1 Time to turn on him.

2 This isn't good. Can we draft Nader to counter this?

3 It was inexcusable when TR did it, it'd be worse now.

4 Wow, talk about a dark way of looking at things! I say, MORE POWER TO HIM. He's stepping up. I'm no ideologue - been registered Dem as much as Indy as much as Rep - and I'm not alone. More power to him. He has balls and he's putting it out there.

5 He's not a Republican politician, so why on earth is this some kind of betrayal? It is not. The American people are ready for a non-lawyer option.

6 Trump is a clown magnet. Feeling his pull?

7 This is exactly what I was thinking, Trump wants to sabotage the Republicans in 2012. Tuck Frump.

8 He has a right to run but I'm leery because Obama is about to start triangulating (a push by the Clintonistas). This isn't exactly the right time for this.

9 He's not a Republican politician, so why on earth is this some kind of betrayal?

It is not.

The American people are ready for a non-lawyer option.

Posted by: BlackOrchid

 

He is not likely to win. He is very likely to split the Republican vote, thus handing off the election to obama. Think of the 1992 election. And Perot was far more accomplsihed than Trump.

10 We need a constitutional amendment to stop this kind of Perot-esque shit.  Maybe require a runoff if the Electoral College winner doesn't receive at least, say, 48% of the popular vote. 

11 Smoke and mirrors.  Trump knows he won't run as an indy.  I dont know what his motivation is in saying this, but he surely knows this would hand the election to Obama.

12 In the role originally created on the national stage by Ross Perot:  Donald Trump

13 Smoke and mirrors.  Trump knows he won't run as an indy.  I dont know what his motivation is in saying this, but he surely knows this would hand the election to Obama.

Posted by: aerofanatic

 

perhaps he wants the fawning atention and buying off that Jackson and Sharpton received.

14

You all know what this means right?  He will be invited on every media show there is for as long as he wants.

They're going to try to make him a viable candidate.

 

He's an assclown. I find it hard to believe that we may lose in 2012 because of a failed businessman media whore.

At least Perot was successful on his own. Trump is an over leveraged failure.

Please let this be some stupid publicity stunt with an end date will before 2012.

15 Trump wants to sabotage the Republicans in 2012.

Sort of explains why he is basing his whole campaign on whether or not Obama is a natural-born citizen.

Anyone who thinks Trump has anyone's best interests in mind other than his own is a fool.

16 Ross Perot Deja vu.

17 Anyone dumb enough to be surprised by this probably shouldn't be voting in the first place.  When has Trump ever been about anything but his own interests?  That's been his entire frigging life.

And that's fine.  Looking out for #1 is great when you're a baron of industry.  It's a different story when you're supposed to be a fucking public servant.

18 This stuff keeps Trump in the news.

19 I like Trump.  I've heard him interviewed and he's saying some great things that need to be said.  All of me wants to go "all in" for him but, I have this nagging feeling that he is a soldier of the campaign.  I feel as though they know the issue which can create problems and they are deliberately sending people out to pretend to tackle these issues so they can get the most damaging one off of the table.  I am disappointed if Trump is allowing himself to be used in this manner.

20

Copied from HA:

HR 1363, the Bill which Congress passed to avoid a gov't shutdown, Sec. 134 states: "Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for payment in equal shares to the children and grandchildren of Robert C. Byrd, $193,400 is appropriated."

That motherfucker is still robbing us from the grave!! Every republican should VOTE NO! Shine a light on this crap!!

Is Trump related to Murcuntski?

21 "...I like winning.”
_________

Trump/Sheen 2012!

22 Donald Trump--being new depth of meaning and nuance to portraying--and being--a flaming asshole.   His pathetic little blonde combover is only the cherry topping on the turd sundae that he is.

23 ♫ I want my Trump TV! ♫

24 Can't believe I'm going to say this...but, here goes.
We need to get Hillary (the smartest wonam on the planet) to run!


Gawd...I feel so dirty.

25 I hope everyone ralizes that this idiot, and the birther issue, are just getting hyped in the media to help Obama. This guy has about as much chance to win the Repub nomination as I do of sleeping with Jessica Alba.

26 Is this picture photo shopped or real?

27 Whohoo. Beat ace by [counts] ten hours.

28 He's been great on all the shows. He keeps saying the things that we all (and not just us but dyed-in-the-wool Dems too) are thinking but dare not say. He's out there early and who knows what will happen? Clearly he won't be the R nominee, and whether he is actually on the ballot in 2012 is a very open question (I doubt he will). For right now I am extremely happy with his "clowning" if that's what it is.

29 He's NOT helping Obama right now. Not in the slightest.

30 I like Trump.  I've heard him interviewed and he's saying some great things that need to be said.  All of me wants to go "all in" for him but, I have this nagging feeling that he is a soldier of the campaign.  I feel as though they know the issue which can create problems and they are deliberately sending people out to pretend to tackle these issues so they can get the most damaging one off of the table.  I am disappointed if Trump is allowing himself to be used in this manner.

Posted by: curious

That depends entierly upon when these things are said, by whom, and in what context. it is very possible that he is gallantly scouting possible lines of attack for later. It is possible that he is setting the stage/laying ground work that will help hurt the Dear Leader (death of a thousand cuts anyone?)It is also possible that he is running down the clock and expending ammunition so that Obama's friends can plausibly say that these issues "did see the light of day, were rejected, and all grow up and move on"

31 #25 Jessica says hi ...

32

We need a constitutional amendment to stop this kind of Perot-esque shit.  Maybe require a runoff if the Electoral College winner doesn't receive at least, say, 48% of the popular vote. 

no we don't. this door swings both ways. Nader cost Gore in 2000 in the same way Perot cost Bush in 1992.

Anderson helped Reagan in 1980. George Wallace helped Nixon in 1968. Roosevelt helped Wilson in 1912.

It's happened before.  I hate trump and don't want him associated with the Republicans, but he can run if he wants, but he won't.

He would have to self fund and he isn't rich like Perot was. Trump isn't as wealthy as people think and he doesn't have liquid assets. Everything he has is invested in businesses, many of them failing businesses.

33 Trump is simply positioning himself to be requested as VP by the winning candidate or to give himself leverage after he loses because Republicans fear what he might do or will work hard for his endorsement.  Two things about Trump:

1) He isn't stupid and running as the next Perot would be stupid.
2) He is the ultimate self-serving guy and announcing that he will "go Perot" (even if he really has no plans to do so) would give him lots of power and exposure.

Trump's biggest problem in running at all will be that anyone like him has lots of people he has screwed on the way up to win.  He has also had many failed business ventures.  The press will destroy him.

34 Trump is a clown but nobody said he's an idiot. He's saying "make me happy or I start shooting off a gun in the middle of your pool party." So what the GOP has to do is find out what he wants and give it to him, ASAP. (Alternatively, Soros may have bought him for the purpose of splitting the vote no matter what, and nobody in the GOP has the scratch to outbid Darth Soros. In which case we're boned, and everybody should be stocking up on ammo.)

35 Perot does get blamed for Clinton winning, but let's bear in mind that Bush was responsible for letting that situation ever arise.  Elections are a referendum on the incumbent.

I gotta believe Trump isn't really a credible threat to the GOP candidate, unless the candidate is someone kinda pathetic (now is not a good time for a blue blood Republican who argues it is his 'turn').

The only reason he is polling well right now is because he is actually attacking Obama's character - something that the GOP has fallen all over itself to avoid doing.  This is resonating with people who think Obama is an awful person and are tired of people saying what a good guy he is.

36
This is what the GOP gets by allowing a leadership vacuum to develop.

37 In other words, he is bluffing.

38 What a surprise, Trump is an unserious attention whore. Is anyone really surprised about this?

39 He's selling Trump, not selling President Trump.  This is to sell more soap or some shit.  I called it immediately.

40 can we use "spooky dude" to refer to Soros, it sounds so much better than just saying his name?

41 I honestly can't believe there are people here who are taking Trump seriously. I really can't

42 35. Thank you, Bevel. I agree. And Perot was only a factor because Bush Senior sucked SO HARD. I'm old, I remember! We are where we are largely because of "realist" RINOs like Bush Sr.

43 So basically we will get the media falling over backward to hype Trump, endless stories about crazy birthers, and on the other hand Obama's dicklickers endlessly throwing out the word extremists. They want this.

44 hmmmm....I wonder.  Would he only pull from the repub candidate?  Remember this is about electoral votes.  Would he really pull enough to win any states in the south or take enough southern votes to flip say AL?  Would he prevent Ofeckless from winning NY or NH or MA?

45 Leadership vacuum?!?! It's way too early to say that. Let Trump get out there and stir up shit. That only HURTS the status quo. Which is good; that's what we all should want.

46 20 Copied from HA:

HR 1363, the Bill which Congress passed to avoid a gov't shutdown, Sec. 134 states: "Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for payment in equal shares to the children and grandchildren of Robert C. Byrd, $193,400 is appropriated."

That motherfucker is still robbing us from the grave!! Every republican should VOTE NO! Shine a light on this crap!!

They took that vote Friday night and the bill they're bringing to the floor Thursday is not H.R. 1363. So if that was in the final version of H.R. 1363, it's already been done.

47 Hey Donald... you're fired!!!!

Get it?

48
I don't even want this asshole Trump in the GOP primary debates.

The last thing we need is some interloper who will act as a general nuisance and a bomb-thrower just to gain attention.

49 Trump screwed up. His ego couldn't resist giving that answer. A man interested in public service over all else would never do that. Or, everything he says now is designed to sow confusion and conflict. Either way he is a dick.

50 He'll be announcing that he has hired Charlie Sheen to run his campaign later today.

51 Words escape me. Ah no they don't: What a pompous cock sucker

52 On the bright side, this gives an opening to every serious GOP candidate to distance themselves from Trump and his birther bullshit.

53 Posted by: cui bono, soothsayer? at April 12, 2011 11:43 AM (uFokq)

I disagree, the debates are a wonderful thing to fall asleep on the counch.  Maybe with Trump involved people might watch and pay attention.  But I guess guys like mittens won't like it cause he might actually have to reveal who he is.  On that note, NH has apparently put out guidelines for who can be on the primary ballot and I hear people complaining about it on the internet.

54 He's NOT helping Obama right now. Not in the slightest.

He's solidfying Obama's supporters for him, while helping to paint the Republican party as a bunch of loons for questioning his citizenship.

I have questions regarding why Obama is fighting so hard to keep his BC under wraps, but, for good or bad, the term "birthers" is now shorthand for "nutjob."  And the more Trump plays this card, the more it a) makes anyone and everyone of the right look like whacky conspiracy theorists and b) distracts for the real problems we face.

Trump is doing Obama no harm whatsoever.

55 Decided to see if I could Bing Trump's donations for 2008 political campaigns.  The first result I found took me (in a HAZMAT suit) to HuffPo's utility.

My, my.  The contributions I found.  Don't be fooled by the big lump sum numbers, he donated to a heck of a lot of libs, including names we know...Reid, Weiner, Rangel, a boatload to Schumer (in three chunks, looks like...), Nelson, Gillibrand, Spector, Durbin, Clinton, Kerry...

And it looks like someone over at Ron Paul's joint was onto this back in February.

If anyone finds anything to the contrary, let me know...

56

1) He isn't stupid and running as the next Perot would be stupid.

 

really?  you could have fooled me. 

