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Will Kelo Decision Finally Sink Donald Trump?
PJ Media ^ | 11/05/2015 | Michael Walsh

Posted on 11/05/2015 10:09:15 AM PST by Freemeorkillme

Donald Trump’s high standing in the polls is attributable entirely to the fact that he’s not a Washington insider, not part of the racket, and despite his wealth really might actually give a damn about the Little Guy. So why is he saying things like this?

Donald Trump on Wednesday defended government property seizures as a “necessary thing,” even when it means involuntarily taking property from a private owner to transfer it to another business. Trump was speaking to reporters outside the capital statehouse moments before formally filing his candidacy for the February primary, and the Washington Examiner pressed him on his record of using eminent domain laws to expand his casino empire.

“Property rights are a big issue in New Hampshire,” the Examiner noted. “In Atlantic City you used eminent domain laws aggressively to expand your casino.”

Trump interjected by calling this a “stupid question” before launching into a defense of eminent domain. ”I am all for private property rights,” Trump said. “There’s nobody who wants property taken away less than I do, believe me. I would lose a lot of money if my property were taken away. But when you’re building a road, when you’re building a highway, when you’re building whatever it is you’re building from a municipal standpoint, you may need a corner of a piece of property.” As he said this, he pinched his fingers together to demonstrate the smallness of the property.

The abstract reasoning may be sound — although in the Supreme Court’s disgraceful Kelo decision it certainly was not — but the optics are terrible. It smacks of Romneyism, a cluelessness about how ordinary people live their lives.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New Hampshire; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 2016election; ancientsleepertroll; connecticut; davidsouter; election2016; elections; eminentdomain; ibtz; kelo; kelodecision; nevertrump; nevertrumper; nevertrumpers; nevertrumpertrolls; newhampshire; newlondon; newyork; nonsense; ntsa; stfu; trump; trumpcomment; trumpeminentdomain
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To: Freemeorkillme

No.


41 posted on 11/05/2015 10:25:53 AM PST by arthurus (Het is waar. Tutti i liberali sono feccia.)
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To: Freemeorkillme
Convinced me.


Runt Paul for President! Woo! Woo!



John Kasich for President! Woo! Woo!



Jeb Bush for President! Woo! Woo!



Ben Carson for President! Woo! Woo!



42 posted on 11/05/2015 10:27:12 AM PST by itsahoot (55 years a republican-Now Independent. Will write in Sarah Palin, no matter who runs. RIH-GOP)
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To: American Constitutionalist
justify Donald Trump defending government taking away private property away from private property owners.

This is absolutely NOT correct--Emminent Domain as Trump explains it, BUYS the property that is needed from the owner, oftentimes paying the owner much more than fair market value. This is a far cry from communists TAKING AWAY private property, as they did from my grandparents in the Soviet Union.
43 posted on 11/05/2015 10:27:16 AM PST by georgiegirl
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To: mbarker12474

I think he spoke of Kelo directly in answer to a question and approved of it.


44 posted on 11/05/2015 10:27:16 AM PST by arthurus (Het is waar. Tutti i liberali sono feccia.)
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To: odawg
eminent domain is in the Constitution.

That is horse doo doo...

What is in the constitution is that Government is restricted from seizing property from citizens without due process. This clause was put in the document because of the fears that the military could and had seized home and property for any number of reasons during the revolutionary war. Governement also had no reverence for private property in England. (it still does not)

Eminent domain IMO, is a resulting court bastardization of that clause and as such needs to be looked at closely and perhaps set aside as bad law.

45 posted on 11/05/2015 10:27:19 AM PST by Cold Heat
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Comment #46 Removed by Moderator

To: Forgotten Amendments

There isn’t a perfect candidate. The best is Cruz IMO.
Folks here at FR seem to prefer a populist like Trump.


47 posted on 11/05/2015 10:29:18 AM PST by Calpublican (Republican Party Now Stands for Nothing!!!!!(Except Conniving))
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To: Cold Heat

Yes it does...but Trump can’t do that can he? He’s a business man so he’s going to use it, the same as the Federal Government does, the same as the State Government does; the same as the City Government does, so if it needs to be ‘reformed’ WE need to go to our House Representatives, who make the laws of America ( or used to ) and have them change it!

It’s OUR responsibility to do this, so why aren’t we!!!


48 posted on 11/05/2015 10:30:20 AM PST by HarleyLady27 (I have such happy days, and hope you do too!!!)
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To: Freemeorkillme
It's such a non-issue issue. Nobody cares. Most everyone loves eminent domain because they usually get far more than market value for their property. We recently had a new bypass built about a 1/4 mile from our house. We and all our neighbors were hoping that it would go through our properties because we knew it would be a sure sale for a great price.

If someone wants to hold out on principle that's fine. But they are in the vast vast minority.

49 posted on 11/05/2015 10:30:47 AM PST by DouglasKC (I'm pro-choice when it comes to lion killing....)
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To: georgiegirl

What, is the difference between forcing a citizen who has obeyed all laws, to sell or part with property at any price? and/or outright seizure.

For the general good?

Or for the profits of one individual or company?

Where is the justification in far too many of these cases?


50 posted on 11/05/2015 10:31:29 AM PST by Cold Heat
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To: TexasCruzin

The Don is soaked in teflon.....


51 posted on 11/05/2015 10:34:04 AM PST by rodguy911 (Sarah Palin our secret weapon --Home of the free because of the brave.)
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To: DouglasKC

Homes, businesses, and entire parcels of property seized through eminent domain is far different then unused treed land or pasture land to build highways.

The really bad deals, involve seizure of private homes and businesses to build strip malls, golf courses with private clubs, and green spaces.


52 posted on 11/05/2015 10:35:44 AM PST by Cold Heat
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To: skeeter

As do I. Eminent domain can be justified in VERY limited cases in the public good, but public good does not include increased income for your political benefactors.


53 posted on 11/05/2015 10:36:30 AM PST by ManHunter (You can run, but you'll only die tired... Army snipers: Reach out and touch someone)
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To: Cold Heat
What, is the difference between forcing a citizen who has obeyed all laws, to sell or part with property at any price? and/or outright seizure.

You would know the difference if you've ever lived in a communist country. I'm not saying Em. Domain is wonderful, but there is a YUGE difference between paying for property and seizing it.
54 posted on 11/05/2015 10:36:44 AM PST by georgiegirl
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To: HarleyLady27
Yes it does...but Trump can’t do that can he? He’s a business man so he’s going to use it, the same as the Federal Government does, the same as the State Government does; the same as the City Government does, so if it needs to be ‘reformed’ WE need to go to our House Representatives, who make the laws of America ( or used to ) and have them change it!

You just don't get it, do you. The Constitution says that eminent domain may only be used for a PUBLIC use. So, when the Federal Government, or State Government, or City Government uses it, that is a Constitutional use of the power.

When, however, Donald Trump uses it--for instance, to force someone out of their house so he can expand his parking lot--that is a PRIVATE use, and is thus unconstitutional.

And Trump supports that. Because he doesn't want to be constrained by the Constitution. But that's fine with some of you, I guess...

55 posted on 11/05/2015 10:37:33 AM PST by Conscience of a Conservative
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To: miss marmelstein

I had vanloadsof mexican kids stop army house on Halloween and their elders owing with them for directions in Spanish. Marching up with their heads down and bags open in Ross for less costumes meaningless to them Turning around piling back to the van

If the government came in now and said they had to buy my house to build a bridge is take it and go ... I don’t know. But what difference would it be

The Mexican invasion is eminent domain on steroids

They’re all kidding themselves. We don’t care if trump goes on snl They think they can say he’s demeaning tge presidency by doing so.

Some of us see it as the media has demeaned the office and he’s the first republican to jump in with them and come out ahead. It. Hasn’t worke otherwise. Is course it’s demeaning

I do think the Clinton’s have done enough demeaning of the presidencyto make this look like a relief

But I digress

They’re trying. But so are we. Trump Cruz Carson whoever. Just someone with some concern for the country


56 posted on 11/05/2015 10:37:45 AM PST by stanne
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To: Freemeorkillme

The Keystone Pipeline from Canada to Texas will require 1000’s of Kelo decisions. Lots of private property will be acquired by the pipeline. I support building of this vital economic project, and whatever private property is bought by the project compensated with market value plus.


57 posted on 11/05/2015 10:38:47 AM PST by entropy12 (DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS or it is Amnesty! Only Trump has no rich donors pushing for cheap labor express)
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To: Red Steel
PJ Media are losers.

How Trump-like of you. PJ Media criticizes Trump. Therefore, PJ Media are losers.

58 posted on 11/05/2015 10:38:57 AM PST by Conscience of a Conservative
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To: DouglasKC

As one who has been the victim of eminent domain, I can guarantee you that not “most everyone loves eminent domain,” and that they most assuredly do NOT “get far more than market value for their property.”

Not even close.

I see the need for eminent domain in the case of public necessity. Trump favors eminent domain for private development. It’s all about the money — making money for him and his cronies.

This is not a candidate who is in touch with ordinary Americans.

Very, very troubling.


59 posted on 11/05/2015 10:39:10 AM PST by Jedidah
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To: Calpublican

If Cruz was not pushing for the cheap labor express of H1-B visa foreign workers and expansion of cheap labor immigrants, I would support him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHlGlNwsQb0


60 posted on 11/05/2015 10:40:45 AM PST by entropy12 (DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS or it is Amnesty! Only Trump has no rich donors pushing for cheap labor express)
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