Posted on 04/16/2011 12:17:45 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
After the 2008 election, I spent an enormous amount of time and money documenting the media-induced ignorance of Obama voters for my documentary film, “Media Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Targeted.” The video I shot of Obama voters on Election Day has been seen by over 2.5 million people (not including millions more via television coverage) on YouTube.
The two scientific polls I commissioned to back up the video proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that Obama voters were frighteningly misinformed about basic facts like which party controlled Congress. While McCain voters weren’t exactly “A” social studies students, at least they fared significantly better.
I have always believed that, in general, Republicans are far more informed than Democrats. I thought this was true mostly because very few people are born “conservative” and therefore some sort of education process has to take place for one to emerge from the natural human state of being a liberal.
However, the emergence of Donald Trump as the sudden “frontrunner” for the Republican presidential nomination has made me question just about everything I thought I knew about GOPers.
How in the world a soulless self-promoter who has declared bankruptcy several times, defaulted on huge loans, claimed that George W. Bush was “evil” and the worst president of all time, had a pro-life conversion that makes Mitt Romney’s seem credible, praised Obama in 2008, recently donated to liberal Democrats, once supported universal healthcare, possesses no apparent knowledge of basic civics, already threatened to run as an independent and ensure Obama’s reelection, and probably doesn’t even have the money to self-finance a legitimate campaign, got to this position literally overnight is one of the most depressing developments in the history of the party.
While I am not yet panicked that somehow Trump will be the eventual nominee (though after watching Obama win in 2008, my view of what is politically possible has expanded enough to at least include that among the theoretically possible outcomes), there is no doubt that even if Trump never actually gets in the race, he has already had a profound and permanent impact on it.
Before I get into what Trump’s rocketing to the top of the polls really means, I wish to examine how this has happened.
Obviously, the primary reason that this has occurred is that we have become such a bizarrely celebrity-obsessed culture (and therefore our ratings-driven media is totally celebrity-driven) that if one is well known enough, then literally nothing is off the table. It is almost as if we have created an unofficial class of royalty whose members are automatically taken seriously in almost any endeavor simply because they are one of the “chosen people.”
What makes this development particularly offensive is that there isn’t any distinction between fame and infamy anymore. Being well known is just about all that matters, regardless of how or why it happened.
So when Trump approached CPAC with the proposal to speak (for what would become an episode of his Golf Channel reality show), he already had at least half of the credentials needed to qualify for a spot on the podium: He was famous enough to “trump” his extremely questionable “conservatism.” While obviously I can’t prove it, based on what I know about how things are done at CPAC (as a former co-sponsor), I would be surprised if some sort of “donation” from Trump didn’t smooth over any lingering doubts that they may have had about handing over the conference to such an obvious fraud.
How Trump caught fire
Instead of being ignored or banished to media Siberia as anyone else who has tried to promote “birtherism” has been, Trump, thanks to his celebrity and the perceived power of his alleged fortune, was able to actually make the issue seem legitimate. This gave him a political base with which to make noise in the polls.
Once the polls started to move in his direction (even though his “supporters” were probably too busy constructing tinfoil hats to know much about the real Trump), this created the perception of a “movement” and “momentum.” This of course was all the media (thanks again to the fact that Trump is famous and therefore ratings friendly) needed to rationalize covering him as if he was legitimate, which of course further increased his standing.
The most stunning example of this phenomenon was when Sean Hannity gave most of two episodes of his Fox News show this week to his “Trump Interview.” The conservative talk show host sat on his hands and watched (no doubt distracted by thoughts of how good his ratings would be those nights without having to do much work at all) as Trump made numerous statements that would have caused someone who truly cares about who will be the Republican presidential nominee to immediately take Trump down. Instead, I have no doubt that Trump, now armed with a seal of at least “no disapproval” from a rock star like Hannity, will continue to rise in the same opinion polls he is already routinely leading.
Trump is now in a position where he could be extremely dangerous. Conservatives are aching for someone with the gonads to take it to Obama and really shake things up in Washington if he happens to win. Many are so fed up that they are willing to jump on almost any bandwagon that even appears to be headed in that direction, even if the driver, like Trump, is totally unreliable. Others have given up to the point where they may be backing Trump simply for the entertainment value (heck, if the ship is sinking you might as well make sure there is some fun music playing on the deck as it goes down).
