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Trump says he’d probably run as independent if he doesn’t win Republican nomination
Hotair ^ | 04/12/2011 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 04/12/2011 6:44:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Gee, this seems so …. familiar:

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO OF DONALD TRUMP's STATEMENT

Donald Trump will “probably” run as an independent candidate for U.S. President in 2012 if he does not receive the Republican party’s nomination, he told the Wall Street Journal in a video interview on Monday. …

“I am very conservative,” said Mr. Trump. “The concern is if I don’t win [the GOP primary] will I run as an independent, and I think the answer is probably yes.” Mr. Trump said he thought he “could possibly win as an independent,” adding, “I’m not doing it for any other reason. I like winning.”

As for foreign policy, Mr. Trump said he is “only interested in Libya if we take the oil,” and that if he were President, “I would not leave Iraq and let Iran take over the oil.” He remains sharply critical of the Chinese, asserting that as President, “I would tell China that you’re either going to shape up, or I’m going to tax you at 25% for all the products you send into this country.”

The only difference between Trump and H. Ross Perot seems to be that Perot was a better businessman. About four minutes into the interview, Kelly Evans hits Trump on his flirtations with bankruptcy over the years. Trump insists that he never filed for bankruptcy, which is true in terms of his personal finances, although Trump came close enough to it. His businesses were another matter. Trump’s Taj Mahal casino had to go through bankruptcy, which cost Trump half of the casino. The Trump Plaza Hotel next went through bankruptcy, which caused him to lose 49% of the hotel and resign from its management. Two years ago, Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for Chapter 11, and in 2008 his Trump International Tower in Chicago defaulted on a $40 million loan. In response, Trump blamed the global economic collapse and tried to have it declared an Act of God to relieve himself of responsibility for the default.

That’s not exactly a great track record for a chief executive. It’s worth noting that his own investors have booted him from management at these holdings after his risk-taking and failures.

Otherwise, this is a second coming of Perot. Trump has the money (at least for now) to mount a vanity campaign as a third-party alternative to the two major-party nominees. This would end up splitting the anti-Obama vote and set the President up for an easy re-election through a popular-vote plurality that would translate into an overwhelming Electoral College majority. Liberals are not going to flock to Trump’s side for any reason, which means whatever Trump draws will come directly from those who were already inclined to vote against Obama. It would be a nightmare scenario for Republicans in this cycle, a sort of Charlie Crist on steroids and junk bonds but with a viable Democratic opponent in the mix.

The GOP should nip this in the bud now. Can we agree that the starting position for anyone seeking the Republican nomination is that they will support the outcome of the primaries?

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO OF DONALD TRUMP's STATEMENT


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012gopprimary; birthertrump; donaldtrump; gop; independent; potus; thirdparty; thirdparty2012; trump; trump2012; trump4trump
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

I haven’t really seen a poll showing otherwise.


121 posted on 04/12/2011 8:32:47 AM PDT by RockinRight ([insert tagline here])
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To: Responsibility2nd
Voting for the POTUS based on who he may select for SCOTUS is foolish.

No, it means we are just that much closer to ending the facade of democratic government. When the kings in black dresses have more power than any other branch, how long till they just assume the rest?

122 posted on 04/12/2011 8:36:56 AM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: RockinRight

Losing is not in his DNA, it’s not his way.

<><><><><

Really?

USFL vs NFL.

Twas his plan to compete head to head with the NFL.

Charlie Sheen couldn’t even call that Winning.


123 posted on 04/12/2011 8:48:50 AM PDT by dmz
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To: dmz

Yeah, and he bailed pretty quickly if I remember right.


124 posted on 04/12/2011 8:49:30 AM PDT by RockinRight (Trump doesn't play stalking horse for anybody.)
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To: RockinRight

Do you know how many people I know that say things like “yeah, Trump’s kind of a douche but I’d vote for him...”

<><><><

I say this tongue in cheek (sort of).

You need to upgrade the folks you hang with.


125 posted on 04/12/2011 8:56:46 AM PDT by dmz
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To: SeekAndFind

If Trump is looking to destroy Obama (for whatever reason), this is the smart thing to do. I’m not talking about running, I don’t think he will, but by saying he will run as an independent, the media will pay more attention to him, heck they might even start carrying water for him hoping he will run.

If he says he’s going to run as an R, you can bet the media will start to ignore him, and they will promote Romney as the only viable candidate 24/7.

In the end, I don’t think he will run. I think he wants to scorch Obama’s earth, not actually run. But, my opinion may change, who can figure this guy out, many folks smarter than me have been outsmarted by Donald Trump.