57 What a selfish pig.

58 Is this picture photo shopped or real?

Looks real.  The thing most photoshoppers miss is the limmitation of real optics. This is obviously a low light shot, with F-Stop wide open. This ruins you field of view. Note Obama's face is in perfect focus, the bill in his left hand is only about a foot closer to the camera and it is out of focus. Boehner's face is out of focus to the same extent as the bill, essentially meaning he is close to being as far from the field of focus on the back side as the bill is in the front, or only about a foot behind Obama. Note the photographer makes a statement here. The plane of focus is Obama, not Boehner who actually pushed the deal, not the actual bill itself but Obama who....signed it I guess.

59 Gotta tell you guys - the more BOTH sides hate the hell out of this guy, the more I'm liking him. I'm a contrarian that way I guess. Like "curious" I'm surrounded by libs. They ALL would vote for Trump. I doubt he'd be pulling votes from a decent R candidate; he'd pull them from BarryO which is all academic; he's just blowing smoke right now.

60 Oh, and while he donated more to McCain, his Dem pres candidate of choice was Hillary.  Hmmmmm...

61 Now Cobras ... they're stupid ...

62 You can't make this stuff up, it's like a screen play "He's obama's 'trump card'!

63

yes, let us vote for huckabee, or gingrich, or romney....because you know....they are such winners..........if west or palin or bachman don't get the nod....then i'm voting for trump......yes, he has an ego....and he wants to win.....and he's not going to "negotiate" or "compramise" with the commies....and the dems are part of the "commies"  we need to carpet bomb our enemies as well as our budget............and trump is not afraid to do that

 

seriously ben, failed business man??...are you kidding.?..he's had failures but he's bounced back....the guy is fearless........he believes in AMERICA

 

 

 

64 Now Cobras ... they're stupid ...

Not as dumb as my old zookeeper.

65 I'm sending Barky some fruit to squeeze.  And some coupons to a car wash. 

Hoping he'll pine for that anonymity he misses so.

66 This guy should go back to calling Rosey Odonell a fat disgusting pig.

67 He was scoring points with the birther crowd, but if he wants to piss off republicans, this is a damn good way to do it. It's no longer funny Donald. Go back to your stupid show and real estate ventures.

68 60 Oh, and while he donated more to McCain, his Dem pres candidate of choice was Hillary.  Hmmmmm...

Posted by: AoSHQ's worst commenter, DarkLord© at April 12, 2011 11:46 AM (GBXon)

could it be he knew the insider stuff that was going on?

69 He has also had many failed business ventures.  The press will destroy him.

No they won't, they'll lionize him so as to siphon votes from the GOP candidate. 

70 Perot does get blamed for Clinton winning, but let's bear in mind that Bush was responsible for letting that situation ever arise.  Elections are a referendum on the incumbent.

Poppy Bush was a horrible President and easily fucked up as many things as he got right.  Slick never ran against anybody that was up to kicking his white-trash ass back into the gutter where he came from.  Can the Repukes promise not to choose Presidential candidates from a bunch of codger Senators?

I'm not sure that Trump will pull a Perot.  I think he's too enamoured with his media presence to go beyond a certain point in politics.

71 On the other hand, if he campaigns with his slovenian hottie of a wife, it would have a certain entertainment value.

72

I really don't think some of you get how many out here feel about the Republican party...

We feel about it much like they felt about the Whigs... they have lost our trust, and we fell betrayed.

You keep saying we MUST support and vote for them, because the dems are worse... and yet when we do, the government keeps getting more powerful, and intrusive, AND THEY keep spending money we don't have...

As much as you Watercarriers for the Repubs hate the thought, the Two party Power monopoly may very well be ending...

Theres a lot of Independents out there folks...

73 C H R I S T I E I have spelled it out for you.

74

If the Party of Stupid can field a real candidate this won't be an issue.  Of course looking at the current crop of chuckleheads the Republicans are fielding I'm making sure to stay extra hydrated for when the tears start since they won't end until 2016.

 

75 Along the same lines.... Ross Perot 2: Electoral Boogaloo!

76 Trump is a household name for all low information voters.  These low information voters see him going for Obama's throat and he is forcing the Regime to do damage control.

I'm totally good with that.

77 #64 bahahahahahahah!

78 didn't he vote for obama in '08?

79

Hoping he'll pine for that anonymity he misses so.

When he gets back with my coffee, I'll send him over to your place to wash your car and pump your gas for you.

80

blackorchid

 

you are absolutely right, i love bush sr., but his 2nd running was pathetic and has brought us to where we are

81 There's enough dirt on him in the public record (just read some of the back issues of Spy available on Google Docs) to push him Perot territory and into LaRouche numbers.

82 which is all academic; he's just blowing smoke right now.

Black Orchid-
argument by blind, repeated assertion isn't convincing. 

83 Great news! Christine O'Donnell's memoir is now available for Pre-Order from Amazon. You get almost $9.00 off and I hear the book is supposed to be spellbinding.

84 79

Hoping he'll pine for that anonymity he misses so.

When he gets back with my coffee, I'll send him over to your place to wash your car and pump your gas for you.

Posted by: Bill Clinton at April 12, 2011 11:50 AM (rwkOP)

Lol.  I wouldn't allow him on my property.  Seriously.

85 78: If he did, it's odd he gave $2000 to McCain, $600 to Hillary, and nothing I saw to Obama...of course, with his other donations he might as well have...

86 well beck is going to run so maybe trump can get the VP slot

87 Off, ssssssssock!

88

Well, I would hope that this announcement would put some fire in the weaksauce Republican's bellies.  Maybe  Trump's idiocy will be the impetus they need to get out of their inertia and malaise.

Then again, maybe I'll be winning the mega millions later this year, despite the fact I never buy a ticket.   

89

That ^motherfucker is still robbing us from the grave!! Every republican should VOTE NO! Shine a light on this crap!!

Miss8-0s!

fainted in shock.

I've been a little concerned with Trumps debut, It seems useful as He is smacking Obama around , which our Side seems to fail at,(mainly because anyone on our team is yelled down called extreme and Racist) But i always thought it was odd that The MFM didn't really attack Trump.He was a big Dem supporter previously, Although i didn't doubt He loves America.

So im still suspicious BUT

Are we sure backing  Him  for awhile isn't useful?

90 So Mia, interested in being ... I mean ... having dinner sometime?

91

I can't believe Trump is actually going to follow through on this.

He is not going to cut into his golf time playing courses he owns to run for President... unlike... the President.

92 Trump Tower, now with more ego!

93

Perot does get blamed for Clinton winning, but let's bear in mind that Bush was responsible for letting that situation ever arise.  Elections are a referendum on the incumbent.

Indeed, but there were 19 million people who voted for Perot. Those were mostly people inclined to vote for Bush, who didn't want to vote for Clinton.

Bush lost by 4-5 million votes.  Bush is responsible for the situation, but there is no question, in my mind at least, that if Perot isn't in that election that Bush wins.

94 you should read the link I posted wherein I'm asking if the pic is real.  Fascinating stuff.  Makes you think the republicans know they don't have a shot at the presidency.  So, then a republican donald trump as president wouldn't' look so bad?   Funny but I'm almost thinking that the republican party will be replaced first, followed by the dems.

95

well beck is going to run so maybe trump can get the VP slot

That's great, maybe we can get Beck, Hannity, Trump and O'Reilly to merge like a Transformer and be out super fail candidate in 2012.

96 So Mia, interested in being ... I mean ... having dinner sometime?

Dibs.

97 #88 Or it may force people we WANT to see running declare. There is nobody in the running I can get super excited about. I will be come general election time, because I want to see President Obama lose re-election.

98 So what's the big deal? So Obama wins another term - The Prophecy is fulfilled and the Dark Times approach. I bought "apocalypse" on Intrade when it was a fucking penny stock. I'm gonna clean up!

99 The idea of Trump pulling votes away from Obama is idiotic and insane. The libs may be over the first euphoric bloom of love for Obama but there's simply no way they'll ever vote Republican. The worst any of them might do is "forget" to vote.

If Trump carries out his threat to run as an indy I think it's time to hire a sharpshooter.

100 is still robbing us from the grave

Yep, and drudge has a link that the budget deal turned out to be mostly accounting tricks, so its no wonder the Trumpet has some traction.

101 Jeff, thanks a lot, i'm about ready to slit my wrists.

102 If Obama successfully triangulates and Trump goes through with this, Obama will win a 2nd term.

103

Circus side show freak. He should stick to his tacky, fat-cat life style and get the fuck off our lawn.

 

 

104 I don't think he has the substance to even take votes from a GOP nominee.  It's the moron voter (not AOSHQ moron!), and those votes are more likely to go Dem anyway.

105 Anybody see the excellent 30 For 30 episode Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?

It's not about you.  It's not about this country.  Everything Trump does is about his ego.

106 Well, there's one way to counter him - the GOP needs to NOT nominate some weak-sister RINO. Run a REAL Reaganesque figure, instead of another Bush or McSame, and problem solved.

107 I got caught up in doing something else,was waiting for ace to notice this.I told you all Trump was worthless.

108 Trump is a fraud as I have said here for a long time, and she should not be encouraged by conservatives.

109 well at least the American people are telling the repoublicans to put up someone with a brass set or don't bother.

110 He should not be encouraged.

111 The idea of Trump pulling votes away from Obama is idiotic and insane. The libs...

No, its the indy vote that matters. Would say 20% of the indies who would have voted for Odummy because of a weak repub candidate, switch to the trumpet causing the state to go to the repub.

112 Screw that two bit egomaniac. The son of a bitch lost money running a casino. He can go fuck himself.

113

Well, there's one way to counter him - the GOP needs to NOT nominate some weak-sister RINO.

Trump is "weak-sister RINO". He's loud jackassery just throws people off. He's a NYC Republican. Also known as a Democrat.

Just because he's jumped on the stupid birth issue doesn't make him some sort of conservative.

114 Ben , you  forgot Joe Scarborough.

115

Posted by: ParisParamus at April 12, 2011 11:59 AM (cCIhS)

The idiots that attend the Charlie Sheen shows will flock to this chump.

116

Screw that two bit egomaniac. The son of a bitch lost money running a casino. He can go fuck himself.

This needs to be shouted from the mountain tops. He lost money running a casino. A casino people. A freaking casino.

117 Ok look people, did the MFM ever hype Nader other than to blame him for losing in 2000? Did they ask every Dem on TV to refute 911 truthers? Ask yourself why?

118

Ben , you  forgot Joe Scarborough.

heh. And maybe we can throw in Pat Buchanon for some gravitas.

119

Fight hair with hair...Vote for me!

 

 

120 To be fair, that casino was in Atlantic City.

121 At least he recognizes a trend, notice he didn't say "I'm a republican, cause he is probably a registered Democrat, notice he said "I'm a conservative" cause you can be a democrat and a conservative at the same time, right?

122 Also, I like that he has a symbiotic Honey Badger on his head.

123 117 He really should be in gubmint than.

124 Trump is a Moby. And so is Black Orchid, FWIW. He wants Obama elected again, and his only plan is to sabotage the right and prevent a repeat of 2010. All the birther stuff and other Obama put-downs are meant to make him credible to the angry right to pull votes from the eventual repub candidate. He has always planned to run as an independent. He is AxelrodÂ’s hole card to get Uncle O his next four years.

