News Donald Trump Running for President

[Finny]

Jim Hardy:
I think you mentioned being a former Miami resident...and the Mariel boat lift...See the 2015 'boat lift' "migrants' come ashore in this video from a Miami area newspaper.

Maybe Trump has a point about stopping criminals?? That looks like a $150,000 boat they left bobbing on the shoreline!

The "Broward/Palm Beach New Times" newspaper apparently missed the irony of their "New Times" name and their politically correct need to call the illegals "migrants" in their headline.

http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/new...uring-miami-beach-fashion-shoot-video-7133271

"...U.S. Border Patrol spokesperson Frank Miller said, "That's a testament to how confident these organizations are — what we call transnational criminal organizations — who smuggle criminals and narcotics right onto the beach." He said the incident was under investigation and noted, “There has been an increase in known maritime smuggling in Florida — from Key West all along the Florida coast — from fiscal year 2014 to now."

Makes one wonder what is 'unknown'.

I happened to talk with USCG patrol boat personnel in Maine, Station Jonesport and Mass, Station Gloucester several years ago. I learned new USCG recruits are often trained in small boat handling in relatively drug free northern waters [read that as 'safe'] and are then transferred south to Florida where they are normally armed with automatic weapons for drug interdictions. The Bosuns in charge knew what they were doing but the newly recruited youngsters were not so steady.

They need boat handling experience first, then get to add weapons handling. Don't want our guys accidentally shooting holes in inflatables! [Actually the newest boat tubes are closed cell foam which don't sink when bad guys shoot back.]

 

[Finny]

Some tentative 'evidence':

First Ted Cruz calls Mitch McConnell a liar regarding some legislation. [I think 'ol Mitch likely was lying]. Too boring a story to describe.
edit: For anyone interested, just stumbled across a brief description in the early paragraphs here:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/m...ashington Secrets - 07/29/15&utm_medium=emailThen House Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina filed a resolution in the House of Representatives to declare the Office of the Speaker of the House is vacant. In his resolution, Rep. Meadows lays out the case for why the Speaker's chair is effectively vacant. Meadows is surely going to start taking arrows from the establishment for this one.

Could it be conservative Republicans are getting, at long, long last, some backbone from Trump's firm stand on issues? I doubt it: too much money for the taking and power to be secured for most mortals to resist. But one can hope. If Trump continues to poll well and the sissy Republicans don't, maybe they'll wake up.

 

[lisab]

Some tentative 'evidence':

First Ted Cruz calls Mitch McConnell a liar regarding some legislation. [I think 'ol Mitch likely was lying]. Too boring a story to describe.
edit: For anyone interested, just stumbled across a brief description in the early paragraphs here:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mcconnells-vision-of-governing-drags-gop-astray/article/2569141?utm_campaign=Washington Examiner: Washington Secrets&utm_source=Washington Examiner: Washington Secrets - 07/29/15&utm_medium=emailThen House Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina filed a resolution in the House of Representatives to declare the Office of the Speaker of the House is vacant. In his resolution, Rep. Meadows lays out the case for why the Speaker's chair is effectively vacant. Meadows is surely going to start taking arrows from the establishment for this one.

Could it be conservative Republicans are getting, at long, long last, some backbone from Trump's firm stand on issues? I doubt it: too much money for the taking and power to be secured for most mortals to resist. But one can hope. If Trump continues to poll well and the sissy Republicans don't, maybe they'll wake up.

I agree with parts of your post, but I would disagree of your characterization of well-behaved Republicans as "sissies". I expect politicians of either party to be reasoned, measured, and civilized - people who behave this way are not being sissies, IMO.

Maybe that's the problem with the electorate - they see boorish, loud, obnoxious behavior as "having backbone". Sad.

 

[Finny]

I expect politicians of either party to be reasoned, measured, and civilized

Ah, if only...sigh...

I happened to read some early American newspaper articles about politicians a few months ago...I couldn't believe the acrimony, exaggerations, accusations and foul language that went flying about hundreds of years ago. Lincoln, I recall, was especially hated,ridiculed and criticized, especially about his height and appearance. It has gotten better, believe it or not.

...people who behave this way are not being sissies, IMO.

Good point to explore. Too many "go along to get along". I could be convinced they are either 'greedy' or 'self absorbed' or 'power hungry'...'acting like children'...or maybe all those... and 'sissies' as well.

Whatever the name, hardly the inspiration of a wartime Winston Churchill. Last poll I saw politicians were still even less well regarded than car salesmen!

