Posted on 04/12/2011 10:19:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
For well over a year, I, along with the rest of the conservative base in America, have lamented the lack of decent possible Republican presidential candidates. Despite the fact that he has run the most incompetent administration in history, President Obama remains a solid bet for re-election in 2012. Obama's frontrunner status springs from two crucial facts: first, by overexposing himself in the public eye, he has made himself larger than life; second, the Republican field is pathetically weak.
Mitt Romney has about as much charm as a Ziploc bag, and his support for Romneycare in Massachusetts should immediately put him out of the running. Though brilliant, Newt Gingrich is chameleonic and impossible to peg down to principle; therefore, he's unacceptable to many primary voters. Sarah Palin is polarizing; Haley Barbour bears too strong a resemblance to Deputy Dawg; Mike Huckabee isn't interested in running, and his religious background makes him a beloved target of the secular press; Tim Pawlenty makes Ben Stein seem colorful.
The Republican field has not been this wide open since ... well, since 2008. Sadly, the intervening three years have not cleared up any questions.
If Republicans were to construct an ideal candidate, he would have to be rich beyond belief -- Obama is going to raise $1 billion for his next election campaign, and no Republican candidate has the ability to come close to those numbers without deep pockets. The ideal Republican candidate would have significant name recognition with the general public -- no Republican candidate has ever won the presidency without significant name recognition going into the primaries since Warren G. Harding in 1920. The ideal Republican candidate would have stage presence, an intimidation factor, and a willingness to play dirty.
In the last several weeks, that ideal Republican candidate has materialized.
His name is Donald Trump. His slogan is ready-made: "You're Fired." He does not give a damn what the media thinks of him -- he steamrolled Meredith Vieira during his NBC interview with her last week. He can self-fund to the tune of $1 billion.
And what's more, he can win.
Pay no attention to the recent polls showing Obama crushing Trump by 20 points in a head-to-head matchup. That disparity is attributable to the public perception that Trump is a loudmouth with no true interest in running. The moment he declares in earnest and gets on the campaign stump, his numbers will rise dramatically.
Trump has across-the-board appeal. His show, "The Apprentice," routinely draws nearly 9 million viewers per episode. Blue-collar workers identify with Trump's rough-and-tumble attitude. He even has union support -- he's made a political mint bashing outsourcing, and he recently told Human Events that he has made "many billions of dollars working with the unions," though he does not disagree that public sector unions bilk taxpayers.
Trump's image boils down to this: he's a no-nonsense businessman who is brash enough to take on Obama directly. He's big enough to stand toe-to-toe with Obama and slug it out.
The biggest question that surrounds Trump of late is his focus on the question of Obama's birth certificate. Trump has stated routinely and openly that he wonders whether Obama was born in the United States, and he has called on Obama to release his birth certificate. This has earned him the ire and scorn of Obama's lackeys, who say he has "zero chance" of getting elected.
In reality, the birth certificate issue is specifically geared toward certain political ends for Trump. First, it is obviously calculated to attract the most anti-Obama segment of the conservative base -- and it has already succeeded, if primary polling is any indicator. Second, it is designed to force Obama into defending his character -- Trump has already suggested that at best, Obama refuses to come clean with the American people. Finally, it shows Obama that if Trump is nominated, the campaign will not be a McCain-style hands-off lovefest. It will be a knockdown drag-out brawl. Trump will stop emphasizing the birth certificate issue, to be sure, but not until he's milked it for all it is worth.
Is Donald Trump the best Republican candidate for president out there? It would be tough to argue otherwise. He's got all the makings of a breakout star; he's got bravado and the cash to back it up. If he really runs, he won't have any trouble finding supporters. And as he puts it, he is the Obama administration's "worst nightmare." So far, who can argue with him?
‘”Scratching just beneath that surface though, Trump may have trouble explaining to conservatives why, if he’s against Obamacare (snip), why did he contribute money to the re-election campaign of Anthony Weiner, one of the health care bill’s self-proclaimed authors?