125 Why are we so sure he will simply divide up the GOP vote.  That is the conventional wisdom, but it is often wrong.  Having two extremes (Obama and Trump) could pull people to the more centrist candidate (centrist as compared to the extremes - let's just say it is Pawlenty right now since no one else has really announced).  Trump may pull some people from the GOP nomination, but he may also pull people from Obama to the GOP nomination.  Before you say that is just dumb, there have been plenty of studies which prove otherwise.  Given a choice between A and B, A may win.  But introduce a third choice C that is closer to B than to A, and now all of a sudden B wins.  Simply because B looks better compared to A and C, even though compared to just A it does not look better.

126

If trump is out candidate we will lose 30-40 states. I don't even think the entire south would be with us.

127

This is a direct threat to me, my family, and my decsendents.

Obama is an evil son of a bitch, and as gas prices continue to rise to no media outrage, they are complicit in signing our execution papers.  Industry, commerce, and our very lives are destined to ruin as a result of this idiots monopoly money bullshit.  Democrats know ruin is just years away, but don't want anything done about it.  WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

Trump is your typcial selfish, sociopathic, business criminal who's probably ruined countless underlings lives and others on his way to the top without a second thought.  He should be flushed.

If he runs as a third party, I say he's a menace to our country and should be treated as such.  Trump is no conservative either... Here what he said during thre Bush years?  He sounded worse than that crazed MEDEA cunt from code pink.

128 Would Trump be like Perot '92/'96 and Wallace '68, or would he be more like Thurman '48, Wallace '48, and Anderson '80?

129 OT: New Obama Coffee Mug from friend of the blog Anna

130 To be fair,Mitt's hair is real,and it's spectacular.

131 Trump is an idiot but he is doing this for reasons other than political. You can bet he has an iron in the fire somewhere with this shit.

132

95 i know the left

 

AMEN I SAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

133 Posted by: Schwalbe : The © at April 12, 2011 11:35 AM (UU0OF)

Disgusting and yet another example of why the only thing more worthless than our Congress is the media.

A correction though: This was not part of Boehner's bend over and love it compromise bill. This was passed in Sept. 2009, HR 3098.

134 18 This stuff keeps Trump in the news.

Exactly. Isn't Celebrity Apprentice on TV now. Probably every time he makes one of these comments he adds by plugging his show.

Here on Long Island he got involved with NY State Parks at Jones Beach. Where all the bodies are turning up. He wanted to build some sort of restaurant on the beach. He wanted to build whatever he wanted. I cannot remember all the details that derailed the plan but I believe he wanted the restaurant to have a basement. A difficult thing considering the water table on a barrier island is 5ft. Now State Parks can be assholes but I believe they really wanted this work. It would have been a serious revenue stream for the parks. However Trump would just not budge on design or anything else. The whole thing fall apart. All that remains from the project is an empty lot with a double wide trailer and dead hookers. In all fairness to Trump, I doubt he is involved with the dead hookers. Trump and his Midas touch.

135 Ben, you don't watch his shows, do you?  The American people love him, feel they've gotten to know him.  Most people think mittens is an idiot.  I mean really forbes has more street cred than mittens.  And huckabee only appeals to people who don't like mittens.  And, by not really commenting much lately, Sarah Palin has pulled herself out of the race.  Same with Michelle Bachman although she has absolutely nothing to lose so she might surprise everyone.

136 Maybe we should nominate Jeff Probst, that would get Ace's vote.

137 I've never liked Trump and never seen one episode of his stupid show.He occasionally says things I agree with,but that is it.

138 Rush had Trump on a couple of weeks ago.  He seemed to be interested in a Trump candidacy.  Weird.

139

vic

 

yes! as a business man, he is seeing his country going down the toilet.....

140 Ooh I get to be a Moby now! curious I think you're one too Quite the rarified air. Whatever, I guess it's best to just hate the hell out of normal Americans and keep within a nice cozy ideologically pure bubble.

141 Really, John Frum. And how do we treat those YOU have designated as a "menace to our country?" Go huff some more paint, dipshit.

142 132 Trump is an idiot but he is doing this for reasons other than political. You can bet he has an iron in the fire somewhere with this shit.

Posted by: Vic at April 12, 2011 12:07 PM (M9Ie6)

Vic, they both love golf.

 

143 Further, right now Trump has media outlets that other candidates don't have or don't want.  He'll mix it up with the View, he'll do all the late night shows.  It won't be long til he goes to Daily Show.  And Trump may bring up the BC story, but he also - and more importantly - lays the blame for most of our sour economic news on Obama.  People hear that too.  And, I go back to Ace's post a month or so ago.  I think most people don't really know about the BC story in any great detail.  They probably listen to Trump and walk away with the same conclusion - why doesn't he just release it.  Couple that thinking with hearing Trump say how bad Obama is and they have to start questioning whether Obama is a good President or not. 

144
Many here at AoS don't want to accept the fact that not everyone thinks exactly like they do.

145 Posted by: BlackOrchid at April 12, 2011 12:10 PM (SB0V2)

hahahha well Rush had him on and so did Savage and he seems to have sold them.  And he wreaked havoc on scarborough, the view and CNBC. 

I'm praying he is sincere and not just BO's water boy.  Pluffy attacked him over the weekend but that could just be the democratic theater of the absurd.  Feeling if they attack him, and he is their water boy, this will give him more gravitas.  Who knows really, time will tell.

146 So Huckster and Trump met in FL last week.  The hell?  A possible top/bottom of a ticket?

147 Trump is a phony who has been hanging around with limousine libs his whole life. Don't be fooled just because he needs a new hobby and knows which way the wind is blowing.

148 What's Trump's view on the looming economic catastrophe and the Republican 2012 budget?

149 O/T:  Are we avoiding discussing all the absolutely frightening "it's a 7 and chrenobyl was a 7" stuff which is now all over the real media?

150

Trump is in this for Trump and for no other reason, as his declaration plainly states. His entrance upon the political stage seems to indicate that this act of American Political Theatre will be a comedy.

Still, he's sticking a few thorns under The Vapid One's™ saddle. He's already proven to me that he's not serious, as his previous forays into politics have proven. And the MBM will try to paint him as the GOP front-runner in an attempt to smear the GOP, as someone upthread pointed out.

Trump is Trump.

151 148. Okay, Jane, even I would admit that would a ticket straight outta hell And by the way I don't think Trump should be the R nominee or anything. I'm just enjoying him right now and I'm telling you, he's planting "Russell-esque" seeds in the minds of people. The kind of people who don't read blogs . . . or really much of anything. You know, voters.

152 121 To be fair, that casino was in Atlantic City.

Posted by: BlackOrchid at April 12, 2011 12:04 PM (SB0V2)

Location! Location! Location!

/you might expect a "real estate genius" to know that.

153 151 AS BAD AS CHERNOBY;!!!11ELEVENTY11

154

Trump is saying publicly what a lot of us want said.  he serves a purpose.  He is also allowing the shining light of MSN B.S. off of Palin and Christie and the others who were drawing fire.

He is distracting the Presidential staff and their ignore strategy isn't work very well.  Yeah, the dem base may be solidified, but they'll vote Dem no matter what, so that's a false argument.

I don't think we'll have a Perot moment, but like others have said, Clinton wasn't Perot's fault, it was the GOP and Bush '41...  and we can blame the Gipper and the GOP for that.  I never liked picking Bush as VP but the establishment GOP had to have it.

Bush 41 lead to Clinton.  When conservatives run, they can win.  When RINO's run, they are dependant on the squishy "independents" who can't handle making a stand for anything evidently.

155
'zactly, M80's...

Trump offers no substance, no policy specifics.

I understand it's nice to have someone willing to be a thorn in Obama's side, but Trump will be a shitty candidate.

Think of Kinky Friedman. Now take away conviction and principle. That's Trump.

156 Those of us who realized that the "agreement" was merely theater are listening to Rush and realizing he also agreed with us.

Geez, when are accountants going to go back to the old accounting rules that made everything simple.  Now we are spending virtual money cause the entire budget is on auto pay except for a measly 12%, that'w what they are fighting about, 12%.  It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

157

you know, its shit like this that eases the sting of being a democrat

158 The problem isn't Trump. The problem is the endless succession of absolute fucking Zeroes that the GOP keeps providing as alternatives to Obama. If the GOP can't pull 270 electoral votes with this fucking shambles currently in office, we deserve to lose, BECAUSE WE ARE COMPLETELY BEREFT OF ALTERNATIVES TO DISASTER.

159 Trump isn't running for crap...not even the Republican nomination. This is all about PR for Trump. For Trump to be running he would need to put his own money in. Not going to happen.

Donald Trump has also earned more than $100 million in salary, royalties since "The Apprentice" debuted on NBC in 2003. In fact, Trump has said, in the past, that "My brand alone is worth $5 billion."

That may or may not be true. However, it is true that other developers have erected several Trump buildings; they pay him a licensing fee to use his name.

Aside from his real estate, other ventures that Donald Trump is invested in include the Miss Universe Organization. That is owned by Trump and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). The organization oversees the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants.

In the fall of 2009, Donald Trump launched The Trump Network. It is a direct selling vitamin company similar to Herbalife. The products include PrivaTest, a multi-vitamin, and Silhoutte Solution, among others.

Does anyone really think that Donald Trump is going to throw his personal finances open to the public as required by law to run for office? Does anyone seriously think trump is going to chuck multimillion dollar tv deals in the trash to take a job that pays $400 thousand? This is about upping his visibility and access with a group of people, conservatives, who have pretty much dismissed him in the past.

160 The middle 4 paragraphs are a quote.

161 Trump offers no substance, no policy specifics.

Posted by: cui bono, soothsayer? at April 12, 2011 12:16 PM (uFokq)

What do you mean? He has said repeatedly that China won't be able to push around President Trump. He'll get tough with them and the rest of the world will stop taking advantage of the US. What more specifics could anyone possibly need?

162 CNN has started pimping Trump. According to a "poll", he is tied with schmuckabee. I feel when this campaign starts, the boner's for Trump will become limp.

163 Donald Trump is an egotistical asshole. This is news?

164 Many here at AoS don't want to accept the fact that not everyone thinks exactly like they do. Posted by: cui bono, soothsayer? at April 12, 2011 12:12 PM (uFokq) YOURE WRONG! WRONG WRONG WRONG! RUN ROMNEY/HUCKABEE/PALIN AND THEY'LL WIN 40/10 STATES AND WIN/GET CRUSHED!

165 Rush is now quoting the AP as an authoritative source? What happened to him?

166
Does anyone seriously think trump is going to chuck multimillion dollar tv deals in the trash to take a job that pays $400 thousand?

Come on, Rocks. This is beneath you. You know very well that being president of the United States is like being king of the free world. Everyone would do the job for free.

167
What more specifics could anyone possibly need?

Well, when you put it that way...

168 This Trump guy is like my crazy Aunt Martha. Ya know, we lock her in the basement, everyone knows she's down there, and she gets out somehow!

169 Ugh, speaking of Rush, he's absolutely killing me talking about the budget.  I need to go find a razor blade.  I'm baking brownies now too.  Sticking my head in the oven a la Sylvia Plath isn't looking so bad either.  Unfortunately, my oven's electric...

170

somebody else

i'm starting to wondering if the nay sayers are paying attention to what he's saying....

