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Trump says he’d probably run as independent if he doesn’t win Republican nomination
Hotair ^ | 04/12/2011 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 04/12/2011 6:44:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Gee, this seems so …. familiar:

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO OF DONALD TRUMP's STATEMENT

Donald Trump will “probably” run as an independent candidate for U.S. President in 2012 if he does not receive the Republican party’s nomination, he told the Wall Street Journal in a video interview on Monday. …

“I am very conservative,” said Mr. Trump. “The concern is if I don’t win [the GOP primary] will I run as an independent, and I think the answer is probably yes.” Mr. Trump said he thought he “could possibly win as an independent,” adding, “I’m not doing it for any other reason. I like winning.”

As for foreign policy, Mr. Trump said he is “only interested in Libya if we take the oil,” and that if he were President, “I would not leave Iraq and let Iran take over the oil.” He remains sharply critical of the Chinese, asserting that as President, “I would tell China that you’re either going to shape up, or I’m going to tax you at 25% for all the products you send into this country.”

The only difference between Trump and H. Ross Perot seems to be that Perot was a better businessman. About four minutes into the interview, Kelly Evans hits Trump on his flirtations with bankruptcy over the years. Trump insists that he never filed for bankruptcy, which is true in terms of his personal finances, although Trump came close enough to it. His businesses were another matter. Trump’s Taj Mahal casino had to go through bankruptcy, which cost Trump half of the casino. The Trump Plaza Hotel next went through bankruptcy, which caused him to lose 49% of the hotel and resign from its management. Two years ago, Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for Chapter 11, and in 2008 his Trump International Tower in Chicago defaulted on a $40 million loan. In response, Trump blamed the global economic collapse and tried to have it declared an Act of God to relieve himself of responsibility for the default.

That’s not exactly a great track record for a chief executive. It’s worth noting that his own investors have booted him from management at these holdings after his risk-taking and failures.

Otherwise, this is a second coming of Perot. Trump has the money (at least for now) to mount a vanity campaign as a third-party alternative to the two major-party nominees. This would end up splitting the anti-Obama vote and set the President up for an easy re-election through a popular-vote plurality that would translate into an overwhelming Electoral College majority. Liberals are not going to flock to Trump’s side for any reason, which means whatever Trump draws will come directly from those who were already inclined to vote against Obama. It would be a nightmare scenario for Republicans in this cycle, a sort of Charlie Crist on steroids and junk bonds but with a viable Democratic opponent in the mix.

The GOP should nip this in the bud now. Can we agree that the starting position for anyone seeking the Republican nomination is that they will support the outcome of the primaries?

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO OF DONALD TRUMP's STATEMENT


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012gopprimary; birthertrump; donaldtrump; gop; independent; potus; thirdparty; thirdparty2012; trump; trump2012; trump4trump
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Welcome to Ross Perot II !! (And maybe another Obama victory??)
1 posted on 04/12/2011 6:44:21 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Very, very stupid idea of Trump’s part.

Nevertheless, let’s not forget that there are a lot of people here on FR who have said that Sa-Rah should do the exact same thing if she doesn’t win it...


2 posted on 04/12/2011 6:46:47 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (What if God doesn't WANT the Gospel rescued from fundamentalism?)
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To: SeekAndFind

3 posted on 04/12/2011 6:48:43 AM PDT by Past Your Eyes (You knew the job was dangerous when you took it.)
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
"Very, very stupid idea of Trump’s part."

Exactly right.

"Nevertheless, let’s not forget that there are a lot of people here on FR who have said that Sa-Rah should do the exact same thing if she doesn’t win it..."

Exactly right.

4 posted on 04/12/2011 6:51:09 AM PDT by Artemis Webb (What, if not a bagel and coffee, confirms the existence of a just and loving God?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Interesting! Perhaps some of the FR’s who suggested that Trump is really “helping” the DNC are correct on this one.


