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Trump: Eminent domain is ‘a wonderful thing’
The Hill ^ | October 06, 2015 | Elliot Smilowitz

Posted on 10/06/2015 6:24:24 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his stance in favor of eminent domain — a view not shared by many in his party.
 
"Eminent domain, when it comes to jobs, roads, the public good, I think it's a wonderful thing," Trump told Fox News' Bret Baier. 
 
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“You're not taking property. … You're paying a fortune for that property,” he said of the process, adding that homeowners can be paid “four, five, six, ten times” their property’s value.
 
Trump, a real estate mogul, noted that he’s dealt with eminent domain a lot in building developments in New York City. He said the idea that people are forced to sell homes they don’t really want to give up is a myth.
 
"Most of the time, they just want money,” the businessman said. “These people can go buy a house now that's five times bigger and in a better location."
 
The conservative group Club For Growth has run attack ads on Trump over his support for eminent domain. Trump on Tuesday dismissed those attacks as a result of his refusal to donate to the Club.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: constitution; eminentdomain; eminentdomainabuse; goodintentions; kelo; property; propertyrights; realestate; warningsigns
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To: yadent

Pile line rightaways are a whole different story. The Keystone Pipeline does not own the land it runs through it is retained by the owner. Damages and a per rod price is paid for the access.


81 posted on 10/07/2015 3:07:42 AM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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To: Lurking Libertarian

There is a big difference between a border wall and a retail parking lot. From a constitutional standpoint, the two are not comparable.


82 posted on 10/07/2015 6:07:16 AM PDT by zeugma (Zaphod Beeblebrox for president! Or Cruz if Zaphod is unavailable.)
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To: sharkhawk

It depends.

Can they come to an agreement with your mother? Would not acquiring her house jeopardize an entire new neighborhood improvement and construction project that would employ thousands of people and raise millions in tax revenue that can be used for the betterment of the society as a whole?

It all depends on what side of the argument you fall on. For many or maybe most or even all of her neighbors it might be a Godsend to have their homes purchased at better than market value and start fresh somewhere else. All without the need to hire a realtor or find a willing buyer.

Like I said. Just compensation is a subjective matter.


83 posted on 10/07/2015 6:55:12 AM PDT by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: Jim from C-Town
If they could come to an agreement, than there's no issue.

As to your other points, that's what the Soviets said when they created the farm collectives. It will be better for everyone.

84 posted on 10/07/2015 7:34:37 AM PDT by sharkhawk (Here come the Hawks, the mighty Black Hawks)
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To: sharkhawk
Still, It is not like the entire thing is academic.

The actual takings clause does appear right there in Amendment 5 in the Constitution. “private property [shall not] be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Public use and just compensation are both subjective issues open to interpretation. Your mother would have the right to fight the position in a civil action, but it is entirely subjective as to what the courts will decide is both public use and just compensation.

85 posted on 10/07/2015 7:43:05 AM PDT by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: ripnbang

I’m aware.


86 posted on 10/07/2015 8:57:17 AM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's agenda—Divide and conquer seems to be working.)
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To: yadent
What’s hilarious about many of these comments is the concept of ‘private property’. There is no such thing.

Yeah, some people are saying the same thing about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. That the concepts therein should not exist, and are in fact being ignored. How far this nation has fallen!

87 posted on 10/07/2015 2:32:30 PM PDT by roadcat
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To: MeshugeMikey
Perhaps this is what that alleged train to nowhere in California is actually all about?

That Nowhere Train project is making a lot of people ill, me included. What you say has a grain of truth. Government entities taking land, so they can sell it off later to "balance" budgets, which are never balanced. Government officials are playing evil games.

Around here (San Mateo county), they're trying to extend a temporary sales tax increase, sold to voters as a "temporary" five year deal to get over a budget problem. It's only temporary, they said. Sure enough, now they want to make it permanent. They say the infrastructure is shot and needs replacement, never mind that they didn't do their jobs and do preventative maintenance that is already in the budget.

Anyway, the sales pitch is that infrastructure like streets and libraries needs fixing, for the good of the people. The fine print is that a Municipal building which houses the police department and a firehouse will be replaced with a new building. That Municipal building used to be a private department store, taken by the city and remodeled. It's perfectly fine and modern inside (I go to it a couple times each week).

Reading the finer print behind the increased tax proposal, is that the locker facilities aren't good enough for women cops and firefighters. The city wants to hire more women to be PC. They want fancy lockers separate from the males. So they want to build an entire new building and tear down the existing perfectly fine building. Government is evil!

88 posted on 10/07/2015 2:59:37 PM PDT by roadcat
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To: roadcat

temporary taxes is are forever.

Freegards!


89 posted on 10/07/2015 3:33:52 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I wonder how many people on FR would support the government taking their guns as long as they are justly compensated?

Private property is private property. Rights are rights. The right to own a firearm assumes the right to own private property.


90 posted on 10/07/2015 5:55:35 PM PDT by magellan
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To: magellan

As a long time FReeper, I remember the Kelo decision and the united uproar. Now I see folks actually supporting it on this forum...

How far we have come.