171 If someone wants to run as an Independent, I fully support them, with a catch- run as an Indy from the start.

If you're running as a Republican or Democrat, the whole idea is that you are seeking to represent that party. If the members of that party say that you don't make the cut... then you don't make the cut.

I could care less who loses votes to an Indy, so long as it is somebody who legitimately presents themselves as ideologically different than and R or D. To switch your platform mid-campaign is disingenuous.

I had no problem with Perot or Nader. They made no illusions that they were not Rs or Ds and offered an alternative to both. The fact that anyone who is not an R or D is regarded as a second-class candidate and people throw around accusations that a legitimate Indy is "stealing votes" is a sad state of affairs.

Last time I checked, the only requirements necessary for running for President are being a natural-born citizen and being at least 35 years old. There is not and should not be a requirement to belong to any particular political party.

172 Soothsayer, how come you never tell me something I've said is beneath me?

173 "We need a constitutional amendment to stop this kind of Perot-esque shit."

No, we don't.  We just need a principled conservative to run as the GOP candidate, and not the usual weak-ass DIABLO.

I'm not a fan of Trump, but if all his talk forces the GOP to the right, then it's a good thing.  And as someone here pointed out, he provides cover on the Birther issue, embarrassing Obama without hurting the other GOP candidates.  Still, I hope he's bluffing about the independent run.  That would certainly give us third term for Carter.

174 If the GOP can't pull 270 electoral votes with this fucking shambles currently in office, we deserve to lose, BECAUSE WE ARE COMPLETELY BEREFT OF ALTERNATIVES TO DISASTER. Posted by: Empire of Jeff at April 12, 2011 12:18 PM (Y0wFY) Christie v Obama. All the McCain states go R again easily, plus NC, IN, VA, FL, OH. Christie is popular in the northeast WITHOUT having to play McLame- so New Hampshire is a likely gain, and Maine, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are more up for grabs than they ever were in 2000, 2004, 2008. We look likely to get a win out of WI or MI as well. Balance him with someone perhaps more conservative as VP, and he carries 300+ EVs. Huckabee moderates himself into irrelevancy like McCain. Romney loses parts of the south because of the mormonism and the Romneycare issue hurts him in the general. Bachmann is fucking nuts. Palin isn't running. West isn't running. Rubio isn't running. Pawlenty bores everyone to death. Bring on the fat man.

175 Trump donated to Rahm Emanuel's illegal campaign for mayor of Chicago.

Once honey badger digests this, nothing else matters.

176 Rocks - exactly. Why are we worried about him.  We shouldn't be.  We should simply sit back and enjoy the free ride we are getting with Trump hammering on Obama and his policies.  Trump isn't speaking to the political class or even those of us who follow it - and if you are commenting on AoS, you are following it much closer than the average person/voter.  Let's enjoy this moment while we can.  Trump can say things "real" candidates won't say (but maybe should).  And I'm not just talking about the BC controversy. 

177 So vote for Trump. Here's a bumper sticker:

It can't get any worse.

178 Like "curious" I'm surrounded by libs. They ALL would vote for Trump. I doubt he'd be pulling votes from a decent R candidate; he'd pull them from BarryO which is all academic; he's just blowing smoke right now. Posted by: BlackOrchid Bullshit. All the libs loved to praise McCain and say that's the Republican they would vote for. Come campaign time, he was the lying racist, anti-christ.

179 I do not like Obama triangulating with the help of the Clintonistas. Meanwhile, even Rep. Bachmann is playing into the narrative by playing cautious on the Republican budget (she likes it in theory) and now we have Trump playing the "I deserve this" card.  We're doomed until somebody out there decides to push-back against Obama's policies and endorses something conservative that's workable. I'm not seeing anyone do that right now.

180 Trump says he understands the Wisconsin thing, but he has a lot of union friends, that's not right everywhere.  So he will be pro union.

He doesn't think we need to cut back on our entitlements ... he'll get the money from China and Iraq.

So he doesn't like Obama, China, or spending on wars ... he does like unions, entitlements and big business.  But he is a conservative ... because he says so.

Would he divide the Republican vote?  Or would he divide the looney tune leftist vote?  How many would vote for another unicorn candidate?

181 1. This gives him press attention. 2. It gives Democrats—and their bureaucracies—reasons to court him (potentially through his businesses). 3. It convinces smarter Republican candidates to maintain a good relationship with him.

182
Soothsayer, how come you never tell me something I've said is beneath me?

Because I can't see that low.

183 I was almost ready to give Trump a chance until I heard him on Hannity calling Paul Ryan's budget plan "extreme."  Outsider or not, I won't back anyone who's not willing to get serious about the budget and debt.

184 Roland Burris would like a word with Teh Donald in the parking lot.

185 171 Ugh, speaking of Rush, he's absolutely killing me talking about the budget.  I need to go find a razor blade.  I'm baking brownies now too.  Sticking my head in the oven a la Sylvia Plath isn't looking so bad either.  Unfortunately, my oven's electric...

He's accepting AP spin and a CNN push-poll! Since when did we accept those? Has he even checked the CNN sample? It doesn't match a Pew Poll, either, and both of those embrace push-polling. 

186 If I find out Trump had a bunga bunga party my position might change.

187 His entertainment value just dropped tremendously.

188 Bullshit. All the libs loved to praise McCain and say that's the Republican they would vote for. Come campaign time, he was the lying racist, anti-christ.

Exactly.  Many of them cited Sarah Palin, but she was just the convenient excuse to rationalize voting for Obama, which they were going to do no matter what.

189 Oh, and his donation patterns are similar in 2010, Weiner and Schumer, 2 to 1 for Dems.

Deeds, not words.  Those donations speak quite loudly.

190 I still dont see how some of you guys think obibble is triangulating. He is boxed in by liberal and wont do a damn conservative thinv like.clinton did. Everytime he talks, he reveals himself

191 Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 12, 2011 12:26 PM (uVLrI)

Yep, all of them seem to backing away.  wonder why?  What have they been told that would make them suddenly quiet, what would make the "tea party freshman" suddenly quiet.  It's a little unnerving.

192

171   I'm baking brownies now too

i think i love you

193 @ 142 You're an old, concerned, conservative -- who's been registered Dem [!] as much as Indy as much as Repub -- and you know it sounds crazy, but you've got questions. "Orchids? [] Ugh. Nasty things. Their flesh is too much like the flesh of men, and their perfume has the rotten sweetness of corruption."

194 89 ....So im still suspicious BUT

Are we sure backing  Him  for awhile isn't useful?

The first part must have been an italics fail on my part. As for Trump, we don't know that, but past history combined with a split Republican Party would seem to indicate a repeat of Bush/Clinton/Perot.

195

This. Is. Perfect.

A certifiable dip shit to make the rest of the GOP field seem so much more palatable. Hell, make him the Official Birther Candidate. That way, the issue can stay alive and the rest of the field doesn't have to deal with it.

Trump as a primary opponent is a gift to every other Republican candidate. Unserious. Made-for-TV. Weird. He'll suck up all the oxygen at the beginning, like Rudy, but his act will get old. The perfect foil.

196 Christie v Obama.
All the McCain states go R again easily, plus NC, IN, VA, FL, OH. Christie is popular in the northeast WITHOUT having to play McLame- so New Hampshire is a likely gain, and Maine, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are more up for grabs than they ever were in 2000, 2004, 2008. Bring on the fat man.

Posted by: CAC

What happens if/when mediocre poll numbers come out of New Jersey? Gore lost Tennesee and Arkansas, but the media covered that up. They'll hammer that.

197 197. I'm not conservative and have never said so. I've been here many, many years. If you'd like to argue a point, please do. As I often say, no gentleman would insult me, and one one who is not a gentleman (such as you) CAN insult me.

198 Some possible motivations:

1.  Trump is a bigger narcissist then Obama, and is compelled to do it.

2.  Trump needs something; regulatory or legislative relief for something.  He is making himself a PIA for Obama in order to get his itch scratched or will extract it from the Pub's to drop out.

3.  There is no bad PR.  He is winning, by just raising his ratings at no real cost to himself.

4.  Anything can happen, but if it does you gotta be in the game to take advantage.  Scenario: NJ and a collection of wingnut states insist on enforcing tight ballot access provisions; Obama picks up his ball and goes home; Dims are in complete disarray - the election is T-Paw vs Trump!!  President Trump.

Could easily be all of these

199 dammit - typo in my witty reply "no one who is not a gentleman can insult me" anyhoo . . .

200 As long as Trump is saying he might go 3rd party,   he will get time on TV,  because the press will think that a 3rd party would destroy the GOP.

Trump is smarter than people give him credit for.  He knows how to get media coverage.  

Plus,  I am not afraid of a Trump 3rd party run,  since I think he would draw just as many democrats (see donations).

Everyone needs to quit worrying about this and watch what happens. 

201 Didn't The Donald(TM) used to be a lot more liberal? Pro-choice? So why aren't conservatives reviling him like Romney?

202 Perot was there for no other reason than to split the vote. He was in, then got out, bush started to pull ahead, so he jumped back in. I had a friend who worked for his campaign. The fucker never intended to win.

203 Sock off ...

204 Look at all the so-called righties that stayed home in 2008 resulting in Teh One being elected and the complete takeover of Congress. How'd that work out for us. They weren't too smart in doing that in retrospect. These same complainers won't think twice about voting for Trump if they can stick it to the Republican candidate who doesn't march to their drumbeat. Maybe enough lefties will stay home disappointed with His Highness to offset, but I wouldn't count on it. If Trump runs, the odds are we lose.

205

Ahh, he's doing it due to his monstrous ego...imagine that...

 

Let him be a thorn in the side of Obama, but only for a little while longer.  He's reaching the stage of diminishing returns, and no, he will not help the Republicans.

206 185 I was almost ready to give Trump a chance until I heard him on Hannity calling Paul Ryan's budget plan "extreme."  Outsider or not, I won't back anyone who's not willing to get serious about the budget and debt.

I can't support anyone who calls such a plan "extreme". Ryan himself says it's "modest" and he's going to introduce separate bills to address areas like Social Security and health care reform.

207 Not that I think many folks took Trump seriously before, but now I really don't think he'll clear more than 2-3%.  First, he admits he's running for ego's sake.  Second and more importantly, he tacitly admits that he'd rather have Obama than the GOP nominee (if the GOP nominee isn't Trump) ... for surely not even Trump thinks Trump will win the nomination.

Someone find Hillary's Opposition Research gang and sic 'em on Trump.

208 What a mess

209 195 Yep, all of them seem to backing away.  wonder why?  What have they been told that would make them suddenly quiet, what would make the "tea party freshman" suddenly quiet.  It's a little unnerving.

Well, they're not all backing away, especially not the Budget Committee or RSC. But they have a reason to be scared in that entitlement reform is a dangerous issue-- they're considered sacred-- and anyone who wants to keep their seat would not embrace the Republican plan.

210 Someone find Hillary's Opposition Research gang and sic 'em on Trump.

Posted by: Gromit at April 12, 2011 12:40 PM (RaX26)

Better yet, find an oppo research team that can actually get the job done.

211 IÂ’d add to Miss Marple that if people are worried about Trump, we/they need to stop worrying about candidates they think are bad, and start finding candidates they think are good. Standing somewhat from the outside, I see a lot of Republicans telling us who they canÂ’t stand without providing an alternative. Which candidate(s) should Trump stand down in favor of?

