Donald Trump

[Selene]

The Hewitts of the world can't imagine that the average American sees what they are doing. So some of them are going to learn the hard way.

Michael

Correct.

I was in a phone conversation with a representative of a bank regarding a client's properties.

The individual [PC SPEAK], a man [REAL SPEAK] was quite sharp economically. As we concluded our conversation, I had already established that he lived in Oklahoma, I explained that I was very political and what did he think about Trump's candidacy.

He was also about 30 years old.

He was effusive in admiring him and was definitely, at this point, going to vote for him, if, as he put it, they give us a chance to!

Very interesting, since I hear this from almost everyone that I am in communications with, personally, or, professionally.

Many of them are young.

About 20-30% were not registered to vote. I have gotten them registered and I will deliver them on election day.

A...

[Peter]

Michael wrote: The crony-capitalism war profiteering branch of the Republicans are going to burn through all their media folks this way.
end quote

Trump and his campaign will sell a lot of voters on his worth as a potential president. So, it isn’t anyone else’s job to convince the world that Trump would make a good President but it would be in O’landian’s interest to do so. If the people with platforms like Robert Tracinski ever come around to Trump it would make his chances better. It will be a tough sell. Remember Rand was disgusted with Ronald Reagan? I think she was wrong. I think a decent article at an Objectivist think tank could analyze the candidates and suggest, using Randian criteria, who is the best, most electable candidate to support? Why not here too?
Peter

Notes: Rand asked the readers of The Objectivist Newsletter to oppose Governor Ronald Reagan’s Presidential aspirations: I urge you, as emphatically as I can, not to support the candidacy of Ronald Reagan. I urge you not to work for or advocate his nomination, and not to vote for him. My reasons are as follows: Mr. Reagan is not a champion of capitalism, but a conservative in the worst sense of that word -- i.e., an advocate of a mixed economy with government controls slanted in favor of business rather than labor (which, philosophically, is as untenable a position as one could choose -- see Fred Kinnan in Atlas Shrugged, pp. 541-542). This description applies in various degrees to most Republican politicians, but most of them preserve some respect for the rights of the individual. Mr. Reagan does not: he opposes the right to abortion.
end quote

In Rand’s final public speech, in November 1981 she said: What do I think of President Reagan? The best answer to give would be: But I don't think of him -- and the more I see, the less I think. I did not vote for him (or for anyone else) and events seem to justify me. The appalling disgrace of his administration is his connection with the so-called “Moral Majority” and sundry other TV religionists, who are struggling -- apparently with his approval -- to take us back to the Middle Ages, via the unconstitutional union of religion and politics. The threat to the future of capitalism is the fact that Reagan might fail so badly that he will become another ghost, like Herbert Hoover, to be invoked as an example of capitalism's failure for another fifty years. Observe Reagan's futile attempts to arouse the country by some sort of inspirational appeal. He is right in thinking that the country needs an inspirational element. But he will not find it in the God-Family-Tradition swamp.
end quote

[Peter]

Adam wrote: He was also about 30 years old. He was effusive in admiring him and was definitely, at this point, going to vote for him, if, as he put it, they give us a chance to!
end quote

Is Trump the right guy for 30 somethings, and Tea Party types? Does he fit the limited government, free market, pro-Constitution, and pro individual liberties criteria for fans of Rand?

From The Politico in 2013: The Politico's Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen think they know who is going to be leading that reform. The real power on the right, they argue, rests with the "Rubio-Rand Party." "Forget John Boehner. Ignore Karl Rove. The real action in the GOP is coming from the newest wing of the party, the one born in the spring of 2009—the offspring of Tea Party activists that almost single-handedly propelled Republicans to control of the House. "This new movement brought Marco Rubio and Rand Paul to Washington—and made them the two most potent forces in GOP politics today."
end quote

Marco and Rand Paul are both running for Prez but neither is high in the polls. I won’t say they can or cannot win if you factor in who was historically ahead in all previous elections, as Adam noted, before the first ballots are cast, so not even a Trump supporter should bet on their guy who is leading substantially. Also in the following Rand quote, notice how she ALWAYS included in her analyses of candidates to not vote for the one who will use their religion to guide their political actions. Trump might be her choice.
Peter

