Donald Trump: The lobbyists' dream come true

Washington Examiner ^ | 1/26/16 | Timothy P. Carney

[Isara]

"He's got the right personality," Bob Dole said of billionaire Donald Trump, "and he's kind of a deal-maker."

Dole was the Republicans' Senate leader in the 1990s, and was the party's presidential candidate in 1996. Dole today is a corporate lobbyist. Dole's view - that Trump is fine, but conservative Sen. Ted Cruz is unacceptable - is the standard view in the Republican parts of K Street.

Lobbyists prefer Trump to Cruz for many reasons, but the core of the issue is this: Trump will preserve the lobbyists' incomes and power, while Ted Cruz might crimp K Street's style.

"We can live with Trump," lobbyist Rick Hohlt told the New York Times.

Reagan-administration veteran Charlie Black also said Trump would be preferable. Black's arguments are electoral - that Trump is a more coachable candidate. It's also relevant that Black is a powerful lobbyist for Google, AT&T, FedEx, and others. Trump would seek advice from the party establishment, Black explained: "he would call people in the party and say, 'I just want to talk to you.' "

Thus, Trump would be in debt to the party establishment, which means he would be in debt to K Street.

"Listen, if Trump gets the nomination," tweeted lobbyist John Feehery, "I will support him. Cruz? Not so much." Feehery, a principal at K Street firm QGA, is a lobbyist for AT&T, the National Association of Broadcasters, Sony, U.S. Steel and others.

"If it came down to Trump or Cruz," former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said, "there is no question I'd vote for Trump." Giuliani is a partner in the firm Bracewell & Giuliani. His firm lobbies for Duke Energy, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Dole, of course, is a lobbyist at K Street giant Alston Bird. His clients include health care and gambling companies. Dole supported Obamacare in 2009, earning praise as an "elder statesman" from a credulous media that never mentioned his lobbying work - then or now.

And you haven't read the pulse of the K Street Wing of the GOP until you've asked Trent Lott, Senate Leader-turned lobbyist millionaire. Lott told political reporter Molly Ball "he'd take Trump over Cruz if he had to choose," Ball wrote on Twitter last week.

Why are all these lobbyists warm to Trump, whose campaign sounds populist notes? Part of it is just personal. Ted Cruz has a way of really getting people to hate him. His personality grates on many. His political tactics upset the party leadership. Also, it's easy to infer that his grand strategy has been to break the party in order to elevate himself.

Trump, meanwhile, is just the kind of politician a lobbyist loves. He's a dealmaker, as Dole says. You could imagine him going to the Chamber of Commerce and saying, I need to reduce the number of legal immigrants, in exchange, I'll give your members some good contracts to build a wall, and many more guest-worker visas. I'll even throw in some sweet tax credits and loan guarantees for the hospitality industry. Deal?

Trump is a consummate dealmaker because there's no line he won't cross. Nothing is off the table for a man with no core beliefs. How perfect for a lobbyist.

More importantly, Cruz is a conservative who wants to enforce limits on government and shrink its size - which is a lobbyist's nightmare. Trump believes in big government and rejects limits on what government can do.

Eminent domain for corporate gain? It's "wonderful," Trump explains. If some business can make the case that it will generate more jobs and more tax revenue per square foot than the stubborn chump (or elderly widow) currently occupying a coveted parcel, why shouldn't government come in and allocate the land more "efficiently"?

Forcing drivers to buy ethanol when they want actual gasoline! Why not? At least until after the caucuses.

Trump's most important trait to the lobbyists isn't his explicitly corporatist policies, its his idea of government. In Trump's view, there are no inherent limits on government power - it is simply, "do what you need to do." This is the perfect environment for a corporate lobbyist, because it means there is nothing you can't ask government for - and thus nothing you can't promise your clients.

Donald Trump is well versed in the art of the deal, as he will tell you. If he were dealing with taxpayer money, it would be plush times on K Street.

[Isara]

Your handy, dandy Trump vs. Cruz comparison chart!

Simply click each policy or issue to read the back-story.