212 Don't get mad at Trump, who is saying very good and important things, no matter what you think his ultimate motivations might be.  Place your ire where it belongs, with the pusses on the right who have been making a sport of calling conservatives racists and idiots and extremists (to get out in front of the left) for quite some time.

Posted by: iknowtheleft at April 12, 2011 12:29 PM (G/MYk)

I agree with this.

213  We're doomed until somebody out there decides to push-back against Obama's policies and endorses something conservative that's workable. I'm not seeing anyone do that right now.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 12, 2011 12:26 PM (uVLrI)

amen.

214

Well, it's not as if the Republican is going to win if Trump is not in the race.  After what we've just seen, with most of the public giving Obama credit for the budget reductions, I think Obama is in for another term.  The Republican Congress will bring Barack closer to the center, where the Independents want him, and he knows how the play the game and fool the voters.  (I don't think the Independents are that smart, by the way...they're swayed way too easily.)

I think we have a chance at the Senate, but, even with Trump out, I don't think we have a chance at the presidency. 

215 "We just need a principled conservative to run as the GOP candidate, and not the usual weak-ass DIABLO."

DIABLO, what's that- Devil in a Blender, Lemons optional?

Help me out here, people.

216

I like whoever can play and surprass the press, and I like anyone who hits Obama on all fronts relentlessly.

The press can't destroy him like they'll try on whoever comes up for the Republicans. They're already planning for Palin x 100. I want someone in-their-face fearless.

217 See, Romney is now worried about addressing entitlements too. He's right that Americans likely aren't ready but you still have to try. You can't avoid something because it's politically unpalatable.

218 #216 Unfortunately, I think the best potential R candidates are 4 to 8 years away from being ready. Great farm team, but the guys currently in the bigs remind one of a certain Chicago National League ball club.

219 What happens if/when mediocre poll numbers come out of New Jersey? Gore lost Tennesee and Arkansas, but the media covered that up. They'll hammer that. Posted by: Blue Hen at April 12, 2011 12:35 PM (6rX0K) He would do well in New Jersey. He has survived wave after wave of "bad polling" only for good polling to crest for him post-budget battle. A non-apologetic Republican who is attacking the threat of pensions and medicaid but in terms everyone gets and who takes his message to areas like Newark and Camden? That is someone who doesn't care about his polling numbers and thus wont flip and flop like a McCain. We need someone who isn't afraid of criticism. Who doesn't LISTEN to it. If he got barraged with "you hate children" from New Jersey newspapers, talking heads, the unions, etc- and still said "fuck you", I don't think bad poll numbers will hurt him during a run.

220

So, what's our role in all of this....the active conservatives?

If we go nuts attacking him and wringing our hands, he tries all the harder to stay in and fuck things up.

If we accept him as a credible candidate, our credibility is shot.

I say, be cool. Let him do what he wants. Ignore him (to the extent possible) until he actually files to run. Don't react to every press release or utterance.

Ideally, the next post on Trump should be an official announcement to run or not run.

221 The American people are ready for a non-lawyer option.

Posted by: BlackOrchid at April 12, 2011 11:29 AM (SB0V2)

You like Toonces that much do you?

222 Trump has just earned himself more fawning and publicity from the MSM who will smell Rep blood in the water.  The problem for them is that he is attacking Obama, but they'll just paint him as a lovable crazy.  Notice how they aren't calling him a horrible racist evil-monger!!!111

Panicking and making a big deal of it only helps him; it's probably the very thing he wants.  Relax and see what happens.

223 218 Or I should say I'm not seeing it from the current presidential field.

224 If you read the transcripts with Trump, he sounds like what people perceive as a retarded Palin or retarded Dubya. If you listen to him, it comes off differently because he speaks with great confidence and so far the media is giving him a free ride. I know people are excited because he's on the attack against Obama, but I think that's all he's good for. He loves himself more than he loves America - so that's bullshit. He lost money running casinos - so he's not the right man in terms of our dire economic situation. We need an avenging angel to cut spending and he's not the man. He went bankrupt several times and his main strength seems to be in self-promotion not balance sheets. Like I said, read his transcripts. I don't think it's a matter that he's just plain-spoken like Palin or Dubya. We can forgive with those two because we trusted their decision-making and core values regardless of whether they knew who the president of Burundi was. Trump on the other hand does not appear to be that bright or even well informed about events AND is not a conservative AND seems to be a failure at decision-making with respect to his failed marriages/businesses. He's just one of those people who got ahead with some luck, a lot of ambition and being really fucking loud and obnoxious. This is a testament to the opportunities available in this country than to any good skills of Trump.

225 Trump has never been a conservative in any way, shape, or form (supported gun control, single-payer health care, and amnesty, was pro-choice until last week, has been greasing Democrat palms his whole adult life, used eminent domain to seize private property for his own benefit, loves him some Nancy Pelosi, etc), has never been elected to anything, was completely absent during the health-care debate and 2010 midterm elections, didn't lift a finger to defend the right after the Tuscon massacre, has been divorced three times, filed for bankruptcy several times, and has more baggage than LAX, O'Hare, and LaGuardia combined.

The fact that he's drawing double-digits in any primary poll is proof positive that birtherism is institutionalized retardation. It might have been a useful tool with which to cast doubt on Obozo, but it's degenerated into a cult of jackwagons who care more about having their emotions validated than they do about conservative principles or winning an election. The only issue these clowns give a fuck about will never matter again after Obozo is out of office, but that doesn't matter to them.

226 But they have a reason to be scared in that entitlement reform is a dangerous issue-- they're considered sacred-- and anyone who wants to keep their seat would not embrace the Republican plan. And that's the problem with these assholes. All of them. Keeping their cushy jobs is always Priority One, principles be damned. None of them have the balls to satisfy both. I would demagogue the shit out of entitlement reform. I'd be running spots where bloodthirsty seniors are trying to suck the lifeblood of my precious baby, and I'm on a conveniently-placed pommel horse, ruining their shit with my elite Gymkata skills. Who needs the senior vote when you can drive them into hiding after you've properly demonized them? But the GOP won't. Because they are fucking soft.

227 Since I have been paying attention I remember a NYT's magazine front page stipulating that hillary was going to be the next president, period, end of sentence, a done deal.  Then I remember how palatable McShame was to the dems and independents and they were right, he bent over backwards to help elect BO as the president and only he knows why he did that, maybe in his memoirs?  or after he's gone we'll find out. 

Every time the dems run the table the republicans lose.  Boner doesn't get this, they really must stroke his ego to get him to leave his brain at the door.  They are brilliant.  You guys weren't willing to accept that and it has been your undoing.  Brilliant comes in many forms.  sometimes brilliant is parsing and manipulating the narrative just enough to make you think you won, when, in reality all they did was win and agree that you could have the bragging rights.

The American people listened to GWB, they are not blind, they see what is going on.  They realize that the budget is all prefunded and are asking if the credit card is on auto pay for most of this stuff then why are these idiots arguing about 12%.....instead of canceling the credit card and starting over.   It's a valid question and when the republicans start looking just like the dems then you begin to start believing in the "political elite class" and then, like me, you begin to see no differences between the two parties.  They are on the same page.

It really is time for the people to form a party that will compete with the entrenched interests of the republicans and the dems. 

228 I don't believe this, but if you want a conspiracy theory, he could be a sort of trial balloon to see if Obama is/can be damaged enough (while also painting conservatives as birthers) for a Hillary primary challenge.

229

Ross Perot minus the good intensions. It's the ego stupid.

With this idiotic statement, Trump has just shot his chances to hell. Trump certainly, as stated above, will open the door to another 4 years of Obama destruction if he follows thru. Maybe he's in the tank with the Chicago crowd? 

230 Patience, my Morons.

231 Looking at the field,  here is what I have seen.  Too many of these guys seem to be handled by campaign managers and focus groups:  Pawlenty and Romney especially.  And ALL of them have made snarky comments about Palin,  willing to let her draw all of the fire while they mutter about "reality shows not being a good thing for a credible candidate" and other such crap.

So,  along comes The Donald who hasn't said one bad thing about ANY of the GOP candidates;  he goes after OBAMA.  THIS is what our field should have been doing over the last 2 years.  Where was a rip-roaring,  attack Obama speech from Pawlenty?  He was the one who got right out there after Giffords was shot,  saying "I wouldn't have used a map like that" about Palin.

Where was Romney on health care?  Muttering about Masscare being great,  sort of while Palin changed the conversation talking about death panels.  

If they haven't shown spine in the last 2 years,  I am dubious of their capacity to do so during a campaign.

My opinion on Trump is the same as I had for Reagan,  whom I voted for when still a democrat,  back in 1980.  "He can't do any worse and at least I won't be embarrassed by the president."  

Bring me Allen West,  John Bolton,  and Paul Ryan as candidates along with Palin.  Then we will have some choices.  Right now we have zip,  so I am listening to Trump trash Obama with great pleasure.

232 "Romneycare" or not, it's "his turn".

We're BONED!

233 Ross Perot plus hair.

234 @ 20, 46: That "Byrd relatives" provision has been in the c.r. since it was passed last September. Looks like it was added by Sen. Inouye (S.AMDT.4674), which passed the Senate by "unanimous consent" (hey, have to take care of their own!). [THOMAS reference]

235 Oops, wrong thread...

236 Shouldn't Trump have to get off of his TV shows if he is really running? Does he have to formally announce his candidacy before the air time rules kick in? I wonder what his contract says....

237 Posted by: Museisluse at April 12, 2011 12:59 PM (xrmna)

He keeps repeating over and over that you'll know by June how serious he is.  I actually think he believes in the birther stuff and got in for that and then was surprised by how well accepted he was.  So now, he planned to have a little involvement in something he believed in, and instead he has to really think "does he want to run for President".

238 @ 201 or 203 or whatever Fine. You are an old, concerned, politically confused and unsatisfied fleshy flower with questions who has been here many, many years and who cannot be insulted. Which is not on topic. The topic is, "Trump is a moby". The reasoning is given above. That being covered sufficiently, the association with you of the same term in a strictly factual and non-hurtfully intended, platonic way was made to highlight the moby-like content of your earlier posts. Stop, sir, I beseech you! I apologize for you thinking that being a moby was an insult, and I bid you good day!

239 #243  Yes,  he will have to get off  "Celebrity Apprentice" if he runs,  or even if he forms an exploratory committee.

He will announce his decision in June,  for that reason.

As I said,  if Palin isn't running I will have no choice but to back Trump,  because I do not think any of the current field are able to get the attention of the electorate and attack Obama the way it should be done.

Also,  as far as I can tell,  Palin and Trump are the only two who seem capable of crafting a non-Beltway messagethat appeals to normal people.  The rest of them sound like nothing but politico-speak.

240 I'll tell you this, I'd vote for trump.  I'd stay home if it's mittens or the huck or any of the other old white guys whose turn it is.  Now, if it's sarah palin or michelle bachman or paul ryan or chris christie or thaddeus mccotter, I'm there.

241 205 Didn't The Donald(TM) used to be a lot more liberal? Pro-choice? So why aren't conservatives reviling him like Romney?
Posted by: JEA at April 12, 2011 12:38 PM (QGbEp)

He's always been well to the left of even a squishy RINO like Teh Mittens (who has actually been elected to office once in his lifetime), but it doesn't matter. The idiots supporting Trump for POTUS would vote for Michael Moore if he started banging the Birther drum.

