Reason Magazine: Trump Is a Laughing Matter

Reason.com ^ | April 15, 2011 | Tim Cavanaugh

[yup2394871293]

No wonder the media are fascinated by Donald Trump’s chances of becoming the Republican presidential candidate in 2012. 

After all, when the Conservative Political Action Committee this year polled members on their choices for a 2012 candidate, the winner, by a seven-percentage-point margin, was Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). This is in sharp contrast to last year’s poll, in which the winner by nine points was Ron Paul.

When a Rasmussen poll sized up potential general election candidates against President Barack Obama, the most competitive Republican hopeful turned out to be Ron Paul. 

When NPR ran a March Madness contest of Republican politicians—a competition that drew 963,719 participants—the winner was Ron Paul. 

On the other hand, when participants at the Tea Party Patriots February convention in Phoenix, Arizona held their own poll of presidential prospects, the winner turned out to be…Ron Paul. 

[yup2394871293]

In other words, Donald Trump is a symptom of a fatal flaw in the GOP that the rank and file will not address: the party generally likes big government as much as Democrats do. Say what you like about Trump as a serious presidential candidate, but there are plenty of other ones with a real track record that have their own flaws and aren't well known, are RINOs, or (like Paul) are considered too extreme by many conservatives.

Just about any Republican is going to be better (on balance) than four more years of Obama, and Obama may radioactive enough next year that the Republican nominee wins by default. But don't count on it. Ron Paul may not be electable simply because of his tinny voice, short stature and quirky personality, but ask yourself how committed all the other contenders are to consistently and decisively cutting back federal government power.

[TruthHound]

Trump, Paul, Barbour...

Reminds me of Larry, Moe & Curly. I’m seeing WAY too many freepers taking these guys seriously. If Donald Trump makes it any further than February, 2012, I’m voting for the Goat and Goose party.

[wendy1946]

Trump was on the Limbaugh show this afternoon talking about trade policies. The man is massively qualified to be president.

[ilovesarah2012]

Way more qualified than Obama.

[BunnySlippers]

He needs to drop the birther thing. It’s a losing issue.

[From The Deer Stand]

Like Rush says, you can tell who the Left is afraid of by who they attack. Trump is a huge threat to our nothing president and the public is agreeing with Trump’s matter-of-fact and tough style. We have a bunch of weenies in D. C. Trump is a breath of fresh air who is bringing important issues to the front. Whether he’s electible remains to be seen. But, for now, Trump is making Americans think.

[Mike Darancette]

Trump is the funny old crazy uncle that makes you laugh as he picks away at Obama with the knowledge that he will not be the nominee in 2012.

Paul is the creepy old crazy uncle that makes you afraid he might create a third party.

[Cheetahcat]

“Trump was on the Limbaugh show this afternoon talking about trade policies. The man is massively qualified to be president.”

I agree he is the real deal and has proven that.

[EvasiveManuever]

Ron Paul couldn’t win President of a roomful of Paulbots.

[Celtic Cross]

Why the heck won't bammy just show his darn LFBC??? I don't care if it is a ‘losing issue’ (though I don't think it is), it is an issue that needs to be pursued for the sake of future elections.

[yup2394871293]

Limbaugh is no longer available where I am, so I don't know much about that Trump interview and whatever he said about trade policies that qualifies him to be president. But that may be beside the point: would you say that you are more for the "free, unfettered market" or more for "fair trade"?

[DB]

I have little doubt Palin is serious about smaller government unlike most of the others.

Ron Paul is dead wrong on foreign policy. He thinks cold war II will work with Iran. Iran thinks that an apocalypse with bring the 2nd coming of their savior... They are doing all they can to make one happen...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

The mention of NPR tells me the article is bullshiite.

My ideal president is Don Rumsfeld...

I don’t think Dr. Paul would make a good military leader or choose military leaders capable of protecting the country.

I want to see candidates who never ran for president before. I’m sick of the same bum rush for the White House...

As far as Trump goes, he never took a government paycheck...

[white17x]

I’m afraid either or both Trump & Paul will in fact mount a third party run if not nominated. Talk about unelectable ! That makes 4 more years a cinch for Obammy

[smokingfrog]

Trump donated a bunch of money to Rush’s charity, so naturally, he was nice to him. Lately, I can’t decide if Trump is crazy like a fox or just plain crazy.

[RS_Rider]

“The man is massively qualified to be president”

I agree, America is experiencing a huge void of leadership in the house, senate and oval office. Trump resonates with Americans because he expresses strength and leadership through unfiltered vocalization of his opinions.

[yup2394871293]

Take it to the bank that Democrat hacks will try to find a way to turn the BC issue against Republican candidates if the citizenship issue isn’t successfully put to rest by Obama or anyone else, and that will guarantee that the issue will be pursued in future elections, just like war records, criminal records, drug usage, marital fidelity, etc. But it’s a side issue (he’s already POTUS, see), just as there more left wing Democrats than just Obama who are also trying to the country into the world’s biggest banana republic, constitution be damned.

[AmericanVictory]

By paying no attention to that blind conventional wisdom, he has gone to the top of the polls, showing that your contention is not well grounded and that his perceptions are astute.

[RS_Rider]

I was at a tea party today and did not get to hear what Trump had to say on Rush’s show but I figured that he would make a significant contribution to the charity. Was hoping that Rush and the Donald would get into a pissing match and end up with a huge donation to the cause.

[yup2394871293]

We aren’t going to war with Iran any time soon. That was just as true when Dubya was still president. I think it’s way past time that we wipe the Castro brothers off the face of the earth, but the truth is that you have any number of choices for countries that we should bomb or invade. The elephant in the room, at least for me, is that we can’t keep on doing this anymore because it costs money, and our government is BROKE.