Posted on 04/26/2011 9:28:40 AM PDT by jmaroneps37
The boomlet for Donald Trump as a Republican nominee for president of the United States ought to be a wake-up call for Republican candidates and Republican party leaders alike.
Why has Trump surged ahead of other Republican candidates and potential candidates in the polls? It is not likely that his resurrection of the issue of Barack Obama’s birth certificate has aroused all this support.
The birth-certificate issue does more political damage to Obama’s critics than to the president himself, because it enables the media to paint those critics as kooks. Nor are Donald Trump’s political positions such as to create a stampede to his cause.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Radio-talk-show host Mark Levin has rebroadcast Trump’s varied and mutually contradictory statements on political issues and personalities over the years. It was a devastating revelation of Trump’s “versatility of convictions,” to use a phrase coined long ago by Thorstein Veblen.
So then what is Donald Trump’s appeal? And why should it concern Republican leaders in general?
Trump has what so many other Republicans are so painfully lacking: the ability and the willingness to articulate arguments clearly, forcefully, and in plain English. Too many Republicans talk like the actor of whom a critic once said, “he played the king like he was afraid that someone else was going to play the ace.”
What electrified so many Republicans about Sarah Palin in the 2008 election campaign was that her speeches offered such a contrast to the usual mealy-mouthed talk common among other Republican candidates, including Sen. John McCain. Whether you agreed or disagreed with her position on the issues, you didn’t have to wave your hand in front of her eyes to see if she was awake.
Donald Trump is dangerous in at least two senses. If, by some tragic miracle, he should become the Republicans’ candidate for president in 2012, that would be the closest thing to an iron-clad guarantee of a second term in the White House for Barack Obama.
That would be a huge setback for the Republicans — and, far more important — a historic catastrophe for this country.
What seems more likely is that Donald Trump as a candidate for the Republican nomination would use his superior articulation skills — not to mention brash irresponsibility — to trash all the other Republican candidates for that nomination, leaving them damaged goods in the eyes of the public, and therefore less able to gather the votes needed to prevent the reelection of Obama.
Why Republicans seem not to understand the crucial importance of putting the same time and attention into articulating their positions as the Democrats do is one of the enduring mysteries of American politics.
It was obvious that the Democrats coordinated their talking points and catch-phrases — “social justice,” “tax cuts for the rich,” etc. — even before the overheard and recorded statements of Sen. Chuck Schumer about Democrats’ plans to repeatedly use the word “extreme” to characterize Republicans.
But how many Republican catch phrases can you remember? Republican rhetoric tends to range from low key to no key.
Nor is there much evidence that Republicans have asked themselves how the left wing of the Democratic party gained such ascendancy in recent years, in a country where millions more people identify themselves as conservative than as liberals.
In short, there is little or no evidence that most Republicans see any need to fundamentally change their approach to the public. But if they think that they can rely on Obama’s declining popularity to win the 2012 election, they may be in for a rude shock. Worse yet, the whole future of this country and of Western civilization will be in jeopardy — in a world where the likes of Iran and North Korea become nuclear powers while we engage in empty talk at the U.N.
Barack Obama’s declining support in public-opinion polls makes some conservatives feel that his reelection hopes are doomed. But Donald Trump can be Barack Obama’s secret weapon in his fight to remain in the White House. The Donald can be his Trump card.
Got that right, Publius! Trump makes all the other potential candidates pale by comparison. He's on fire right now. Secretariat comes to mind just about now.
Yes I checked it unlike you. Why it’s not true because you said it? So are you saying Obama has released all these records? If so, then please send me ALL the links to this information. Since EVERYONE in the country is making this up since Obama has released ALL this personal information and is not HIDING anything... Please link it. The Supreme Court has even chimed in on ALL the law suits. All the news media outlets have reported. Even the Pro Obama crowd reports it. You are the ONLY one saying Obama has released all his records and is HIDING nothing.
The facts show he is paying a law firm to HIDE his birth certificate, school records, employment records and medical record. Obama REFUSES to release them. Obama has multiple law suits on him. What are you saying this is not happening? The law suits are not hidden!
Excellent post. Trump is like Ron Paul. Neither will be the nominee, but each has a few important things to say that the establishment Rs are too cowardly to mention. I’m happy to have Trump “pimp-slap” the MSM talking heads and Obama. It’s not only entertaining, but much of what he has to say gets a hearing from the Reagan Ds and independents that the Romneys, Huckabees, and Newts will never reach. Trump will probably fade by the end of summer, but in the interim he will have damaged Obama on economics, foreign policy, and eligibility.
We can do better than the Donald.
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As of right now, in the “field of candidates” we currently have, only Sarah Palin would be better that the Donald.
Any birther who believes Trump wants to solve the birther issue is politically naive. He will use it to get some conservative street cred, and will toss it overboard as soon as it no longer serves his purpose. In the meantime, he will keep hinting at all the “evidence” he’s uncovered.
Regardless of whether or not the evidence is true, this entire debate has been covered up relentlessly since it became and issue, which leads any rational THINKING person to question why the issue has not been put to rest.
O.K. curiosity; I’m starting to get embarrassed for you, my man. I’m not a birther,; “It’s the economy stupid.” But, WHERE IS THE FRIGGIN’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE? A State Senator from Hawaii, said last week: “I don’t understand why anyone, espcecially the President of the United States would spend millions of dollars to keep his birth certificate and school records secret.”
I GUESS YOU AGREE THAT OBAMA REALLY NEVER KNEW WHAT REVEREND WRIGHT BELIEVED, OR THAT HE NEVER BROKE BREAD WITH LOUIE FARRAKHAN OR THAT HE DIDN’T KNOW BILL AYERS WAS A TERRORIST.........
