This is a Brilliant Move by Donald Trump

Red State ^ | Erik Erickson

[VinL]

Donald Trump just trumped all the Republican candidates for President.

The day after the mom jeans wearing squat to pee President came out to assure us that tolerance, gun control, and climate change would save us from ISIS, Donald Trump demanded we bar any muslims from entering this country and bar any American citizen who is muslim from re-entering the United States.

Set aside the merits of what amounts to at least, in part, an unconstitutional position.

This is actually brilliant politics for the here and now. Immediately, every other Republican candidate except Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% rushed out to attack Donald Trump. He’s unhinged, hateful, etc. And the responses all amounted to "we must let muslims enter our country," which sounds a whole lot like "we must allow all Mexicans in our country," which everyone knows is blatantly untrue on both counts.

We do not have to do it, but the other candidates, unable to nuance their spittle, went all in with "no religious tests" and "yes we must do this because it is who we are."

So, to put it another way, the day after the President failed to reassure a scared public following the second worst terrorist attack since 9/11 on domestic soil, Donald Trump not only got himself to the right of all the other candidates, but also got every single one of them save for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% to align themselves with Barack Obama.

Hate Donald Trump all you want, be offended by his proposal all you want, but it is really brilliant politics for Trump right now in the Republican primary and the reactions from the other candidates prove it. All the people attacking Trump on his immigration proposals now attacking him on this have done themselves no favors within the primary process.

Have none of these people read Art of the Deal? This is an opening, bombastic salvo to set the terms of negotiations and the other candidates except Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100% just decided to negotiation in Barack Obama’s position. And it comes at a time some polls are suggesting Trump is starting to fade in places like Iowa.

[ichabod1]

Next quote: If you can’t deliver the goods, nothing else matters.

[ichabod1]

I don’t believe any islamic poll. They have to answer “right” at peril of their lives.

[SamAdams76]

My interpretation of the flickering dog GIF is that it subliminally associated Shrillary in our minds with Muslim terrorists and the fear of her possible presidency is so frightening that even a dog, presented with a platter of cupcakes, cannot avert its eyes from the disturbing prospect of Shrillary becoming president.

I think the GIF is pure genius and that Trump should use it in his Instagram ads. All that is missing is some menacing Mike Oldfield type music.

[SamAdams76]

I'm really disappointed in Ted Cruz over this. He had a chance to differentiate himself from the rest of the GOPe pack on this issue and clearly establish himself in the race as a viable alternative to Donald Trump but he blew it.

I know that Cruz is on the same side as Trump with this issue. Cruz does not want Muslims entering this country either. However, he does not have the guts to come out and say it and would rather parse his words and play it safe. With these weasel words, Cruz has shown himself to be no different than the other word-parsing establishment politicians and he also showed us that he can be pushed around.

[exit82]

Good point. What is nice about Trump is that he is self funded—ie, he is paying for his own microphone and can say what he wants without worrying about offending large donors.

No one else running on either side can match that.

[wayoverontheright]

Further, I wish everyone would quit calling Islam a religion. It is not a religion but a political system. No religion admonishes murder of non-believers. They have no religious rights.

Thank you!

I would add that the death penalty for leaving makes it a cult.

We must stop advocating for the word "radical" to be attached to Islam, the whole belief structure is radical. Whatever we do, and what Trump suggests should only be the beginning, we must risk that consequences accrue to all Islamists, else we are giving Islam an out, IMHO.

Once we have stopped immigration of all Islamists, deportation should be the next conversation.

[Timber Rattler]

Doesn’t apply after getting elected, as we all know.

[SamAdams76]

Yes, I believe Cruz is worried that if he says the wrong thing, the money spigot that is funding his campaign will be turned off. Our elected officials are pretty much owned and controlled by their donors. I don't really know what the answer is because we can't rely solely upon independently wealthy people like Donald Trump from this point forward.

Every time somebody proposes shutting down the PACs, people holler about free speech. Yet PACS easily circumvent the maximum contributions we are allowed to make directly to a specific candidate and they then own and control our elected officials. So we are in a quandary.

[John O]

I've been here longer than you have

With all due respect, nopardons, playing the noobie card to someone who's been here 15 years (and only two years less than you) is senseless and low. That would be like me calling you a noob.

The length of time someone has been here is immaterial to most discussions. Both of you have well established credentials on this site.

The entire first paragraph of your post contributes nothing. Far better to just stick to the discussion.

(I really am sorry to intrude on this but the noob thing is one of my major pet peeves. President Reagan wasn't always a conservative either. Know what I mean?)

[Lazamataz]

Erik is sure singing a different tune.

Wonder what the angle is?

[Wilderness Conservative]

Take it a step further. Shut down all immigration from everywhere.

[Neoliberalnot]

We have to start a conversation about nuking Mecca during Ramadan, otherwise we are looking at a century of mass murders of unarmed civilians as a way of life.

[cymbeline]

For “Muslim” substitute “believer in Sharia Law”.

For “believer in Sharia Law” substitute “believer in punishments for nonbelievers that include amputation and beheading, believer in death penalty for homosexuals, believer in slavery of women, etc.”

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Citizenship can be revoked.

Has to be for all muslims here followed immediately by deportation.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Excellent logic. So many simply do NOT understand. muslims are NOT allowed to disavow or reject sharia law. So many stupid, ignorant Americans.

[Neoliberalnot]

We have to start a conversation about nuking Mecca during Ramadan, otherwise we are looking at a century of mass murders of unarmed civilians as a way of life.

[LibsRJerks]

and then, when the nest high profile Jihadi attack occurs, and we all know it will occur, he will be able to say “I told you so but you didn’t want to hear it”.

Sure — and you know what these libweenies will say to this? Trump CAUSED the attack because his rhetoric “angers” them.

It’s what they do.

Which is to say ...they want us to cowtow to them, each and every day, until eternity.

[exit82]

Sam, good description of the dilemma.

I just hope a good man like Cruz doesn’t get dragged down by this structure.

I would love for Trump to throw Cruz a VP lifeline, but it is too soon for that.

I think a Trump/Cruz combination would be the best thing for America and the worst thing for Democrats, our biggest domestic enemy.

[Flick Lives]

LOL!

[liberalh8ter]

The brilliance is the media is aghast at the “unconstitutionality” of such a position......while simultaneously providing cover for Obama every time he violates the very same Constitution..