If Trump’s against gun control (or corruption for that matter), why the contribution to Charles Rangel, who rates an “F” on gun rights from the NRA (as does Weiner and others on The Donald’s donation list)?
Trump says he’s pro-life, but has given money to Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer — two politicians who make thrills go up NARAL’s leg.
Trump’s contributed money to the campaigns of Frank Lautenberg, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter and Dick Durbin — so much for the “lower taxes” concern.”’
more http://michellemalkin.com/2011/02/20/is-donald-trump-a-conservative/
Buyers Beware!
She’s “polarizing” as far as satan is concerned, as well.
Ben Shapiro is a nitwit.
News flash, Ben. Donald Trump will say anything in his efforts of pandering to conservatives. Trump remains what he’s always been, a NYC liberal.
Support conservatives and dump Trump.
You do know he’s basically a Democrat, don’t you?
He’s donated to Dems over Pubbies by 59-41%, but those Pubbies he’s supported are closet Democrats, like Crist, Specter and Kirk:
http://blogs.forbes.com/brendancoffey/2011/04/07/trumps-political-donations-are-left-leaning/
‘Pro-life’ is what Northeast pro-choice Pubbies say they are or have become ‘personally’ when they get national ambitions. Don’t be fooled.
I'll watch. Thank you.
Yes, Buyers Beware!
When will we learn never to take a politician’s word for anything.
It’s not what they say that matters; words are cheap. ALWAYS LOOK AT THEIR PAST.
That is a great post! Do you write?
“ALWAYS LOOK AT THEIR PAST.”
Bingo!
I can understand a politician changing on a few things, but this guy went from Black to White in just about everyting I’ve seen.
Money buys inflience. Influence, he has plenty. Money, he has plenty. Ethiccs? Core values and principles, he has not so much.
If he doesn’t get the nomination and runs as an ‘Independent’, we’re doomed. The ‘Perot effect’ will be in order, and 0bama will have his 2nd term with under 50% of the vote.
When was the last time a Democrat got over 50% of the vote to be re-elected? I don’t believe it has happened during my lifetime! I suppose you’d have to go all the way back to Truman.
What their candidates say means nothing.. much like Obama..
And republicans PollyAnna naivete is legendary..
UGH! OH!.... then came the TpCaucus.. they will NOT BE fooled so easily..
Myth Romney, the Huckster, McLaim and YES.. Trump.. will not make it..
Even before Trump started on this BC track, my 83 year old mother announced that if he ran she would vote for him. I think it is his “take no prisoners” attitude. I am so done with the slick double-talking lying politician. If you haven’t seen the Meridith Viera interview I recommend you watch it. She looks like she is in shock. I like that look from the MSM!
As an analysis goes, this is great — from a sports perspective.
From a political/ideological perspective, it’s a bust, and in the end, everything’s going to be riding on where the various candidates stand on the issues of the day.
Trump will have a much harder time competing in the purely political battle to come. Right now, he’s knockin’ ‘em dead, by kicking Obama in all of his weakest spots. The Republican primary battle will be a whole different ball game.
Paradigm Shift candidate....the rats not geared up to handle this.
You sir are a genius. Another fantastic visual.
Mitt Romney has about as much charm as a Ziploc bag,
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A Ziploc bag, I have use for...
I love your entire post; it’s completely true. I was driving when Pawlenty was being interviewed the other day, and thought to myself that he was overly polished and utterly boring...I was nearly “droned” to sleep.
Regarding Trump, one must simply decide if they trust that the person in question is now taking positions for political expediency; or if they have finally gotten high enough on the totem pole that they can basically say “to H with all of you, this is what I really think!”
I think that Romney is a perfect example of the former. Trump now has enough name recognition and popularity, that he can be like the proverbial older relative who exists in every family. You know, the one that loudly voices his opinions while at dinner someplace; everyone secretly agrees with him, but no one can believe that he said THAT while in public.
By the way, I think Reagan was like that too. You have to get to the top of the heap in order to stomp on it; not always a pretty process.
Every pol you named who’s received $ from Trump happens to represent a state where Trump has major hotels. It’s what businessmen do. Donate to the people in power where they do business.
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