Posted on 08/08/2015 12:00:59 PM PDT by Crystal Palace East
In this post, I'm asking a serious set of questions about Mr. Trump. I'm not doing so to put him in a bad light, nor a good one.
It's really very simple. Donald Trump is an American political phenomenon. I, and others, are trying to understand why?
I am not posting this to be positive or negative regarding Mr. Trump. I'm simply asking some questions that are certain to be asked later in any campaign. My intention here is not to start some pro or anti-Trump harangues, but rather to get some serious answers to some serious questions. If anyone wants to get into any flame war regarding Mr. Trump, so be it, but I'm not going to waste my time not Jim's bandwidth getting into some long-winded debate.
I'm simply asking questions, questions I think American voters will want answers to. If anyone objects to the questions, I'd remind them of the old San Donaldson line that said, "When someone objects to your questions, what they're really upset about is the fact that you might learn the their answers to your question."
Also, one final request. Please do not generalize with just one "Trump is Great," or "Trump Stinks" answer.
Thank you for your time spent answering these questions.
#1: Donald Trump is a 21st Century political phenomenon. Why is that so?
#2: If you like Donald Trump, or dislike him, why? (Please be specific.)
3: Forgetting about demeanor and delivery, what Conservative positions/platforms does Mr. Trump have that you like the most.
4: Forgetting about demeanor and delivery, what positions does Mr. Trump have that you like the least?
5: There are other strong Conservatives in the race for the nomination, for example Senator Cruz and Governor Huckabee. Which Trump position or positions are more Conservative than the Senator or Governor? (Again, please stay away from the demeanor or style of delivery, but rather stick to specific policies.)
6: Mt Trump espoused some strong Conservative positions in the debate. Which was most important to you?
6: Mr. Trump has espoused some very liberal policies in the past, especially one that are objectionable to Conservatives. Which of those bothers you the most?
7: Mr. Trump has espoused some very liberal policies in the past, especially one that are objectionable to Conservatives. How sure are you that he is simply not engaging in the political trick of telling the audience what he thinks they want to hear, and why are you sure/unsure about that?
8: Like many politicians, when pressed, Mr. Trunp seemed to have few specifics about his accusations or plans. Does that bother you and why?
9: Mr. Trump has touched a nerve in Americans who feel disenfranchised. If elected, how would he turn that into actual improvement for all Americans, as opposed to simply more angry Americans.
10: In his books, Mr. Trump says he favors saying and doing anything to get an advantage in a business deal. Would that work for him as President?
11: In what some have called vicious personally attacks, Mr. Trump has gone after people who do not agree with him. If President, would that work in DC, or are they simply Sol Alinsky tactics, and if so, would they would work as President, and how?
12: A 3d party candidate would split the Right vote and hand the election to the Democrats. Should Trump run as a 3d Party candidate if he does not get the Republican nomination?
13: Did your opinion of Trump increase or decrease as a result of the debate?
14: Could you please list the leading candidates, ranking them from most Conservative to most Liberal?
15: Assuming Mt. Trump gets the Republican nomination, how would you advise him to attack Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Thank you for your input to this.
Trump isn't a political phenomenon, because he's not a politician...
He is a reflection of the anger, frustration and lack of leadership that American people see in DC...
He tapped into these elements and as a businessman and first rate marketing genius he saw an opportunity to promote himself and his brand...and help this country as well..
Once the GOPe and media figure out the best way to shut him out is to ignore him...
He's toast
I totally agree that all your points represent American disasters, and I don’t think Trump is the ONLY candidate to deal with these issues.
I think Cruz and Huckabee would also have prevented them too.
My theory is Trump is the bulldozer for Cruz.
1. Trump is not intimidated by media or donors.
2. I do not know Trump. But I do enjoy seeing a person not backing down
3. Immigration, in my opinion, is the single most important issue in 2016. If the repubs lose or some squish like Bush is elected amnesty will pass and the illegal vote will forever tilt the country to a socialist caudillo type president and socialism will reign supreme.
4.See 3
5. Trump is the only one forcefully attacking illegal immigration. See 3.
6. See 3
6. [sic] Socialist health care
7. see 6.
8. No. It is not even 2016 yet. See 3.
9. See 3
10. Yes. The president is a politician. After 8 years of Obama flat out lying it would be good to have a president to get his way for the benefit of Americans and not a legacy for the Obama.
11. Yes. Attacking opponents would be welcome. Bush blew it by never defending himself. Obama attacks anything and everyone and it has worked for the Obama.
