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Trump Debate Highlights Ron Paul, Romney, Huntsman Flaws

By on 12.7.11 @ 10:01AM

Yes, all these debates can be tiresome.

But in fact they are doing their job of familiarizing voters with the different candidates. While no debate format can ever be perfect, the various debates thus far have allowed the national audience of Republicans to size up the cast and start making decisions.

My friend Quin Hillyer says this morning that debates don’t matter, and I would have to disagree — if by “matter” we’re talking about helping Candidate A over Candidate B.

I don’t think at this point there’s much point in denying that these debates have helped Newt Gingrich. But Quin is right in one sense. Just because Gingrich’s debate performances have shot him to the top of the field as voting time grows near, there is a whole lot more to winning Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina beyond that. Organizational ability and money, for starters. So while Newt is riding a wave here, there is plenty of room for surprise. Iowa is tailor-made for somebody like Ron Paul. If his Iowa supporters are as organized as Paul supporters in general are passionate for their man, he could easily upset an unorganized Gingrich or a not-popular-enough Romney or Santorum and Bachmann.

And speaking of debates, the so-called “Trump Debate” (it’s sponsored in actuality by Newsmax and ION television with production by TV professionals including an ex-CNN’er) is illustrating precisely the problem with the Paul, Romney, and Huntsman candidacies.

Mr. Paul has been unfairly excluded from a debate by the Republican Jewish Coalition. But for the Newsmax debate he is suddenly getting sniffy himself — as are Romney and Huntsman — over the choice of Donald Trump as a moderator. Yes, yes, yes, The Donald has morphed into a so-called “reality TV” star. But no one in their right mind thinks of Donald Trump as other than what he, in fact, is: a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur. Which is to say, precisely the kind of people we need more of in this country — as opposed to the jobless Obamaville occupiers. Trump has an extensive and deep record as a “job creator” — and candidates should jump at the opportunity for this.

But because both Paul and Huntsman have been criticized by Trump, they are turning tail and running. Romney is saying no, one suspects, because he is increasingly wary of sharing the stage with the better debater Gingrich. And Gingrich has nailed the point precisely: if they can’t handle Donald Trump, why in the world would anyone think they can handle Ahmadinejad or Hugo Chavez or al Qaeda?

Not to be forgotten is the television appearance that helped make Richard Nixon a saleable candidate in the fall of 1968 — Nixon’s appearance on the irreverent Laugh-In with Rowan and Martin. There, in the middle of a deadly serious fall campaign against Hubert Humphrey, was Richard Nixon mugging the phrase of the day: “Sock it to ME?”

Nixon had learned the importance of popular culture and television the hard way in 1960 — and he never made the mistake again. Romney, Paul, and Huntsman are illustrating with their refusals to participate that they are tone deaf to the culture — and in the television era, this would be a fatal problem for them as president.

So let’s see who shows up. Let’s see The Donald sock it to them.

And then it’s in the hands of Iowans.

For at least one night.

View all comments (147) |

Tim cavanaugh| 12.7.11 @ 10:19AM

EPIC FAIL. HAhahahah keep tellin yourself that buddy.Ron Paul owns you!!! Lol

Jeffery Lord| 12.7.11 @ 10:41AM

You're right! I HATE Ron Paul... plus, my boss gives me extra cash if I write smear pieces on him. :)

Will| 12.7.11 @ 11:24AM

"You're right! I HATE Ron Paul... plus, my boss gives me extra cash if I write smear pieces on him. :)"

I don't think many readers of your biased blog doubts that, Mr. Lord.

Jeffrey Lord - The Real One| 12.7.11 @ 11:50AM

Will...

Hello? That's not me. You have been taken by a Paulite. Ah well...

Jeffrey Lord - The Fake One| 12.7.11 @ 12:09PM

:P

Adam | 12.7.11 @ 2:50PM

Lord's argument might have validity if not for the pesky fact that Trump shafted the Iowa GOP earlier this year, and participating would be a snub to them. The Paul campaign noted that, as did many news articles, so presumably Lord deliberately omitted this fact to fit his spin.

Marian| 12.7.11 @ 11:42AM

I'm certain you use the extra cash for another months supply of ExtenZe.

Dai Alanye | 12.7.11 @ 1:03PM

Among the best reasons to vote for "anyone but Ron Paul" are the types of supporters he attracts.

john| 12.7.11 @ 1:20PM

You mean people between the ages of 18 and 45?

William| 12.7.11 @ 2:38PM

I'm a 6 year U.S. Army veteran. When I got out I went to Georgia Tech, now I own a commercial development company and employ 66 people.

I support Ron Paul in full, and so do thousands and thousands of our troops.

Now if you want to keep using blanket statements about Dr. Paul's supporters you will be labeled ignorant and naive. It's your own fault. That sort of thinking is born of ignorance and blind following of whatever tv personality you get your "news" from.

Baaaah.

William R| 12.7.11 @ 12:35PM

You're the biggest idiot in cyberspace Lord. You'd call the Father of Modern Conservatism Russell Kirk a Neo-Lib because his views on foreign policy were very similar to Ron Paul's.

http://users.etown.edu/m/mcdonaldw/Lect321.html

Walt Thiessen | 12.8.11 @ 10:34AM

I disagree with Mr Cavanaugh's claim that Ron Paul "owns" you, Mr. Lord, but I think it's fair to say that you're missing the boat with your article. You're completely overlooking the fact that Donald Trump has no business "moderating" a debate in a campaign where he is considering entering the race as an independent candidate himself. That would be a blatant conflict of interest and has no business in a political campaign. This forum will give Trump the opportunity to misuse his moderator chair to attack his opponents in the campaign. Any candidate who attends this faux debate is setting himself or herself up as a patsy.

The Dangler| 12.7.11 @ 11:41AM

The people that make their livings from stealing, lying and killing innocent people are getting nervous...VIVA la R3volution!

Marian| 12.7.11 @ 11:43AM

Viva la Viagra

Stephen Blackpool| 12.7.11 @ 2:33PM

Jeffrey Lord states "no one in their right mind thinks of Donald Trump as other than..." Of course this isn't true. How about the buyers who lost their deposits of $200,000 when condo projects at Trump Tower Tampa and Trump Ocean Resort Baja went belly up?

Jonathan| 12.7.11 @ 10:21AM

...and Romney bowed out, too. Is he flawed, too?

Donald Trump is a man determined to make himself a self-parody and has been openly hostile towards Paul in the past. Exactly what candidate would disgrace the presidential process by bending knee to a walking joke like Trump? Why on Earth would Paul walk into a debate moderated by this clown that has made a mockery of the Presidential process for his own publicity points? Which candidate would?