242 Well being from jersey, I'm all trumped out. I have been hearing his fucking name as long as I can remember. My very first instinct was trump is doing this for trump, just another loudmouth rich dude with an overblown ego. On the other hand, I love how he's been kicking obama's dick in the dirt, so as long as he gets the narrative started thats cool, but at some point he will have to step back.

243 Posted by: ol_dirty_/b/tard at April 12, 2011 01:03 PM (IoUF1)

my dad calls him a "rockefeller republican"

244

Like I said, read his transcripts. I don't think it's a matter that he's just plain-spoken like Palin or Dubya. We can forgive with those two because we trusted their decision-making and core values regardless of whether they knew who the president of Burundi was. Trump on the other hand does not appear to be that bright or even well informed about events AND is not a conservative AND....

Right on.

Trump brings nothing but...Trump.

245 Also, I seem to remember that Trump has a phobia about germs and contact with people. Sort of non-starter for a politician.

246 I will not sit home, no matter who they run. Obama must go at all costs. I would vote for a pygmy with leprosy if thats what it took to get this marxist piece of dooky out of the white house.

247

Trojan horse.  I don't buy his last minute conversion to "conservative" for a NY minute. His birther schtick is just that, something he thinks give him cred as a Con.

He is a NY lib who's goal here is to deliver a second term to the incumbent who almost certainly is going to fail to win a majority of the popular vote.

odb above, has it exactly right. He's trolling for the idiot vote with the birther stuff, and the media is gladly playing along. Any Con on the Trump bandwagon is too dumb to qualify even for the 52%ers.

248 It doesn't matter what Trump is, or is not - here's the equation: When the GOP runs a real, honest to God, rock-ribbed, Small-government/Libertarian, principled conservative, they win. Trump won't jump in the race then, and even if he does, he siphons votes only from Obama. They run another weak sister RINO, they lose. Fuckabee and Romney are Right-Wing Liberal Rinos. Sorry, Paulbots, but Ron P is nuttier than a squirrel turd. Someone needs to draft somebody with the Gravitas of a Fred Thompson.

249 I'm wondering whether Paul Ryan will ultimately be dead-weight or called to be drafted. He can't fight for this budget by himself and the fact that the GOP is re-fighting 2011 repeatedly while Obama tacks right of the Dems in Congress is worrisome. At this rate, we're going to lose the 2012 budget fight before we even started due to the amount of cannibalism and cowardice in the GOP. They need to wake-up and get on this!

250 I told my husband that I would vote for my Wheaten terrier over Obama. He accused me of being a "yellow-dog Republican". I like that designation.

251 I think he is purposely running to help Obama, cause just a few months ago Trump was on tv commenting on how great Obama was doing with regards to the economy, and saying how it was "only taking so long because of the damage Bush had done".  I guarantee you that, just like they did when fucking Perot ran, some conservatives will shit away their votes for a retarded fringe candidate and guarantee reelection of a shitty sitting president.

252

When the GOP runs a real, honest to God, rock-ribbed, Small-government/Libertarian, principled conservative, they win.

Let's not get too carried away. W was not a small-government conservative, not conservative on immigration, or education, or entitlements, or nation-building...

I hate to thow out the old Reagan comparison, but we haven't nominated/elected a Republican like the one you mentioned since Reagan.

253 Oh, come on Rush! The freshmen and RSC have repeatedly pushed Boehner, so saying they're being muzzled is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. They're also proud of how far they've pushed the leadership, too.

254 In the cross-tabs of the CNN poll showing Trump tied with Huckabee, female voters really favor Trump.

I'm guessing these are viewers of his television programming who like his 'style'.

255

Trump brings nothing but...Trump.

Posted by: CJ at April 12, 2011 01:06 PM (9KqcB)

and since he scares the shit out of most of the world and most politicians and most lawyers and most business men, including CEO's, I'd say that's a great thing for America.

Providing he really has opted to embrace the conservative principles that the American people are turning to in droves.

256 261 Oh, come on Rush! The freshmen and RSC have repeatedly pushed Boehner, so saying they're being muzzled is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. They're also proud of how far they've pushed the leadership, too.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 12, 2011 01:12 PM (uVLrI)

yes, you know this but, to the world, it looks as though boner has neutered them, possibly castrated them.  And the dems love this cause that means that boner is controlling the tea party for them.

You know too much but the American Idol, apprentice watching American public is only hearing sound bites.

Plus I don't even believe they are fighting anymore.  If the freshman were fighting and not worrying about their seats, they wouldn't have let boner embarass himself and the republican party with a deal that was not as promised.

That OH guy Jordan I think his name is, is the only republican saying "nope not good enough for me"

257

Providing he really has opted to embrace the conservative principles that the American people are turning to in droves.

 

That is the million dollar question.  Consider me not convinced it's a "yes".

258

237--I'll grant you, I love it when Trump calls Barky a failure and says the Chinese are eating our lunch. He's right about that. I also enjoy the birther schtick to the extent that it humiliates Republicans and  GOP bloggers who are always shushing everyone else who has evere asked the same questions as Trump is now raising. Their silence when "the Donald" speaks discredits them, and should humiliate them. Like this NYC horse's ass suddenly gives credibility to questions that otherwise lacked legitimacy in public square.

But that's where it stops for me. Trump's entertaining me for now, but as a real candidate, I see him as a trojan horse, who intentionally or not delivers Barky a second term if he runs as an Indie.

I have no problem with Trump running for the GOP nomination. He's not my candidate, but if my candidate can't beat him, and if Cons can't tell the difference between a NY Lib and a real Con, then we don't deserve to win.

259 Sweet baby Jesus, who's keeping the birther issue alive? Not Trump. Obama is.

Obama has kept the birther issue alive since it started, by hiding the documents, not producing a clever forgery (which is as easy as pie), and spending a million dollars on a lawsuit.

You don't throw down that kind of cash on something that isn't *useful*.

The birther issue is not going to *win* anybody the election, but if it's used as a vote siphon it could sure as hell *lose* it for a few people.

Just a few minutes research finds *some* Trump/Soros business connections, though I'd have to do more to find out if it's anything other than casual run-ins expected among the very rich.

But seriously, a longtime liberal supporter is suddenly saying he's a conservative and then he's going to make a third-party run during a hotly-contested election.

Yeah, no reason to be suspicious, no reason at all.

260

Has anyone here actually looked over the 38.5 billion in cuts? At least one-third of the cuts are nonsense.

Even the party hacks at the National Review are getting feisty.

261 230 o/d/b Trump has never been a conservative in any way, shape, or form (supported gun control, single-payer health care, and amnesty, was pro-choice until last week, has been greasing Democrat palms his whole adult life, used eminent domain to seize private property for his own benefit, loves him some Nancy Pelosi, etc), has never been elected to anything, was completely absent during the health-care debate and 2010 midterm elections, didn't lift a finger to defend the right after the Tuscon massacre, has been divorced three times, filed for bankruptcy several times, and has more baggage than LAX, O'Hare, and LaGuardia combined.

And those are his good points! Fer instance, where was this phony during the Healthcare cram down? What's his position on it now?

262 264 261 yes, you know this but, to the world, it looks as though boner has neutered them, possibly castrated them.  And the dems love this cause that means that boner is controlling the tea party for them.

But it simply isn't true. The leadership wanted that original $32B and forced it on Budget. RSC (including Budget) and the freshmen shoved-back at Boehner. They've done it time-and-time again, even with this deal. Rep. Lankford said they tried their hardest to get a good, clean bill. But it's an uphill fight if individuals members of the leadership side with Appropriations, because Appropriations hates to cut spending.


...That OH guy Jordan I think his name is, is the only republican saying "nope not good enough for me"

Boehner was actually the only Republican praising the bill as "good enough". Conference Chair Hensarling said that Congress either deserved medals or to be tarred-and-feathered (he leaned towards the latter), Rep. Ryan called it a drop in the bucket, Rep. Pence said something similar, and so on and so forth. So Boehner was the only person on-record as being happy.

Rep. Jordan (RSC chairman) actually made a great mistake in pushing the conference to get a deal, IMO. Now the people who wanted a deal the most are the ones rejecting it, while they admit that Boehner likely did the best that he could. Last point-- Jordan wants Boehner out, he's been angling for it for some time now, and I think the timing is bad right now. He should have tried back when he had a chance.

263

http://tinyurl.com/3wpo2uu to a new article on BIG HOLLYWOOD

 Donald TrumpÂ’s Celebrity Innoculates Him Against ObamaÂ’s MSM Palace Guards

The first problem the Left faces with Trump is that heÂ’s a known commodity. All of America knows him and, like him or not, they know heÂ’s not a racist or a crazed member of the political fringe. He doesnÂ’t pretend to be what heÂ’s not, and heÂ’s very confident in what he is. In this latter area he is actually reminiscent of Rush Limbaugh: a man who drives the Left crazy by remaining true to himself and actually knowing what he claims to know. (The Left hates certitude.)

The next problem the Left faces with Trump is the fact he has been a success in the private sector. Thus, were he to officially declare his candidacy, one of the first things Obama’s team would have to do is figure out how they can survive presidential debates where Trump will have the opportunity to contrast his real-world, business knowledge with the failed socialism Obama has pawned off as “hope and change.”

 

The press is already preparing for war against us. Like I said: think Palin x 100. And that means right now they're already trying to strategize the Presidential debates.

264 268 People change...hmmm, I always learned from my dear old dad that leopards don't change their spots, so be very suspicious of people who "change".

265 Why would I be tempted to vote for a Rockefeller Republican over Trump?

Which Republican potential candidate has a better track record on economics than Trump does?

Which Republican contender has demonstrated more business savvy than Trump?

If it's a choice between the Republican same-old and a Trump, ------------------ I'll go with a Trump every single time.

266 Watching Trump on TV is like watching Coulter. They try to corner her, destroy her, but she's so much smarter than them, she always makes them look like fools. And always off the cuff.

267

186 IKtLDon't get mad at Trump, who is saying very good and important things, no matter what you think his ultimate motivations might be.  Place your ire where it belongs, with the pusses on the right who have been making a sport of calling conservatives racists and idiots and extremists (to get out in front of the left) for quite some time.

Yeah, I also agree with this. Like I said above, the trouser crease inspectors who have been shouting down everyday Cons who have been asking the birther Q's for two year, and who are silent now in the presence of "the Donald," are cowards and frauds.

268

They can treat Trump like a joke until he's on the air with them, because he's so much smarter than them.

Like Coulter.

269 GOP candidates can deflate Trump by taking up the Birther issue and fucking growing a pair and attacking Black Bastard like it's half past time they ought to. It's not the fault of Trump that the GOP is a bunch of pussy faggots terrified of their own shadow.

Hint to GOPussies: Soebarkah's not a good guy, he's not your friend, he's not merely misguided.

270 But I really don't understand the infighting over 2011 when the 2012 budget is imperative. Obama is about to seize the momentum because he smells blood in the water from the internecine warfare and so do the Dems in Congress. If they can kill all the momentum for the Republican Budget, they will do it and this is their best chance right now. So the Rs will sink themselves and leave all the people who wanted to fight out in the cold while they keep fighting about rounding errors.

271

Damn, this man is such a idiot.  Well, I'm sure that well before it comes to a third party run some business partner he screwed (and there are lots) will come forward to sue him and that will end his run.

