Posted on 12/05/2011 6:03:15 PM PST by Steelfish
DECEMBER 5, 2011 Trump’s Sideshow Debate
In announcing that their candidate would not attend the Newsmax debate set to be moderated by Donald Trump in Iowa later this month, the Ron Paul campaign wrote, “The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity.”
We could not have put it any better than the Paul campaign, but it is bizarre that such a response was necessary in the first place. The statement goes on to assert, again quite rightly, that Trump’s participation “will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues” and “contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere.” Paul deserves credit for declining to step into the clown car — as does Jon Huntsman.
But Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich can, at least in this instance, be said to lack the good sense of Paul and Huntsman, as the three have RSVPed in the affirmative. The first two responses are perhaps understandable, if unfortunate, political moves — Bachmann is an avowed Trump fan, and Santorum’s poll numbers make it difficult for him to be selective. Gingrich’s decision is something worse.
Sure, we see the angle: Gingrich excels in debates and he knows it, and in light of his threat to Romney in Iowa, his participation all but dares the yet-uncommitted Mitt to irk the pro-Trump rump of GOP voters by refusing.
(snip)
So we’ll keep it brief: Trump is a tax-hike-supporting, missile-defense-opposing, universal-health-care-advocating, eminent-domain abusing, Schumer-Weiner-Rangel-Reid-donating, long-time-pro-choice economic protectionist who in 2008 called George W. Bush “evil” and lauded president-elect Barack Obama as a potentially “great president” who would “lead by consensus.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
Sounds like the NRO is in the tank for the liberal progressive Romney.
Go, NEWT!!
Just because they’re making such a fuss, I hope everyone makes it a point to watch and drive the ratings way up.
Romney, the human political calculator, must be conflicted. If he pulls out, he will indeed humiliate Newt but the potential downside is that he will uplift Ron Paul and alienate Trump into a third party run.
To suggest that the NRO is in the tank for Mitt Romney is an understatement. They are so committed to him that they have lowered their journalistic standards to support him. I used to think of them as being a serious site for political commentary. That is no longer true.
Romney made the mistake of challenging Trump’s credibility back when he looked like a potential challenger.
Trump responded by mocking Romney’s business “achievements,” and promising to take him to task. He’s still calling Romney “the businessman” out:
The last thing NRO and their guy Mitt wants is Mitt Romney to face questions from a bombast who knows how to run a successful business. The one thing Trump is going to know best is business, and he’s been dying to make Romney look like a fool for those early campaign attacks against the Donald.
The Donald is a blowhard with a big audience, and he can credibly make Romney look like a phony business guru. No wonder NRO is begging Mitt to stay away. LOL
As opposed to the CNN and MSNBC freak show debates. And let's not forget the illustrious CBS debate which ended its national telecast and switched to a choppy livestream feed two-thirds of the way through the event,
Too late. Paul has won the prize for that one already.
This is like the proverbial pot calling the kettle black.
I'll watch it. It may turn out to be the most honest debates yet. We could use one of those.
Frankly, I loathe Trump. But he's no more of a "sideshow" than the MSM; and no more or less of a "reality TV personality" than any of the moderators of Presidential debates of the past 60 years or more.
In fact, despite not liking the guy, he's got orders of magnitude more knowledge, experience, and credibility than anyone the MSM (or NRO) might propose.
CNN and MSNBC aren’t even ‘reality’ shows, so what’s the big deal????
The beltway bitches are behaving so badly this is beginning to smell.
It was the Republican Congress that has given us the repeal of Posse Comitatus and all that implies.
Let me guess: Donald Trump’s “crime” was that he questioned Mr. Obama’s citizenship? Am I close?
I think Newt, Perry, and Myth are a little frightened/uneasy by a Trump-moderated debate.
I don’t think they can control or know what to expect in the way of questions, much like the Tea-Party debate earlier in the year.
Maybe more questions about the border, maybe question concerning globalism, etc.
The birth cert. question comes up in this interview (lol!!!)
http://www.breitbart.tv/chuck-todd-receives-embarrassing-smackdown-at-hands-of-donald-trump/
Looks like the PTB have their panties in a wad. I can’t wait for this debate!
My guess, and hope, is the Trump questions will focus on Obama’s failed policies. Methinks the mainstream doth protest too much.
Romney buddy Hugh Hewitt was apoplectic about the Trump debate today. The mainstreamers sense they are losing control of the political dialog.
The Huckabee debate this weekend used an unusual format and was one of the best of all time. I’m looking forward to something similar from Trump.
The more debates the better.
Libs claim we need public funding of elections, but with more free (to the candidates) debates the messages are getting to the voters without having to buy advertising. This levels the playing field. It also results in lost revenue from political advertising for the traditional media. A win-win.
The candidates should all wise-up and say that the Trump debate is the last one they are doing. The number of these debates that have been held already is ridiculous.
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