Oh yeah: Gingrich. And before him, a host of others.

Sorry, Jeff, the spin doesn't work on this anymore than it did with your past hit pieces. Paul and Huntsman have demonstrated a desire to keep this process more dignified and above the likes of failed casino operators and reality TV stars. If there is a crybaby in this picture, it's Trump, who has had his rather titanic ego justifiably put in its place.

Marian| 12.7.11 @ 11:46AM

You are right about Gingrich, but what clown wouldn't want to be a part of the Greatest Show on Earth. God bless P.T. Barnum...err... Donald Trump. Ron Paul 2012!

Curtis Rock| 12.7.11 @ 10:25AM

You mention "Ahmadinejad or Hugo Chavez or al Qaeda" as if "al Qaeda" is one person named Al. It's an organization, it's a movement, and the best way to deal with them is how Ron Paul has stated: leave them and their Nations to their own devices and their own demise.

Now, on to the real meat of this article... Ron Paul isn't snubbing the debate because Trump has insulted him in the past. Ron Paul has been lambasted repeatedly over the years as a crazy, lunatic, kook, etc. by various pundits and individuals and still takes on opportunities to be on their shows. What this is is Ron Paul not taking Trump seriously, and that bothers Trump's egotistical manner. He may be somewhat successful, but remember that Trump inherited a large fortune from Fred Trump, so Donald Trump isn't a self-made man and amassed such a large inheritance that it was practically impossible to squander and lose. Let's keep the deliberations honest, members of the media. Trump is a joke.

Ed| 12.7.11 @ 11:24AM

Brilliant, simply brilliant. We can enter a country at the invitation of its rulers (ie. Saudi Arabia) but, if AQ says leave, we have to leave. If only we had done this during WWII. What, Hitler, you say quit arming Great Britain through lend/lease? Yes sir, sorry it offended you.

Zach| 12.7.11 @ 11:38AM

Hey I have an idea! I'll bring up an example that doesn't relate to the war tactics of modern times! What you stated has no relevance. If people want their freedom they should fight for it themselves. It's not our job to police the world...it's left too many repercussions. We need to start caring about the US again.

Ed| 12.7.11 @ 1:43PM

Yeah, that's what the isolationists said in the 30's as well. Leave them to their own disputes, that's what they said then. Guess what, paultards-we couldn't do it then and we can't do it now. We've got interests all over the world-what quantum of threat must be present before we run? The Baader Meinhof Gang didn't want us in Germany, run to the hills?

Joe| 12.7.11 @ 11:44PM

How can you blame "isolationists" of the 30's when it was the result of WWI and the sanctions put on Germany as a result which lead to the rise of Hitler to begin with?

Turns out, when you intervene in a country, the most extreme elements come out in power. How is that?

Well if China was to attack the US tomorrow and took over the government. We in the US would support any groups that were fighting against them. Yeah we all know they are nuts, but we would support them, and we would hope to get China out, and then we would deal with those people like we always do. Those people would never have any chance of rising in power except under these kinds of conditions.

And Hitler and his rheteric would have had no place if not for the interventions of the League of Nations - which was deemed a huge failure as a result on the country. Of which Hitler pulled on like little support strings all the way until what we have now.

To pretend that Hitler just came out of nowhere and for no consequence and to blame anyone but those who kept these sanctions on Germany many years after WWI is just wrong.

b| 12.7.11 @ 11:42AM

Because Al Qaeda is clearly the same equivocal threat to the world that Hitler was...

Marian| 12.7.11 @ 11:52AM

Al Qaeda is no more a threat to America than the JDL. Just keep it over there please.

Ed| 12.7.11 @ 2:09PM

They don't want to keep it over there. Didn't 9/11 teach you anything (I know-per RP, we actually did that ourselves). We are in Saudi Arabia at the invitation of its government. We have all sorts of interests in the ME given that they supply the oil that keeps us up and running. Somehow, we are going to leave that are to its own device and hope things go okay. Hope there is no disruption in our oil supply. Hope that the people who launched 9/11 can't get on planes, come here, and commit other terrorist acts. How historically ignorant are you paultards?

Paris| 12.8.11 @ 1:48AM

Imagine if we did not actively campaign to protect the supply of oil from other countries. Imagine that the price of oil went to unimaginable heights. We would no longer be interested in our government using our tax dollars to subsidize struggling green energy companies, because they would be completely able to compete on their own. Not only would the public be inclined to support more renewable sources of energy, but the price of foreign oil would propel competition in the energy market. Not only is our government using our money to "pick and choose winners and losers", they also waste our money in an attempt to dictate what other countries should be doing. Our government uses our military and foreign aid to make other countries dependent, and some of those countries have actually asked us to stop. They want their sovereignty, let them have it.

Dr. Ron Paul for president in 2012.

Grzmlyk| 12.9.11 @ 3:29PM

Yup.

And if you ignore that lump in your breast, it'll go away for sure.

Makes perfect sense.

Steve| 12.7.11 @ 12:03PM

Why did Japan attack the US 70 years ago today? Was it because they hated our freedom? Is it because they were evil? Of course not, the short answer is America's foreign policy and our embargo on trade in both metals and oil led to Japan's attack.

http://www.theamericancause.org/patwhydidjapan.htm

Ed| 12.7.11 @ 2:28PM

Japan, along with the other military fascist dictatorships of Italy and Germany, had already embarked on a rampage in the Pacific. They had already invaded and plundered their neighbors, committing the Rape of Nanking (a foreshadowing of their treatment of our captured soldiers). If, per PB, we had only met with a powerless prince, maybe we coulda shoulda avoided Pearl Harbor by acquiescing in the attacks of the Japanese (and hoped they wouldn't have attacked us as they grew in strength). History and common sense aren't the strong points of the Paultards. It's reflective of their respect for Ron Paul, who would allow a harmless criminal gang to chase us out of the ME.

Joe| 12.7.11 @ 11:47PM

Japan was no doubt not some innocent bystander. However, it is just plain fact that we provoked them as much as we could in order to get into a war with them right or wrong.

Poyani| 12.7.11 @ 2:07PM

Hitler was the person who invaded countries around the world, starting World War 2.

So am I understanding you right? When you support candidates who propose invading other countries, you are saying that you are a big fan of Hitler?

Good to know Ed!

Kate| 12.7.11 @ 10:27AM

"Romney, Paul, and Huntsman are illustrating with their refusals to participate that they are tone deaf to the culture..."
Maybe that's true of Romney and Huntsman, however if that were true of Dr. Paul, then he wouldn't bother going on Jon Stewart's " The Daily Show", now would he?

Donald Trump is a balls-out self-promoter and right now he's selling a new book. A moderator should be an unbiased party asking tough questions.......and Trump is alot of things but he's not an unbiased party. His comments about Dr. Paul and Mr. Huntsman show that clearly.

That fact that Paul and Huntsman are the ONLY two candidates that haven't gone and kissed Trump's ass makes them the cream of the crop.

I say good for them.

lcdejots| 12.8.11 @ 1:41AM

I agree, Trump is just a show how America has turned and the Ron Paul Quote that it would be demeaning to attend as a competing Presidential hopeful is completely correct. Trump is a joke. And Mitt is only following because he wants to look like he is a serious guy and doesn't want to look bad in the eyes of true Conservative Republicans.

WilliamWallace| 12.9.11 @ 4:22PM

Exactly. Plus, if Dr. Paul is so out of touch with and tone deaf to popular culture, why do the college kids turn out in droves to support him?

http://caucuses.desmoinesregis.....niversity/

Sorry, Jeffrey, but warmongering and crony capitalism are passe. Get with it, man. Freedom, liberty, peace and prosperity are in!

May Ronald Reagan have mercy on your soul...

devinesara| 12.7.11 @ 10:28AM

This analysis is so sophomoric it would take all day to set it straight. Why don't you get to work on that.

Jean| 12.7.11 @ 10:30AM

So now Nixon is an appropriate model of the Presidency?

Joe Mama| 12.7.11 @ 11:28AM

He is if you're a supporter of the current establishment and what it is trying to accomplish.

jas dal| 12.7.11 @ 10:34AM

"But no one in their right mind thinks of Donald Trump as other than what he, in fact, is: a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur."
- A laughable statement. Trump made his billions through government programs and handouts. "Highly successful" in sucking up taxpayer dollars - call that a "successful businessman" if you like.

Me? Let's eliminate giving pork to these frauds. Eliminate regulations and give a level playing field to the true small business people.

Putting Ron Paul in office would accomplish this.

Attending a Trump debate? That is an insult to every citizen who wants true change. Going to the circus when the country is dying is not smart.

Ryan| 12.7.11 @ 12:32PM

I was about to state the same things. Trump has had too many businesses go belly-up. His talent is in self-promotion, not business.

All the way to the bank, but still...

Rienone| 12.7.11 @ 10:36AM

You are COMPLETELY on the wrong side of this thing! Trump is a moron and BY FAR, unqualified to moderate a presidential debate. He is still flirting with a third party run, and openly calls candidates "clowns" and "jokes". What a freaking LOSER!

Joseph| 12.7.11 @ 10:36AM

Do you sincerely believe that Paul's afraid of appearing in a Trump debate because Trump would somehow expose his weaknesses? Seriously? So the same man who has stood on the House floor and in committee chambers for nearly four decades, tirelessly expressing the lone dissenting view, is afraid to be challenged? He rejected the debate because Donald Trump is a joke and always will be. That Trump ever polled so high just shows how idiotic people in this nation have become. Trump? "But no one in their right mind thinks of Donald Trump as other than what he, in fact, is: a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur." Yeah? Well, I'll enjoy my left mind from now on.

Steven| 12.7.11 @ 10:37AM

Stop. None of the candidates are jumping at the so called opportunity to don a bozo mask and attend this circus. Save for the desperate, Bachman and Santorum. And of course the political whore Newt. Even Romney is showing some class.
You really have to step back and examine the drivel you write. You are very alone on this one. The majority of your peers think it's a cruel joke to have a clown host this thing. What your drivel highlights is your desperation. You hate Ron Paul. You should seek help when he wins in Iowa. The back round noise on this article is the death rattle of a neocon.
Please keep yourself healthy, we need the entertainment..

Rienone| 12.7.11 @ 10:38AM

The only thing it "highlights" is Trump's irrelevance. This is the kind of crony, establishment behavior this country is yearning to get away from. Time to respect our forefathers and the Constitution!

John| 12.7.11 @ 10:39AM

Your mistaken. Its not the fact that Trump is on reality tv, Its the fact he is still threatening to run Independent. Karl Rove even agrees with that. It would be like Christie being a moderator, But saying he might run later. Its tacky. That`s the only beef Paul and Romney have.

I respect Trump. But i know hes not a self made man. Hes a trust fund baby, Who inherited 500 million from his daddy... Then went off and filed bankruptcy 3 times. I like his show, But he needs to stick leave it at that.

But hey Jaff, Have fun watching that debate. Gingrich, Perry, Bachmann and Santorum? Wow, Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahhahahaha

JEFFREY LORD| 12.7.11 @ 10:39AM

Okay guys, you got me. I'm just so tired of getting pwnd by Ron Paul, Rand Paul and Jack Hunter. I thought I would be able to spin the events surrounding Trump's debate to Newt's favor, but come on, I'm not a miracle worker! Maybe I should just end it all because I'm wrong about everything.

Rienone| 12.7.11 @ 10:46AM

Amen, JEFF!

Gigione| 12.7.11 @ 10:48AM

LOL its nice to see you have a sense of humor.
Ron Paul 2012

Objector| 12.7.11 @ 11:00AM

True, it is good to see Jeff has a sense of humor. In the comment section . . . as well as his hit pieces on Ron Paul.

Lordy, Lord -- you really think Donald Trump won't be a grandstanding, biased, orange-faced, fake-haired clown? The guy's not even a RINO. Karl Rove and George Will are right. Romney was smart to distance himself from this clownshow, and it will backfire on Gingrich bigtime.

CorAutMors| 12.7.11 @ 10:41AM

Seriously ? What's next.. ( to steal a line ).., the Paris Hilton debate ?

Trump has an agenda and has already shown favoritism towards candidates, thus ( aside from the multitude of other reasons ) he is not a good choice for moderator.

http://www.nydailynews.com/gos.....e-1.136213

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories.....7806.shtml

marty| 12.7.11 @ 10:41AM

This article is a joke. I don't think that most people view Trump as a "highly successful" business man. Most people, in my humble opeinion, see him as a clown with a very big mouth, in desperate need of attention. Additionally, I don't see him as a "job creator" either. His biggest source of income these days apparently come from him lending his name to real estate projects, of which, reportedly many people have lost their shirts. He is basically a crook. I believe Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman showed that they're standing around with their tongues out looking for any kind of endorsement from anyone but the average everyday guy stepping into the voting booth to vote for the best candidate. Thank God for sanity.

Jeffrey Lord| 12.7.11 @ 10:43AM

Hello all,

I want to apologize for this abortion of an article I just wrote. You see, when you don't actually have any journalistic merit or intellectual insight, the only other way to get people to read your stuff is to write laughable hit pieces on Ron Paul. This is how I put food on the table an feed Mrs. Lord and little Jeffrey Jr.
I realize I could do something constructive with my life or find a new subject to write about, but the world is big and scary and it is much easier to provoke Paul supporters into clicking on your article by writing gems like my article on how Paul is an anti-Semite, based on 3 or 4 anonymous comments I found on a message board somewhere.
So for my sake, please keep giving me hits, in the hopes my article won't be trash this time around, and I'll keep putting out the same low-calibre blather that you've been disappointed by time and time again, and yet you continue to read. I think we have a pretty good thing going here!

Dawn| 12.7.11 @ 10:59AM

Really?

Objector| 12.7.11 @ 11:02AM

LOL, okay, Jeff. You had me at "hello."

bobthebob2| 12.7.11 @ 10:44AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f.....GaAOSGSFF8

after you watch that, you will see that this article is one of the dumbest written this entire gop race.

my other "fav" J. Lord articel was comparing NEWT to Churchill.

Jeffrey Lord - The Real One| 12.7.11 @ 11:23AM

Huh? Why is refusing to discuss the subject of the video you have suggested - on national television in a debate - a smart idea? If Ron Paul believes all this - well, fine. Get on the debate stage and say so. What's he afraid of?

The Original Jeffrey Lord| 12.7.11 @ 11:59AM

You know the only way to tell the REAL Jeffrey Lord from the imposters? See if he can talk for more than two sentences without attempting to insult Ron Paul. The REAL Jeffrey Lord's vocabulary is composed of about 3 insulting adjectives, "Ron Paul" and the words "Thanks for the check boss. No sir, I don't miss having a soul at all!", so there are only so many permutations of words he is capable of.

jas dal| 12.7.11 @ 10:44AM

Trump - some success story:
" Trump financed the construction of his third casino, the $1 billion Taj Mahal, primarily with high-interest junk bonds. Although he shored up his businesses with additional loans and postponed interest payments, by 1991 increasing debt brought Trump to business bankruptcy and the brink of personal bankruptcy. Banks and bond holders had lost hundreds of millions of dollars, but opted to restructure his debt to avoid the risk of losing more money in court."

Jeffrey Lord| 12.7.11 @ 10:45AM

You guys are right! I hate myself now for being so stupid. I wish you guys had talked me out of posting this article before I submitted it! I'm an idiot.

Objector| 12.7.11 @ 11:02AM

Okay, okay -- 'nuff already. Less is more.

Jeffrey Lord - The Real One| 12.7.11 @ 11:11AM

Oh please to the "Jeffrey Lord" imitator...Even a 5 year old would have more originality. Hmmm...a Paul supporter I see.

Jeffrey Lord's Boss| 12.7.11 @ 11:33AM

Hey Jeff, get back to work! My boss' boss' boss' boss' boss is making billions off of the policies Obama is putting in place for him. So get back to work and write that story about Gingrich's Fox News Poll results! We can't have Ron Paul gaining more momentum or else I won't get that promotion I was promised!

The Realest Jeffrey Lord| 12.7.11 @ 12:06PM

You're gonna accuse someone else of lacking originality? Really Jeffy?

Ohhh look at me I'm Jeffrey Lord!!! Did you guys see my awesome article about how much I don't like Ron Paul?? What about my other article where I talk about how much I don't like Ron Paul? Or how about my special edition Christmas article where I talk about how much I don't like Ron Paul?

Boss says every time Jeffy write a mean article about Ron Paul he give Jeffy a cookie! Jeffy love cookie! mmmm!!!

King of Kings, Lord of LORDS| 12.7.11 @ 1:43PM

All you Ron Paul Supporters are AFRAID of the truth...That TRUMP(c) can and will thoroughly whip Ron's butt inside a 'Steel Cage' in Madison Square Garden (Available on pay per view)

Ron Paul| 12.7.11 @ 3:38PM

Trump exists because I allow him to live.

Proulx| 12.7.11 @ 10:47AM

A "successful businessman like Trump"??

The same Donald Trump whose unethical business practices have landed his companies in bankruptcy, possibly on purpose, no fewer than FOUR times? If not on purpose, we can only conclude that Mr. Trump is not a good manager of finances.

The same Donald Trump whose HABIT of bankruptcy continued until, likely because of him and his kind, bankruptcy regulations made such practices much, much harder to employ? (Including for himself and his companies...)

This country does NOT need more of that, Mr. Lord.

SillyMan| 12.7.11 @ 10:48AM

“The more power there is in a political system, the more the powerful exploit it. New York hasn't ended up a dream world for the poor. It has become a place where Donald Trump manipulates the game.”

- Newt Gingrich 1989 Ripon Forum
http://www.riponsociety.org/forum-newt.htm

martin j smith| 12.7.11 @ 10:49AM

I will take Trump over Communist Nyuze Nyet wurk Anytime. (CNN ). And yes the three you mentioned are exactly the ones I COULD NOT VOTE FOR !!!!!!!!!!

The Republican Party is at best foolish to allow a LEFT Media group to have ANYTHING to do with 'OUR" debates.

Jeffrey Lord - The Real One| 12.7.11 @ 12:13PM

Define "OUR".

You mean Republicans? Like GW Bush, who supported Tarp, drastically expanded the Federal Gov't and national debt, and got us involved in unconstitutional wars? As opposed to the "LEFT" like Barack Obama, who supported TARP, drastically expanded the Federal Gov't and national debt, and got us involved in unconstitutional wars?

Give up the left vs right crap. It's just something Rush and Hannity use to keep you distracted because it's only slightly more effective than them jangling their car keys in front of your face.

David| 12.7.11 @ 10:49AM

"Trump has an extensive and deep record as a "job creator" -- NOT true, just ask those who were put out business during the construction of the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

lovecookie| 12.7.11 @ 10:50AM

"Show up at my debate or I will badmouth you at my debate."

veerhoff69| 12.7.11 @ 10:51AM

"...tone deaf to the culture -- and in the television era, this would be a fatal problem for them as president..."
Perhaps the "Television Era" golden age has passed. The very Internet in which you re presenting this article has near completely assumed all of the influence and relevance that televison commanded.

jas dal| 12.7.11 @ 10:53AM

'Maybe I should just end it all because I'm wrong about everything.'
- Do not end you - End the untrue, that's all we want. Just write the truth. Is that too much to ask? The truth is your ultimate defense against anything. People have fought and died for it. Ron Paul has stood alone against vast opposition for it for 30 years.

Is he perfect? No. Is he committed, sincere, with integrity, compassionate, offering his view of what is best for the country - instead of just trying to win at any cost to truth? Courageous? Give him all that, at least.

The truth will set you free, they say. Hey, let's try it!

aware| 12.7.11 @ 11:05AM

Once again, Lord, pathetic. I really don't know how you keep your job. I'm sure the neo cons at newsmax will welcome you

Jeffrey Lord - The Real One| 12.7.11 @ 11:14AM

Then why bother to respond?

If you can't stand the heat, as Truman said, stay out of the kitchen. And apparently Romney, Paul and Huntsman are having some trouble with the heat.

Steven| 12.7.11 @ 11:39AM

I guess if Jay Z were to host that would be ok too? Come on, he's rich, a buisness man! Oh, I get it, he didn't throw his hat into the ring, pull it out, then threaten a 3rd party run.
He isn't bias enough.

You Mr. Lord are a ding dong. Go tell your masters to stop having you write such stupidity.
It's back firing big time...

Don| 12.7.11 @ 11:11AM

Dealing with a bloated-ego moderator who has his own agenda (or set of agendas, really) and apriori biases towards certain candidates is a lose/lose proposition for Ron Paul and gives the GOP as a whole a bad image. Thumbs up to Ron Paul for being quick to say NO to this nonsensical circus show. The Donald figured out some time ago that reality TV biz is better than real biz, good for him. Just watch Gingrich admit that his decision to take part in this debate is even stupider than the climate change spot with Pelosi.

Marian| 12.7.11 @ 11:40AM

Yes but Gingrich did do the spot with Pelosi and he's poised to do another with the Donald. What does that tell you about the man. He's a clown as well. Never miss an opportunity to embarrass yourself in the public limelight. The rest of the world is having the biggest laugh right about now. Ron Paul 2012!

william02138| 12.7.11 @ 11:17AM

'If they can't handle Trump, why think they can handle Chavez, al Qaeda...?'

Excuse me, I think Ron Paul *did* just handle Trump.

Jeff in WV| 12.7.11 @ 11:47AM

Jack Cafferty handed Trump too!

http://youtu.be/25HxU7O4lmg

Evan| 12.7.11 @ 11:23AM

Donald Trump is a clown and he isn't the type of person that we need more of in America. Look at his history of political affiliations and you will find the facts. Your article gave me a good laugh. Thanks.

Ed| 12.7.11 @ 11:26AM

Has Paul ever not been on the government teat?

Ed| 12.7.11 @ 11:40AM

I'm 37 and I still wear dipers. I also allmost pased the 4th grad. My mommy is making me soup for lunch to day. I hav my own speshal bib. oh ya Ron Paul suks.

Doctor <- Paul| 12.7.11 @ 11:51AM

Hint: the Doctor before the Paul.

He was content to be a Doctor until usurpers broke the dollar-gold link, allowing private interests to print money as they saw fit on the backs of the American people. Hopefully his decades long quest to right this wrong meets with success in the near future.

Obomneycare| 12.7.11 @ 12:04PM

He refused the government pension plan because it was unfair to the taxpayers, and delivered over 4000 babies as a doctor. So yeah, he's on no government teat.

Jessica| 12.7.11 @ 11:32AM

So... we know Trump had some nasty words for Paul and Huntsman... and George Will and Ariana Huffington too... so what kind of nasty words did he have for ROMNEY, now that he won't be attending the debate either? Did he call him a robotic-like character and third-rate Mormon?

He flies off the handle at anyone who doesn't bow down before his enormous ego (and head of clown-hair)... talk about not being able to "handle" anything..

RA| 12.7.11 @ 11:33AM

Where do you come up with this junk?

Marian| 12.7.11 @ 11:34AM

Donald Trump has become the P.T. Barnum of our day. Trump believes himself to be a master showman but in reality he's just a clown. Albeit a very rich clown but a clown nonetheless. Let the circus begin :)

Bart | 12.7.11 @ 11:34AM

89 seconds!

How much air time do you think The Donald will allow RP when he has flat out said he believes RP is a waste of people's time.

And the fact RP recognizes this makes him flawed?

Jessica| 12.7.11 @ 11:35AM

Also wondering what kind of nasty words Trump had for Karl Rove, who said that any serious contender would not be attending this farcical Presidential apprentice show..

DieselChadron| 12.7.11 @ 11:35AM

curious to know how many times trump has gone b/k. sure, he made money in real estate during the 80's and early 2000's.... EVERYBODY DID. trump just had access to huge leverage.

about debates, they seem to be alot like dates with charming psychopaths. gingrich is great at a debate. but, sadly, he is a bit of a.. well, I won't say it.

The Dangler| 12.7.11 @ 11:38AM

Ya ...that's a laugh...Trump's a "highly successful businessman and entrepreneur"

Trump is highly skilled manipulator of a corrupt crony capitalist system....just like Newt and Romney

try again Brainiac

Jeffrey Lord - The Real One| 12.7.11 @ 12:18PM

Trump is in fact a "highly successful businessman and entrepreneur". Just like I am a highly-succesful and well-respected human being. What's so funny?

Jeffrey Lord - The Real One| 12.7.11 @ 3:40PM

Why are you people still laughing?

mbreden| 12.7.11 @ 11:42AM

Donald Trump is a joke. Ron Paul is for real.

Zack| 12.7.11 @ 11:43AM

If you listen to the reason Ron Paul isn't doing the debate it is because of the way Trump left the campaign last may, in reality Paul is standing up to a man that canceled on Iowa republican's biggest fundraising event, the Reagan dinner. The entire event was canceled because the Donald turned tail and ran from his bid for the presidency.

Harris| 12.7.11 @ 11:47AM

Implying Ron Paul should be more like Nixon is quite hilarious.

Mike | 12.7.11 @ 11:49AM

Yeah uh ok we need more People like Donald Trump in America running things who have filed for bankruptcy several times. What a great business person. I think we need better political journalist's in America.

JEFFREY LORD| 12.7.11 @ 11:50AM

I'm as irrelevant as Mark Levin. Sigh.

David Magee| 12.7.11 @ 3:53PM

But are you as irrelevant as me?
http://www.ibtimes.com/article.....n-post.htm

jas dal| 12.7.11 @ 11:53AM

Enough words - let's tell it in a song. Why Ron Paul doesn't have to kiss Donald Trump's ass!

Ron Paul - Roxanne Song
http://youtu.be/fWzgBcGCpy8

JEFFREY LORD| 12.7.11 @ 11:55AM

Only Jack Hunter knows the truth about me. Google it if you want.

Howard Taft's Ghost| 12.7.11 @ 12:00PM

Probably the most out-there assertion in this article is the idea that Trump is somehow "successful" and the kind of person we need "more of" in this country, versus the jobless rabble that Lord so disdains.

It just goes to show you - even with Trump's record of abject failure, the guy at the top can keep on going.

jas dal| 12.7.11 @ 12:03PM

Another great Ron Paul song...

Ron Paul - "I Walk the Line" - (Song)
http://youtu.be/AuMtzTHLGGQ

jesse| 12.7.11 @ 12:05PM

aww who's got love for the FreddieMac Doughboy!

Sure everyone loves the circus but at the end of the day you want to be able to go home and leave the clowns behind. Nobody wants to LIVE that circus or have it forced on them by electing a clown to run our country or our lives. This debate proves to people whose serious and who's just here for the drama.
The truth is nobody wants to be associated with Donald Trump.
His "success" came from his father. He's now lost over half the money he inherited. Successful hmmm I don't know about that.

Donchi| 12.7.11 @ 12:06PM

Snookie has become s successful entrepreneur, too. If she wants to run a debate, should Republican candidates trip over themselves to show how down with the culture they are. The fact is, the author of this piece shows how out of touch HE is with mainstream culture: most people think trump is an opportunistic has-been. Gingrich's argument is totally inane--the fact that some foreign leaders are hard to deal with doesn't obligate the candidates to accept invites from clownish hucksters.

Samacka| 12.7.11 @ 12:06PM

Newsmax is a glorified tabloid and with a wallstreet, 'reality' tv 'star' like Trump moderating, it is safe to bet that Paul and Huntsman have already won by declining to participate

mookie| 12.7.11 @ 12:11PM

Donald Trump is a trust fund kid, wealthy because his Daddy made millions. It takes money to make money. He is only i it for publicity, acting like another Paris Hilton.

Mary Jones| 12.7.11 @ 12:12PM

This is not 1960 or 1968- it's late 2011. Now a days most Americans no longer use the old media exclusively for information, communication or "popular culture". And most Americans know the difference between their real lives and reality television.

I agree with Mr. Trump on some issues.
But even a blind pig gets an acorn now and then.
Many in Middle America view Mr. Trump as a crass, self-serving vulgar personality - hardly what America needs more of - and certainly not what they seek in a President.
I'm quite certain that Mr. Huntsman, Mr. Romney and Congressman Paul are not "turning tail and running" from Donald Trump because they fear his questions. Instead they are using good judgment by showing respect for the American voter by appreciating the seriousness of the business of selecting the next President of The United States.
Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Gingrich are an embarrassment to the GOP.
Money can't buy personal integrity, decency or good old-fashioned common sense.
I believe Mr. Ginrich and former Senator Rick Santorum have used extremely poor judgment by agreeing to participate in Mr. Trump's "debate" and will lose more of their support base. I look for Mr. Gingrich's poll numbers to start to decline rapidly as of yesterday.

Ann| 12.7.11 @ 12:13PM

Donald Trump is hinting at his own run for President as an Independent. Based on that fact alone, forgetting all the other reasons for a moment, it is wildly inappropriate for him to host a debate. Donald Trump running this debate is all about promoting Donald Trump and/or the specific candidate Trump wishes to endorse (Newt?), should he not decide to run, and that's it. Trump wants a say in picking the winner. Paul, Romney, and Huntsman all did the right thing in this case. And I hardly believe Ron Paul refused because Trump insulted him. CBS insults and marginalizes him all the time, and he still attended those debates.

Chris| 12.7.11 @ 12:15PM

Ron Paul opted out of the debate because he knows it will be spectacle over substance-- where Paul always loses-- and Trump has already mocked Paul publicly for months. Also, because Trump walked out on a fundraiser for an Iowa GOP group that Paul might be trying to win favor with.

eddie| 12.7.11 @ 12:18PM

Running a company or ten has little if anything to do with "running" a country. Most of the more well known and respected? presidents never owned or ran businesses. Nice try pooping on Paul, but your smear didn't work this time, NO ONE not names Gingrich, cares about Trump's debate.. or would be caught dead taking part in it.

Deli Marconi| 12.7.11 @ 12:24PM

Put yourself in Paul, Romney and Huntsman's shoes. If you were running for the Presidency, would you, in your right mind, allow a potential contender (Trump already said he will run if he didn't like the GOP nominee) to moderate a debate? It seems to me that common sense will dictate "Absolutely Not!"

Texas Trouble| 12.7.11 @ 12:40PM

Mr. Lord, other than pointing out that Rep. Paul was excluded from the Jewish Forum, this story is a non-sequitur.

Donald Trump is not a business man or an Entrepreneur; he is a self promoter. If you look into his real business dealings, he is now 7 for 3 in business. Thirty eight percent of his businesses have failed and it is the American taxpayers that have footed the bill.

Of course that Mr. Trump never filed his financial statements showing his a showing his assests as part of his run for office. Which means he was never a serious candidate to begin with.

How about indicating that Mr. Trump dodged the draft during the Vietnam War, where Rep. Paul served faithfully?

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/d.....ge-vietnam

Your use of "Laugh-In" as a spring board for candidates is might be helpful for Huntsman, who hasn't shown any traction in the polls, but both Romney doesn't need the exposure and Ron Paul already has won the hearts and minds of those in the 18 to 30 demographics.

Personally, why would anyone in his right mind go onto a entertainment show (This isn't a debate, or do you not recognize that?) when the entire Mr. Trump has already said that Mr. Huntsman and Rep. Paul are jokes? Talk about walking into the lions den with nothing to gain from it.

Mr. Lord, you seem to have a affliction yourself which appears to be Ron Paul Envy. Most of your articles are concerning this august character, yet you won't tell us whom you would endorse for President? Or did Herman Cain dropping out nix that from happening?

Slither back under the rock you climbed out from under and stop disparaging Ron Paul supporters as anti-semetic. 99.9 % of Ron Paul supporters don't have feeling one way or the other about Jews or Israel. If you want to condemn us for the .1 % that is your business, but it is unfair to lump us in with the utterly stupid.

Just as it would be unfair to lump all Iranians into the mold of Anti - American, because of the vocal few in their own government.

Stop TRUMPeting "the Donald" as a competent moderator, he has been and always will be just a cult of personality.

Joe M| 12.7.11 @ 12:43PM

Wrong. The reason someone like Ron Paul doesn't want to attend the debate is because Trump doesn't even make a pretense of neutrality. He's planning on endorsing someone, and he said back in May that Paul doesn't have a chance of winning the nomination. Why participate in an event run by someone biased against you? There's nothing to be gained, and clearly most conservative and Republican commentators agree with Paul on this.

garvan| 12.7.11 @ 12:48PM

We need more Trumps?

Because as a real-estate developer he's done so well exploiting the government and the American people?

Because his reality show 'contributes' so much to the moral make-up of America?

Trump and his kin are exactly what's wrong with America. They pretend to be Howard Roarks and instead end up being Gail Wynands or Peter Keatings.

Don't tell me America needs more of the same status-quo B.S. that we've been fed over and over. This is the 21st century, and we've come along way since the Goebbels-like feed the lamestream media still thinks the people follow.

Go hide in a cave old man, and clutch your various perscription meds. We're coming, we're angry, we've got no future, and you've taken away our dignity, liberty, and freedom, so we've nothing left to lose.

As Lao Tzu wrote:
"People starve.
The rulers consume too much with their taxes.
That is why people starve.
People are hard to govern.
The rulers interfere with too much.
That is why people are hard to govern.
People take death lightly.
They expect too much of life.
That is why people take death lightly.
Truly, only acting without thought of one's life
Is superior to valuing one's life."

Enjoy the time you have remaining. It is short.

MT| 12.7.11 @ 12:53PM

With respect, it's articles like these that flush Jeffrey Lord's credibility down the drain.

Forget about Trump's shameless self-promotion of his new book (Did people ever think there might be a coincidence with "The Donald" making noise in the media just as his new book is being released?), his scandalous business practices, his D-List celebrity apprentice TV reality show, his embarrassingly juvenile and relentless attacks on Obama's birth certificate (distracting from real issues of Obama's administration), and his personal meetings with half the candidates already.

How can someone be expected to moderate a debate who has:
1. Flirted with a candidacy in the Republican Primary back in the Spring (even though we all know he wasn't serious)?
2. Stiffed an Iowan Republican fundraiser at the last minute because of his sudden change of mind?
3. Continued to openly flirt with the idea of running for President as an Independent as recently as the other day?

Mr. Lord, what don't you comprehend about Trump making the whole nomination process a complete joke? What is this insatiable appetite to find any possible story as an excuse to rip into Paul? I've read several of your other articles over the past several months and they were historically inaccurate and logically unsound at best, disingenious at worst.

But to somehow be so presumptuous as to know the motivations behind Paul and Huntsman by stating that "because both Paul and Huntsman have been criticized by Trump, they are turning tail and running," they wouldn't be able to "handle Ahmadinejad or Hugo Chavez or al Qaeda" just goes to show how desperate your smear attacks are becoming. How can anyone take such a silly argument seriously?

I commend both Paul and Huntsman, for not only declining the invitation, but for publicly calling out this charade for what it is... a complete joke.

Otherwise, a shameful and pathetically argued article.

TP| 12.7.11 @ 1:05PM

With this event on the brink collapse having only two participants, I can understand the Dare tactic. I would not be surprised to see this debate/con job implode. The American people can see through arrogance and self importance as Trump/Gingrich try to sell this as a serious meaningful event.

Tom Kyba| 12.7.11 @ 1:14PM

Aside from some intersting monetary ideas, Ron Paul Chomsky 'nuff said!

Jeffrey Lord| 12.8.11 @ 1:17AM

Hahahahaha lololol!!!!!1

What does that even mean? I guess Chomsky is a synonym for 'bad'? I dont really understand.

And it makes a ton of sense that the Ron Paul, who makes all his decisions o a co sistent philosophy of personal liberty and constitutionalism , could be completely right in some areas, but completely ignorant in others. Either Ron Paul has been consistently inconsistent for decades, orrr your mind is the one who is divided.

USMC2k| 12.7.11 @ 1:38PM

Legitimate debates are beneficial. Debates that are hyped up and showcasing Trump is closer to something you would see as a skit than anything in a presidential race. While normally I am all for jokes and fun, having Trump moderate is too much for me. I foresee much ego stroking and neo-con war propaganda neither of which help our country. Maybe the serious questions will be how to find Obama's birth cert? As far as handling Trump, its like handling a piece of poo. So simple a child can do it but why would an adult want to?

James Anthony| 12.7.11 @ 1:38PM

No matter how you slice it - a debate with only 4 candidates - Santorum, Perry, Gingrich and Bachmann - of which there is only 1 frontrunner - Gingrich - is going to appear awkward. And if Trump ends up shooting himself in the foot on live TV which he has been known to do in the past, the entire event will be what Ron Paul is predicting it will be, a mockery. Now, since Ron Paul has been correct on 99% of his predictions over the last 20 years, I wouldn't bet against his prognostication.

Meagain| 12.7.11 @ 1:41PM

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!!! Wait...you are?

Jeremiah| 12.7.11 @ 1:48PM

Yes, you admit that Trump 1) is a reality TV star 2) has been critical of some candidates. You neglect to note that Trump 3) is an active political figure in this race 4) has participated in political mudslinging in this race 5) is an opinionated blowhard 6) may yet run for the high office in 2012.

Take another successful businessman, Herman Cain. Imagine if, after having been in the middle of mudslinging and later suspending his campaign, Cain becomes a debate moderator in this race. Wouldn't that be totally absurd and inappropriate? What if he endorsed Newt already?

The difference between Trump and Cain in this scenario is that Trump, although he has been in the mudslinging, has not campaigned for president or endorsed anyone yet. But he has made his intentions clear that he may still do both in this race.

Which means it would be more like Cain hosting a debate before he announced his candidacy. And as moderator, he would have the power to posture the debate to his own advantage.

I would hope that these kind of shenanigans only happen in third-world countries.

No one in their right mind would every think Trump is merely a successful businessman in this race.

Who ever heard of a debate moderator running for president, or even endorsing a candidate? This is, perhaps, a pretty big step closer to the future envisioned in the film Idiocrasy. TV reality stars hosting presidential debates, declaring none of the candidates competent, then running for the office themselves. Imagine "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson instead of Trump. Scary, isn't it? And I don't have any reason to believe Trump is any more politically savvy than Johnson. As a matter of fact, Trump may be worse than Johnson, as he's got a much bigger mouth on him than "The Rock" has.

NadePaulKuciGravMcKi| 12.7.11 @ 1:51PM

The Ron Paul Army bags a plump salamander.