By the by, I agree that the birth certificate kerfuffle is being kept alive by Obama.  If it ever became really serious I'll bet he could just take his wallet out and show it off thus shutting up any critic that ever used that as a talking point.  What I'd much rather see are the courses he took, the marks he achieved and any other work from his prep school and both universities.  The biggest part of this guys myth is the perception that he is a brilliant, analytical mind who can bring his huge intellect to bear on any problem and solve it.  If that can be shown to be false, he's finished.

272

It's nice to see that the vitriol is still alive and well for anyone who wants to see the Constitution's eligibility prescriptions satisfied and verified.

Posted by: iknowtheleft at April 12, 2011 01:06 PM (G/MYk)

The vitriol isn't because they believe Obozo is not a natural born citizen, want to see his long-form birth certificate, or believe he is ineligible. It's because they're willing to throw away every real policy issue so they can have their emotions validated by a johnny-come-lately huckster who most of them know nothing about, over an issue that will be completely irrelevant in less than two years (whether he wins or loses, it will become a moot point).

Even if Obozo was born in Moscow and his parents were Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale, there is no mechanism to remove him from office. The Supreme Court isn't going to do anything about it. The only states that will get eligibility laws passed are states he will lose anyway. So what the fuck is the endgame? Regarding the polls that show 50% of the public doubts his eligibility, I can guarantee you that for significant numbers of them it's either a) a feature not a bug, or b) will not be a deciding factor in who they vote for (because shit like this never is and economic issues are usually the deciding factor). The other scenario is that Obozo produces his BC after the GOP nominates somebody who has no other issue to run on (like Trump), and then we're up shit creek without a paddle in a canoe full of holes.

273 But I really don't understand the infighting over 2011 when the 2012 budget is imperative. Obama is about to seize the momentum because he smells blood in the water from the internecine warfare and so do the Dems in Congress. If they can kill all the momentum for the Republican Budget, they will do it and this is their best chance right now. So the Rs will sink themselves and leave all the people who wanted to fight out in the cold while they keep fighting about rounding errors-- and all on the same day as work begins on the 2012 budget. Unless the RSC hierarchy thinks they can get a better deal here, I don't understand it.

The GOP is the most tactically inept party I've ever seen, and that goes for almost every member out there.

274 clearly you are all looking at this the wrong way... Obama and the milquetoast GOP nominee, will be splitting the anti-Trump vote, letting him sail to victory!

275

OK. How does this work mathematically, Trumpy....??

If you can not win the nomination, how the heck can you win the general especially with a split vote.

Just saying that he could win as an indy makes him a moron!

276 bolton/trump would be awesome, you'd have to hand out the depends, the world would shit it's pants.

277 So the Rs will sink themselves and leave all the people who wanted to fight out in the cold while they keep fighting about rounding errors.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 12, 2011 01:31 PM (uVLrI)

Because we're the stupid party.

278

I bet Trump's hair could survive a cobra strike ... hmmmmm ... next gen body armor !?!?!?!

279 Trump is beating the shit out of Obama on a daily basis.  This is bad how?

280 280 You're the AoSHQ's resident budget policy wonk.  I really appreciate your work detailing the nitty gritty of the GOP caucus goings-on.  Thanks, Miss80s.

Thank you. It's hard to always know what's happening but the best thing to do is compare spin to primary sources. As for caucus fights, they really show the disgusting side of politics, though that's hardly surprising. I'm also left scratching my head by the tactics throughout the party. 

281 262 In the cross-tabs of the CNN poll showing Trump tied with Huckabee, female voters really favor Trump.

I'm guessing these are viewers of his television programming who like his 'style'.

Posted by: Paper at April 12, 2011 01:12 PM (VoSja)

They like trump because no matter how awful of a bad hair day a woman has, Trump makes her look good.

282 Posted by: Dan at April 12, 2011 01:29 PM (jD6eh)

Which Republican potential candidate has a better track record on economics than Trump does?

Cain, Palin, Pawlenty, Gingrich, pretty much all of them except Huckabee. Trump has no track record on economic policy because HE'S NEVER BEEN ELECTED TO ANYTHING. Being a commercial real-estate developer (who has declared bankruptcy more than once) does not make one an economic policy genius any more than being a top-40 singer does. If he knew jack shit about economics he wouldn't have endorsed single-payer health care in his book.

Which Republican contender has demonstrated more business savvy than Trump?

Who cares? Government is not a business, and using his inherited millions to grease palms of officials to get his way and steal property from others through eminent domain abuse isn't "savvy", it's thuggish cronyism.

283 I just want to know if the Honey Badger amusement park was left in the budget ...?

284 The real question is not to ask if the Tea Party or Trump are going to split the Republican vote; better to ask if the Republicans are going to split the Conservative vote.

If Trump can barter for the U.S. Presidency with the very life blood of the vote, then I'd like to see Congress try to b.s. a budget deal past him, or blackmail him into some stupid compromise. Ha! The man is fearless.

Game changer, if nothing else. Go, Trump, Go!

285 287 Because we're the stupid party.

Indeed. I'm not 100% happy about the 'deal' either, but I really hope they have a contingency plan in the event that Hoyer decides to sink this. As of now, he seems noncommittal and I think it's because he sees this as an opportunity to strike. The GOP needs to decide whether to allow the bill to be killed and fight for the 2012 budget that way OR let it go through and move-forward by hitting-back at the Dems on taxes and privatization.

286 289 Trump is beating the shit out of Obama on a daily basis.  This is bad how?
Posted by: Lead Vocals at April 12, 2011 01:43 PM (amSe4)

I have no problem with him doing so. I have a problem with idiots who would support him for POTUS based on that alone.

287 I've been assuming this is all a PR stunt. And I didn't mind since he bashed Obama.

But this 3rd party threat means war, so fuck Trump up his comb-over fucktard ass.

288 ol_dirty_/b/tard@292: At the moment, bankruptcy experience looks relevant.

289 The GOP is the most tactically inept party I've ever seen, and that goes for almost every member out there.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 12, 2011 01:37 PM (uVLrI)

Yeah I agree with this 100%; it's what happens when you have people admiring turds like Karl Rove who is what you get when you take Lee Atwater and remove his brains and nads and then add 100 pounds of marshmallow goo and shit, but mostly shit.  Fuck him and every other goddamn RINO like Neut and Mittens.

290

You're right, Trump's statement is very revealing. Sounds like what my husband has said all along about Obama and his "change":  the only change he cared about was the change that got him into the White House. And BTW, I don't think for a second that Trump is anything even remotely resembling conservative. 

291

I appreciate your analysis as well Miss80's, but I'm starting to disagree with it.

No reasonable person can say that there were $38.5 billion in cuts due to the negotiations. About $10 billion was due to rejecting earmarks that they already banned earlier in the session. $5 billion in 'cuts' come from not spending money in a fund meant to compensate crime victims. They could 'not spend' this money every year and each year claim $5 billion in savings.

I don't see how an party that accepts this as a budget solution is going to rally behind trillions of dollars in cuts to entitlement programs. If Boehner and others backed down here, why would they fight when things get difficult with programs that are extremely popular like Medicare?

292 One:  This is awesome.  He's the perfect guy to be in charge, a complete and fully functional horse's ass. Example... Putin.  No one dicks with the Russkies.

Two:  You act like your FN votes matter.  The game is rigged.

293 It's all for show.  He doesn't have the cash to run without taking fed funds and he'll have to disclose that financially he isn't as successful as he'd like us to think.

This is publicity and smoke and mirrors.  He'll bail out in a few months.

294

If Obama can get elected president, ANYONE can be elected president, and that includes Trump.

Sorry, but I will take a guy who is not afraid of  the media or the Democrats any day over some warmed over GOP lifer who is scared of his own shadow.  I'm surprised more of you are not enjoying the hell out of Trump mocking Obama and his media every day. 

At this point, we need someone with a huge name to take Obama apart piece by piece..Trump IS that guy.  The GOP never gets huge names to fight for us..never.  Can you think of anyone else that can do what Trump is doing?  Hell.....Beck, Hannity and Rush all combined are not as dangerous to Obama as Trump is now.

I suggest we support him at this point because when Trump is done, Obama will be polling in the 30's and people will think he was born in a hut over in Kenya. You people who are talking about his hair and past business ventures need to pull your head out of your ass...we are still a LONG way from the election and we have a huge weapon that has fallen into our laps.

295 300 Yeah I agree with this 100%; it's what happens when you have people admiring turds like Karl Rove who is what you get when you take Lee Atwater and remove his brains and nads and then add 100 pounds of marshmallow goo and shit, but mostly shit.  Fuck him and every other goddamn RINO like Neut and Mittens.

But sometimes conservatives are just as dumb as RINOs and reinforce them by accident. So I'm looking at the GOP and most of the people who understand politics are the appropriators, who are the most disgusting people in Congress. So between all these factions, we're absolutely screwed unless the Rs see Obama's move tomorrow for what it is-- triangulation to win an election.

296

I predicted this several months ago when I heard Trump talking on the radio. He was saying the same things he's saying now (minus anything about the BC): America is a laughingstock, fuck China, jobs, etc. I knew if he reached a larger audience his numbers would soar. People in this country are sick and tired of the bowing and scraping knuckledraggers in Washington, D.C. They're also sick of outsourcing and all the other anti-American garbage passed off as economic policy.

The BC thing came along later. I guess it's like Trump himself said, that he'd been reading about it and came to a conclusion because he wasn't talking about it the two or three times I heard him speaking several months ago.

297

If you were solely concerned about winning the 2012 elections, the best 'tactical' move for Republicans would be to say that ObamaCare hurt entitlements like Medicare. You could run on improving the economy and jobs while saying that allowing Obama to tinker with health care hurts seniors.

But we want real change not a victory in 2012, right? The best tactics and fiscal outcomes are not going to be the same thing.

298 Obama is not smart enough to triangulate.  America knows that Obama is a far left socialist who is so far over his head, they can't wait to get rid of him next year.  The GOP has so many things to hit Obama and the Dems with at this point, that all we need are the flame throwers who have the balls to crush Obama with his own record or failure and lies.

The first guy / gal that shows they are willing to call Obama what he is...a failed, American hating socialist who wants $8 gas.. gets my vote.  So far, Trump and Palin are the only ones that come close. 

Herman Cain needs to get more exposure...I love that guy also.

299 What we need to do is get to work on finding the republican candidate the media won't saveage, right?

300 302 ...I don't see how an party that accepts this as a budget solution is going to rally behind trillions of dollars in cuts to entitlement programs. If Boehner and others backed down here, why would they fight when things get difficult with programs that are extremely popular like Medicare?

I don't 100% trust Boehner either, especially with the way he and others treated Ryan after he released his Roadmap. He has also not used all his best resources to start fighting for this budget and that worries me. On the other hand, if he's finally willing to let Ryan and other conservatives talk, it kills momentum to revisit an old issue, especially when Obama has responded to Budget's bait.

This is how I see it-- there are no do-overs in politics. Obama is attempting his do-over tomorrow but he needs to be pinned to the wall on this. Meanwhile, I'm asking myself why these lawmakers wanted a deal and some even supported it in the conference meeting before they turned against it. Are we actually going to gain anything by letting the deal die? I don't want to go back to the table if Boehner is only going to get less and let Obama completely outsmart him. So making something imperfect worse is not what I want. JMO.

