ben is a hell of more thoughtful and wise than Obama - but we know that does not mean that much after 7 years of wreckage.
Ben has a Lincolnesque wisdom
Of course George Soros is one who admits he wants no borders. He may be doing the bribing.
HIs positions on issues stink. I do not want another person who does not have the will to enforce immigration laws anywhere near the Oval Office.
Nice post but it made me a little crazy...
Spot-on..
” that they are just this side of insane...Shot this off on the fly. Hope it makes some sense.”
Makes a lot of sense, sounds like my brother talking to me :) He said to make people believe you were just a little bit crazy.
Well, Barry has done pretty good at making an impression, and what experience did he have.
Selling ice cream in Hawaii. How hard can it be?
The kind of failure we’ve had for the last 7 years is exactly what we have to avoid., Why would we elect someone so ill suited to the job who is wrong on every issue, when we have two well qualified men with solid policies running?
Trump is indeed getting desperate, if temperament and experience are now going to be his argument.
“Donald Trump ripped into his Republican rivals today, saying Ben Carson doesnt have the experience or the temperament to be president.”
I am not a supporter of Dr. Carson. However, I am not one of his detractors either. However, I am very open about my serious misgivings about Mr. Trump’s fitness for public office and especially to be POTUS.
No racial pun intended, but for Mr. Trump to say that Dr. Carson is not “qualified” (while Mr. Trump implies that he - Mr. Trump - is qualified)is, to me, a classic example of the “pot calling the kettle black.” In my opinion being the owner or even CEO of a major business is not a qualification to be POTUS. The president - to be effective - must be able to lead, not “dictate” as most business owners can do. I do not think Mr. Trump can adapt to having to “lead” not “dictate.”
In regards to Dr. Carson’s mild manners being not a good fit for the role of POTUS. Well, Mr. Trump may be somewhat correct on that, although I think a little humility is a good trait in a real leader (something Mr. Trump should learn). Also, I must chuckle about this in that I think Mr. Trump’s, over-the-top, demagogue persona is not proper or suitable for someone that would be POTUS. To use his own word, Mr. Trump does not have or display the correct “temperament.”
Also, the one thing I remember best about when President Reagan became POTUS was how he brought back dignity to the office of president...something President Carter lacked. I can never see the word “dignity” being used properly to describe Mr. Trump at anytime in his life. Mr. Trump’s, in my opinion, lack of “dignity” is a another reason why he is not suitable, by “temperament” to be POTUS.
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