Trump will now start to attract the non-crazy crowd and will be so formidable in the polls that he is here to stay until/unless he says he isn’t running, or he inevitably/hopefully gets killed off in Iowa (can a guy who doesn’t like to shake hands really compete in Iowa?!). Because he has no substance and his supporters don’t seem to care, Trump will not be vulnerable to the standard political attacks. Only losing big or not running at all can stop him now.
Why Trump has already hurt the nomination prospects of Palin, Romney and Pawlenty
Will he run? Who knows? But he is certainly putting on an extremely convincing act that he is (why else the pro-life conversion and the sudden embrace of Christianity?), and thanks to these poll numbers, he almost seems forced into making a go of it. Regardless, his presence has already had a potentially decisive influence on the race’s outcome.
There is no doubt that, in different ways, Trump has had a deep and negative impact on the nomination prospects of Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty.
No one knows if Palin is even running (for the record, I am still pretty sure she has not yet ruled it out), but Trump has attracted many of the “give me someone with balls and the celebrity to use them” crowd that might naturally be Palin supporters. Whether they would return to her if she were to announce is unknown, but the fact that they have at least temporarily abandoned her in polls saps her cause of energy and leverage.
Obviously Trump also steals the mantle of “successful business guy” that would otherwise go to Romney. Since Mitt’s entire strategy is based on getting to 35 percent and outlasting everyone else with his cash, Trump’s emergence is a deathblow to him.
There is also little doubt that Trump has sucked a lot of the oxygen out of the air which would ordinarily go to Pawlenty. Pawlenty is closest to actually announcing and is most in need of an increase in recognition, which could easily spark a victorious run based on the notion that he possesses a unique biography that can work in both a primary and a general election.
There is an adage that a society tends to get the government it deserves. If the same is true of political parties and their presidential nominees, based on how easily at least a quarter of Republicans have already been duped into supporting Donald Trump, four more years of Obama might actually be better than we deserve.
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John Ziegler is currently a documentary filmmaker who most recently released a movie on the 2008 election called, “Media Malpractice… How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Targeted.” He has also been in radio talk show host in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Louisville and Nashville. Ziegler has written two books and has appeared live on numerous national television shows including the Today Show, The View, Fox News Channel, CNN and MSNBC.
Given that massive wallet, it would be reasonable to ask for the list of sizable donations to conservative candidates. And conservative causes. Given his $6 billion. I demand to see the list. It is my right. And since he claims he supports all these things I am entitled to see his receipts. And I won’t accept a Certificae of Claimed Donations.
Although parenting styles vary, most children grow up in a household where the parent is a benevolent dictator. It is entirely reasonable for such children to regard benevolent dictators as a good thing. The benevolent dictator has a source of wealth which is limited, but the children don't understand the basis for those limits.
Actually, the benevolent dictatorship wouldn't be a bad system of government, except for two problems--one of which is sometimes surmountable, and the other one not:
Children don't have to worry about such issues. They're very unlikely ever to have to choose a successor for their parents. It would thus be entirely reasonable for them not to inherently consider the possibility that dictator might be thoroughly evil. Such a possibility should be considered, of course, by any reasonable person involved in governmental affairs, but I would regard the consideration of such possibilities to be a learned behavior rather than a natural one.
No need to ask or demand. Trump's donation lists to politicians is public knowledge as well as everyone else.
Don’t discount his cunning. To many seem to forget he is just the figurehead of the far left Socialist movement. A clever organizer but yet a pupil of many really evil people who have tried for well over a half century to transform this Republic into a Socialist State.
My point is Trump's conservatism is hard to prove. He has no political activism track record besides donations to mostly Dems. He is claiming beliefs that are contradictory to past stated policy positions. (He was for Canadian style healthcare.)
I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a “single-issue voter”.
The statement I referred to was a political contradiction. He claims to be pro-life, and then describes his position in the same language as every democrat who wants to be able claim both side of the isssue.
The same way Obama claims he personally believes marriage should be between one man and one woman, and then instructs Holder to stop defending DOMA.