301 we're absolutely screwed unless the Rs see Obama's move tomorrow for what it is-- triangulation to win an election.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 12, 2011 01:56 PM (uVLrI)

Do you think it will be real triangulation or something different that the MFM ends up working their useless asses off trying to gull people into thinking is triangulation?  Because I don't think B+ Hussein is very smart.  At all.  And what the Repukes keep fucking up is they don't call him on his bullshit.  Which is why I like what Trump's doing; he doesn't give a flying fuck about keeping his toga clean or picking the sand out of his vag like a worthless twat like Cornyn would do.  He says "Fuck that shit" and just starts blasting away.

If the Indonesian Imbecile comes up with namby-pamby shit tomorrow, the Repubs have to call him out immediately and let the glass-jawed twat start melting down.  Or if he comes up with something substantial (for arguments sake because I don't see that happening) they have to up the fucking ante and see how far he's willing to go.  I think, despite their fuckups and the MFM's shilling, they have momentum on their side (thanks in part to Trump) and the damn sight better not screw it up.

302 I will be interested to see how Ryan responds to the charges of "tax cuts for the rich", "extremism", and "privatization is dangerous". Since the president always has the bully pulpit, he's going to need to get out there and do it fast. So I think Ryan is capable of push-back, but he's going to have to fight hard and Boehner will have to be willing to let him, Rep. Camp, and others go.

303 The only "triangulating" Obama has done is BS rhetoric.

304 “The concern is if I don’t win [the GOP primary] will I run as an independent, and I think the answer is probably yes.” - Donald Trump

...Does anybody have a dead hooker I can borrow?

305 312 Do you think it will be real triangulation or something different that the MFM ends up working their useless asses off trying to gull people into thinking is triangulation?  [...]

From what I've read, the strategy is partial triangulation mixed with false populism and class warfare. Considering enough Americans are indeed worried about entitlement reform and have mixed feelings about the rich, it might indeed work if the Clintonistas in the Admin. play their cards right. But part of that involves a poor Republican response, which Budget has been doing a great job but I'm not seeing overwhelming support in other areas. They need an even greater PR blitz and fast.

306

I agree that the Republicans can't back out of the budget deal now. That would be awful. I also think that many Republicans were afraid of a government shutdown, and this may be why the judgement seems a bit off.

Obama doesn't really need a 'do-over' on his entitlement position because he never really had one. He is able to triangulate now because of Ryan's plan. Because the Republicans have a plan for dealing with Medicare and Medicaid (and eventually SS), he can now put a plan on the table. Both Republican and Democratic senators are helping him out with this by putting together a plan in the Senate as we speak. He gets to (again) position himself as somewhere in the middle.

307 Yeah I have to admit Ryan's pretty good at drawing attention to Toonce's garbage; unfortunately he appears a bit too meek in how he does things.  That's not his fault because it's just the cards he was dealt at birth.  Trump is effective at doing that because he's such a natural blowhard.

308

When Trump had his first physical, doctors were astonished to discover his body consists of 2% water and 98% testicle.

309 314 The only "triangulating" Obama has done is BS rhetoric.

Yes, and the American people might buy it. Obama will want them to forget that he rejected the findings of his commission and that his budget was so awful.

310

Another note on tactics, I think that Ryan and the Republicans should have kept entitlement reform separate from the budget and taxes at large.

It is hard enough to convince the public to accept cuts in popular programs. Lowering taxes on the top marginal bracket (espcially as done in the Ryan bill) opens up Republicans to many attacks that wouldn't be possible if they were done separately. I support tax reductions but tactically, this was not a good move, IMO.

311 Obama will want them to forget that he rejected the findings of his commission and that his budget was so awful.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 12, 2011 02:14 PM (uVLrI)

Which is why Ryan or whoever has to pound him on exactly that.  You can't depend on the muddle to connect two dots even when they're adjoining each other; public schools have pretty well removed that possibility.  That budget was such a fucking joke that he should have to own it; in fact whatever garbage he comes up with tomorrow should be contrasted to what he originally proposed.  I guarantee you Toonces won't know how to deal with that because he's never had to do it before; thanks in part to Repuke geldings.

312

But everyone is getting a do-over. Right now Chambliss (R) is saying that the Ryan plan is a non-starter because it doesn't recognize that revenues need to be increased. Tom Coburn (R) is saying that same thing. The Republicans in the Senate are not as conservative as many in the House, and they are determined to supply Obama with a plan that will allow him to triangulate and provide a foil to Ryan.

313 The funny thing is that Obama had shown interest in corporate tax reform.* One good thing is that he does not yet have a plan to attack because Ryan's budget only gives an outline about where Rep. Camp is going with individual & corporate tax policies in Ways & Means**. So Obama can try to attack making the Bush tax cuts permanent (despite his tax deal), but he has no specific he can criticize-- at least not yet.

_{*Of course, all promises come w/ an expiration date.
** Ways & Means handles taxes, among other things}

314

I like political theater as much as the next guy, probably more. But trump, your vanity run needs to end when you lose the nomination because after that, you're a toxic candidate.

Don't be Perot.

315

Providing he really has opted to embrace the conservative principles that the American people are turning to in droves.

Posted by: curious at April 12, 2011 01:14 PM (k1rwm)

He's not credible. Period. If we entertain the thought of nominating him, we just telegraph how bereft we are of qualified candidates and ideas.

316 I largely dislike senators; they love stabbing their House colleagues in the back because reps are just "little people". This is just so sickening.

317 I'm also looking at some of the details of the budget 'deal' and I'd like to reiterate that I despise appropriators. Still think they should get it over with, though, unless they have a better plan if they let the CR expire Thurs.

318

Trump can suck it!  He is a false flag, that is why he is thumping the birth certificate issue.  The right needs to disown this jackass quickly.

 

 

319 "He's not credible. Period. If we entertain the thought of nominating him, we just telegraph how bereft we are of qualified candidates and ideas."

I think we are not bereft of ideas, but I think there is a serious problem with credible candidates right now... there is a glut of flawed first time candidates and retreads from 2008 waiting to get their rightfully earned chance....

It's like a replay of '96 mashed together with '64, all the candidates will beat the ever loving shit out of each other in the primaries to the point that Obama will not have to lift a finger since they are so badly damaged, and we'll end up choosing some sacrificial lamb, so we can regroup in 2016 against what will likely be an open Dem primary...

Seriously, look at this potential group of candidates...

Bachman, Rick  Santorum, Cain, Romney, Gingrich, Huckabee, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Barbour, Bolton, Daniels, Pawlenty... who am I leaving out...

It's depressing...

320 Seriously, look at this potential group of candidates...

Bachman, Rick  Santorum, Cain, Romney, Gingrich, Huckabee, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Barbour, Bolton, Daniels, Pawlenty... who am I leaving out...
It's depressing...

Posted by: Jim T at April 12, 2011 02:35 PM (l+flC)

Agree, pretty much. But how many times are we going to fall for an opportunistic candidate who suddenly finds conservatism when it suits him?

My gut tells me we'd do better as a party and a country to fight Obama (and, more importantly, his ideas) with the best we have. If we don't win in '12, we'll be ready by '16. And the time spent battling him will have fundamentally reframed the debate over the role of government.

321 CJ,  we cannot afford 4 more years of Obama.  He is wrecking the country financially,  and he is undermining any sort of credibility the US had with allies and adversaries.  On this Trump is right:  we are a laughingstock.

I am not wanting a strategic loss,  so that I have 4 more years of that creep lecturing me with his nose up in the air.  I cannot stand 4 more years of disrespect to our allies.  Israel will be attacked by the Arabs if we show that Obama meets with national approval.

He is dangerous to this country.  My hope is that one of the candidates demonstrates a voice similar to Trump.  Pound the crap out of Obama,  man up and fight the press,  and for God's sake STAND for something.

I have seen no evidence this is going to happen,  so Trump is a viable choice to me right now.  Maybe someone will step up to the plate and surprise me,  but so far it hasn't happened.

Trump may be a stalking horse for Hillary,  as well. Good.  I would rather have Cankles running things than Obama.  At least Bill would provide some much-needed humor.  (That is if Hillary wins, and I am not sure could do it if the blacks sat out and didn't vote.)  I can't take mush more of these dour Marxists.

322 I'm not necessarily advocated for a Trump nomination, but I agree with Miss Marple that we need someone pound the crap out of the President, we've all seen what happens when we are passive in this regard, McCain campaign should be the textbook on how not to run against Obama.

One thing I must note, the birtherism thing.... I do not believe that it will be as toxic an issue to republicans as we are being lead to believe. I believe the guy was born here, but I fall into the category of skeptics that think there is something embarrassing on there, that might cause eligibility issues, or just some personal embarrassment (my guess is duel citizenship). I can't even begin to tell how how amazed I am to see people I know, friends and relatives, share the same thoughts and actually support Trumps efforts on this issue... these were people that went all in for Obama in '08, they are so pissed at him, the lack of transparency, and the amount of resources spent on hiding his past, that they are starting to seriously question.

It's very very interesting to me... I just have this feeling, that this thing is going to go mainstream at some point. There are too many weird things out there that have not been adequately explained... something is not right

323

CJ,  we cannot afford 4 more years of Obama.

Miss Marple, Every out-of-power party says that about every president. I know we are in more serious trouble than before, but I look at it this way: If we can convince American voters that Obama's ideas are dangerous and must be stopped, we can win with any reasonable GOP candidate and we don't need Trump.

If we can't convince them, we don't deserve to win, and the party hasn't changed enough to govern like conservatives anyway.

This is greatest Left-Right showdown in decades. If we can't compete without a gimmick candidate, nothing else matters. Game over.

324 Trump is a prick. 

325

Given the lackluster proposed candidates and the potential of any number of third party presidential candidates, any of which may give Obama a win by plurality, it might be a good countermove to begin emphasizing keeping the House and winning the Senate. [Paul Linde for the Block!] But we saw how that worked out in Nev and Del. last time. Cal, too. Hopefully, something was learned because a Senator is a 6 year mistake, eg. L. Graham.

What's interesting to me is not so much Trump's schtick, although amusing, it is seeing whether any Pub assesses the changes in the battlefield and takes advantage to damage Obama's brand.  Not holding my breath that we will hear anything like this."Mr. Trump can speculate about the birth certificate all he wants, but no matter what it says, Obama's policies are leading America off a financial cliff." [Much like LBJ. When trying to win a Texas seat, he wanted to run with a story that his opponent was some sort of sex pervert. When someone with a conscience said it wasn't true, LBJ said " Just make him deny it."].

"What's troubling is that the Obama plan for America, his czars, his executive orders are even less transparent than his biography. Obama needs to act like an adult and come clean to the American people. He took the job, so he needs to do something more than just fill the office and fly around and tell us to sacrifice."

The more I think about it, I'm not sure that sitting around and waiting for the GOP to do something is going to work. We may have to carry their sorry asses across the finish line. And I'm not sure what the best way to do this is. But our side would be well-served to start working on Senate candidates now, even in blue states. We just gotta win.

BTW, I am thinking of moving to New Hampshire to see if I like it. If I don't I might move to South Carolina or Iowa.

 

 

 

326 got any better ideas? this "i love freedom for everyone except for gays and women that hate kids enough to kill their own so they'd be horrible mothers anyfuckingway" shit from the far right is getting old, and it doesn't win elections either.

327 The best qualificaation these days to lead a country is wanting to win, he is the one!

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