126 posted on 04/12/2011 9:07:05 AM PDT by esoxmagnum
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To: Williams

Who knows he could probably win as an independant


127 posted on 04/12/2011 9:09:16 AM PDT by mel (I DONATE to FR monthly...Do You?????)
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To: Past Your Eyes

Anybody contemplating running as an independant should immediately be ruled out for the nomination.


128 posted on 04/12/2011 9:10:29 AM PDT by proudpapa
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To: Stingray51

If Trump is such a Conservative; why did he donate to Harry Reid, and a whole lot of other Democrats, in 2010?

Apparently 1 major difference between Perot and Trump is Perot had principals while Trump has none.

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/02/donald-trumps-donations-to-democrats.html


129 posted on 04/12/2011 9:12:41 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The problem with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money. Lady Thatcher)
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To: SeekAndFind

I see a plot here: Trump shoots Obama down, Hillary becomes the Dem 2012 candidate, Trump runs as a Perot spoiler, and H finally becomes president.


130 posted on 04/12/2011 9:14:43 AM PDT by expatpat
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To: Stingray51
Please do not take this as an endorsement of Trump. However, my question is: did Perot ever even claim to be a conservative as Trump as done?

Perot seemed to position himself more as a populist than as a liberal or a conservative. His one big issue was the economy/budget. He was in favor of "workfare" - welfare to work, but was pro-choice. A mixed bag.

If I recall correctly, Perot's big thing was that he was non-partisan and would "get under the hood and fix things" and other such content-free mumbo jumbo.

Basically, yes. You've pretty much nailed it.

You can believe Trump or not, and there is certainly reason to be skeptical, but it seems to me that he is at least claiming to be a conservative.

He isn't, though. Trump is in favor of abortion - I don't care what he says or anyone else says. He said he had a pro-life conversion years ago, but continues to give money to pro-choice Democrats. What he says and what he's done are two different things. We have to go by what he's done, since that's the record he'd have to run on and those are the decisions he's made.

Trump has written that he's in favor of taxpayer-funded universal health care. Hardly conservative.

And Trump says that he's not in favor of gun control, but then goes on to explain that he's for the assault weapons ban, and in favor of a three day waiting period to buy a weapon.

Whether that should mean anything to us is another question.

Again, what he now says is is stark contrast to the actions he's taken, including recent actions.

131 posted on 04/12/2011 9:16:11 AM PDT by mountainbunny
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus

Probably more clever than stupid — see post 130.


132 posted on 04/12/2011 9:16:26 AM PDT by expatpat
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To: SeekAndFind

As I suspected, Trump is the appointed Teddy Rosevelt for this election cycle.

Those of you that support him need to look in the mirror to see who is destroying America.


133 posted on 04/12/2011 9:20:39 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Going 'EGYPT' - 2012!)
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus

>> “Nevertheless, let’s not forget that there are a lot of people here on FR who have said that Sa-Rah should do the exact same thing if she doesn’t win it” <<

.
Sarah will win it, and that is exactly why this fool is doing this.


134 posted on 04/12/2011 9:22:43 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Going 'EGYPT' - 2012!)
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To: tsowellfan
At this point before the 2008 elections it was “guaranteed” to be Hillary vrs Rudy G for the Presidency in 2008 according to all the polling data.

How did 2008 actually turn out?

135 posted on 04/12/2011 9:23:21 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The problem with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money. Lady Thatcher)
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To: stockpirate

that’s the way i see it.

what a fool i have been for supporting Trump


136 posted on 04/12/2011 9:25:16 AM PDT by ncpatriot
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To: Yaelle

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2703298/posts

Care to explain to us why, if Trump is such a great “Conservative”, he donated so much money to Harry Reid, and other Democrats, in 2010?


137 posted on 04/12/2011 9:27:15 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The problem with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money. Lady Thatcher)
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To: SeekAndFind

Well, if the GOP nominee is Mitt Romney, then at least there would be someone I could vote for.


138 posted on 04/12/2011 9:27:29 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Made from the right stuff! "Anybody but Obama in 2012!")
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To: RockinRight

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2703298/posts

Care to explain to us why, if Trump is such a great “Conservative”, he donated so much money to Harry Reid, and other Democrats, in 2010?


139 posted on 04/12/2011 9:28:09 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The problem with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money. Lady Thatcher)
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To: eeriegeno
While they all have that quality, since we all do, I don't think it's as evident in some as it is in Donald Trump.

Many politicians, from time to time, take positions which are unpopular but which they seem to think is right. Agree or disagree, they are showing some principle when they do this.

Donald Trump is so into himself that it would be a sincere concern that he might do the thing which was popular, but wrong, in order to stoke his boundless ego.

140 posted on 04/12/2011 9:28:47 AM PDT by mountainbunny
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