Policy or Issue	Trump	Cruz
In 2013, supported Amnesty for all 20 million illegal aliens in the U.S.	Yes	No
In 2000, supported an Assault Weapons Ban	Yes	No
In 2015, supported "touchback" Amnesty for every illegal alien in the U.S.	Yes	No
In 2000, supported Partial-Birth Abortion	Yes	No
In 2015, lied to gun media about his past support for an Assault Weapons Ban	Yes	No
Supports seizure of private property by the government using Eminent Domain (Kelo)	Yes	No
Supports Mitch McConnell's habitual lies to constituents and fellow GOP Senators	Yes	No
Currently courting and being courted by GOP establishment	Yes	No
Currently supports crony capitalism: billions in taxpayer ethanol subsidies	Yes	No
In 2000, supported Extended Waiting Periods to Acquire Firearms	Yes	No
Amount of debt owed to bankers	Many billions	$1 million
Amount donated to the bogus Clinton "Foundation"	$100,000	0
Endorsed by GOPe icon Bob Dole, who thought Ronald Reagan was "too fringe"	Yes	No
Number of bankruptcies declared by firms he led	4	0
Amount of debt defaulted on	$4.7 billion	$0.00
Number of times married	3	1
Number of "birther" conspiracy theories circulated	2	0
Praised/endorsed Communist for Mayor of New York	Yes	No
Spends virtually every waking moment on social media	Yes	No
Appears to shift his position on important issues literally overnight	?	No
A guy so stable, sober and poised that you want his finger on the button	?	Yep

[Isara]

"Trump is a consummate dealmaker because there's no line he won't cross. Nothing is off the table for a man with no core beliefs. How perfect for a lobbyist."

[Isara]

Presidential Candidates Comparison (Cruz vs. Trump)

Please click on the dots for more details on the ratings of the candidates.

Budget, Spending & Debt
Civil Liberties
Education
Energy & Environment
Foreign Policy & Defense
Free Market
Health Care & Entitlements
Immigration
Moral Issues
Second Amendment
Taxes, Economy & Trade

More at Conservative Review: https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates

[Isara]

Trump supported TARP, auto bailout and Porkulus bill, i.e., Trump is for big government and big businesses.

And, of course, he is for Renewable Fuel Standard (ethanol mandate), so governement can pick winners and losers.

Trump's Record on Free-market Issue: (from the Conservative Review)

Trump has a terrible record on free market issues. The only bright spot is the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing, but this glimmer is countermanded by his repeated support for bailing out Wall Street and the auto industry, and increased stimulus spending. Of particular concern is Trump's belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property in the name of private economic development. This comes as no surprise, given his support for using eminent domain to profit his own company.

Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of London, allowing public authorities to seize private land for economic development by private investors; Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review)  This is no surprise given Trump’s attempt to use eminent domain in his own line of work. (Institute for Justice)

Trump supported President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, saying: “The word stimulus is probably not used in its fullest…you know, certain of the things that were given weren't really stimulus. They were pork, as we call it, or they were gifts to certain people. But overall, I think he's [President Obama] doing very well. You do need stimulus and you do have to keep the banks alive.” (CNN) 

Trump supported TARP, saying, "You had to do something to shore up the banks, because ... you would have had a run on every bank." (CNN) 

Trump supported the 2008 auto bailout, saying, “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent. You cannot lose the auto companies. They’re great. They make wonderful products.” He also said that the federal government could “easily save the companies.” (Daily Caller) 

Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s intervention in the debt market, saying quantitative easing creates “phony numbers” that mislead the marketplace and “will not ultimately benefit the economy. The dollar will go down in value and inflation will start rearing its ugly head.” (CNBC) 

Donald Trump has a history of using eminent domain to complete business deals. Multiple times Trump has supported the use of government agencies to take possession of homes and businesses for use in his private business plans. Eminent domain seizures are reserved only for public use of property rather than abuse by the government taking property from one individual and giving to another. (Washington Post) 

Donald Trump has sought and received crony capitalist tax breaks for his commercial properties in New York. These tax breaks, and even an abatement, force the property taxes of other property owners to rise at the expense of the connected. Special treatment for one business or industry over another with the tax code conflicts with free market principles. (National Review) 

In 2009, Trump supported Barack Obama's call for limits on the pay of executives. (CNN)

[CondorFlight]

Seems like just about everyone in the establishment, from both sides of the aisle, is trying to dump on Trump.