12. No.
13. Increase
14. I can only list Cruz as the top conservative Bush as the least.
15. Criminal investigation of her email. She has lied. She supports illegals more than citizens. She has no accomplishments. Benghazi. The middle east is a mess. Our enemies laugh at us. Our allies don’t respect us. She did nothing as SOS. She stood by and defended her womanizing serial rapist husband.
#1: Donald Trump is a 21st Century political phenomenon. Why is that so?
I reject the implied premise of your question, that a person running for President needs to be "credentialed." This was not the intent of the Founders.
#2: If you like Donald Trump, or dislike him, why? (Please be specific.)
I dislike him because I believe he would be an arrogant blowhard who would abuse Executive Authority; In other words, AN EXACT replica of the man he would replace.
People who like him, like him because he has articulated their frustrations on some important issues, and refuses to back down.
#3: Forgetting about demeanor and delivery, what Conservative positions/platforms does Mr. Trump have that you like the most.
Apparently, he believes that America should be a country in more than just the name.
That's appealing. He also claims to be pro-life, but I haven't heard what, if any, exceptions he would be willing to permit, or how he would go about changing the status quo. He hints that he supports economic nationalism. Is that a conservative position? To my relatives and some on this forum, it is.
4: Forgetting about demeanor and delivery, what positions does Mr. Trump have that you like the least?
His silence on a number of issues bothers me more than his positions. Saying you will turn the military loose to do what they do best isn't a position. The military takes orders, what orders -- for example -- does Trump plan to issue to walk the tightrope of combating ISIS without aiding Iran?
5: There are other strong Conservatives in the race for the nomination, for example Senator Cruz and Governor Huckabee.
Huckabee is not a conservative.
Which Trump position or positions are more Conservative than the Senator or Governor? (Again, please stay away from the demeanor or style of delivery, but rather stick to specific policies.)
Huckabee is not a conservative.
I'm leaning Cruz, and I would say Cruz is more conservative on every issue, and can actually articulate why. But Cruz has to be elected to be meaningful. Can he be?
6: Mt Trump espoused some strong Conservative positions in the debate. Which was most important to you?
American sovereignty generally, and immigration in particular. I'm not sure he has really made a good argument for paleo-conservative economics, and I'm not sure he even believes in them. Saying you will "get tough" with China over trade is an attitude. But it is not a position.
Mr. Trump has espoused some very liberal policies in the past, especially one that are objectionable to Conservatives. Which of those bothers you the most?
I accept Rubio's premise that an election is always about the future, and not about the past. Therefore, I don't care what Trump believed in the past, except to the extent that I can use it gauge whether his currently stated stance is trustworthy or not.
At this point, frankly, that is my biggest issue beside his clearly enormous ego: is Trump trustworthy? I simply don't know.
7: Mr. Trump has espoused some very liberal policies in the past, especially one that are objectionable to Conservatives. How sure are you that he is simply not engaging in the political trick of telling the audience what he thinks they want to hear, and why are you sure/unsure about that?
I'll answer your question just as soon as you tell me how that would make him any different from any of the other Republicans that I've voted for since Reagan.
8: Like many politicians, when pressed, Mr. Trump seemed to have few specifics about his accusations or plans. Does that bother you and why?
Yes.
And the answer to "why" is: "Duh?!"
9: Mr. Trump has touched a nerve in Americans who feel disenfranchised. If elected, how would he turn that into actual improvement for all Americans, as opposed to simply more angry Americans.
The country is divided sharply between the looters and the producers right now. Frankly, I don't care if the tables are turned, because the looters should feel disenfranchised. They have no business being allowed to ransack the treasury for their own benefit. The alternative to making them angry is making them comfortable, and honestly, we've done too much of that already.
10: In his books, Mr. Trump says he favors saying and doing anything to get an advantage in a business deal. Would that work for him as President?
No.
But I reject the premise of the question that Trump -- or anyone else -- would approach a new job, especially a job as unique as the American Presidency, the same way he would his old job(s). It's a silly question, frankly.
11: In what some have called vicious personally attacks, Mr. Trump has gone after people who do not agree with him. If President, would that work in DC, or are they simply Sol Alinsky tactics, and if so, would they would work as President, and how?
This is a loaded question, and it's stupid.
Vicious is subjective, and "personal," like "racism" is something people throw out there to put an end to being bombarded by criticism.
We need someone who can articulate a conservative position and stick it to the opposition. The "new tone" crap got us ineffective leadership. Have Sol Alinksy tactics used by a President been effective? Look around at the wreckage that is the USA. They seemed to have accomplished 0's objectives.