DAVID| 12.7.11 @ 2:15PM

Donald Trump = PT Barnum who popularized the phrase, " there's a sucker born every minute"

Trump is trying to be the hitman for the GOP

Joe| 12.7.11 @ 2:43PM

Trump is not a successfull business man. He has declared bankruptcy FOUR TIMES! The only reason he survived is because he owed the banks so much damned money that they kept him afloat in order to prevent huge losses. An average small business would never be able to do this. They would be dumped by the banks and suffer the consequence of declaring bankruptcy. Trump did not suffer, yet still had FOUR businesses FAIL! He is a joke. He is a rich version of the Jersey Shore kids. Gingrich kissed his ass and bowed to "the Don" just as the "Fox and Friends" Dolts do on their nonsensical morning show. Trump has already proven that he intends to moderate this debate with extreme bias. It is a disgrace to the US Political System and demeaning to the US people.

Pat| 12.7.11 @ 2:49PM

Hmm, I don't see this as a fail on Huntsman or Paul's part. I don't believe they're being criticized by Trump and then decided to boycott the debate, in fact, I believe they boycotted the debate and then were criticized. I could be wrong, however.

Also mentioned is Nixon's learning the hard way about the tv culture. Remember, this is a much different culture than in Nixon's era. There will be more people choosing not to watch Trump and the ION debate than watching it. Also keep in mind the trend of people who will REFUSE to watch it because it's Trump and they think it's a joke. Which, in effect, will draw many viewers who want a good chuckle... Trump? The rest of the GOP field? What a laugher!

Paul wins the debate between himself and Donald trump already because he's received so much media attention for it. If Paul were to attend the debate how much airtime would he get? 20 seconds? on ION? with Trump? Sure seems like a good usage of his time.... NOT

Brandt Hardin | 12.7.11 @ 2:59PM

Trump is a windbag and full of hot air… all that fuss and guffaw will drop like his blood pressure after a double-tap shotgun blast to the head. Watch him get his and see if that hair is even real when the guns come out on the Zombie Walk of Fame at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.....trump.html

Nunya Bizness| 12.7.11 @ 3:00PM

Poll: Who won the Trump Debate?
A. Trump
B. Bachman
C. Newt
D. Paul, Mitt, Huntsman (for snubbing Trump)
E. America (for not watching it)
F. D & E

Brian| 12.7.11 @ 3:33PM

I'm sure the middle-class Americans who are seeing their 401k evaporating, their homes' value dropping, mortgage rising, and job prospects dwindling will be quite entertained and amused by the carnival atmosphere that Trump will bring to this "debate."

If I knew nothing about any of the candidates' politics other than attendance at this debacle, my research would begin and end with Paul and Huntsman.

Michael Buchholz| 12.7.11 @ 3:34PM

"But no one in their right mind thinks of Donald Trump as other than what he, in fact, is: a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur."

I'm pretty sure almost everyone thinks of him as the businessman that repeatedly went bankrupt before becoming yet another annoying reality tv personality. (The bigger a train-wreck you are the more season you get i.e. jersey shore...)

Active Duty Officer and Iraq Combat Vet for Ron Paul

OCSGENSJUSTB| 12.7.11 @ 4:00PM

Donald Trump donated $50,000 to Rham Emanuel's Mayoral Campaign. While Huntsman and Paul refuse to prostitute themselves to "the Donald," Newt is filling a role he's long been comfortable with: pandering to RINOs.

Ed Corning| 12.7.11 @ 4:13PM

The author of this article should try to gain a more thorough understanding of the issues before he seeks pontificate on matters which he is utterly uninformed.

Trump is hardly this luminary you make him out to be. The man inherited 1 billion dollars from his daddy, and then shrunk that some of money by nearly 75%... you call that business sense? Trump is a self absorbed megalomaniac. The man is most famous, currently, for his over the top reality t.v. show. The founding fathers are rolling in their graves. Gingrich and Santorum can join trump for the three ringed circus that is sure to happen, but leave the actual dignified candidates out of this. The American people have spoken, and Trump: You're fired!

patrick| 12.7.11 @ 4:33PM

Trump is NOT what this country needs more of. We had enough politically connected real-estate speculators taking advantage of government handouts via Fannie/Freddie (see Gingrich). In fact, many argue that was one of the main catalysts of the global recession.

EPR| 12.7.11 @ 4:43PM

remember- using Nixon to get your point across is just plain dumb. He was the criminal who got the US dollar off the Gold Standard and was impeached for BE and lying about it. Yep- he belongs on Laugh-In.

tonypal| 12.7.11 @ 4:48PM

I thought Ron Paul didn't have any flaws. Clint, care to comment?

Average Joe| 12.7.11 @ 5:36PM

It's not about turning tail and running. It's about showing voters respect. Trump screwed the people in Iowa and has an honesty problem, an ego problem, and a respecting women problem. 4 times as many people would hold a Trump endorsement against a candidate them for them. Go Ron Paul and Huntsman

voltara| 12.7.11 @ 6:39PM

It's garbage journalism like this that caused me to cancel my subscription to Spectator. Even though it's supplied for about the cost of the postage.

Trump is a perpetual liar and self publicist. Ron Paul has shown great integrity in refusing to attend and Spectator puts itself in the same class by going in to bat for Trump and pitifully trying to spin Ron Paul's personal integrity into a sign of weakness.

007| 12.7.11 @ 6:56PM

Everyone nowadays writes a blog

L Smith| 12.7.11 @ 8:50PM

It's not the television era anymore. That's a dying medium like the newspaper. It's the age of the internet, and Ron Paul is riding the wave.

Dean| 12.7.11 @ 11:02PM

When is the Snooki debate on?

John| 12.7.11 @ 11:53PM

From what I have witnessed of Trumps political forays he doesn't have the skill set necessary to moderate a debate; plus no one knows if he is going to wind up as a candidate himself next year. I am curious if Rick Santorum or Rick Perry was sponsoring a "debate", would Jeffrey Lord expect Ron Paul to participate?

Ron Paul demonstrated his well honed decision making skills and leadership skills by intelligently concluding that Donald Trump has nothing of value to contribute to the process of selecting a Republican candidate for President. No one will be watchng a debate on December 27 anyway. This will be the undoing of Newt Gingrich not Ron Paul.

Mark| 12.8.11 @ 6:58PM

This article is so pathetic. No Romney, Perry, or Bachmann now. Maybe Jeffrey Lord will get the hint that he's clueless and stop all the Ron Paul hate. I doubt it though.

Rick| 12.19.11 @ 12:28PM

"So let's see who shows up. Let's see The Donald sock it to them." How does this taste today?
Just like all the other "Tools" in the main stream media!! Ron Paul 2012!!!

More Blog Posts by Jeffrey Lord

http://spectator.org/blog/2011/12/07/trump-debate-highlights-ron-pa

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