Chill out Bro.
and=an
What you fail to grasp is that Trump is part of the Obama machine. Who did Trump vote for in 2008? Whose campaigns did Trump donate money to over the last 10-20 years? Can you name a single conservative that Trump ever supported in an election? Can you name a single issue, before 2011, on which Trump ever took the conservative side?
Trump is not a conservative. His views on health care, trade, taxation, etc, are populist progressive/left. Other than the birther stuff, Trump stated policy positions on some of the major issues are not much different than Senator Bernie Sanders (Socialist, Vermont).
Trump is most certainly NOT "the best we've got". Virtually ALL of our potential candidates are better just by the fact that most of them are either conservative or somewhat conservative. Trump has almost no conservative credentials or track record to speak of.
And I am still trying to figure out why people on a supposedly conservative website are supporting candidates like Trump who are clearly not at all conservative.
Thomas Sowell a jackass? Have you lost every ounce of common sense with which you were born?
The rest of us in FReeperland don’t want to see FR birthers tying some of our best conservative voices to the track of the Donald Trump Express. Support The Donald if you wish, but don’t start trashing our best conservatives.
Having anyone look at a professional entrepreneurs background looking for political stability is farcical at best.
Of course “the Donald” has said and done contradictory things! His business persona and fiduciary responsibility made him go with whatever he needed at the time to get the job done, or exhibit the image he needed, when necessary.
That said and done, he has done quite well for himself inside the Capitalist system. He has created many jobs, and his enterprises have generated untold millions in tax revenue, as opposed to just about any of the politicians attacking him from Washington, or highly intelligent writers comparing his past business actions and survival tactics with future political decisions.
Can “The Donald” make decisions...I’d say yes.
Does “The Donald” respect America...I’d say yes.
Has “The Donald” repeatedly, or ever, complained about the constraints of the Constitution, and the shortcomings of our forefathers creation...no, not so much.
Has “The Donald” gone out of his way to praise a Communist country with slave labor, implying America should be more like them...no, never.
Has “The Donald” ever bemoaned the fact he wasn’t president of that same Communist country, because it would be easier to get things done, (without free citizens)...no, never.
I posit we have never seen a political Donald Trump. We cannot use his past decisions in the private sector to judge him, except to determine whether he has the ability to collect, sort and absorb facts, and, along with his advisers, reach decisive, logical decisions.
From his past successes, I’d say yes.
Does his vast world-wide experience give him a sufficient worldview to run the worlds largest Capitalist system?
I’d say YES!
Putting Trump and obama side by side, is there any position, issue, or level of experience that obama has that comes near Trump’s?
I’d say, (EMPHATICALLY), NO!
We tried an inexperienced, American-values hating failure, This time, lets go with an experienced, American-values promoting success.
Job one right now is to get Zero the hell out of office. Nomatter what it takes. We will have to figure the rest of it out afterwards. If he wins again this country is really screwed. Trump is flawed just like all the other politicians, and I don’t trust him either, but he is strong enough and has enough name recognition, and cash, to knock Zero out. I don’t see any real conservative, aside from Sarah who they will demonize to the ends of the earth, who is strong enough to get the job done. If someone else doesn’t emerge soon, Trump may be the best shot we have to unseat El Diablo. Give him a chance. The alternative will be devastating!!
For me, Lincoln captured the essence of a conservative American with this...
“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.”
— Abraham Lincoln
I believe Trump adhere's to these principles just fine.
“Pelosi took it upon herself to sign two documents to confirming him as eligibility without even verifying it.”
Actually, FWIU, she and Reid signed two DIFFERENT documents for McCain and obama. The one for McCain said he was found constitutionally elibible, obama’s did not have that wording.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=109363
I have to admire Jim Robinson's patience.
It has become clear to me that Obama's "election" was planned for years. As part of the plan, I've noticed that a good number of posters on FR since the Islamic Candidate was elected have a Freeper signup date of 2004 through 2006, "peaking" in 2005. Most, if not all of them have been posting like mad since then, adopting new Freeper identities as they are unmasked and posting positive remarks about the Obama and the 111th Congress, and tossing hand grenades in discussions among the promising Republican candidates for the 2012 presidential election.
I wish I had Jim Robinson's data as to "new members" for those three years to see the spike of invisible Freepers who came to life during the campaign and election of the "Great Uniter," and continue posting, getting banned, and returning under new identities.
Personally I ignore them, but they seem to have a positive influence in the direction of discussions on FR.
You got to admire that kind of organization.
Not everyone is supporting Trump as a candidate.
Some of us just support the the fact that he's making Obama and his minions talk about something they really don't want to talk about.
donald wasn’t vetted by dana pe-rino and karl rove.
You Trumpsters are really embarrassing yourselves. Either that, or many people here singing the praises of Trump weren't really conservative in the first place.
Trump is NOT a conservative. He just isn't. His policy positions are much more progressive/left. Trump has advocated a complete government take over of health care in the form of a Canadian single payer socialist system, Trump has advocated for a 5.7 trillion dollar wealth surtax, Trump doesn't support Paul Ryan's plan - not because it doesn't go far enough, but because Trump thinks we shouldn't touch medicare and medicaid. The list goes on and on. Trump is NOT a conservative.
Why is anyone on a conservative forum supporting a candidate that is not in any way a conservative? Trump has zero track record of supporting ideologically conservative positions, he gives huge amounts of money to Democrats, he is best friends with folks like Chuckie Schumer, his crowd is northeastern liberals. Trump is not in any way, shape or form a conservative.
I am beginning to think that if uber-progressive Ed Schultz latched onto the birther stuff and wanted to run for President that he'd actually get support here. Nevermind that he isn't in any way conservative, just so long as spends oodles of time on an issue that will have absolutely no impact on the 2012 election.
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