91 posted on 10/12/2015 6:57:02 AM PDT by CSM (White wine sipping, caviar munching, Georgetown cocktail circuit circulating, Perrier conservative.)
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To: Chauncey Uppercrust; All
He may well stand by his promise to appoint Conservative judges -- however, there will absolutely be a huge difference in what he calls "conservative," and what you call "conservative."

Buyer beware. Just because Trump is a sincere patriot, doesn't mean he isn't a bad risk for American freedom and preservation of the Constitution. By pretty much ALL indications, he is a CLASSIC MODERATE in function, although in mouthiness, he is refreshingly non-PC.

92 posted on 10/12/2015 8:26:12 AM PDT by Finny (Voting "aganist" is a wish. Be ready to own what you vote for.)
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To: magellan; E. Pluribus Unum; CatherineofAragon; All
The line that really made me groan:

"Most of the time, they just want money,” the businessman said. “These people can go buy a house now that's five times bigger and in a better location."

Trump is totally out of touch with an entire spectrum of Americans. He is outside the loop, he has zero comprehension of what it is to live on little to no money, and why money is of secondary importance to many.

I knew a city-born-and-bred kid, probably from a very comfortable family, who "understood" and told me why a 5th generation California rancher and lifelong family friend had politely declined the "opportunity" to sell a small, scenic pasture for $1 million as offered. "He wanted more money," this kid said to me, with a savvy, cynical smile.

That poor dumb bastard kid had ZERO clue, just like Trump has zero clue. The kid didn't know that it wouldn't have mattered if the rancher had been offered $5 million.

The more one learns about Trump, the more one suspects that he is a statist "benefactor" of the little people at heart. He should stay far away from government.

93 posted on 10/12/2015 8:39:23 AM PDT by Finny (Voting "aganist" is a wish. Be ready to own what you vote for.)
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To: Finny

Eminent domain is an issue that is irrelevant if the United States is overwhelmed with illegal immigrants. I don’t like it either, but Trump is the only one who can get that wall built. Then we can argue about other issues at our leisure.


94 posted on 10/12/2015 8:52:09 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Is the pope Catholic?)
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To: Hugin
Right now eminent domain for private use is about 99th on my list of 100 most important issues.

You SHOULD be able to know a candidate's stand on the "most important issues" instantly because you should know the candidate's political compass, principles, and philosophy.

Trump has ZERO political compass. Therefore you will never know where Trump is going to go on any of the issues on your top 100 list.

In concept, Trump likes eminent domain, and in concept, Trump likes the idea of Federally-mandated health "insurance" to "take care of everybody." THAT tells you all you really need to know about Trump's stand on your list of 100 most important issues.

Anyone who cares to look instantly assess where Ted Cruz stands on the issues because it's the same place he was 16 years ago, eight years ago, and two years ago, and very probably exactly where he'll be two, eight, and 16 years from now. Cruz plots a course and approaches issues as directed by a political compass, and always has.

Trump is guided by personal whim and "business" savvy. Trump is a classic MODERATE. You have no more idea of where Trump will stand on "the issues" in the future, than the man in the moon. Trump's lack of political compass is the most important "issue," FRiend.

95 posted on 10/12/2015 8:53:10 AM PDT by Finny (Voting "aganist" is a wish. Be ready to own what you vote for.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
You seriously think a wall is going to solve the immigration problem?

How come we didn't need "a wall" during America's most prosperous years?

The idea that "a wall" is going to solve America's illegal immigration problem is as quaint as thinking building a moat around a house with a dirty kitchen is going to solve its ant problem.

Yeeeeesh.

Understand this: As long as the minimum wage keeps going up, the illegal immigration problem is going to get worse no matter HOW big a wall any politician puts up. Again, WHY DIDN'T WE NEED A WALL IN AMERICA'S MOST PROSPEROUS TIMES?

96 posted on 10/12/2015 8:56:02 AM PDT by Finny (Voting "aganist" is a wish. Be ready to own what you vote for.)
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To: Finny

I think Jethro Bush is your candidate. Because without Trump, that’s who you get.


97 posted on 10/12/2015 9:00:15 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Is the pope Catholic?)
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To: piasa
Amen.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." A wise and very old saying.

Donald Trump screams "good intentions," using government to make better lives for all Americans! Better lives through better government, as managed by a proven successful American businessman!

I will ONLY vote for the candidate who advocates for better lives through LESS government, a return to the Constitution and its foundation of SMALL LIMITED GOVERNMENT. No good intentions -- simply a respect for the American Constitution.

Screw "good intentions," Trump's or anyone else's. Respect for the Constitution and eradication of unconstitutional government is the only "intention" that will do any good. Cruz is that candidate.

98 posted on 10/12/2015 9:06:39 AM PDT by Finny (Voting "aganist" is a wish. Be ready to own what you vote for.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

No, Ted Cruz is my candidate. He is also YOUR candidate. You just don’t recognize it.


99 posted on 10/12/2015 9:07:10 AM PDT by Finny (Voting "aganist" is a wish. Be ready to own what you vote for.)
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To: Finny
Ted is the only one I've sent money to.

Without Trump, Ted wouldn't have a prayer. I think Trump and Cruz are a tag. I know they've denied it, but what are they supposed to do, admit it?

100 posted on 10/12/2015 9:10:26 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Is the pope Catholic?)
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