Trump: Actually, I May Break My Pledge Not To Go Third Party

Townhall.com ^ | November 23, 2015 | Guy Benson

[Kaslin]

Hey, remember this?

The Pledge #MakeAmericaGreatAgain pic.twitter.com/5OVWdxgLn9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2015

After routinely flirting with a third-party run, Donald Trump signed an unambiguously-worded pledge in early September, vowing ;forego a third-party presidential bid if he fails to secure the Republican presidential nomination. Having committed his word,Trump averred that he had "no intention" of reconsidering the promise: "I see no circumstances under which I would tear up that pledge," he said, calling the pledge "total." Now he's mad about some opponents and outside groups announcing plans to attack him, so the thin-skinned and erratic Republican frontrunner is once again changing his tune. Surprise:

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump would not rule out making a run for president as an independent despite signing a pledge over the summer saying he would support the eventual GOP nominee instead of running a third-party bid. "I'm going to have to see what happens. I will see what happens. I have to be treated fairly," Trump said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" when asked about a new guerrilla effort by operatives within the Republican Party to derail Trump's candidacy.

But not to worry, conservatives. He'll be totally reliable on all the issues on which he's completely reversed himself in order to pander to you -- from tax increases, to abortion, to gun control, to government-run healthcare (which he still praises), to immigration rhetoric and policy, etc. His longstanding alignment with the Democratic Party and financial support for Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid shouldn't concern you either. Nor should his ongoing left-wing talking points on "fairness," the Koch brothers, "blame Bush," and expanding the federal bureaucracy. And neither should his abysmally low (34/61) favorability rating among the general electorate, much worse than even his dear friend and benefactor Hillary's terrible numbers. He'll never abandon you in pursuit of his own self-serving interests, or for attention. Incidentally, Trump was given yet another opportunity on Sunday to clear up the "media smear" regarding his allegedly nonexistent support for a national registry of Muslims -- including citizens. He took another pass, declining to answer the question asked of him, keeping things nice and hazy:

Here's the full Trump quote, which seems to be about Syrian refugees, not Muslim citizens. pic.twitter.com/jtnE3Xkk5L Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) November 22, 2015

This is more evidence supporting my suspicion that he's deliberately obfuscating. His supporters who insist this is a made-up media hit job can point to his responses focusing on refugees, while other supporters who like the idea of this unconstitutional scheme won't find a denial in there. And then there's this:

GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump is doubling down on comments that thousands of people in parts of New Jersey with large Arab populations cheered on 9/11. Trump said at a rally on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. that he watched as the World Trade Center "came tumbling down." "And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down," he added. "Thousands of people were cheering." ABC "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos asked Trump on Sunday if he misspoke, noting that "police say that didn't happen and all those rumors have been on the Internet for some time." "It did happen. I saw it, " Trump said. "It was on television. I saw it ... George, it did happen," Trump persisted.

He did not see it, and it was not on television. In fairness to Trump, I distinctly remember hearing rumors about crowds of Muslims in parts of New Jersey openly celebrating on 9/11, but no credible corroborating evidence ever emerged, and local police have strongly refuted the claim. He may have been thinking of this footage showing Palestinians dancing in the streets of Gaza. Conflation is often how false memories form. What's inexcusable, but not surprising, is Trump's reckless, fact-free double-down. But cults of personality will justify and excuse virtually anything. Which helps explain why this vile man still has an approval rating in the low 40's:

Obama: GOP doing the terrorists' work for them; WATCH: https://t.co/bgQyLsQJ2p pic.twitter.com/mMSezkW2UF The Hill (@thehill) November 22, 2015

[Hostage]

> “the only reason Trump is garnering interest right now is because of his standing in polls.”

Wrong Wrong Wrong.

Trump is a salesman, He uses the polls to pump his brand which is himself. Absolutely nothing wrong in doing that.

Credible reputable statistical PhDs (I am one) know that 90% non-response rates ruin any chance for a representative sample. Ergo, political polls are a joke, they are invalid on their face. It doesn’t mean they won’t now and then touch the truth, but such occurrences will be a result of the luck of the draw and never by design because the designs are unachievable in today’s world.

You don’t want to take me on in this arena. It would be a black belt against a white belt.

You’ve already damaged yourself. You can begin the process of redeeming yourself by first apologizing and pledging a future of humility.

For your edification, all polls today are invalid and serve purposes of propaganda, public opinion shaping and candidate marketing. They are not valid. That doesn’t mean Trump isn’t leading the race, it just means the polls cannot be relied on to make that determination.

There are other more valid observations and indications of candidate strength beyond polls. And Trump is leading in candidate strength using these indicators. In fact, these indicators point to a Trump landslide.