Notes: In 1962, in her column "Introducing Objectivism," Rand wrote: . . . The ideal political-economic system is ~laissez-faire~ capitalism. it is a system where men deal with one another, not as victims and executioners, nor as masters and slaves, but as ~traders~, by free, voluntary exchange to mutual benefit. it is a system where no man may obtain any values from others by resorting to physical force, and no man may initiate the use of physical force against others~. The government acts only as a policeman that protects man's rights; it uses physical force ~only~ in retaliation and ~only~ against those who initiate its use, such as criminals or foreign invaders. In a system of full capitalism, there should be (but, historically, has not yet been) a complete separation of state and economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of state and church.
end quote

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

I've been following the media buzz around the Hewitt gotcha questions.

Trump is getting a lot of high-profile supporters as is Hewitt.

And this is where I believe Hewitt bit off more that he can chew. For now, all the media is talking about is Donald Trump. And then Donald Trump some more. High profile person A says Trump doesn't know anything about foreign policy. High profile person B says sure he does and gotcha doesn't undo that.

Trump has already fired a warning shot at Hewitt, but now he is letting the controversy rage. He is punking the media just like he always does.

The final step? I don't know what he will do, but one thing is for sure. He is a creative bastard to those who attack him. He's going to come out with something that smacks right into the public meme-conscious so hard that Hewitt will be left sputtering. And Trump's supporters will grow as everyone laughs at Hewitt.

An example of this public meme-conscious is when he calls Jeb Bush "low energy." There's no way to fight that except by becoming high energy. And once a low-energy guy does that, he trips up because he is not being himself. (Hint--Bush would do far, far better by framing himself as low energy like Calvin Coolidge kind of pondered and wise--that's how you fight this stuff. You step into the slam instead of denying it. But he ain't going to do that.)

My prediction. Pretty soon we will be entertained by a confused befuddled Hewitt who does not know what hit him.

In Brazil, they say birds who swallow stones better know the size of their own assholes. I hope Hewitt knows his because he swallowed a big 'un and when it comes out...

Michael

[Selene]

Guess who loves "The Donald!"

I think what’s cool is Trump’s running chaos theory. He’s forcing a lot of things out into the open, so they can’t control this, whatever that control is. It’s like the music business, everybody gets controlled, and somebody comes along that fucks it all up. So I think it’s good that he’s fucking it up, because whether or not he’s the guy, obviously the political class doesn’t want him there, it’ll open it up to a bigger dialog. Just like rock and roll, it gets boring and it needs to be – I mean look, whether anybody agrees or not, the rating on that debate was 24 million. It was 8 times higher than the first Republican debate of the last cycle. It was highest non-sports related cable rating of all time. That means people are engaged.

[Marc]

Remember all those people in the news who said Donald Trump would never be the nominee or the candidate, especially not president?

Never ever ever ever ever, at all, under any circumstances, no chance in hell, no way José?

That Trump wouldn't last more than a few weeks?

That he didn't even want to be president?

What happened?

Has anybody noticed the booming silence on that line of observation?

Dayaamm!

All that certainty and soapbox preaching--and now silence?

Hmmmmm...

I know a few crows must be sweating...

Michael

OMG , lol but he just agreed to support the eventual winner . He cut his deal already . The deal maker still knows he has no chance , he is a step closer to achieving what he set out to achieve .

Damn , if only the US election was today and not in 14 months , then he would have a shot .

Nov 4 2016 , methinks is the date .

Until then everyone will make it seem like every bit of news favours their POV .

The real issue is that the day that Trump makes his final deal ( with the eventual winner of the nomination ) , well then I am expecting perhaps a half of page more of blah blah blah and why he did not stay in .

Not expecting to see much action that day

[Peter]

So who said, “I think what’s cool is Trump’s running chaos theory.”? And now twice in a week I have heard two people say, if the wind is blowing some people build a wall while others build a wind mill.

