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
I have never quite understood how a conservative constitutionalist can be good friends with outright declared Marxists whose goal is to destroy this country, and make no mistake they are in the House and Senate in both parties.
Slowcialism!
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:
So, if you ran, you'd run as a Republican?
DONALD TRUMP:
Correct. I am a Republican. I would run as a Republican, yes.
Now, I've been willing to give Trump a hearing, but one of my reservations has been that he's all over the place on the issues. I'm not dyspeptically anti-Trump as some on this forum are. I think Trump has a lot of positives (I've loved the strength he projects, the concern about China & US loss of respect, loss of jobs, et al). But today's statement makes him look unprincipled, even unscrupulous. Tough talk is one thing, veiled blackmail is another.
His overreliance on the birther issue is also problematic. It was understandable as an attention-getter, but he can't keep insisting on statements that have been disproven (eg, that the grandma says he was born in Kenya--that statement is based on selective quoting. She expressly states in the same interview that Obama was born in Hawaii). Overreliance on birther stuff and inconsistent positions are going to hurt him whether he runs as a republican or not.
I love the Donald's strong style, but I've got to see consistency too.
Regarding narcissim - one current, and one former pres - Obama & Clinton - both fit that descriptor.
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And how did they work out for you?
Hopefully his advisors read FR.
However, flippantly saying he’d “probably” run as an Independent if he doesn’t get the GOP nomination is not the same as saying “I’ll Run as an Independent”.
I would like some more consistency, and perhaps focusing more on the theories that have NOT been disproven.
Rofl!!!
I held my nose and voted for McCain.
I will never do that again. If the GOP can't put up a worthy nominee, that's too damned bad for them. They've worked very hard to earn my disrespect and loathing.
I've been kicking myself ever since. My "party loyalty" got me nothing except a dose of self-loathing. I voted for Scott Brown also: same deal.
In 2012, I'll be voting for a true Conservative, or I'll be staying at home. The political establishment of the GOP is not on my side and I refuse to support them.
I bet you get invited to all the parties with that winning personality ;-)
I have often thought that the GOP actually puts up a 3/4 liberal on purpose because it simply reflects the sheltered morons who pollute the Beltway GOP. I also agree w/your assessment on voting too.
In general, he's pretty consistent. He clearly thinks the country is going to the dogs and wants to do something about it:
DONALD TRUMP:
Well, I tell you I am thinking about things. And I'm looking at this country, George, and what's happened in terms of respect. And the respect for this country is just not there. I have many people from China that I do business with, they laugh at us. They-- they feel we're fools. And almost being led by fools. And they can't believe what they're getting away with. You know, they're getting away with absolute murder. They're making the products that we used to make in this country, they're making 'em. In China. We're rebuilding China. China's being rebuilt by this country.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You're taking on everybody.
DONALD TRUMP: No. You-- you have to take on everybody. Everybody's ripping off the United States. I mean, the world is ripping us off. We're no longer respected, George. And we don't have our right people negotiating. We have great business minds in this country. You know where they are. They're working in Wall Street. And we don't-- we're using diplomats to negotiate with the toughest, smartest people from India, from China, from Mexico. If you look at what's happening with Mexico, how-- how much business they've drained out of this country. So, how can you create jobs. I always hear about jobs. But jobs are moving. If you call up for your credit card, you're talking to somebody from India. I mean, it's amazing. You would think that with the cost of--
DONALD TRUMP: ...but it could be fun because I'd like to see some positive things happen for the country. When people tell me from other countries that they no longer respect our country-- now, whether you like Ronald Reagan or didn't-- like Ronald Reagan, I mean, there was a level of respect for this country that we had. And I'll never forget when Iran had the hostages. And Jimmy Carter-- it was-- it was helpless. It was just sad. And Ronald Reagan came in and he said those hostages will be delivered immediately. They were let go. They were let go. It was respect. We don't have respect from the rest of the world.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: So, you think President Obama doesn't have that? He's had periods where he's quite popular around the world.
DONALD TRUMP: Well, initially he was. I mean, certainly, initially he was. But we cannot let the rest of the world beat us up. I mean, we're like a whipping post right now, and we can't let that continue to happen. And we have to let the right people negotiate our deals for us. We don't have those people.
The teaser answer to Stephanopolous' abortion question was an eye-grabber:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you prochoice?He also speaks respectfully of Sarah Palin:
DONALD TRUMP: Excuse me.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you prochoice?
DONALD TRUMP: I am-- well, I-- I don't want to discuss right now, but you will be shocked when I give you that answer.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: How can I be shocked.
DONALD TRUMP: Well, you will be very surprised what I give you. I'm going to make a decision, and when I make a decision, I'll let you know about that, but I think you'd probably be surprised.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: So-- when you look at the field now, we've got Sarah Palin Sunday…in the New York Times.
DONALD TRUMP: Very interesting. Very interesting.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: That she's really thinking hard about it.
DONALD TRUMP: Hey. Same producer, Mark Burnett produced her show, produces The Apprentice, which has become a very, very major hit as you know, and we've had a lot of fun. But Sarah Palin, hey, she's very interesting. And don't underestimate her. I mean, I see what she does. Do not underestimate Sarah Palin.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Would you take her on if she gets in--
DONALD TRUMP: Well, if I ran, I'd have no choice. I would take her on. I like her, but I'd take her on.
Here's grist for the "Trump is doing all this for Hillary!" theorists:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You're prepared to challenge President Obama. You're prepared, in theory, to challenge Sarah Palin. Is there anybody you look at that-- that you say, if that person gets in, fine, I don't need to run?So, a good read, really. Enjoy! The Donald still has to go some to persuade me he's the man, especially after today.
DONALD TRUMP: There may be, but I'm not prepared to say that yet. There may be. And I hope there is. I hope there is.
John Roberts? Isn’t that the guy that the guy bodyguarding Obama on the eligibility issue?
Yeah - both would involve taking your ball and going home if you don't get your way.
What's even more suggestive is that a lot of the Palin Pod People have made this statement categorically. In other words, it doesn't matter WHO wins, if Palin doesn't, then they go home to sulk. This would be the case even if, say, Jim DeMint decided he was going to run, and cleaned her clock in the primaries. Apparently, it doesn't matter WHO wins - even if its someone like DeMint who is MORE conservative than her - if she loses, they go home.
Not smart.
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