Free Republic
Browse · Search
GOP Club
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Magic of Donald Trump
Townhall ^ | April 13, 2011 | Ben Shapiro

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?


TOPICS: Campaign News; Issues; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: birthcertificate; certifigate; obama; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-59 last
To: 2ndDivisionVet

What a lazy piece of writing.


41 posted on 04/13/2011 12:10:00 AM PDT by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Carnival Barker bump-———Although I’d pay a quarter to see the birth certificate.


42 posted on 04/13/2011 12:17:27 AM PDT by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I could’nt have said it any better!


43 posted on 04/13/2011 12:44:44 AM PDT by Bridge_toofar (Trump/Bachmann 2012 will finish off Obama for good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sun

If you are operating a multi-Billion dollar business in NY State, and you are a smart person, you buy any politician who is willing to be bought. If not, you will fail in business. Do you know the ratio of democrat politicians over repub politicians in NY state? If you restrict contributions only to republicans, you will be out gunned 5 to 1 in NY.


44 posted on 04/13/2011 12:52:51 AM PDT by Bridge_toofar (Trump/Bachmann 2012 will finish off Obama for good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: garandgal

I had the same experience with Pawlenty...I start to nod and snore watching him speak.


45 posted on 04/13/2011 12:54:20 AM PDT by Bridge_toofar (Trump/Bachmann 2012 will finish off Obama for good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Patrick1

“Only one problem. He isn’t running.”

Please post your source ...


46 posted on 04/13/2011 2:01:09 AM PDT by dmam2011
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

He will announce and run, because he is willing to go against Obama with his billions.

Why?

Because Obama will do whatever its takes to flood the election with money, if he had $2 billion in donations last election he will spend 10 times as much the next time, money means nothing to him.

Any other candidate just simply cannot compete with a limit election budget, money buys the votes.


47 posted on 04/13/2011 2:11:20 AM PDT by Eye of Unk (Communism is a diease, a global failure and endorses Barack Hussein Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Where is the informatin that the Republicans are weak coming from? Yes, the MSM. Of course, there is a vested divestment interest in cratinga situation whereby they preach their adherents (dems) via the MSM that the Dem's are wonderful caring people and Rep's are incompetent hateful, racist, uncaring, etc.

Just put the right candidate into office. Ket Mitt R. out - he stands for nothing other than self promotion. There are plenty of Tea Party conservatives that can both turn the World integration movement back and strengthen the Country (both run against the MSM grain of being insignification as single Nation, e.g., US from a position of strength).

48 posted on 04/13/2011 2:31:26 AM PDT by Jumper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BerryDingle
Carnival Barker bump-

That is EXACTLY how he feels to me.

49 posted on 04/13/2011 3:46:30 AM PDT by mylife (OPINIONS ~ $ 1.00 HALFBAKED ~ 50c)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: MacMattico
but it seems a part of me keeps wanting to find something I don't like about him — I don't know it's a strange feeling.

It's your gut instinct. Go with it.

50 posted on 04/13/2011 4:09:27 AM PDT by Huck (This running things, kid. It ain't all gravy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Trump is making a mockery of the GOP electorate. That’s OK. We deserve it.


51 posted on 04/13/2011 4:12:40 AM PDT by Huck (This running things, kid. It ain't all gravy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jumper

Chihuahua Romney is there for Obama, knighted by
none other than Soros,
determined to keep BHO, mmmm mmmm mmmm,
in office for another 4 years.

So is it not obvious that the MSM will, beginning this week,
annoint Romney as the alleged “leader” of the Tea Party.


52 posted on 04/13/2011 4:13:43 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Those who would repeat the past must control the teaching of history. - Bene Gesserit Coda)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Sun

“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.”’

________________

You know nothing about how the game of politics is played.


53 posted on 04/13/2011 4:17:41 AM PDT by GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Fee
I think HI just passed new regs that individuals will be issued COLB only. Long forms will no longer be available.

That has been reported, but it has also been reported that this was done solely to accommodate Obama in his refusal to release his long form.

54 posted on 04/13/2011 4:36:44 AM PDT by SonOfDarkSkies
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Eye of Unk
Absolutely!

Obama has created an oppositional power vacuum that only a guy with Trump's brass balls and money can fill. Trump knows this and is perfectly willing to take his place in history.

55 posted on 04/13/2011 4:40:56 AM PDT by SonOfDarkSkies
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Donald Trump made his billions by:

encouraging cities and companies to take on more and more debt

using eminent domain to confiscate private property

operating casinos

If you'll believe he's a conservative, you might as well believe that Michael Moore is a gymnast.

56 posted on 04/13/2011 6:53:55 AM PDT by Notary Sojac
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Transcript from Rush Limbaugh:

RUSH: "Okay, gonna try to get Trump on one day this week. We should be able to do that. Actually, you know, I think Trump might actually be the real illegal alien here. I mean, you say what you will, but he is once again actually doing a job that most Americans wouldn't touch. He fits the bill in that regard."

END TRANSCRIPT

57 posted on 04/13/2011 10:23:26 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS DESTROYING AMERICA-LOOK AT WHAT IT DID TO THE WHITE HOUSE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eye of Unk

Except for Governor Sarah Palin. I will personally raise $2 million dollars for her campaign war-chest. There are tens of millions of people like me out there.


58 posted on 04/13/2011 11:09:54 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet ('As a kid, I got three meals a day: Oatmeal, miss-a-meal, and no meal.' Mr. T)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Fee

I think the HI law you refer to has to do with looking for documents other than your own. Surely an individual has the right to inspect his own BC. How would an HI resident even get a passport unless the state would make copies available to those who needed them?


59 posted on 04/13/2011 7:36:05 PM PDT by monkeyshine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-59 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
GOP Club
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson