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Eminentoes
Trump and the Press
Big Tent Republicanism doesn’t look so good to them now.
The standards of American politics are so low that it is probably not possible for Donald Trump to lower them. Nevertheless, the media is treating him as a grave danger to the integrity of political discourse.
Perhaps what’s most distasteful to the press now is not his birther questions but his recent celebration of infant birth. His stated conversion to a pro-life view leaves reporters and commentators very dismayed.
In the past, Trump was the sort of pro-choice Republican that the press used to insist the GOP needed to promote. But now that he holds himself out as a pro-life Christian Tea Partier, the press’s enthusiasm for big, circus tent Republicanism has dimmed. They don’t mind if fringe candidates enter the tent as long as it is from the left rather than the right. But once they enter from the right, reporters ask: Where are the GOP’s standards?
Trump has now committed a series of unpardonable sins, from criticizing the Koran (it gives off a “very negative vibe,” he said) to defending Carrie Prejean’s “honorable” opposition to gay marriage, but probably his worst one in the eyes of the press is to adopt an opposition to abortion.
“One thing about me, I’m a very honorable guy. I’m pro-life, but I changed my view a number of years ago. One of the reasons I changed — one of the primary reasons — a friend’s wife was pregnant, in this case married. She was pregnant, and he didn’t really want the baby,” Trump said to the Christian Broadcasting Network. “He was crying as he was telling me the story. He ends up having the baby, and the baby is the apple of his eye. It’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to him. And here’s a baby that wasn’t going to be let into life. And I heard this, and some other stories, and I am pro-life.”
Joan Walsh on MSNBC thought it appalling that Trump would base his conversion on the experience of a “wealthy” friend. She also scented sexism in the answer, writing in a later column that it was a wealthy male friend. Other pundits were shocked by his bombastic indifference to Savannah Guthrie’s sacred invocation of the right to privacy during an interview with him:
GUTHRIE: Is there a right to privacy in the Constitution?
TRUMP: I guess there is. I guess there is.
GUTHRIE: So, how does that —
TRUMP: Why do you — why just out of curiosity, why do you ask that question?
GUTHRIE: Well, I’m just — wondering how that squares with your pro-life views.
TRUMP: Well, I don’t — it’s a pretty strange way of getting to pro-life. I mean, it’s a very unique way of asking about pro-life. Why are you — what does that have to do with privacy? How are you — how are you equating pro-life with privacy?
GUTHRIE: Well, you know, about the Roe v. Wade decision.
TRUMP: Yes, right, sure. Look, I’m for pro-life — I am pro-life. I’ve said it.
By steamrolling over Guthrie’s equation of the right to privacy with the right to abort an unborn child, Trump, if only accidentally, drew attention to the unfairness of the question. Of course, the press didn’t see it that way, accusing him of “ignorance” of the Constitution and a “Palin moment” for not respecting Guthrie’s shorthand.
Trump’s scattershot approach to politics is deservedly mocked, but it is telling that the press gets as or more worked up about his conservative views than his crackpot ones. It generally doesn’t mind suspicious conversions, pandering, or half-baked opinions from public figures provided that they fortify the prejudices of political correctness. Not this time.
About the Author
George Neumayr, a contributing editor to The American Spectator, is co-author, with Phyllis Schlafly, of the new book, No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (79) | Leave a comment
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Mitch | 4.21.11 @ 6:44AM
Donald Trump is a great man! Now its time for Trump!
ENOUGH ROPE| 4.21.11 @ 12:41PM
Trump's brashness is a major part of his appeal. He is an opportunistic flip-flopper with numerous bankruptcies and three marriages to gain trophy wives. His political weather vane goes from left to right and back to left whenever he can get many headlines and TV interviews.
arlo price| 4.21.11 @ 3:24PM
Whose your candidate???
I'm thinkin' Ike was the last POTUS that was even close to lily white.
skip| 4.21.11 @ 5:22PM
Do you really think the man who was the commander for the European theater of operations during World War II was even close to lily white?
voted against carter| 4.24.11 @ 3:32PM
UMhmmmmmm,....
Considering the TIME FRAME we are talking about,1940-45,....
YES,... I would have to say in the CONTEXT it is being used "lily white" covers it.
AND we are NOT talking about his BRAVERY.
Typical LIBRATARD.
Attempt to re- frame the statement.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 4.21.11 @ 6:53AM
Humor is where you find it and one of the comments here is more then humorous. In the last paragraph it's proclaimed that Trump's scattershot approach to politics is deservedly mocked.
You could say that about almost every Republican candidate with the exception of Herman Cain. Much of the Republican establishment was for climate change, before they were against it. Ditto illegal immigration. Now that's scattershot.
While the press continues to gloss over the fact that Obama refuses to release his college papers and other records, they use the birther issue as a red herring.
George Stephanopoulos allegedly had a certified copy of the birth certificate and tried to present it to Michell Bachmann yesterday on his show. She's a good candidate but she better learn to think a little quicker on her feet. When he showed it to her she should have said, "You did a good job there George although the state of Hawaii stated they had the original and then stated later all the records had been destroyed in a fire. Now, go after Obama's college papers. He won't release them and if you had as much curiousity about that we could finally find out what he's been trying to hide." It was a great opportunity missed.
Trump appears to be quick witted and when he's not he sees right through the ploys and points them out. In that sense he's better then most of the rest of the field.
Mimi| 4.21.11 @ 7:19AM
This time.....Obama better get all the facts out and lay it on the TABLE, for all to see.....That means EVERYTHING! The TRUTH needs some real BRIGHT lights on it...If not , be prepared to endure the consequences. The Democratic Party better get its ducks in a row....their demise is on the edge. I was hoping that by NOW they would have asked thePreident to resign.... It's long overdue!
RT| 4.21.11 @ 7:21AM
Trump is pro-life? Maybe he's a more serious candidate than I realized.
SpearWolf| 4.21.11 @ 8:05AM
I really question Trump's sincerity on most, if not all, of his positions. After all, he's always been about making the deal, and as of now, it appears that the deal is the presidency. Having said that, though, I am elated that any candidate has the chutzpa to raise the birth certificate/missing records issues. I probably will not vote for the Donald in the primary, but will definitely support him if he wins the nomination. ANYONE will be a better president than Chairman O.
Sheila| 4.21.11 @ 10:41AM
I have absolutely no faith in Trump's sincerity or veracity, but I am also extremely glad to see someone with balls who is prepared to actually challenge D'Won. I fully expect the party hierarchy to ordain Romney or Gingrich as their man of the hour, and I will not vote GOP merely to slow our rate of destruction while continuing in the same direction. I would, however vote for the Donald in the general election - even knowing of his amorality, his train wreck of a personal life, and his appalling ego. He's in this for vanity - and makes few bones about it - so for honesty alone, he'd get my vote. Besides, he has f--k you money, and can afford to stand up to the media. Most entertaining.
Anthony| 4.21.11 @ 11:34AM
Sorry Sheila, but you'd better vote to slow down our destruction, because if the leftists succeed, it's going to get pretty nasty. Of course with the medicaid fight we handed the dems, they probably eke out a victory anyway.
Donna| 4.21.11 @ 8:16AM
Trump's scattershot approach to politics is deservedly mocked, but it is telling that the press gets as or more worked up about his conservative views than his crackpot ones. It generally doesn't mind suspicious conversions, pandering, or half-baked opinions from public figures provided that they fortify the prejudices of political correctness. Not this time.
What???? I don't get your purpose with this letter unless it is to feed the trolls as you ask us not to.
Mark Shepler| 4.21.11 @ 8:21AM
I think Trump is full of beans on pretty much everything. Just depends on the day and question at hand on which issue he is most full of them. But I'm glad he's in the race. He's got the brass of Alan Keyes but is willing to take on many impolite topics and the staying power of Ross Perot. That'll be good for the Rep primaries. Read my full take at www.rightwingmuse.com | Donald Trump: Welcome to the Party?
Dee See| 4.21.11 @ 8:54AM
----STOP
-------------PLEASE
STOP----
russel| 4.21.11 @ 9:16AM
I'm glad he's in the race as well . He has plenty of plus's opposed to the other candidate's negatives . I figured the American people as lethargic , ignorant and apathetic , but Drudge reports MOST cannot name a single GOP candidate . As Rush has said , it doesn't matter if Porky Pig were our nominee , as long as he can defeat The Won .
Shermans riding again!| 4.21.11 @ 9:34AM
Russel- good point.
Louis Jenkins| 4.21.11 @ 9:52AM
I'm puzzled why Trump may ask the question, and suddenly it is a serious one. A few of us have been asking the same for 3 years and we've been blown off by the press, and some posters here. So where is the "meat" Mr. President? Where are your records, that same records that previous presidents furnished and critics latched on to and in some instances laughed at? Maybe it is because Trump is uber rich and we aren't, or maybe they give him some respect. It is very difficult to take Trump's bid for presidency serious. Perhaps its best to wait and see.
voted against carter| 4.24.11 @ 3:36PM
That Donald Trump Is Pretty Shrewd
By Kyle-Anne Shiver
Every time Donald Trump attacks a piece of the Obama narrative to a dumbfounded interviewer,
he knows exactly what he is doing.
He has considered the risk beforehand and calculated its rewards.
He knows the media is most vulnerable because early on in 2008, the collective media
declared these Obama truth-searches out of bounds for respectable people,
who were obliged (in the media elitists' minds) to give Obama's blackness
all benefit of doubt in every instance.
For nearly three full years now, the media has held its locked grip on every tidbit of missing
or discordant information regarding the Obama narrative and are now shocked -- shocked,
I tell you -- that anyone would dare to broach these media-deemed taboo subjects.
John McCain accepted these media-imposed, stacked-deck rules and the rest is history.
americanthinker dot com
arlo price| 4.21.11 @ 10:07AM
With the SEVERE damage that "career politicians" of both parties have done to this country, it is a refreshing change to have a successful, street smart, enterprising business tycoon possibly entering the field. It is obvious from the popularity of Sarah Palin that the right-of center electorate is fed up with the status quo 'politician'. The major difference being that the 'Donald' has more street experience. Face reality, this country would not be any worse off if it was being run by 600 citizens picked at random from voter registration rolls.
Welcome to the game Mr Trump, let's see what you have and good luck.
Let's Roll
Thomas| 4.21.11 @ 10:15AM
This is America. Let The Donald run for President.
Virtually the entire political establishment wants to marginalize Trump and assign him to the kook fringe. Why? The birth certificate issue. Dems are terrified because if the birthers are right, everything that they accomplished in the last three years is in serious jeopardy. The Media is terrified because they have alrteady declared that the birthers are wrong. If the birthers are right, what little credibility that still remains to the old media will largely evaporate. The Reps are terrified, because most of the leading members of the party, as well as virtually all of the potential 201 Presidential candidates have either publicly dismissed the birthers' position or ignored it. Should the birthers be right, then the Rep candidates' ability to lead is called into question.
Donald Trump's position on abortion, fiscal responsibility, or any thing other than his publicly backing the birther position is largely irrelevant to the media and the politicos. The threat posed by the Trump candidacy is all about the birth certificate.
Dustoff| 4.21.11 @ 10:17AM
Sorry guys. I'm NOT even buying this Trump thing. He's given some big bucks to the dem's, so don't think this guy can just change his ways over night. Yeah he sounds good, but when the rubber meets the raod, then what.
voted against carter| 4.24.11 @ 3:36PM
That Donald Trump Is Pretty Shrewd
By Kyle-Anne Shiver
Every time Donald Trump attacks a piece of the Obama narrative to a dumbfounded interviewer,
he knows exactly what he is doing.
He has considered the risk beforehand and calculated its rewards.
He knows the media is most vulnerable because early on in 2008, the collective media
declared these Obama truth-searches out of bounds for respectable people,
who were obliged (in the media elitists' minds) to give Obama's blackness
all benefit of doubt in every instance.
For nearly three full years now, the media has held its locked grip on every tidbit of missing
or discordant information regarding the Obama narrative and are now shocked -- shocked,
I tell you -- that anyone would dare to broach these media-deemed taboo subjects.
John McCain accepted these media-imposed, stacked-deck rules and the rest is history.
americanthinker dot com
LiveFreeOrDie| 4.21.11 @ 10:19AM
Unlikely as it is, if Trump uncovered a presidential scandal that caused Obama to be removed from office...I'd support and vote for him!
Otherwise, it's difficult to even consider him as a serious candidate. Then again, like arlo says above, random citizens could probably do a better job than the current batch of crooks.
Motorcycle Accident Attorney | 4.21.11 @ 10:37AM
Trump speaks his mind, but that could also be a big down fall in Washington when it comes to back room politics.
Fallgold| 4.21.11 @ 10:46AM
I hope That Trump runs for President. He will have my vote. He is tough, and he knows how to run a business. I think that he would be great at getting rid of duplication and waste in government, plus the elimination of totally unnecessary programs , boards, departments, etc.
As for the birth issue, he has been as smart as a fox in talking about this. Look at all the free coverage he is getting. From his standpoint, why spend millions of your own money in promotion if the "Press" will talk about you at no charge?
Also, can you imagine how good he will be in the debates with Obama? Would love to see that!
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 11:12AM
A few days ago I opined in a comment that the fact that Donald Trump was receiving the support he's receiving was just evidence of how pathetic the Republican slate of candidates is at this point. But I've about changed my mind. I've about decided that the fact he's receiving the support he's receiving is evidence of how pathetic we conservatives have become.
Seriously folks, Trump? Donald Freakin' Trump? You have GOT to be kidding me.
Donald Trump is a SALESMAN. He makes his living by selling things to people that they neither want nor need. And he's very, very good at it. He's no different than the guy down at the corner car lot who's gonna make you a deal you can't believe on a "classic" 20 year old Saturn with "only" 240,000 miles on the clock and a new paint job for "the low, low price of only" 6,999 (plus tax, tags, title, doc fees etc.) He just does it on a bigger scale, and is more skillful at it.
So what's he selling now? Who's he selling it to?
Is he saying things we want to hear? Sure he is. Just like that used car salesman is telling us that old Saturn was only driven to church on Sunday by a little old lady who never had it over 35 mph. Whatever he's saying, the only thing you can be sure of is that it has more to do with what he thinks will convince you to buy what he's selling than it has with anything he actually believes or would actually do in office.
Think about it like this, how many people do you know who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 because they liked all the hopey changey crap and are now having a serious case of buyer's remorse because there turns out to be a considerable disconnect between what he said and what he has done (not to mention a considerable disconnect between what he said and his competence to do it)? Well guess what folks, you elect Donal Trump in 2012 and YOU'LL be the ones with the serious case of buyer's remorse by 2015.
If Donald Trump is all the Republican party can come up with to run against the worst President in the history of the Republic, only two years after winning one of the biggest mid-term landslides in the history of the Republic, then those folks calling for a third party need to hurry up and get on with it because the Republican party is officially DEAD.
Mimi| 4.21.11 @ 12:36PM
BIG E....What a great POST ! What do we need to hear and SEE to realize , That we can sure as HECK win this.! The DEMS just got bad news from Standard and Poors....Obama is ..WEAKER than usual... We basically will have a VACANT SEAT at the whitehouse....cause he'll be out on the campaign trail..."doing his thing"! Unless the DEMS can invent a CHARACTER TRANSPLANT for him no way can he ever be RE-ELECTED!
David T| 4.21.11 @ 12:54PM
Not so fast, Mimi. Obama will have a billion dollars and the full support of the lamestream media. And don't forget the general gullibility of the American electorate. They'll vote for Obama simply because they won't want to be labeled "racist" for opposing a black man.
Mimi| 4.21.11 @ 2:04PM
MONEY....MONEY ? Our guy will get our last buck.....WE'll be pouring it out there..."O"'s gonna need way more than a Billion....He'll never have enough ....We've HAD IT....He's toast...IF HE RUNS!!! Who knows the DEMS might not NOMINATE him!!! Anything can happen!!!
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 3:19PM
Obama SAYS he will have a billion dollars. He's said a few other things in the last couple of years which turned out to be untrue, so I'll believe this one when I see it. Don't get me wrong, he'll have a lot of money, but I found it curious that he opened his campaign by bragging about how much money he was going to spend campaigning. If he was confident of victory, he would have come bragging about his "accomplishments." He started off bragging about money in the hopes of intimidating the competition, which tells me that he was exaggerating.
I think Obama is ripe for the picking, and that the only way he can win is we defeat ourselves, or if some idiot like Donald Trump runs as a third party candidate ala Ros Perot.
That said, I never underestimate the ability of the Republican party to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
George True| 4.22.11 @ 4:38AM
Sorry Big "E", but IMHO you are wrong on all counts. Where did you get the idea that Trump is a salesman? He is a commercial real estate developer. That is an occupation that requires many skill sets, including the ability to have vision, and at the same time to see things as they really are.
(By the way, I am a salesman, and I am very good at it. The reason I am good at it is because I know the market place, I know the available products down to the last detail, and I am very good at asking the right questions of people and educating them about what is available and what would be best for their particular needs and budget. If Trump has any of those skills - and my observation is that he has them in abundance - then that is a big plus.)
Up to this point, Trump is the ONLY candidate who has the guts, the cojones, and the self-confidence to ask the obvious questions regarding the birth certificate and all the rest of Obama's "disappeared" records. The cowardice of virtually ALL the rest of the Republicans on this issue makes me want to puke. This issue is not a distraction or a sideshow. It is THE core issue of the campaign, as it goes directly to Obama's fundamental dishonesty and criminality. If the Republicans allow it to be swept under the rug again by failing to make it an issue, they will lose the presidency next year, no matter who they nominate. But if they aggressively go after Obama on this issue, they will win in 2012, again, no matter who they nominate.
The Big E| 4.22.11 @ 8:34AM
With all due respect, he is a salesman who sells real-estate deals. I'm not saying there is inherently anything wrong with that, there are ethical salesmen and there are unethical salesmen, but the fact is that if you look at Trump's background, you find that his history is one of telling people what they want to hear in order to get them to buy what he wants them to buy.
What we need in a candidate is someone who's willing to stand on principle in the face of organized, angry, and well-funded opposition. Donald Trump has never demonstrated that he has any principles to stand upon, historically, to him, principles are merely things you claim to have when its beneficial to have them in order to close the deal.
So many conservatives (myself included) bitched and moaned about the way Obama was given a pass on his past, about the way he was never questioned about the inconsistencies in his positions, about the views he had expressed in the past which were radically different than those he expressed as soon as he started running for President. Well, now some of those same conservatives are committing the same sin with Donald Trump.
I do not want a "Republican" Barack Obama.
Furthermore, let's remember a couple of things: gas is approached $5 per gallon, the country is 14.5 TRILLION dollars in debt and that number is growing fast, less than half of the working age adults in this country have a job, more than half are on the government dole in one form or another, etc. Our civilization is, quite literally, on the precipice of collapse. And you think the biggest issue in the upcoming campaign was where Obama was born? Are you serious? You think that is more important than the fact that by 2015 we will paying enough interest to China annually to fully fund its military? You think that is more important than finding a way get energy prices under control and put people back to work?
Come back to reality.
As I said in another post, If someone produced a triple certified, blessed by the Pope, double authentic Kenyan Birth Certificate attested to by 15 unbiased witnesses that showed that Barack Obama was born in Kenya and rendered him ineligible for the office of President, what exactly would change? The country would still be in 14.5 trillion dollars of debt, we would still be fighting three wars, gas would still be 4+ dollars per gallon, half the populace would still be demanding freebies from the government, the Democrats would still control the Senate, and a radical lefty would still be President.
You're focusing on the ultimate political "gotcha" moment, I'm focusing on saving this country so our children can enjoy the liberties we seem so willing to just give up on.
voted against carter| 4.24.11 @ 3:37PM
That Donald Trump Is Pretty Shrewd
By Kyle-Anne Shiver
Every time Donald Trump attacks a piece of the Obama narrative to a dumbfounded interviewer,
he knows exactly what he is doing.
He has considered the risk beforehand and calculated its rewards.
He knows the media is most vulnerable because early on in 2008, the collective media
declared these Obama truth-searches out of bounds for respectable people,
who were obliged (in the media elitists' minds) to give Obama's blackness
all benefit of doubt in every instance.
For nearly three full years now, the media has held its locked grip on every tidbit of missing
or discordant information regarding the Obama narrative and are now shocked -- shocked,
I tell you -- that anyone would dare to broach these media-deemed taboo subjects.
John McCain accepted these media-imposed, stacked-deck rules and the rest is history.
americanthinker dot com
ShortNSweet| 4.21.11 @ 11:26AM
I think Donald Trump's hard nosed, "I have enough money to say and do whatever pleases me" position and attitude is just what this country needs. I, however, reserve my vote until after the birth certificate is produced because of Mr. Trump's persistance. If he get the birth certificate, he gets my vote!!!!! Welcome to the scene, Mr. Trump!
Anthony| 4.21.11 @ 11:37AM
I'd vote for a cardboard cutout of Wendell Wilkie over Obama, but I have a bad feeling that there's going to be so much infighting amongst the right, that Obama wins and the dems even gain some seats in congress.
arlo price| 4.21.11 @ 11:40AM
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM......
Trump/ Bachman
Marco Rubio - Sec. of State
Allen West - Sec. of Defense
Sarah Palin - Energy Sec.
Paul Ryan - Sec. of Treasury (appoints Neil Boortz to close the IRS)
Rush Limbaugh - Sec. of Education (oversees the abolishment of department)
Lee Iacocca - Sec. of Commerce
etc.
P.S. The degree to which you succeed in life is determined by your ability to SELL.
Everything that is produced HAS to be sold by SOMEONE i.e. a "SALESMAN". The Founding Fathers put together a product that had to be SOLD.
Contrary to popular opinion, not all salesman lie, get drunk and chase women. Please be selective in the flavor of kool-aid that you drink!!
Let's Roll
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 12:25PM
"The degree to which you succeed in life is determined by your ability to SELL."
It is also determined by your ability to not get TAKEN.
The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Donald Trump's past behavior shows that his positions on anything political have, over the course of his career, blown with the prevailing winds depending on what was beneficial to him at the moment. And you think suddenly they will not do so in the future now that he happens to be saying things you want to hear? You're expecting future behavior from his which would be completely contradictory to his past behavior as shown by his ENTIRE LIFE HISTORY.
In 2008 this country elected someone who was selling positions which were completely different from those which he had espoused throughout his entire life up until that time. He told people that, despite what his prior positions may have been, he was really on their side now. And they bought it. Once in office, he reverted to the positions he had maintained up until the point he changed them in order to SELL HIMSELF TO A GULLIBLE ELCTORATE. And you want to repeat that disaster simply because the person who's now doing the selling is telling you that despite his prior positions, he's really on your side now?
Exactly who is it that's drinking the kool-aid?
Arlo Price| 4.21.11 @ 12:42PM
Whose your nominee?
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 2:02PM
As a lifelong resident of the Great State of North Carolina, the odds are that I will have no say-so whatsoever in who the nominee will be, since about 40 States will already have had their say before I get the chance to voice my opinion in a primary (our legislature is considering a move forward, but I'm not holding my breath).
That said, I haven't yet made up my mind on who I want those of you who actually get a vote to nominate. I do think there are several good potential candidates out there who would, in my opinion, kick Obama's tail end back into whatever hole he crawled out of. There are also several - who unfortunately seem to have the name recognition - who will do nothing but insure four more years of the ongoing national disaster.
Of course, if Donald Trump keeps getting his ego stoked, he may do that on his own. I could easily see him, after losing the nomination, decide that he should do a Ross Perot and run on his own - thus guaranteeing four more years of Obama by siphoning off confused conservatives who were displeased because the Republican party's ultimate nominee was not their personal favorite.
Not that it will make any difference to me, because like I said, I'm a resident of the Great State of North Carolina, and so will likely have no say in things anyway.
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 2:32PM
Arlo, you deserve a better answer than that to your direct question, so I'll give you one.
I haven't made up my mind, that is true, but there are some potential candidates I like.
I like Chris Christie. I know he says he's not running, and I know he's not as conservative as many (myself included) would IDEALLY like, but the fact is that he's smart, ballsy, and managed to enforce some fiscal discipline on a Democratic legislature in one of the strongest of Democratic strongholds. In other words, he has been demonstrably effective in dealing with one of the, if not the, most serious issue we are facing. Effectively achieving desired goals in the face of powerful opposition is a quality I like in a Presidential nominee.
I like John Bolton. Personally, I think if we had some discipline and intelligent toughness brought to bear upon our foreign policy it would go a long way to stabilizing our perilous energy and financial situation, and John Bolton would unquestionably bring that intelligence, toughness, and discipline to the table. Despite his ties to GWB, he is unquestionably a solid conservative (GWB, in my opinion, was not in the least bit conservative). Conservativism, intelligence, toughness, and discipline are all qualities I like in a Presidential nominee.
I like Bobby Jindal. His handling of some seriously difficult times in Louisiana has impressed me with his intelligence, his courage in the face of powerful opposition, and his tenacity. He seems well equipped to me to deal with difficult and dangerous situations, and that's a quality I find appealing in a Presidential nominee.
In my mind, the jury's still out on Sarah Palin (I like her willingness to say what she thinks in the face of raw hatred, but I think she is of more value out of elected office than in - like Rush Limbaugh, for example), Michelle Bachman (she says the right things, but I sometimes wonder whether she really understands some of the things she says), Tim Pawlenty (in some regards, he seems OK, but he let the Dems run all over him in that Al Franken fiasco, and those were only State level Dems), and Herman Cain (sharp guy, makes sense, but can he actually win?).
In addition to "The Donald," who is a joke, I have no use for Mitt Romney (whose only principle is his ambition to be President at any cost), Mike Huckabee (who needs to go back to being a preacher), and Newt Gingrich (who is too much of an academic to have a clue how to be an effective executive, and no, I was not impressed with him as Speaker. He let Bill Clinton eat his lunch).
I just get defeat ridden vibes whenever I think of Haley Barbour, Mike Pence, or Rick Santorum as the nominee.