The “single issue voter” strawman is yours...you keep it. My point is Trump's conservatism is largely based on his word.
I think you bring up a very important point as it relates to single issue politicians. Or single issue litmus tests.
In Wisconsin we’ve had great success the past year with very strong leaders and conservatives in Scott Walker, Paul Ryan and Ron Johnson. And all three are maintaining their support from the electorate partly because they aren’t diving into all the social issues.
The social issue debate is one of the last thirty years. It is no longer relevant. It has been Trumped (pun intended) by the need to fight against comrade Barry who essentially wants to bankrupt and then socialize this country. Once you take away the free market economy along with an individuals right to private property, we are done.
So is Trump a guy I’d follow on social issues? No. Is his personal life a model of perfection? No. But at this moment in US history, Trump may be the one guy who understands more than anyone the importance of a free economy and who has the charisma to take on all comers in that particular debate. And that is the single most important debate at the moment.
Trump is by far most likely, because we’re fed up with the funding for laws like Title IX (”women’s” sports subsidy) and all other political correctness. Also, the default caused by the bipartisan herd is going to happen anyway. The economy continues down, as long as we don’t have a large, heavy manufacturing base. ...no more Ponzi schemes.
Riddle us this. What kind of boys like unicorns and skittles. And are they all Democrats?
No sale.
Sarah has what it takes to stand up and speak the truth no matter what the repercussions. That is why the media hates her so much. Unfortunately many conservatives are intimidated by the left. So many believe as she does, but don't want to tell anyone in fear of being mocked. We also need to stand up and not let the media/left dictate who we vote for. I think the person who stands up to Obama will win. Sarah was the reason we were so excited last election- it diffently was not mccain. I don't know who the nominee will be, but I certainly don't want to left steering us to who THEY want.
I’m watching ALL of them like a hawk.
And a skunk in the hen house can do as much damage as a fox.
Well we are all still waiting to hear what our possible conservative GOP candidates have to say. I’m all ears but this time around they better get specific. I would not vote for Mitt,TPaw, Mitch, or Huck and probably not Newt so that leaves Palin, Cain, Santorum and Bachmann. We will see what they do and say. Otherwise I think I would give Trump a spin.
Trump’s own audio clips from Mark Levin show.
Devastating in my opinion, and I’m sad to say they were a real eye-opener to me. Decide for yourself.
http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2011/04/sound-trumpet.html
Trump is kicking him in the nuts and we all clap.
There's nothing more to it. We all enjoy what he's dong. We all have had jobs where we can't criticize the Minority when he's a total screw up. Trump is bashing him and doesn't give a crap. We relish it. We envy Trump. All of us.
I think Trump has caught fire because most of us want so desperately for someone to take on the Marxist/Muslim usurper and expose him- something noone else has the guts to do.
I have yet to be convinced he really intends to run.
I thinks he’s using the ‘possible candidate’ thing to have a platform to attack Obama.
He’s found something and he wants the glory of being the man to bring down the biggest fraud in American history.
Do another search, he sued and lost a court battle for someone who said his worth was around $400 million.
But the key question is how much is he paying you to be his shill?
“I am pro-life, but the pro-life issue is not the single most important issue facing the USA. “
Over 40 million murdered babies disagree.
Let’s compare Trump to Palin on trade.
Donald Trump Just on Fox News: Bring on the Trade War with China
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2624420/posts
Donald Trump Says He Would Threaten to Tax China 25%
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2698460/posts
Donald Trump: Chinese ‘Looking to Strip Us of Everything’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2666755/posts
Palin Speaks to Investors in Hong Kong
(in favor of “free trade”)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2346270/posts
The Chinese Connection via the CLSA: Sarah Palin Enters the Lion’s Den
(in favor of globalism)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2345119/posts
Maybe the two of them are doing Hillary’s dirty work. When O is damaged goods, Trump will bow out and coronate Hillary as the candidate of choice. Bestowing on her the honor of being the one that Trump ‘hires’ (a la Celebrity Apprentice).
I doubt Trump is simply fighting for the good of the country. This is too convenient.
Any society that views an unborn baby as a 'burden' will not be a civil one for long.
And don't get me started on the enormous amount of tax dollars that are spent on abortions.
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