Posted on 08/08/2015 12:00:59 PM PDT by Crystal Palace East
In this post, I'm asking a serious set of questions about Mr. Trump. I'm not doing so to put him in a bad light, nor a good one.
It's really very simple. Donald Trump is an American political phenomenon. I, and others, are trying to understand why?
I am not posting this to be positive or negative regarding Mr. Trump. I'm simply asking some questions that are certain to be asked later in any campaign. My intention here is not to start some pro or anti-Trump harangues, but rather to get some serious answers to some serious questions. If anyone wants to get into any flame war regarding Mr. Trump, so be it, but I'm not going to waste my time not Jim's bandwidth getting into some long-winded debate.
I'm simply asking questions, questions I think American voters will want answers to. If anyone objects to the questions, I'd remind them of the old San Donaldson line that said, "When someone objects to your questions, what they're really upset about is the fact that you might learn the their answers to your question."
Also, one final request. Please do not generalize with just one "Trump is Great," or "Trump Stinks" answer.
Thank you for your time spent answering these questions.
#1: Donald Trump is a 21st Century political phenomenon. Why is that so?
#2: If you like Donald Trump, or dislike him, why? (Please be specific.)
3: Forgetting about demeanor and delivery, what Conservative positions/platforms does Mr. Trump have that you like the most.
4: Forgetting about demeanor and delivery, what positions does Mr. Trump have that you like the least?
5: There are other strong Conservatives in the race for the nomination, for example Senator Cruz and Governor Huckabee. Which Trump position or positions are more Conservative than the Senator or Governor? (Again, please stay away from the demeanor or style of delivery, but rather stick to specific policies.)
6: Mt Trump espoused some strong Conservative positions in the debate. Which was most important to you?
6: Mr. Trump has espoused some very liberal policies in the past, especially one that are objectionable to Conservatives. Which of those bothers you the most?
7: Mr. Trump has espoused some very liberal policies in the past, especially one that are objectionable to Conservatives. How sure are you that he is simply not engaging in the political trick of telling the audience what he thinks they want to hear, and why are you sure/unsure about that?
8: Like many politicians, when pressed, Mr. Trunp seemed to have few specifics about his accusations or plans. Does that bother you and why?
9: Mr. Trump has touched a nerve in Americans who feel disenfranchised. If elected, how would he turn that into actual improvement for all Americans, as opposed to simply more angry Americans.
10: In his books, Mr. Trump says he favors saying and doing anything to get an advantage in a business deal. Would that work for him as President?
11: In what some have called vicious personally attacks, Mr. Trump has gone after people who do not agree with him. If President, would that work in DC, or are they simply Sol Alinsky tactics, and if so, would they would work as President, and how?
12: A 3d party candidate would split the Right vote and hand the election to the Democrats. Should Trump run as a 3d Party candidate if he does not get the Republican nomination?
13: Did your opinion of Trump increase or decrease as a result of the debate?
14: Could you please list the leading candidates, ranking them from most Conservative to most Liberal?
15: Assuming Mt. Trump gets the Republican nomination, how would you advise him to attack Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Thank you for your input to this.
You seem to have made quite a splash for a noob. I’ll play.
#1 He speaks his mind and not in sound bytes.
#2 Like: He’s not politically correct. Dislike: seems thin skinned.
#3 His stance on Illegal immigration. His economic policies.
#4. No response
#5 Cruz is the Conservative in this race. Trump has co-opted some Conservative positions for his run.
#6 The only “conservative position” that I recall from the debate was immigration i.e. “build a wall”. As far as his past liberal positions, his stance on abortion. Has it changed or not?
#8 Too early in the process for specifics. I’m sure he has a team, a highly paid team, working on them now.
#9 Really? Reform the tax code.
#10 Yes. The Art of the Deal works in business and politics
#11 That is one of my biggest concerns(other than his lack of Conservative cred). Calling out a politician and telling the truth is far different than personal attacks
#12 No
#13 Stayed the same. He is who he is. I expected more but got what I thought.
#14 No thanks. But Cruz is #1. Our Constitution should be the Presidents guide.
#15 Attack her rather long record of deceit. And when she provides no answers and sound bytes to the quetions then be sure to call her out. It should be like shooting fish in a barrel. But Jeb would screw it up. On purpose probably.
Whew!
Cruz has just the right amount of Trump’s anger, without sounding like a schoolyard bully and an abusive, angry adult child.
Trump’s problem is not his stances.... wherever they are this week.
Trump’s problem is that the “little angry boy” act wears very thin very quickly.
Both went from Democrat to Republican. Doesn’t matter how recently. It wasn’t long after Reagan’s move that he became one of California’s best governors.
Thank you for taking the time, effort and thought for a serious reply.
All of those of you who did advanced the political discussion here on FR.
Thank you.
Mmmmm, perhaps a heavy blunt instrument in conjunction with a stake, for starters..............
It’s not like enunciated policies mean anything.
Just about every elected Republican at the Federal level for thirty years has been Pro-Life, and what has THAT gotten us.
I agree with you and I think that Trump’s presence in the race is very good for Cruz right now and very bad for Bush.
The idea that Hillary would be better than Jeb Bush is unbelievable. A number of so called conservatives stayed home because they didn’t like Romney and Obama got a second term. How’s that working for you. Think Iran deal, think Lois Learner not in jail, think Hillary not in jail. Real smart thinking.
But he can't break through the media blockade, so what's the use?
“Mr. Trump has gone after people who do not agree with him. If President, would that work in DC?