A lot of the commie press, like The Washington Post is saying Trump hasn’t got a chance of winning the nomination and if by some miracle he does win it, then he could never win the general election. The good old boys will never let it happen, they say. I think they are biased and maybe afraid, but don’t have a clue. The evidence is in the polls, the crowds, and the enthusiasm. I heard some talking head say Trump made a foreign policy blunder today but I don’t feel like looking up the story. Don’t you propogandists know Trump is running chaos theory?

If Biden could just get enthused about attempting to climb one more, short rung of the ladder I might think Old Hickory Clinton, or as the top Milwaukee Sheriff filling in for Hannity calls her, Mrs. Bill Clinton, is going get arrested for espionage by the FBI. It would be a lovely day hearing her say, “I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate my sorry ass.”
Peter

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Damn , if only the US election was today and not in 14 months , then he would have a shot .

Marc,

Heh.

Before it was Trump didn't have a chance in hell yesterday, today, tomorrow and never.

Now he's got a shot today...

I just heard a crow go "Gulp..."

Michael

[Peter]

From the NY Times online: Quiet conversations have begun in recent weeks among some of the Republican Party’s biggest donors and normally competing factions, all aimed at a single question: How can we stop Donald Trump?
end quote

Bull shit. They don’t know squat at The Times. I think it is becoming The Big Lie propaganda story of the week for all the progressives to spout the same loony theory. They are afraid of Donald Trump.

Everybody knows individual big donor RINO’S are backing other RINO’S like Jeb (Jar Jar) Bush. What I will watch is to see who the big Pacs back? Who will the libertarian Koch Brothers back? And I hope to see some good political ads from Trump.
Peter

[Peter]

People are elected to national office and become a Congressman. Years later they leave office, multimillionaires. Yet they had to keep up two residences during their time in the House and the Senate and their salaries alone would never have made them millionaires. When they leave office they become lobbyists or work for corporations that rely on government funding. Both parties participate in this scheme. It is considered NOT illegal though perhaps not ethical. That’s just the way it is.

Along comes Tea Party types like Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, or Marco Rubio and a self made billionaire like Donald Trump who WILL NOT be owned by the establishment of either party. The Tea Party guys will have a tougher time raising money without the individual big donors, but The Donald has no problem with money. Now here is a dilemma: if you want to participate in a Tea Party run give money to your prized candidate, but should you give money to a guy like Trump who could win without it? Yes. I fail to see why Trump should spend a bigger chunk of his money when small donors want to be a part of a Frank Capra, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, once in a life time, moment in history.
Peter

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

It took a progressive like Chris Hayes to pick up on something I've been saying for a while, several times on this very thread if I remember correctly. Hayes made a compilation video of it.

 

And I love it. Finally someone other than me noticed the fact that Trump is the only candidate who consistently uses the word “love” in public.

 

Too many people be wantin’ ta hate. Maybe now they’ll notice…

 

 

Should I say it?

 

Should I?

 

All right.

 

Here goes.

 

I love Donald Trump.

 

 

Michael

[Brant Gaede]

Does he love LA?

--Randy

https://youtu.be/0b5LzCOc98E

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Well, the first poll (SurveyUSA) has cracked the big one.

More are sure to follow.

Poll: Trump beats Hillary head-to-head

By Elliot Smilowitz

The Hill

September 04, 2015

Michael

[Peter]

MSK and other fans of Trump. Here is my challenge to YOU. Its time to get serious with the slogans, so I have come up with a few. Can you think of any others?

A marching band called The Trumpeters. Cheerleaders call Trumpsters. Bette Middler’s new back up singers, The Strumpettes. Don’t be a chump, stump for Trump. Even Forrest Gump jumps for Trump. He’s no mugwump, he’s The Trump. Prime the nation’s pump with Trump.

And what song should he play at the start of his appearances? A boom box is not that expensive. I’m not Lisa. My name is Donald. I don’t want your Money for Nothin and Sultans of Swing (by Dire Straits.) Go your own way, by Fleetwood Mac. Money and Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd. Another One Bites the Dust and We are the Champions by Queen. Life in the fast lane, by The Eagles. Barracuda by Heart. Walk this way by Aerosmith. Don’t Stop Believing by Journey.