[The_Republic_Of_Maine]

"The election will go to the house where the selection will be for the RINO even if Trump got the most electoral votes."

---

If you are right, there will be war.

[ScottinVA]

LMAO!!! Now you’re just in the silly zone.

Yep, Trump’s a salesman all right. And he conned you out of your sanity. Enjoy your unicorn rides.

‘Bye, kid.

[Hostage]

So now one sees what you are as you reveal yourself. Have to admit it took awhile.

All candidates are salesmen. Carson just a few weeks ago was ‘made to be the frontrunner’ and he actually believed the lie. He started touting his poll numbers, as any salesman would.

You revealed yourself to be a lightweight who doesn’t have any facts to back your assertions. But that’s the case with a lot of ignorant persons on FR.

[ScottinVA]

You revealed yourself to be a lightweight who doesn’t have any facts to back your assertions

It wasn't I who used fake data("8% Hispanic vote" and "'all' the conservative base would support Trump" in a 3-way) to invent a laughable creation of a 58% landslide.

You're not fooling -- or impressing -- anyone. Your "facts" are simply the stuff of self-generated fantasies. Now saunter off, take your meds and have a nice day.

[Hostage]

That’s not fake data that I used. It’s easily verified. But you didn’t post any reputable data sources to rebut it because you can’t find any and because you’re not serious. You’re an anti-Trump poster who can’t stand to see that Trump is winning. That’s the simple truth.

[ScottinVA]

You’re an anti-Trump poster who can’t stand to see that Trump is winning.

Right.. that has to be it. /s

Go get some rest. You're obviously sleep-deprived.

[Hostage]

You haven’t presented any substantial facts or provided any contribution to the thread except to call out Perot which is a red herring and non-comparable.

The reason is fairly obvious. You’ve never held a real job except government or military, and you’ve caught the Beltway virus where all of your senses are colored by bureaucracy and waste. You have neither the background, the education or the insight to be a productive contributor. All you can do is snipe and even in that your aim is poor because you miss the mark consistently.

Enjoy your various government retirement parasitic leeching. At least there are some who enjoy it but who have the good sense to know those that sacrificed themselves for that freedom or who memorialized those sacrifices. I know you haven’t sacrificed anything because your attitude reveals it. Someone thought to show you that aspect but figured you weren’t worth it. I agree with them.

[ScottinVA]

“Various government retirement parasitic leeching?”

You obviously know nothing about me, but I’ll tell you this: I served 28 years in this nation’s military and am drawing a well-earned retirement. Are you going on record as impugning military retirements as “leeching?” Feel free to make that sentiment know across the board. If you’re going to cast shit upon those who have committed more than half of their lives to serving this country, liberal.. well then.. make it known.

Jim Robinson served a career in the U.S. Navy... dare you say HE’S “leeching?”

You’re reaching hard, and you’re doing your level best to get under my skin, but you’re failing miserably.

Like I said, psycho... take your meds... get some rest.. and find another pastime. You’re failing miserably at this one.

[Hostage]

Ha ha ha! Got under your skin and you revealed even more.

You got your 28 years doing a whole lot of nothing and now your milking it.

I know your type. Your problem is not your service. The problem is your attitude and your stupid pride which is based on a whole lot of nothing.

You’re not a combat vet. You’re a behind the scenes body that couldn’t and wouldn’t ever get a real job. That’s Ok, a lot of our service members are like that, but at least most all of them know who and what they are and they’re honest about it.

[ScottinVA]

Make it known, turdball... that you’re denigrating military service and retirements as “leeching.”

Go for it.

[Jim Robinson]

Sheesh, give it a rest. Please.

[ScottinVA]

Son...

You’ve just impugned a huge population with FR.

Thank you for walking into that trap.

You’ve done exactly what I expected you do to.

[Hostage]

You got it.

[ScottinVA]

You see, sport... I’m quite proud of the 28 years I served this nation. That you have an itch against military people is an issue you’re going to have to deal with on your own.

Now...

I’m done with you.

[Jim Robinson]

By the way, my four year enlistment was a rather short naval career. However, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

[ScottinVA]

Thank you, Jim... doesn’t matter if it’s four or 20... you served the nation honorably.

BTW, what was your MOS?

[Jim Robinson]

One of the best salesmen in the world. No one has a job unless someone sells something first.

[Jim Robinson]

Interior Communications Electrician, ie, shipboard communications systems repair (telephone man, lol). Thanks.

[ScottinVA]

Air Expeditionary Force and personnel readiness functional manager here.

Thank God for you Comm guys... we couldn’t flow assets to the AOR without you!