Why wouldn’t it work? It works for Obama. It works for Clintons. Trump simply “goes after” these people verbally. Obama has destroyed businesses and personal lives. Clintons have... well... read “The Clinton Body Count”.
I believe what Ted Cruz says, I do not know if Donald Trump's words are real. I base my opinion on the actions of Ted Cruz and the actions of Donald Trump. Ted Cruz is consistent and the other one talks to Bill Clinton. I do not know if Trump truly believes what he says. I do know that Ted Cruz does.
I have also noted that the Media has tried to make Ted Cruz a “non person.” They do not attack him but ignore him. At the same time Donald Trump gets 24-7 coverage. There is a reason and agenda for this. The main stream media exception of Fox are advocates of the the Democrat party. Fox news is an advocate of the GOP elite also known as Jeb Bush. Fox News wants Trump to crash and burn and thus leave Jeb Bush as the alternative. Fox News hates Ted Cruz just as much as they hate Donald Trump.
When and if Ted Cruz becomes the leader in the primaries Fox News will turn on him like a rabid pit bulls led by Megan Kelly. I do not know Megan Kelly's political beliefs, but I do know she is driven by nothing but ego. The power to destroy is like heroin for those driven by ego. I do know without any doubt Megan Kelly could not have done what she did in the "so called debate" without the approval of those above her. Fox News is not the friend of Constitutional Conservatives. They are part of the power elite at the top. Never forget that. Pray for our grand republic, we may loose it.
Because mainline America is totally Pi$$ed off and is not going to take it anymore that's why.
Cruz is the candidate period. He ticks 99% of the boxes.
However, Trump has triggered something unprecedented. A MASS rejection of the media. I’ve never seen someone declared ‘dead’ so many times by knuckleads like Krauthammer. He is breaking the political correctness cottage industry and if he wins the primary, I’d vote for him in the general just to pi$$ off illegals like the SNEERING Luis Gutierez who I hate.
As of now, I would vote for
- Cruz
- Trump
- Carson
- Maybe Walker (but he needs to up his game. he was absent in the debate and if he does that with Hillary, he’s toast)
That is IT! I will not bother getting up to vote for the Blimp, loose cannon Paul, or Bush XIIIIV! Oh, and not the shamnesty wonderboy either. He sucks.
You hear that Mayhem Kelly! Your sleazy tactics did your favorites no favors.
Reagan described his "transformation" as: "I didn't leave the Democratic Party, The Party left me."
A Truman Democrat, and lifelong anti-communist who came to the realization that his party had become radicalized even before McGovern is a lot different from someone who was a Democrat in the radicalized, McGovernite Party.
And your original point is simply false: Reagan was never on the left.
I was for Trump in the beginning. I was for Trump during the debate. Today, I have some criticism for him.
I think he would have wiped them all clean in the debate if he had not gotten in the gutter with megyn. If he had done an adult answer to her snarky questions. If he had told her how childish her questions were and asked if she had a serious adult question that would help get the country out of the dire straights it is in.. if he had insulted her question instead of her personally, it would have gone over better and he would have looked like the adult in the room. If he had just scolded her with his answer. Yesterday, he used personal insults on all of Fox’s news persons. I don’t have a problem with his insults.. but when he uses so personal slams that makes a person uneasy, I’m afraid his numbers will go down and megyn will think she did it to him.. SHE did what everyone else could not do.
Trump’s insults are not funny, they are the kind that will work against him.
I find myself today having thoughts that he might not get the votes to be President on the republican party and will go 3rd party and give the election to the dems again.. this country cannot do another 4 years of the same.
He is becoming his own enemy and I wonder if he can control himself at all.. Today is the first time I’ve had second thoughts on Trump. I had not endorsed him for President. I took the stand of just watching to see. I defended him. Today, I’m not so sure.
I like Cruz and hope trump is man enough to turn it over to Cruz if trump can’t win .. and not go 3rd party. His ego will be his downfall if he does that. We’ll all dislike him if a dem ends up President.
Yes he was. The left just moved more to the left. Same here.
Never a leftist.
Never.
I am seriously looking at a Trump/Cruz ticket.
If Trump wins and is a successful, hopefully wildly successful, POTUS, maybe a Cruz regime could follow. Trump’s calling seems to be to reverse the toxic PC culture and start restoring common sense to America.
IMO, Cruz’s follow-up calling would be to REESTABLISH THE CONSTITUTION as the SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND by EVISCERATING the unconstitutional portion of the feds (about $3 trillion worth right now including most cabinet departments and the Administrative State of unconstitutional regulatory agencies sending hundreds of thousands of government workers, bureaucratic heads and officials home packing) giving all power back to the states and the people except that which the Constitution provides.
Reagan’s Morning in America would be in full bloom.
Here since April, huh. Those questions look like Luntz opposition research. They are not relevant in this election cycle. Not one elected republican with the possible exception of Ted Cruz has delivered on any of the things they promised in position statements when running. So that’s all just crap. It’s not his positions it’s his willingness to hold them up to the light, not couch them in words he can walk back.
Where Trump beats them all is he will go where the others can’t. He is open and in their face without a whore press and race baiting staff to filter, protect or lie about his every word. Trump has a success record in business to back his bravado, unlike the lump of suspect clay that occupies the white house.
Politicians are a species of back biting lapdogs who would sell their mothers for a small price. Their days are numbered. America is ready for a new direction; this time without the press corps filter. Take it and run with it or expect Der Fuhrer Meister Hitlary.
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