And what theme music? Mission Impossible. Beverly Hillbillies. (The Ballad of Jed Clampett) The Brady Bunch (here's the story of a manly . . .) The Jefferson’s Movin’ on up. All in the family. Hawaii Five-O. Happy Days. The Addams Family. Gilligan's Island. And my TV favorite from the TV show Cheers, Where Everybody Knows Your Name.
Peter

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

MSK and other fans of Trump. Here is my challenge to YOU. Its time to get serious with the slogans...

Peter,

This is too much of a good setup.

I gotta do the payoff.

Here's a serious slogan for ya':

Make America Great Again

Michael

[Backlighting]

Will we see paid attendees at his speeches fainting? hope not, although the ones Barry hired were quite dramatic.

-J

[Mikee]

Ta-rump-a-trump-trump (music of little drummer boy)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc

[Peter]

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. Mark Twain.

Thanks, Mike. That was beautiful, though it did not need the rhythm section guy. I can listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing it two or three times a day and not get tired of it. Our local PBS station plays older Christmas songs in December.

[Peter]

I liked the newscaster who prodded Trump with, so America isn't a great country?

[Peter]

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln.

The next debate is getting close. Though I am kind of rooting for him, I am still not satisfied with my understanding of Trump. What will he do with power? He is certainly no stranger to being in charge but would he govern like Obama, and use executive orders or go the Constitutional route and partner with a Republican dominated House and Senate? Would Trump increase or decrease government intrusion? Would he use the Presidency for his personal gain, like the Clintons? Will he be vindictive and seek revenge using Presidential power? I would like to see a comprehensive plan for his first sixty days, as Mitt Romney gave us. He says he will study foreign policy when the time comes but until then he probably should say less about it.

I think his positions will be more solidified for CNN but his debate opponents might have a few tricks up their sleeves. Will CNN try to out do Fox with their loaded questions?

[Selene]

I would like to see a comprehensive plan for his first sixty days, as Mitt Romney gave us. He says he will study foreign policy when the time comes but until then he probably should say less about it.

Romney lost.

Would you like to see the playbook for the last ten years of Jet Super Bowl games?

Oh, that's right, they lost also.

Trump did not say that "...he would study foreign policy when the time comes..."

You make up statements with no quotes.

A...

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Actually, Trump builds in so many different countries, only a gotcha warrior would seriously argue that he knows nothing about foreign policy. But that is gotcha, not reality.

As to Hewitt's big gotcha score (which was more misunderstanding than gotcha), it's like Sarah Palin just said, do we want a tough leader or one who can win a game of Trivial Pursuit?

What is more important? Know the names of leaders of different small volatile tribes, or know what the price of oil is and what affects it?

It's a choice, America...

Which do you prefer?

Speaking of Sarah Palin, Trump said he wanted her on his cabinet. Here is what she said she wants to do if she gets the job:

Sarah Palin Wants To Be Secretary Of Energy, And Then Disband That Federal Department

Does that sound like big government dictatorship or crony capitalism to anyone?

Michael

[Selene]

Michael:

Thanks, that works so well.

I was thinking of the VA, however, I think that place needs a Special Prosecutor with FBI clout.

A...

[Peter]

She wants to be his Secretary and then she will shrink and disband the Energy Department? Cool. I wonder what HE thinks of that? U.S. oil companies are laying off a lot of high income workers which is a shame. The boom in the Dakota's may be over. Since Trump had a casino maybe he would be for a national lottery to lower taxes. Someone should suggest that. You know what's a good idea? Sarah could go from Energy to High Roller Czar.

Oh, and Adam. Trump did say he would learn about foreign policy when he needed to, and in a very short time he would know more than the reporter who asked the question about the Kuds. Trump thought he said Kurds. This is all from memory. I don't got to show you no stinking badges.

[Brant Gaede]

Trump may be finished as he's turned himself into what he's been supposedly fighting--the go along to get along establishment Republicans. That's one analyst's opinion of his signing "The Pledge."

--Brant

remains to be seen