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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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To: Stingray51
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?

I think if you look at personal lifestyle and overall positions, Perot would be the more conservative. It's easy to sounds relatively conservative in an age when a socialist is in the White House.

I have already predicted that Trump will play the "Perot" role for 2012. ... it's almost as if some puppetmaster is pulling the strings .... (hmmmm, Soros Trump connections , hmmm).

101 posted on 04/12/2011 7:59:32 AM PDT by WOSG (Carpe Diem)
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To: rawcatslyentist

I think the GOP is dying. No one “believes” in them and what they stand for. They stand for “we are scared. We want to be liked. We are to the right of liberals but if you challenge us, we will back off.” what kind of party or platform is that? “liberal lite”?

People believe in either lefty ideas, or tea party, small government ideas. The GOP needs to fade out into history, so we can get rid of these boys with wet panties and twisted testicles.


102 posted on 04/12/2011 8:00:00 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Andy from Chapel Hill

Great, great post. I hope trump sees it and uses that argument.

I am still pro-trump for now, supporting what he’s doing re eligibility. We will see if he even runs for president.


103 posted on 04/12/2011 8:01:43 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: dmz

Wrong. But thanks for playing.

Do you know how many people I know that say things like “yeah, Trump’s kind of a douche but I’d vote for him...”

He’s got that “love to hate and hate to love” personality, he’s brilliant, and he’s saying what we’ve been dying to hear our leaders say for years.

Ignore him at your peril.


104 posted on 04/12/2011 8:01:58 AM PDT by RockinRight ([insert tagline here])
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To: wilco200

Any multi-way race will re-elect Obama.

Rick Perry faced a 4-way in 2006 for Governor ... he won with only 39% of the vote. Or the train wreck in the Colorado Governors race, with Tancredo and a Republican... the Democrat won.

One Liberal Democrat against 3 other non-liberals = Obama wins. Obama gets his 43% of the vote base, and the other 3 split the rest.


105 posted on 04/12/2011 8:03:19 AM PDT by WOSG (Carpe Diem)
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To: marygam

Maybe Rush knows more than we do. Perhaps this is part of the plan.

Here’s the thing. The more Trump’s name is out there, the better his chances at the Presidency. Everyone already knows all his skeletons, that’s old news. His dirty laundry has been hung out for years, so he doesn’t have to overcome any of that.

Everything he says is in print now - the media can’t decide whether to attack him for the birther issue, or bow to him for throwing the “independent” card.

Trump knows what he’s doing...and he’s in this to win.


106 posted on 04/12/2011 8:04:22 AM PDT by RockinRight ([insert tagline here])
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To: SeekAndFind
“Welcome to Ross Perot II !! (And maybe another Obama victory??)”

Obama victory GUARNTEED!

107 posted on 04/12/2011 8:05:54 AM PDT by dalereed
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To: SeekAndFind

Biden’s not so happy with Obama right now because of Libya. Maybe he’ll decide not to run this time around and Obama will pick George Soros for VP. You know, set him up for 2016.


108 posted on 04/12/2011 8:06:33 AM PDT by tsowellfan
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To: dalereed

Unfortunately it will most likely be Romney vs Obama


109 posted on 04/12/2011 8:08:01 AM PDT by tsowellfan
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To: Blood of Tyrants

I keep having that thought, but then I go back to reality. Trump is NOT going to put himself through the presidential candidacy process to lose on purpose. That’s just not what he does!

If you look at the kind of guy The Donald is, and how he’s always handled himself, he doesn’t play games. If he’s really running, he’s doing it because he wants to win and thinks he can.


110 posted on 04/12/2011 8:09:21 AM PDT by RockinRight ([insert tagline here])
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To: Longbow1969
So if the party doesn't nominate who you like you'll take your ball and go home - and then waste your vote on a 3rd party candidate who has no chance to win and will only divide the right of center vote? How very adult of you.
 
Listen - did you vote FOR John McCain - or AGAINST Barack Obama? It's the same thing here.
 
As bad as Romney is, he's better than Obama.
 