5 posted on 04/12/2011 6:51:35 AM PDT by momtothree
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To: SeekAndFind

My very thought. Now, no need for me to comment... except to say:

My very thought. Now, no need for me to comment... except to say:

My very thought. Now, no need for me to comment... except to say:

My very thought. Now, no need for me to comment... except to say:

...etc.


6 posted on 04/12/2011 6:52:32 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: SeekAndFind

Can we now put all this Trump mishigas to bed, finally?


7 posted on 04/12/2011 6:53:17 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
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To: SeekAndFind

Right now Trump would be remembered as a reality show host who sued the NFL and won three whole dollars.

I suppose being Ross Perot 2.0 is an improvement?


8 posted on 04/12/2011 6:53:22 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: SeekAndFind

A hole. I curse him to hell if he reelects Obama.


9 posted on 04/12/2011 6:53:26 AM PDT by Williams (It's the policies, stupid.)
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To: SeekAndFind

3rd Party = Obama win, with 35% of the vote, yada yada yada.


10 posted on 04/12/2011 6:53:37 AM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (The storm clouds of war are on the horizon, 1939 is again approaching us.)
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To: SeekAndFind
I think Trump laughed about that statement all the way home. The media just ate it up.

Notice the media has switched from "Stomp Palin" to "Stomp Trump". Too funny....too stupid....

11 posted on 04/12/2011 6:54:30 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: SeekAndFind

A hole. I curse him to hell if he reelects Obama.


12 posted on 04/12/2011 6:54:30 AM PDT by Williams (It's the policies, stupid.)
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To: SeekAndFind
The only difference between Trump and H. Ross Perot seems to be that Perot was a better businessman.

Please do not take this as an endorsement of Trump. However, my question is: did Perot ever even claim to be a conservative as Trump as done? If I recall correctly, Perot's big thing was that he was non-partisan and would "get under the hood and fix things" and other such content-free mumbo jumbo. You can believe Trump or not, and there is certainly reason to be skeptical, but it seems to me that he is at least claiming to be a conservative. Whether that should mean anything to us is another question.

13 posted on 04/12/2011 6:54:37 AM PDT by Stingray51
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To: SeekAndFind

“Trump says he’d probably run as independent if he doesn’t win Republican nomination”

Split the vote. Obummer wins.


14 posted on 04/12/2011 6:55:18 AM PDT by choctaw man (Good ole Andrew Jackson, or You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma...)
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To: momtothree
"Interesting! Perhaps some of the FR’s who suggested that Trump is really “helping” the DNC are correct on this one."

Trump doesn't help anyone but Trump. He's a tireless self-promoter who is ALWAYS looking to play the angle that best serves his own ends - and those ends are always himself.

15 posted on 04/12/2011 6:55:18 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
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To: SeekAndFind

2012: Year of the political attention whore.


16 posted on 04/12/2011 6:56:12 AM PDT by JimSEA
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To: SeekAndFind

He likes winning? It’s not gonna happen if he runs as an independent.


17 posted on 04/12/2011 6:57:09 AM PDT by Girlene
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To: SeekAndFind

Trump knows that the GOP wants Romney. I would vote for Trump as an independent, over Romney as a FAKE republican!


18 posted on 04/12/2011 6:58:13 AM PDT by blondee123 (TRUMP=WINNING OBAMA=YOU'RE FIRED!!!)
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To: SeekAndFind
He seems to be making the Republican party “an offer they can't refuse” basically he is saying embrace me as your candidate for 2012 or I will guarantee an Obama victory. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and if the base is willing to call his bluff, if it is a bluff.
19 posted on 04/12/2011 6:58:13 AM PDT by apillar
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus

“Nevertheless, let’s not forget that there are a lot of people here on FR who have said that Sa-Rah should do the exact same thing if she doesn’t win it.”

What if both Trump and Sarah run as “Independents” How does a four way race turn out?

Trump (I)
Palin (I)
Obama (D)
Romney or some other RINO anointee (R)


20 posted on 04/12/2011 6:58:53 AM PDT by wilco200 (11/4/08 - The Day America Jumped the Shark)
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