If the republican primary were today, who would you vote for?

[IndyDave1776]

Im guessing you've never met a conservative Nickelback fan

You're reading that backwards. On this Venn diagram, the Nickelback fans and Democrats are shown to be mutually exclusive.

 

[BugI02]

Still be better than hillary.

Word!

 

[24Carat]

Trump's liberal proclivities have been a matter of convenience from a businessman's standpoint. It is brilliantly and tactically maniacal if he has in fact returned to his roots now! I like him, find him expressing general concern for the country, with the built in caveat of being financially insulated from being owned and influenced. At least to a much greater degree than any of the others. That is the singular reason he is such a threat to the establishment. This is a good thing.

 

[IndyDave1776]

Trump's liberal proclivities have been a matter of convenience from a businessman's standpoint. It is brilliantly and tactically maniacal if he has in fact returned to his roots now! I like him, find him expressing general concern for the country, with the built in caveat of being financially insulated from being owned and influenced. At least to a much greater degree than any of the others. That is the singular reason he is such a threat to the establishment. This is a good thing.

 

[BugI02]

His general concern for the country, like his conservatism, seems to be a recent development. I will reserve judgement on his veracity.

 

[churchmouse]

Trump's liberal proclivities have been a matter of convenience from a businessman's standpoint. It is brilliantly and tactically maniacal if he has in fact returned to his roots now! I like him, find him expressing general concern for the country, with the built in caveat of being financially insulated from being owned and influenced. At least to a much greater degree than any of the others. That is the singular reason he is such a threat to the establishment. This is a good thing.

Yes it is if he uses it properly.

 

[jamil]

Trump's liberal proclivities have been a matter of convenience from a businessman's standpoint. It is brilliantly and tactically maniacal if he has in fact returned to his roots now! I like him, find him expressing general concern for the country, with the built in caveat of being financially insulated from being owned and influenced. At least to a much greater degree than any of the others. That is the singular reason he is such a threat to the establishment. This is a good thing.

Yep. Good thing he doesn't accept donations.

 

[24Carat]

Yep. Good thing he doesn't accept donations.

Accepting donations has a profound effect in establishing and fostering a following. When people have skin in the game it gives them a "warm and fuzzy". Their propensity to pull others into the fold is then exponential to a 10X, 100X, 1000X? With social media it is incalculable actually. The psychological impact on the other camps and ultimately on the left is undeniable.

 

[24Carat]

Yes it is if he uses it properly.

^^^^^THIS^^^^^

He has at his disposal some of the most talented and experienced minds out there. He is toast if he doesn't accept counsel.

 

[jamil]

Accepting donations has a profound effect in establishing and fostering a following. When people have skin in the game it gives them a "warm and fuzzy". Their propensity to pull others into the fold is then exponential to a 10X, 100X, 1000X? With social media it is incalculable actually. The psychological impact on the other camps and ultimately on the left is undeniable.

So not accepting donations is good--it "insulates". And accepting donations is good--it draws people into the fold.

Gotcha.

Only in a tabloid society could a clown like Trump gain enough political support to drown out all the other candidates. The only reason Trump is on top is because the 75% of Republican voters who DON'T WANT TRUMP are split between 15 other candidates.

You "Trump" people and your psychological need to hear tough language, even when it comes from a seasoned pitch man, are going to stick me with the horrible choice between Bush and Trump, and whatever socialist the progressives choose. Sure. I'll be pissed. But I'll try not to blame you. Instead I'll try to focus the blame on the horribly sucky two-party system that guarantees a vote between least evils on election day.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

CNN making sure Fiorina doesn't have a chance.

What CNN is Doing Could ELIMINATE Carly Fiorina From Primetime Debate

 

[24Carat]

So not accepting donations is good--it "insulates". And accepting donations is good--it draws people into the fold.

Gotcha.

Only in a tabloid society could a clown like Trump gain enough political support to drown out all the other candidates. The only reason Trump is on top is because the 75% of Republican voters who DON'T WANT TRUMP are split between 15 other candidates.

You "Trump" people and your psychological need to hear tough language, even when it comes from a seasoned pitch man, are going to stick me with the horrible choice between Bush and Trump, and whatever socialist the progressives choose. Sure. I'll be pissed. But I'll try not to blame you. Instead I'll try to focus the blame on the horribly sucky two-party system that guarantees a vote between least evils on election day.

You apparently assume that my statement of Trump :

"being financially insulated from being owned and influenced"

as applying to campaign donations???
I was speaking to the public's adversity to business as usual gamesmanship after one is elected to their respective offices.

