Posted on 07/13/2015 5:19:54 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
It’s safe to predict that South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham won’t be the 2016 Republican presidential nominee. Nor will former New York governor George Pataki or Dr. Ben Carson. Many observers doubt The Donald will be the nominee, although I am pleased he has made illegal immigration part of the discussion.
On the Democrat side, few political pundits believe Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, former Virginia senator Jim Webb or former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley will be their party’s nominee. But they might force Hillary Clinton to answer questions… sharing more than her favorite ice cream flavor.
So why are these people running?
Part of the answer has to do with marketing their brand. In a recent column on this topic, Will Leitch of Bloomberg Politics wrote –
“There’s no better way in America to build your brand than running for president. Just the audacity of standing in front of a room of people—of getting a room of people to show up—and saying “I’m running for president” elevates a person. Whatever your goal, whether it’s getting yourself a better spot on a certain committee, consideration for a veep slot down the line, or just a television talk show, having “presidential candidate” before you name does nothing but help you. People listen to you in a way they might not otherwise. You felt differently about Herman Cain because he was standing on a stage with a person who might become president of the United States, even though, independent of that fact, there was no real reason to feel differently about Herman Cain. That’s what running for president gets you…”
In “Why on Earth Do So Many People Run for President?” Paul Waldman suggests another reason so many people decide to throw their hat into the ring:
“If you decide to run for president, it means you think you should be president, because you’re the cleverest, wisest, and most virtuous of all Americans (or some combination thereof). Most people who think that, however, are not just wrong but spectacularly wrong.”
Or as Julian Zelizer offered in “Why Are So Many Running for President?” –
“Their goal seems to be a desire to elevate their own role in the public arena. With such a vibrant world of political media, consulting and think tanks, running for president can enhance a person’s stature and offer opportunities. Mike Huckabee earned himself a spot on Fox News after previous runs.”
Focusing on critical issues
Perhaps these long-shot candidates have one or two critical issues they don’t want ignored. Whether or not it was his intention, Donald Trump made illegal immigration his critical issue. For voters like me who have had it with America’s illegal immigration sinkhole, Trump’s comments got the discussion started again. As Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on July 5 –
“I salute Donald Trump for focusing on the need to address illegal immigration. The Washington cartel doesn’t want to address that.”
The so-called “good” people who illegally come into the United States, especially from Mexico, are criminals because they broke our laws to get here. Also, along with these so-called good people come some not so good people: drug pushers, rapists and murderers. (Anyone for an evening stroll on San Francisco’s scenic Embarcadero waterfront pier?)
In a July 7 phone interview with Fox News’ “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren,” Trump said –
““I’m the one that brought up illegal immigration — this wasn’t even a subject, and I brought it up. And I brought it up before the young lady was killed. And then that became a big story. But you have thousands of instances where illegal immigrants that come through our porous border are killing our citizens, and lots of other problems they’re bringing with them.
“I mean, the jails are loaded up, the hospitals are loaded up with people, and it’s a horrible situation — nobody ever brought it up. And then I watch some of the political pundits and they hate when I bring this up, and I sort of say … you know, aren’t we all on the same side?””
By raising illegal immigration, Donald Trump has forced other Republican candidates to clarify their position regarding the millions of people who ILLEGALLY enter our country, many from Mexico. Thanks to The Donald, I will be writing to several CEOs starting with Macy’s that I am disgusted with how they support illegal immigration. I can also cross several candidates off my list (even if they become the nominee).
Welcome legal immigrants!
As the world leader, the United States of America is proud to be a nation of legal immigrants. I am the proud granddaughter of legal immigrants.
Donald Trump should have better communicated his thoughts about illegal immigration when he announced his candidacy. However, many people understood what Trump was expressing. In “Pastor to Hispanic Church Speaks Out on Trump Immigrant Crime Statement,” Pastor Samson Dunn of Catalyst Church in Phoenix wrote –
“… From what I heard, Mr. Trump was saying America is being exploited by the Mexican government and the thousands of Illegal immigrants that are flooding our border. And what Trump said resonates with many Mexican-Americans who are frustrated that it has taken this long for someone to address an issue that they face every day.”
The overall arc of what Trump continues to highlight and what many Americans continue to believe is that we need to build a wall to secure our southern border and then we can have a conversation about bringing people out of the shadows.
