Posted on 01/27/2016 11:32:36 AM PST by Zhang Fei
Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump's Twitter squad is pushing the idea that Donald Trump rage-quitting the Fox News debate because he thinks Megyn Kelly is mean to him makes him as presidential as Ronald Reagan, because Reagan also skipped a GOP debate in Iowa.
For all his faults, Ronald Reagan ran a campaign of optimism and small government in 1980. That campaign ended in a landslide over incumbent Jimmy "malaise forever" Carter. No one would mistake the "Trump train" and its never-ending anger, xenophobia, and even class envy for a campaign of optimism. Sure, Trump, like Reagan, wants to "make America great again," but Trump's vision doesn't include America as a "shining city on a hill" for the world to aspire to. It involves a giant wall.
More importantly, and this ought to be obvious, the context of Reagan's decision to skip the 1980 debate is different than the context of Trump's decision. Reagan was not in a petty feud with the Des Moines Register at the time. His campaign manager simply believed that as the frontrunner, Reagan was above the debate. Only five of the nine Republicans vying for the nomination participated in the debate. That debate was the first Republican primary debate since 1948. It was not planned to be a televised debate—that came later. And after Reagan's loss in Iowa, he pivoted, ignoring his campaign manager's advice and deciding not to skip future debates.
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Trump can be rightly criticized for his behavior in this campaign, but when they throw ‘xenophobia’ at him they lose me completely.
“No one would mistake the “Trump train” and its never-ending anger, xenophobia, and even class envy for a campaign of optimism. Sure, Trump, like Reagan, wants to “make... “
I am so tired of this constant use of extreme and inflammatory language which is so in excess of anything that is actually said.
When will people begin to be honest again?
Reagan did pull an amusing maneuver for the New Hampshire debate. He arranged to do a one-on-one debate with Bush, then invited four other candidates to the debate. This was the source of the “I paid for this mike” quote when the moderator turned off his microphone. Bush left in a huff, cratering his NH numbers. The common thread - the guy who quit the debate lost that state and had his numbers fall.
Comparing political campaigns 36 years apart is a non-starter.
Reason is a libertarian open borders publication. But the account of Reagan's come-to-Jesus moment in regard to debate participation is accurate.
“His campaign manager simply believed that as the frontrunner, Reagan was above the debate.”
So, same for Trump’s campaign manager. Trump is in the same position as was Reagan. There is absolutely NO REASON for him to participate, particularly given the liklihood that it’s a setup by Fox to try and trash him. He only looses by attending. There just isn’t any upside for him.
Cruz supporters are so desperate they’ll make up any excuse. I’m hoping Trump clubs him like a bay seal in Iowa now.
Trump (or Trump's people) is the one making the comparison.
Lol in what world is "Make America Great Again" NOT optimism?
Despite the author’s obvious bias it’s an informative article.
Of course though: the political media of today is HUGELY different than in 1980. This is happening in a completely different political environment.
Reagan skipped the debate, and Reagan lost Iowa.
Ed Krayewski used to work for FOX.
Reagan lost Iowa, despite almost being a native son (i.e. being from neighboring IL). He never skipped another debate after that. Bush skipped the NH debate over the debate arrangements (he was sandbagged by having to debate four other candidates instead of just Reagan, as had previously been arranged via bilateral discussions) and lost the NH primary by a country mile, despite being a near native son (i.e. being from neighboring MA). The common thread is that skipping debates - for whatever reason - used to mean losing states. Maybe Trump will prove the exception.
Donald Trump doesn’t need debates! Donald Trump is a BILLIONAIRE. What gives anyone the right to debate HIM? Do they have the same level of success as him? NO! They are all LOSERS. Trump is a WINNER, as his tweets all make clear! If they moved this so called debate to Twitter, the election would be OVER! Donald can out-tweet ANY of these shmucks currently vying for the Republican nomination! Twitter is the PERFECT format for debates because it doesn’t allow those shifty Canadian snakes like Cruz say too much. They have to offer ideas that have as much depth as Trump! Let’s see them win in that format! They CAN’T! That’s why Donald is the king of the Twitter-verse and these guys are just plain TWITS with their stupid, biased debate!
GO TRUMP!
Excuse? This isn't an excuse - it's a straightforward account of what happened to overwhelming favorite Reagan when he skipped the Iowa debate. He lost Iowa.
This article’s title destroys its premise.
The title’s meme is: Reagan did it (and he won), so Trump can do it, and win.
No one is going to read the article itself.
Exactly. There are reasons to support him or not support him. These made divisive terms are not.
He's a terrible man that attracts far too many just like him . ..and they're all over the Internet leaving their stench behind them.
People haven't a clue what THEY'RE inviting by indulging this man's antics and behavior.....but they will soon see well enough if this continues.
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