Posted on 01/22/2016 7:36:36 AM PST by Isara
...In the eyes of Ted Cruz, here's another "New York value" embodied by Donald Trump: seizing private people's property to build skyscrapers with his name on it.
As the rivalry blooms between the Republican field's top presidential contenders, Cruz and his allies are eyeing a major opportunity in this rural state to cast Trump as an overly zealous land-grabber, profit-driven elitist and big-government liberal, prioritizing commercial interests like his own over conservative values.
"Trump, with his casinos, he can take the land because it's in his best interest," former Sen. Bob Smith, a Cruz co-chairman, said here. "It's a big deal here, but I don't think it's gotten much publicity -- but I think it will."
...
"Donald Trump has said he thinks eminent domain is fantastic, and he supports using government power to seize private people's homes, to give them to giant corporations to say hypothetically build a casino," Cruz said in Wakefield, the first time that Cruz voluntarily brought up Trump's record before an audience.
"Now he's entitled to have that view," Cruz added, "but my view is we have an obligation to protect the rights of Americans, and private property is essential to the rights of Americans."
Trump has been one of eminent domain's strongest supporters, including praising the 2005 Supreme Court Kelo v. New London decision reviled by conservatives for staying that the government's power to repossess property can apply not just for public projects, such as a highway, but for private development as well.
"Eminent domain -- when it comes to jobs, roads, the public good -- I think it's a wonderful thing," Trump said on Fox News in October. "I fully understand the conservative approach, but I don't think it was explained to most conservatives."
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(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Slinging mud at the walls in the hope that something will stick.
Need a little primer on Eminent Domain:
1. It is permitted by the US constitution but is limited to taking for a public purpose
2. What is at issue is the Kelo decision which allowed taking by the government and turning over to a private entity for a private purpose
3. Any one who is truly conservative believes that this is an absolutely horrid decision
4. Donald Trump does not, he likes the Kelo decision
Does Cruz oppose Eminent Domain? If so, he opposes the 5th Amendment of the Constitution. So much for being a supporter of the Constitution.
Cruz better get back to Iowa he is now down double digits in some polling.
Eminent domain for public purposes, like the Wall and the Keystone Pipeline is totally different than the E/D Trump supports which is grabbing private property for personal, commercial business purposes.
...And just how did Cruz think they were going to get the land for the Keystone Pipeline he supported?...
You mean the pipeline going over private land owners land bought and taken by the government and to be used by corporations to send oil they drilled to other corporations to send overseas to other corporations to refine and sell?
No difference with the Trump deal except to Cruz supporters, is it?
“A fancy housing development and golf course is not the same.”
It is if it creates jobs and brings economic development to the area.
Eminent domain is in the Constitution. For over 225 years, it was understood that the government could seize private land for PUBLIC benefit.
The Kelo decision extends the seizure of private property for private use, to favor an entity under the guise that such seizure might bring in greater tax revenue. This is not only counter to all concepts of freedom, it is ripe for abuse and corruption.
The wall between the US and Mexico would be for PUBLIC benefit, as is understood by the traditional understanding of Eminant Domain, should land be required for its construction.
Suzette Kelo knows what Cruz is talking about.
The decision that bears her name is a triumph of crony capitalism over Constitutional conservatism.
You can support Trump all you want but his position on Kelo discloses that he is the former, not the latter
I think the argument in Kelo was that economic redevelopment even when done privately had public benefits that met the requirement.
Like the homes affected in the Kelo decision, right? If a developer covets your home and has influence over the local officials, you should surrender your property for whatever the developer wants because "it creates jobs and brings economic development to the area," correct?
Being a relative newb here in FR, you likely aren't aware this forum was nearly uniformly against the Kelo decision.
Exactly... and Trump has never recanted his "100% support" for the Kelo decision.
Yes I know that. That’s why it’s awful It allows the Government to take from one private citizen and give to another. That’s not Eminent Domain, that’s crony capitalism/socialism
The property where your house sit would benefit “the public” more by generating more taxes if they took your home and built a commercial development.
Not a winning issue.
I’m in favor of eminent domain if it’s:
1) For the public good
2) Compensates the owner at 4x or more of appraised or actual current value. I’m against it if the owner doesn’t get at least 4x actual value. (Which I know is not the current state)
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Again, the Keystone Pipeline is a PRIVATE enterprise. For the benefit of a foreign govt so they can export their oil to China and needs to bypass the States. So fail and try again.
I didn’t realize the Keystone Pipeline was a commercial development with no national security implications. The pipeline was to be part of our ability to maintain energy capacity, not a casino or hotel.
Just like Mr. Cruz has called Obama a Emperor, where are the impeachment calls from him?
Most voters don’t have a clue about what Eminent Domain is or if they do, they don’t care.
And the wall is national infrastructure and not a golf course. Do you see the difference, right?
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