I guess he must have upset someone...

(And what Hillary has done doesn’t upset them so much...)

[sickoflibs]

Trump will make better deals... Pelosi likes him...

[TexasCajun]

If Trump's Charity Reflects the Man...

[grania]

Trump has the right enemies, that’s for sure.

[lodi90]

Notice the GOPe did not send a wet back & muzzie hit squad to take down Cruz at the debate. They don’t fear Cruz at all because they know he has no chance of ever being POTUS.

[dp0622]

yeah, my schizophrenic side is showing again today.

caught hell from trump supporter yesterday for my comments, but today seem to be falling on his side regarding the Fox debates and now this.

any article that mentions the “elderly widow” loses me.

of course deals are going to have to be made.

unless of course we hold the house and the senate.

and even THEN the republican president might find himself fighting for what he wants.

Do I think Trump is a conservative. In the NY sense of the word, yes.

It’s still a lot better than hillary or bernie.

dont understand why so many trumpsters didn’t like Rudy, but that’s past.

voting for Cruz most likely, but if trump gets nod, voting for trump in generals.

and to hell with Fox news.

[lodi90]

I don’t see TPA/TPP on that list. Why is that? Team Cruz not proud Ted Cruz campaigned for Barack Obama’s legacy agenda?

[dynoman]

"@BradCross4: @Drudge_Report_ @realDonaldTrump— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2016

[Logical me]

Trump will preserve the lobbyists' incomes and power

That is pure bull shi!. What an idiot.

[dynoman]

I’ll say it again. Trump operates at levels above what we are used to. He says he will make deals with Pelosi and democrats and people go “he’s going to flip to democrat”. No, Trump will get them to do what he wants them to do. That is called leadership - we’ve been without it for so long in DC we don’t remember what it is. Trump has been getting people to do what he wants them to do his entire life, his successful business is clear proof of that.

Thinking “deals” means status-quo compromising is very shallow analysis.

Thinking all “tariffs” means is the cost of our goods will go up is very shallow analysis. Tariffs are a negotiating tool - against currency manipulation and unfair trade imbalance. Tariffs are no necessarily the end result - they are a tool to get an end result. This is what I mean by Trump thinking and operating levels above what we are used to.

This run in with Fox is a demonstration of leadership, unpredictability, intuition, and independence - all leadership qualities.

[driftdiver]

“Trump is a consummate dealmaker because there’s no line he won’t cross. “

Like trying to throw an old woman out of her home.

[McGruff]

Ted Cruz will never be president. He has no experience that would qualify him for the job. We don’t even know if he’s eligible for the position. Supreme Court justice would be his better path.

[WinMod70]

“Seems like just about everyone in the establishment, from both sides of the aisle, is trying to dump on Trump.”

Full out blitz.

El Rushbo always talked about living in Obama’s head rent free.

I just took a look at The Blaze. You want to see what living in someone’s head rent free really looks like. The name “Trump” appears 58 times on the homepage and is in a headline over 50 times. I hear Beck for a few minutes at lunch sometime between 11:30-12:00 and hear Trump’s name every time, based on my random sampling I have to assume the whole 3 hours involves Trump.

Blaze Homepage

Trump - 58 times
Cruz - 12 times

Who is Beck behind? LOL

[Logical me]

You can tell by the posters here that they are trying to create pure BS because they are afraid of Trump. Trump will clean out the crap in Washington and they know it. The more this anti Trump stuff is posted the more it tells me that Trump will destroy most of the corruption.

Trump for President.

[McGruff]

Hey at least he threw her out before bulldozing her home according to Cruz’s campaign ad.

[driftdiver]

“No, Trump will get them to do what he wants them to do. “

Which is what? I doubt he even knows where he stands on issues. So you need to look at his history, which shows he supports unions, democrats, and the liberal agenda.