12: A 3d party candidate would split the Right vote and hand the election to the Democrats. Should Trump run as a 3d Party candidate if he does not get the Republican nomination?
NO.
13: Did your opinion of Trump increase or decrease as a result of the debate?
It decreased. But not for the reasons given by some. I wanted Trump to be longer on specifics and actual plans. He wasn't. He was just The Donald.
14: Could you please list the leading candidates, ranking them from most Conservative to most Liberal?
15: Assuming Mt. Trump gets the Republican nomination, how would you advise him to attack Hillary Clinton in the general election.
On her record, which is abysmal.
On her corruption, which is manifest.
On her policies, which will just be anther four years of 0bama, run by the same apparat.
I think his “last angry child’ act will wear very thin very quickly.
What is this? An opp. Research thread?
An eerily similar thread was started a short while ago And, I think they are created to stimulate fighting rather than debate.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3313501/posts
Thankyou for the feedback
He’s undergone a transformation not unlike that of Ronald Reagan, going from Left to Right.
There’s no question in my mind he’s in this for one reason: restore America. Does he have all his ducks lined up perfectly the way I’d like them? No, but he’s close enough and offers representation of a cultural shift that many like myself want.
I also think he’s the only one who will beat Hillary unless the Democratic Socialists prop up someone else.
Yes. His own statement in the book that says he would say or do anything. He didn’t include a disclaimer that said “except for lying” did he?
I have several logical reasons why I wouldn’t vote for Trump. I picked the most obvious first. All we have to go by is Trump’s word. I have no reason to particularly believe what this man has said. He has been a liberal in the past, admitted to donating money to politicians and using that to get them to do things for him, and has no voting record to back up his claims of being a conservative.
He has said himself that when it comes to healthcare he tends to be a liberal. Here is how I think Trump fits in.
Chris Christie: “He stood up to the teachers unions!” People started to chant “Chris Christie for POTUS” when they saw video of him mouthing off in a brash manner to teachers. Since then we’ve seen more about Chris Christie and he isn’t exactly the conservative that people believed he was.
Scott Walker: “He stood up to the unions!” At least Scott Walker has more to prove his conservative credentials although he has issues as well. But it is no surprise that many jumped on the Walker bandwagon simply because of this and had little interest in looking into anything else about the man.
Carly Fiorona: “She called Hillary a liar”. Yep. That sent a tingle up everyone’s leg. But after looking at who the woman really is and what she has supported in the past that is about the only thing she has going for her. Another non-politician who says what everyone wants to hear and has absolutely no voting record to point to. People can’t even agree about whether she was a success or failure at her job at HP. Suddenly she is becoming the darling of some conservatives. Carly for POTUS!
Some of these same people who are Trump fans are probably the same ones who said Sarah Palin was unelectable because she was on a reality TV show and had an obnoxious speaking voice. People are funny and too many voters are very shallow when it comes to picking a presidential candidate.
True, but more important to me as a person who isn't committed to Cruz but certainly leaning his way, he's decided to take Reagan's approach: trashing nobody and putting his own agenda forward, and pointing out where another candidate's platform agrees with his rather than being critical.
The question is, can Cruz WIN? Because the truth is, we're hanging on by a thread right now, and Hillary!® will be our last President.
Thank you both for your well thought-out replies. They are so much more important to the American national political debate than some of the other rants here.
Again, thank you.
You are a troll.
“I would give my last dime to work for a Cruz-Palin ticket.”
Well, I was reserving my comments until I read some of the others but when you posted this, now you’re talking my language. I like Trump’s ballsey approach but to be honest I just don’t trust the guy. I wish Trump could meet my dog, my dog always knows if somebody is a good guy or a bad guy. :)
Those who want to fight and scream will.
Those who think... instead of screaming... did.
We received some good answers here.... and they are good for all of us.
Seems to be a n00b control freak.
Is that you Frank Lumptz?
You are worse... ignored.
See my post #76. LOL
I like your dog already.
Honestly, it's hard to know if anyone can win in this environment. It's an issue that concerns me, but I sincerely believe that Cruz will perform better than Bush. I think people are underestimating Cruz and overestimating Bush.
Make no mistake, Bush seems like a very nice guy. I just don't think that it will be enough in 2016 to be a nice guy.
Cruz seems to outperform his rivals. As you point out, he isn't making the mistake of attacking his opponents. I like his chances against Hillary.
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