And boy has that shadow grown! In 1986, President Reagan assured the American people that the Immigration Reform and Control Act was a one-time amnesty deal for a shadow covering approximately three million illegals. Today, that shadow has grown to 12 million illegals and some say that number might be as high as 20 million.
¡No mas!
No more! On Election Day 2016, I will not vote for the Republican nominee solely because he or she is better than the Democrat. (Let’s face it a mannequin would be better than Hillary Clinton.) I am tired of Republican candidates using the conservative base to do all the heavy lifting during the primary and election, but then ignore us once they are elected to office.
Maybe I should run for president, too. My campaign marketing slogan would be: I’ve Had Enough! (¡He tenido suficiente!)
Pray for that pendulum .
I am fed upbwith the 25 million foreigners taking making jobs.
I am tired of the H 1 Visas Scam which ROB our kids of a future.
The entire Gop field except Trumpnare peddling these Lies !
We don’t need more Foreigner or there unemployed workers .
We Need American Jobs
Zero doubt the groundswell is exceeding the numbers gatherers...
My mind is still vetting him but my heart is like the surfer with only one big wave analogy, except this might be only wave to get us off of Alcatraz. Stay or go.
Like the victims of this administration said in Phoenix; Real hope, real change (we hope, lol)
Suddenly thinking about that song: “We gotta get out of this place...if it’s the last thing we ever do...” ;)
He certainly doesn’t need to “elevate his profile” for “career reasons” (LOL), like 90% of the candidates.
Trump doesn’t even have to run 3rd Party if the Rove bunch manages to drive him out of the Republican contest as he has ALREADY SHOWN that the emperor has no clothes.
In other words, he now has shown EVERYONE that Open Borders is not only a real issue, it is a winning issue, and someone will pick up that torch in November. It may be Trump as a Republican, it may (hopefully) be Cruz, it may be Trump as an Independent, or it may be someone else as an Independent.
But there will be SOMEONE to vote FOR (rather than just against) next November, and as I noted in my brilliant posting on Saturday, the genie is now out of the bottle on Open Borders, and SOMEONE will step up and give us someone to vote for. If Rove and others don’t like it, they could have listened to us for the past decade, rather than treat us like crap.
I don’t agree.
If Trump is driven out, that means his issues (illegals, foreign jobs, etc.) are driven out too.
Then we are back to business as usual.
No, his issues will not disappear with him.
The problem with Amnesty is that the 5th Column in the Republican Party, the ‘advisers’ (most of them gay, by the way) have CONVINCED virtually every candidate that the only way to get support is to pander to Illegals...and they have done so, to varying extents - by pretty damn much, with the possible exception of Cruz.
Trump has blown their claims open - people will step in, even if Rove can round up enough women to claim that Trump is another Bill Crosby.
Well, I still disagree, if he’s driven out (and he won’t be) but if he is, he’s going to be driven out over the hot button issues he’s raised.
Then, everyone else will be scared to even touch them.
Anyway, this is all theoretical, he is in this to stay.
“Well, I still disagree, if he’s driven out (and he won’t be) but if he is, he’s going to be driven out over the hot button issues he’s raised.”
Like you say, we shall see. But I doubt he’ll be driven out over issues - he’ll be driven out over something personal - such as ‘finding’ a bunch of Illegals that claimed to have worked directly for him, for cash, or something along those lines. If they can’t find the Illegals they need, they’ll go to Home Depot and rent them, for that job.
...I think that both parties know they cannot change the minds of Americans on Illegal immigration, so others would still see the opening and try to fill it.
In any case, this campaign is already more fun than any in decades - and will likely get a lot better!
jeb bush is a maggot.
O is not going to run AFAIK.
Not a good enough reason to want Trump to vote for Trump. Youmust despise this country.
I agree, and have posted very similar thoughts. Illegal immigration is Trump’s issue. If Trump is driven out, we lose the immigration war and will get amnesty in 2017. For better or worst the battle is now and Trump is the one leading the fight. One more time, the battle over illegal immigration is happening right now. If Trump loses we lose and the Chamber of Commerce GOPe wins. Take out Trump and amnesty is a sure thing in 2017.
I don't think so, he's in it to win it and he'll do whatever it takes. If he is truly just a symbol that would be great but watch what happens if he doesn't win the nomination. He doesn't give a chit about immigration, legal or illegal and unless he goes third party it's the last we'll hear from him about it.
jeb! bush is a maggot.
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