I still contend that Trump's political machine is enhanced by accepting donations for vastly more important reasons than financial benefit. Do you think spurning those donations (for some ethereal positive with his detractors and the MSM) would be of a benefit???

BTW, I am not a "Trump person". Just a mildly entertained rube that absolutely loves seeing establishment Washington DC shook to their respective cores. Left and Right.

 

[jamil]

CNN making sure Fiorina doesn't have a chance.

What CNN is Doing Could ELIMINATE Carly Fiorina From Primetime Debate

Yeah I saw that. I think polls taken prior to the first debate are now irrelevant. I can't say it's intentional, but it certainly does hurt any previously lower tiered candidates whose debate performance has propelled them into the upper tiers. Fiorina seems to be the only candidate who did that.

 

[jmpupillo]

So not accepting donations is good--it "insulates". And accepting donations is good--it draws people into the fold.

Gotcha.

Only in a tabloid society could a clown like Trump gain enough political support to drown out all the other candidates. The only reason Trump is on top is because the 75% of Republican voters who DON'T WANT TRUMP are split between 15 other candidates.

You "Trump" people and your psychological need to hear tough language, even when it comes from a seasoned pitch man, are going to stick me with the horrible choice between Bush and Trump, and whatever socialist the progressives choose. Sure. I'll be pissed. But I'll try not to blame you. Instead I'll try to focus the blame on the horribly sucky two-party system that guarantees a vote between least evils on election day.

THIS

We hardly seem to have a real choice anymore. Trump is a clown. He barks loud, but I seriously doubt his ability to responsibly lead this country into the future. Not only that, but I also doubt his political substance and motives. This is not an Oligarchy, so I certainly do not want to see another Bush in office. Likewise, I REALLY wouldn't want another Clinton.

I like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul because they want to reign in government, and bring us back to the principles that founded this nation - as a Republic. If this does not happen, we are bound to repeat history and join the rest of the "advanced" world. We WILL inevitably devolve into a Socialist state like the rest of the "free" world.

A smart guy named Aristotle knew this to be true thousands of years ago when he said: "Republics decline into Democracies, and Democracies degenerate into Despotisms."

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Trump: Not a Conservative On Taxes | Power Line

 

[IndyDave1776]

So not accepting donations is good--it "insulates". And accepting donations is good--it draws people into the fold.

Gotcha.

Taken in context, I believe that the point is that when someone sends sums of money large enough to influence your ability to stage a viable campaign, or not be able to do so if the money is withheld, like a grand total of 3 donors providing the $750K that Eric Bassler used to steamroll John Waterman in the last state senate primary, can be said to own the candidate they bought. This is an entirely different phenomenon than people chipping in $5 and feeling like they are part of the team.

 

[jamil]

Taken in context, I believe that the point is that when someone sends sums of money large enough to influence your ability to stage a viable campaign, or not be able to do so if the money is withheld, like a grand total of 3 donors providing the $750K that Eric Bassler used to steamroll John Waterman in the last state senate primary, can be said to own the candidate they bought. This is an entirely different phenomenon than people chipping in $5 and feeling like they are part of the team.

The context I intended was that what made Trump's candidacy masterfully perfect was the part about him being self-made, financing his own campaign, too rich to be influenced by big money. Then he says, we'll, okay, ya, I'm rich, but I'll start taking donations--but only from poor people. If the consequences weren't so serious, I'd be laughing my ass off. And the Trumpites just excuse it away, "well, at least he's not taking big money." WTF?

As much as I want to laugh, I just hate seeing poor people bilked out of their hard earned dollars by a rich phony. Not that he's as rich as he claims. He's worth only ~1/10 of that. Which is still a lot by most people's standards. But he needs the illusion of that kind of wealth to pull off the con.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

State GOP leaders plot to tie Donald Trump?s hands - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO

VA, NC state GOPs seek new requirement to qualify for primary ballot: that candidates pledge to support GOP nominee.

 

[Hop]

State GOP leaders plot to tie Donald Trump?s hands - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO

VA, NC state GOPs seek new requirement to qualify for primary ballot: that candidates pledge to support GOP nominee.

At first, I raised an eyebrow at what he said. Then I heard Trump say why he wouldn't commit to supporting a nominee. He would use it as leverage. It's the same as me saying if Jeb Bush gets the nomination I wouldn't vote for him. One of these days the (R) party will get the message & stop with the shenanigans.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

State GOP leaders plot to tie Donald Trump?s hands - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO

VA, NC state GOPs seek new requirement to qualify for primary ballot: that candidates pledge to support GOP nominee.

Good thing they don't demand that of voters that might vote in their primaries.