David T| 4.21.11 @ 3:02PM
Fred Thompson, if he decided to run, would be a formidable candidate. So would Rudy Giuliani. Either one could beat Obama. The list of GOP winners after these two gets very short very quick.
Drunken Sailor| 4.21.11 @ 3:22PM
I rooted for Fred before but it just didn't seem his heart was in it. I think he would have even less of a chance now. Missed opportunity.
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 3:23PM
I haven't heard much, anything really, about either of them running this time around.
David T| 4.21.11 @ 4:07PM
Thompson's writing some stuff over at NRO. I think he's testing the waters. Not sure about Giuliani, but in my opinion all he'd have to do to get back on track with the Right is vow not to fund Planned Parenthood. The Independents would flock to him for his courage/leadership.
arlo price| 4.21.11 @ 3:50PM
Pretty much spot on Big E. At the very least, I believe Trump deserves some credit for demonstrating to the other candidates that 'political correctness' need not be the order of the day in conducting your campaign. That 'manners' are not necessarily going to rule.
The interview exchange noted in the article demonstrates one of the qualities that has been lacking with virtually all GOOP candidates, that is that you HAVE to know and understand that the state controlled media is NOT on your side. The candidate must have the ability to see where each question is leading (whereas they are always leading to show the GOOP candidate in a negative light), and be able to make their point before the interviewer can box them into a corner. Streetsmart = the best defense is an overpowering OFFENSE.
PS Somebody tell neut to go away.
Lets Roll
Mimi| 4.21.11 @ 12:56PM
What really needs to happen is : We have to get this SHOW on the ROAD....The candidates need to be heard from, their IDEAS and what is in their HEART for the BETTERMENT of this country....they need to get out there and start pouring it on with all they have to call out the DEMS and what damage they have done. We will benefit if the FIGHT begins ....Lets see who has the fire in the BELLY, We have some great people out there...Good Americans....Lets start hearing from them.
carol| 4.21.11 @ 2:30PM
read National Review online
he is a liberal gettig attention
educate yourself
Paul from SA| 4.21.11 @ 5:40PM
Carol,
That is so insulting. We read. We know how to read. We are informed. We are educated. You sound like Karl Rove.
Want to be insulted? Why would you favor Obama over Trump? What's so good about Obama?
Paul from SA| 4.21.11 @ 5:42PM
Why won't NRO attack the other GOP candidates with the same zeal? Each has major flaws where honest answers to just a few questions would disqualify most of the field.
voted against carter| 4.24.11 @ 3:38PM
That Donald Trump Is Pretty Shrewd
By Kyle-Anne Shiver
Every time Donald Trump attacks a piece of the Obama narrative to a dumbfounded interviewer,
he knows exactly what he is doing.
He has considered the risk beforehand and calculated its rewards.
He knows the media is most vulnerable because early on in 2008, the collective media
declared these Obama truth-searches out of bounds for respectable people,
who were obliged (in the media elitists' minds) to give Obama's blackness
all benefit of doubt in every instance.
For nearly three full years now, the media has held its locked grip on every tidbit of missing
or discordant information regarding the Obama narrative and are now shocked -- shocked,
I tell you -- that anyone would dare to broach these media-deemed taboo subjects.
John McCain accepted these media-imposed, stacked-deck rules and the rest is history.
americanthinker dot com
carol| 4.21.11 @ 2:32PM
and to the Big E
I am in Ca the land of the fruits and nuts no free speech here for a CONSERVATIVE forget having a primary
Redstateboy| 4.21.11 @ 3:31PM
You Know the Hussein White House is worried about the damage the Trumpster can do when NBC opened their last night's broadcast with a full 5-6 min. devoted to trying to take him out. What?? did Hussein say to his syncophants..." Get Immelt on the phone!" "Jeff? Hussein.. I want you to take out Trump NOW!" "Yes Mein-Messiah!" "Hello - Brian? Jeff.. Das Messiah says take Trump out - now do it!"
Rev Trask| 4.23.11 @ 6:46PM
Conservative GOP columnist Charles Krauthammer works for the White House? You should read what HE has to say about Trump--he called Trump the GOP`s "Al Sharpton".
And Bush`s Brain, Karl Rove doesn`t like Trump either.
In the real world (I know, `baggers and haters just like you, don`t live there), the White House is probably thrilled to see Trump on the scene, sucking the air (and $$$) out of Romney, Pawlenty and other GOP lightweights while dividing the Republicans even more.
Ore Gone| 4.21.11 @ 4:25PM
I heard Rove stumping for Romney which is exactly what the RINO's want. The establishment Republican party needs to be shown the highway also as they are enablers. Romney is the last person I would vote for. I would vote anyone that hasn't sold his soul to DC. We really have a great field of candidates that a person can believe in! Now if we can just get one of them in the foray. If we get the Senate too we can start righting this ship. There is some serious House cleaning needs to be done. If they want to change our country why not deport them to a country more to their liking like Cuba.
Paul from SA| 4.21.11 @ 5:38PM
I can't stand Romney either. And I can't stand Huckabee -- I can see right thru him like I did with Bill Clinton when I first saw him.
russel| 4.21.11 @ 5:14PM
The socialist's always show their hand . When the Doonesbury has to do a belittling Sunday comic strip on the the Trump , they're already bothered . Just sayin ..
Paul from SA| 4.21.11 @ 5:36PM
I am bothered by the Republican attacks against Trump.
I'd like to know if anyone from the media -- on both sides who are attacking Trump -- committed any journalism and actually interviewed any Trump supporters.
They think if you support Trump over Obama it means you're a lunatic or you want a confrontational candidate. Krauthammer said his appeal is all name recognition.
I've lost all faith in Karl Rove. Can't stand him anymore.
The #1 trait the next GOP prez candidate must have is courage to take on the liberal establishment. Trump is running circles aroung the rest of the field.
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 6:43PM
If you read up on Trump's history - and I mean history that was written before all this hullabaloo about the possibility of him running for President began - you will find that he has spent much more time in his life kow-towing to the liberal establishment than bucking it.
If Harry Reid were to change Party affiliation tomorrow, announce he's running for President as a Republican, and start "taking on" the liberal establish and demanding to see the President's birth certificate, would you suddenly be supporting him?
Paul from SA| 4.21.11 @ 9:21PM
The Republican party has gone all-out offering dozens of articles and negative commentary on Trump's history. I'll say it again. We conservatives know how to read. Just because a person supports Trump today over Obama doesn't mean they aren't informed or that we're stupid.
I prefer Trump over Obama and I like the way Trump is driving the liberals nuts. He brings issues into the public domain that the liberal media can't deal with head-on. I don't believe he could ever survive a party nomination process. But for now... prominent Republicans are using liberal tactics and describing me as corrupt and inferior.
The Big E| 4.22.11 @ 8:38AM
The problem is that the last we want to do is encourage a man like Donald Trump. If we're not careful, we'll find him running as a third party candidate, and he won't be stealing votes from Obama. You want a repeat of 1992? You want to guarantee four more years of Obama? There's no surer way to get one than to encourage Donald Trump.
Paul from SA| 4.22.11 @ 10:50AM
Thanks for the reply. I agree about a third party siphoning votes from the GOP (I know, despite my constant criticism of the GOP....).
I see Perot as one step back to take two steps forward (for conservatism). However, I see a bigger problem if we get somebodoy like John McCain again. People are still wondering how he got the nomination. Do you have a favorite at this time?
Paul from SA| 4.21.11 @ 5:54PM
It is strange to see both Republicans and Democrats desperatetly trying to help the Republican party survive... by warning the citizens of the damage Trump will cause to the Republican party.
And which Republicans are attacking us? The usual elitists who think we aren't smart enough, we don't read, we don't know how to read, we can't conduct a little political calculus to figure out it's better to have a liberal Republican now rather than a conservative later.
David Brooks, David Frum, Karl Rove, Meghan McCain and Colin Powell do more damage to the Republican party as official national spokesman than Trump. They are the reasons I am not a member of the Republican party.
Why don't they attack them too?
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 6:48PM
This isn't about saving the Republican party. this is about saving the country. I could give a rat's ass about the Republican party, its nothing but a rapidly cooling corpse anyway if Donald Trump is all it can come up with.
Liberal Democrat or Liberal Republican - the key word is liberal. One will charge headlong toward the destruction of the Republic. The other will assist "his frends across the aisle" in charging headlong toward the destruction of the Republic.
Either way, the Republic is destroyed.
I care about the Republic. Donald Trump cares about Donald Trump's ego, and very little else.
Paul from SA| 4.21.11 @ 6:02PM
It's similar to the Democrats and Republicans warning the Republican party to drop the birth certificate issue now or risk damaging the Republican party.
The Dems are deathly afraid of the issue, even if it is bogus.
The Big E| 4.21.11 @ 6:55PM
I don't know whether the birth certificate issue is bogus or not, and I really don't care that much. If someone produced a triple certified, blessed by the Pope, double authentic Kenyan Birth Certificate attested to by 15 unbiased witnesses that showed that Barack Obama was born in Kenya that would render ineligible for the office of President.
But even if that happened tonight and Obama was forced to resign and was drummed away to a dark prison never to be heard from again, the sun would come tomorrow, and the country would still be in 14.5 trillion dollars of debt, we would still be fighting three wars, gas would still be 4+ dollars per gallon, half the populace would still be demanding freebies from the government, the Democrats would still control the Senate, and a radical lefty would still be President.
So tell me, exactly what would have changed?
voted against carter| 4.24.11 @ 3:40PM
That Donald Trump Is Pretty Shrewd
By Kyle-Anne Shiver
Every time Donald Trump attacks a piece of the Obama narrative to a dumbfounded interviewer,
he knows exactly what he is doing.
He has considered the risk beforehand and calculated its rewards.
He knows the media is most vulnerable because early on in 2008, the collective media
declared these Obama truth-searches out of bounds for respectable people,
who were obliged (in the media elitists' minds) to give Obama's blackness
all benefit of doubt in every instance.
For nearly three full years now, the media has held its locked grip on every tidbit of missing
or discordant information regarding the Obama narrative and are now shocked -- shocked,
I tell you -- that anyone would dare to broach these media-deemed taboo subjects.
John McCain accepted these media-imposed, stacked-deck rules and the rest is history.
americanthinker dot com
Dixie Pixie| 4.21.11 @ 8:35PM
Who would the Bigfoot Media like to cover?
Halley Barbour in Mississippi where the MSM hears banjos closing in on all sides.
Or Trump who lives and works with the MSM in Manhattan.
