Posted on 03/04/2016 5:03:33 AM PST by Kaslin
When losing to the star of a reality TV show, is it really so crazy to resort to reality-show tactics to defeat him?
I'm not referring to Marco Rubio's decision to fight fire with fire with Donald Trump and return insult for insult. I, for one, thought it was wholly appropriate for Rubio to give the schoolyard bully a taste of his own medicine. The evidence shows that Rubio's attacks, while tardy, paid off. Voters not already enraptured with Trump are open to persuasion, and late deciders broke disproportionately for Rubio on Super Tuesday in most races.
Indeed, once again, most voters voted against Trump, not for him, and that's where reality-show tactics come in.
Not counting "Top Chef" and "Naked and Afraid," I'm not a big fan of reality shows, but I've watched my share of "Survivor," "The Bachelor" and even Trump's own personal propaganda series, "The Apprentice." It seems to me that in many of these shows, the game is played the same way: Groups form alliances. Sometimes these alliances are formal, often they are tacit and voluntary -- but they are all temporary.
At the end of the season, the winner is the guy or gal who was in the right alliance until the alliance no longer served his or her needs. Fans may be happy or disappointed based on who emerges, but it's silly to say that Tiffany stole the Bachelor from Rhonda. That's simply how the game is played.
Well, welcome to the big leagues. Trump has been playing the game all along, and now that he's ahead, he doesn't think anyone should be allowed to change their tactics to beat him.
If this had been a two-person race from the beginning -- as the Democratic race has been since Iowa -- Trump would probably be as far behind as Bernie Sanders is. But Trump took advantage of the fact that the Republican field was so divided for so long. Nothing wrong with that.
But there's also nothing wrong with trying to stop Trump. Alliances are part of the game. The delegate system allows for it. And that's why Mitt Romney's advice in his powerful anti-Trump speech Thursday was entirely valid. If you're against Trump and you live in Ohio, vote for John Kasich. If you're against Trump in Florida, vote for Rubio. If you're against Trump in a state where Ted Cruz is ahead, vote for Cruz.
Starting March 15, primary winners get all of a state's delegates. Losers don't even get steak knives. In proportional Virginia, Rubio lost to Trump, but Trump got only one more delegate than Rubio. If no one gets to the convention with a majority of the delegates, the convention chooses a nominee. It might be Trump. Then again, it might not.
This may feel like cheating, but it isn't. It's just that conventions have been infomercials for so long, we're not used to the idea that one might actually matter. Also, for the last 50 years, any candidate who could make it past Super Tuesday as a front-runner was acceptable to a majority of the party, and the pressure to coalesce was strong. Things are different this time because Trump is different. His supporters -- many of whom are not Republicans, Trump is fond of noting -- may not like it, but the man is simply unacceptable to many conservatives.
When you say this to Trump supporters, they reply by hurling a word-salad about a shadowy organization called "The Establishment" that's working to thwart the will of the majority. Talk radio hosts rant about this cabal's effort to "steal" the nomination from Trump.
For instance, Romney's speech was denounced by many as an outrageous effort to sway voters. Similar criticisms were made when the magazine I work for, National Review, dedicated a special issue to opposing Trump.
"How dare you try to tell voters how to vote!" cried countless pro-Trump cable news commentators, pundits and radio hosts. It's a fascinating complaint coming from people who make a living by offering their opinions on how voters should vote.
It's also nonsense. If opposing Trump is now the definition of the establishment, then roughly 66 percent of GOP primary voters are members of the establishment. The "silent majority" isn't a majority and most certainly isn't silent. Alas, "The Loud Plurality For Trump!" doesn't look as good on homemade signs at rallies.
Trump is stoppable, according to the rules. And if he is stopped and that makes you sad, don't hate the players, hate the game.
Go back to selling Dove Bars on the street, Jonah. I’m sure you were more successful at that.
Jonah admits FOX news is no longer news but a reality TV show
Can we just get Jerry Springer to host the next debate?
Yes. King of the cheap shots has no room to complain.
No complaints, Jonah Butthurt. I rather enjoy seeing him take the fire and return it without even getting a scratch.
Micro Rubio needs to go an take his POS foreign policy advisor with him.
http://dailycaller.com/2016/03/03/rubio-adviser-id-rather-vote-for-stalin-then-trump/
FUMR
FUMB
(how deep the rabbit hole?)
Yup.
In a marathon I always just take the subway to the finish line instead of all that rules and expectations thing that so over-emphasized.
Oh just go away. Defending the snake Romney is pathetic
It’s completely fair for him to do everything in his power to make sure the GOPe candidate loses in November. All they care about is their power
It is either Trump, or more of the same old same old, except for Cruz.
But there are important things to consider
If Trump was not in the race, they would be fighting tooth and nail against Cruz, who would not withstand the blistering attacks the way Trump has.
So the media would have destroyed Cruz and we would have had Jeb!.
Trump ruined those plans but they still want to destroy him. If they do, they will destroy Cruz next, and we’ll have Rubio.
THIS IS WHY TRUMP MUST WIN.
Anything else except a Trump win right now is going back to the establishment and amnest and open borders for the muslim invasion.
I still am hoping for a reconcilliation between Trump and Cruz, who can teach Trump about conservatism in government. But that may be wishfull thinking.
The only dissapointment I have so far in Trump is that he is getting into the cage match the media so want to have.
I thought the part where Ted ate his booger was a cheap way to get attention.
Really need to check your emotions JG and start thinking again. Really a pretty stupid article to argue that your childishly ignorant opinions Trump means your scumbag tactics are justified.
Rational adults know what a joke 1 vrs 7 last night was. And when they read this sort of drivel, they just shake their head and go “Well here another GOPe idiot that just does not understand us at all.”
All he cares about is his own power. Rules apply the same to everyone. Trump doesn’t think so, but they do. They fact that he thinks he is above it all and better than everyone else, that rules apply to them but not him, is just more evidence of his unfitness to be the American president. He is an abuse of power waiting to happen. We do not need another president out to use that powerful office to punish his enemies.
“Indeed, once again, most voters voted against Trump, not for him, and that’s where reality-show tactics come in.”
Same could be said for the other candidates
Really think that sort of childish insult postings is going to attract voters to your candidate?
1) Hundreds of thousands of Registered Democrats have voted for Trump in the past few open primaries, so Republicans are not all to blame for Trump’s winnings. The next few primaries are closed, we might see Donald’s numbers go down...
2) Those who are talking about Trump’s “sex organ talk”: You do remember that President Clinton got a BJ in the Oval Office by someone other than his wife, right? He’s the Grandfather of Sex Talk!
No child YOUR side just demonstrated last night that they have rules for the boys in the club and different ones for everyone else.
That exactly the elitist mindset that created, and is driving, Trump’s poltical success.
OK
Next 4 are closed. So you claiming Cruz will win all 4 tomorrow now that the Indy and the Dems cannot contaminate the GOP’s choir vote?
Freeper please. Check the emotions and start thinking. You guys keep walking face first in the failing the expectations games. You keep over promising and under delivering.
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