And he's better than Trump also.
  
Listen, between 2012-2016 we will likely have between 1-2 conservative Supreme Court retirements. This will shape the future for decades to come. ANY Republican is better suited to nominate the next Supreme Court justices than Obama - even Romney.
 
Really? With a majority of SC justices being appointed by Repubs, tell me what difference that has made. They are too p-whipped to even rules on basic Constitutional matters like Certifigate.
  

Even if you have no other reason to vote for the Republican nominee, making sure Obama does not get to chose the replacements for Scalia or Kennedy is still so important that it will be worth dedicating time, money and energy to elect said nominee.
Voting for the POTUS based on who he may select for SCOTUS is foolish.

111 posted on 04/12/2011 8:09:38 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (A Birther: One who has questions or concerns over the birth of Barry Barack Hussein Soetero Obama)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

All that says is Trump is kicking major ass.


112 posted on 04/12/2011 8:10:37 AM PDT by RockinRight ([insert tagline here])
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To: tsowellfan

“Unfortunately it will most likely be Romney vs Obama”

in that case I won’t cast a vote for President!

Romney is just as bad as Obama!


113 posted on 04/12/2011 8:15:04 AM PDT by dalereed
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To: SeekAndFind
I guess we'll find out how much Mr. Trump truly loves his country and is concerned about its direction. He must know running as an independent will cause an Obama reelection. Is that what he wants?
114 posted on 04/12/2011 8:15:48 AM PDT by Art in Idaho (Conservatism is the only hope for Western Civilization.)
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To: RockinRight

Among REPUBLICANS.........


115 posted on 04/12/2011 8:19:18 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (Patriotic by Proxy! (Cause I'm a nutcase and it's someone Else's' fault!....))
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To: SeekAndFind

I have a new-found respect for Trump at this point. He is doing what the entire GOP establishment SHOULD be doing, but won’t. It is the GOP establishment that we should be furious with because we all know they are planning to shove Romney down our throats and he is pretty damn close to another shoo-in Obama win in 2012. Personally, I think they are doing it on purpose and for the same reason(s) I believe that McCain deliberately threw the last election. Our enemy at this point, in my opinion, is the GOP, not Trump.


116 posted on 04/12/2011 8:21:07 AM PDT by NurseZac
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
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...

I wanted to be sure I understood your post...you believe the two are equivalent in some substantial way?

117 posted on 04/12/2011 8:23:06 AM PDT by gogeo (Palin/Bachmann 2012)
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To: dalereed
Romney is just as bad as Obama!

I certainly would not want to vote for Romney either, And even if I did I know he would not win. But he's number one in the polls and we know given the state of this economy with so many Americans out of work they are going to vote for someone like Romney who has business knowledge. Unfortunately, as far as the President goes... the voters are not going to be paying attention to any social issues (not connected with the economy) unless it's something that's unconstitutional. Which is where both Obama and Romney will count each other out...

Romney has Romneycare and Obama has Obamacare.

Maybe a surprise will come along but at this point Romney and Trump are the top two according to the polls.

118 posted on 04/12/2011 8:23:32 AM PDT by tsowellfan
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To: Longbow1969
Even if you have no other reason to vote for the Republican nominee, making sure Obama does not get to chose the replacements for Scalia or Kennedy is still so important that it will be worth dedicating time, money and energy to elect said nominee.

What you said.

119 posted on 04/12/2011 8:29:55 AM PDT by Marathoner (Impeach Obama, Holder, and IL Gov Quinn for good measure)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Voting for the POTUS based on who he may select for SCOTUS is foolish.

The Supreme Court nominations should be a major consideration when deciding who to vote for. We have a slim inconsistent majority. And there is a huge difference between Kagan and Thomas.

Supreme Court rules in favor of Ariz. religious schools

From the article...

On April 4, the high court ruled 5 – 4 to dismiss a lawsuit backed by the American Civil Liberties Union against an Arizona program that sought to promote school choice.

120 posted on 04/12/2011 8:30:14 AM PDT by Tex-Con-Man
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