With Trump the MSM need never risk contact with Reality by staying in Manhattan.
More on this subject see the following::::
http://www.boortz.com/weblogs/.....ot-needed/
John K.| 4.21.11 @ 11:46PM
Trump is resonating because he has a pro-American message and is coming out against our suicidal free trade policies to hostile powers, especially Communist China. Both the left and right media are attacking him since both are economic globalists.
Even El-Rushbo has said that Trump’s idea of a 25% tariff on Red China is not conservative. Trump needs to school Dubai-Ports Rush that tariffs were enacted by our Founders to protect America’s sovereignty and independence. Protectionism is conservative whereas Judas free-trade giveaways, especially to communist regimes are liberal and Marxist. El-Rushbo and his ilk are phony patriots whereas Donald is a true patriot. .
Rev Trask| 4.22.11 @ 10:18AM
"Protectionism is conservative whereas Judas free-trade giveaways, especially to communist regimes are liberal and Marxist. El-Rushbo and his ilk are phony patriots whereas Donald is a true patriot. "
Well stated. Although draft-dodging Rush is really just a mouthpiece for the aristocracy and quite ignorant about more things than his listeners realize.
arlo price| 4.22.11 @ 12:06AM
To be as successful a businessman as Trump is, sometimes you have to work both sides of the street.
A self-made mega millionaire businessman sometimes has strange bedfellows.
Call it what you will, pay-2-play or it's not what you know but who you blow or scratch my back & I'll scratch yours but the facts are that he is not a career politician and obviously he has leadership skills and knows how to run a business to make a profit.
You have to admit that he is an effective example for Capitalism and free enterprise.
Doesn't the possibility exist that as popular as he is and with GOOP establishment backing he could win by a landslide and more importantly fill 60 SENATE GOOP/Tea Party/Conservative chairs in the process.
As for the birther issue, Certificate is a noun, Certification is either a noun or a VERB. IMO Certification of Live Birth is, simply put, certifying that he was born alive. Where's the BIRTH CERTIFICATE???
A Girl Scout achievement badge is a certification, the achievement certificate is in the scrap book; the ASE patch on the mechanics uniform is a certification, the certificate is hanging on the wall, MD after your doctors name is a certification, his/her board certificate is hanging on the wall.
Where's the Birth Certificate?
Let's Roll
Rev Trask| 4.22.11 @ 10:10AM
Psst- Trump is not "self-made". He inherited millions from his father. You have fallen for the hype that -- ironically-- the "press" has played along with, that Trump wants everyone to believe: That Trump is a "very successful" businesman. He`s also gone through some bankruptcies too.
Obama`s BC is physically in Hawaii, having been viewed and attested to by many, including the REPUBLICAN governor of Hawaii. Not that it matters, since Obama`s mother was a native American (from Kansas), and as such, all her offspring are legally US citizens anyway. The birthers never mention this, of course.
Dee See| 4.22.11 @ 8:18AM
BTW ---odd, not mentioned is whether Trump, son of a high profile New York contractor, is not
himself a high degree Freemason.
As the world is wretching from the implosion
engineered by Social Darwinist capstone international banksters and tax free,
ultra-rich NGO's ----it would seem kind of an
issue.
Rev Trask| 4.22.11 @ 9:58AM
Anyone who really claims to be pro-life should understand the 1973 Roe v Wade decision, and how right to privacy figured in the decision. There is a reason most Republicans oppose right to privacy.
Also, the "press" is not going after Trump because he now claims to be pro-life. They`re doing so because he`s flip-flopped on more issues than Flipper Romney, and has committed adultery leading to divorce as many times as Newt Gingrich. Call him Newt Romney, if you wish.
Can`t wait until he shows up in a muddy field in Iowa, thumping a new, barely-opened Bible.
philfl63| 4.22.11 @ 10:11PM
At this point, I would vote for Trump. The rest of those f**ktards are the standard mealy-mouthed pols looking for a free suckle at the public teat until they get their ten years in and a gold-plated congressional or senate retirement. BTW, the Constitution only states that the requirements for president are that the man, yes man, no girls allowed, be a natural-born citizen and attained thirty-five years of age. At least Trump is a known quantity with some accomplishments behind him. Don't really care for the hair though.
Rev Trask| 4.23.11 @ 6:34PM
Run Donald, Run (as an independent)! Help re-elect the President.
arlo price| 4.22.11 @ 10:32PM
Trask, I have a hundred dollar bill that I will donate to the non-profit charity of your choice if you can provide a link that shows a certified, verifiable copy of the usurpers birth CERTIFICATE. A certification of live birth won't cut it.
Make that 2 100 hundred dollar bills.
Let's Roll
arlo price| 4.23.11 @ 5:43PM
Trask or any other spll jihadist including but not limited to lamestream media talking heads such as Geo. Stephanopoulos any kos trolls anyone is elligible. Don't worry about transferring funds, that can be accomplished and your anonymity protected.
I'll make it $500.00 if you can provide a link that shows a certified, verifiable copy of the usurpers birth CERTIFICATE. A certification of live birth won't cut it.
C'mon someone, take my money!
Let's Roll
john dubose| 4.24.11 @ 8:40AM
To the degree that Trump made his money by taking advantage of eminent domain abuse, Republicans would be selling their souls to even let him attend the convention.
Creative Recreation | 8.10.11 @ 9:58PM
is good