 

[mheslep]

... from Trump's firm stand on issues?

If only. I'm unaware of any issue on which Trump has had a firm stand, firm meaning discovered earlier than the beginning of his current campaign. Now, change firm to loud or bombastic and the question somewhat answers itself.

Still, Trump is having an effect because in bits and pieces along with the garbage he's loudly right on some issues, even at times understated. When he says 60% of the media is profoundly dishonest he's in the ball park IMO, and he says this to a talking head in an interview.

 

[Finny]

Here's an interesting local news item from McAllen Texas, Ricky Perry Country

Responders Anticipate Possibility of More Illegal Crossers
Border Patrol apprehending about 3,100 people a week

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/Responders-Anticipate-Possibility-of-More-Illegal-Crossers/34407978

Here is the catch: The news video makes no mention of what's happening to those 'apprehended'. It appears about 100 per day are 'released at the border', whatever that means, by Border Patrol, but end up at the local Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, Tx.

In the video interview an apparently illegal alien woman at the church with a child says she will be calling her husband back in Hondurus saying "C'mon on down, We are in America."

That doesn't sound like what Rick Perry is saying about his state border control efforts. Be interesting to see if Trump 'whumps' Perry on this issue in debates...if Perry makes the debates.

 

[WWGD]

Here's an interesting local news item from McAllen Texas, Ricky Perry Country

Responders Anticipate Possibility of More Illegal Crossers
Border Patrol apprehending about 3,100 people a week

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/Responders-Anticipate-Possibility-of-More-Illegal-Crossers/34407978

Here is the catch: The news video makes no mention of what's happening to those 'apprehended'. It appears about 100 per day are 'released at the border', whatever that means, by Border Patrol, but end up at the local Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, Tx.

In the video interview an apparently illegal alien woman at the church with a child says she will be calling her husband back in Hondurus saying "C'mon on down, We are in America."

That doesn't sound like what Rick Perry is saying about his state border control efforts. Be interesting to see if Trump 'whumps' Perry on this issue in debates...if Perry makes the debates.

May not have been a good idea to send those street gang members from L.A and other places back to their home countries in Central America, where police do not have the resourcs to keep them under control. Gangs like Mara Salvatrucha . 677 murders in June alone, in a population of around 6 million (Time Magazine, August 3 2015). Equivalent to around 36,000 murders in one month in the US, extrapolating to 430,000 a year. Salvadorean police, country itself lacks the resources to control gangs Estimated murders committed in the US last year: 14196, a ratio of 30-to-1. .
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/u...lent-crime/murder-topic-page/murdermain_final

Honduras has the world's second highest murder rate. What do you suggest people living in these countries do, Finny? I know it is not the US' responsibility to address these problems, but, do you blame these people for wanting to leave their country at any cost? Do you think they have the time to file for formal applications ( if they have access to money an lawyers) to go through the mainstream channels?

Why doesn't one-trick-pony Trump also address this, to give a full picture and not incite hatred against many who are just trying to survive? Of course I don't mean let criminals in, just paint a full picture to start a discussion based on facts.

 

[JonDE]

Figured I would update the numbers, since it doesn't seem to have been done in awhile. This is from RealClearPolitics, this is not their poll, but an average of all the polls run by pollsters. Their hope is that all the partisanship will balance each other out, not sure if that's true or not, just thought I would give a disclaimer before I posted.
2016 GOP Nomination
Trump19.2
Bush13.4
Walker12.6
Rubio7.0
Carson6.0
Huckabee5.8
Paul5.6
Cruz5.0
Trump +5.8

So Trump is still winning. I'm kind of in shock that he could get almost 20% TBH. I find it even stranger that he has kept it up for this long and hasn't disappeared yet.

Even if he was doing this for media attention, would he drop out of the election if he was winning? Kind of scary to think that someone could potentially be trolling their way into being the POTUS.

 

[mr166]

I swore that I would not post on this link again but this statement is hard to ignore.

"May not have been a good idea to send those street gang members from L.A and other places back to their home countries in Central America, where police do not have the resourcs to keep them under control."

In other words it is better to have them sell drugs and murder here in the US! Trillion dollar a year deficits just don't matter eh. We have plenty of money, just tax the 50% of US citizens that actually pay income tax a lot more.

 

[WWGD]

I swore that I would not post on this link again but this statement is hard to ignore.

"May not have been a good idea to send those street gang members from L.A and other places back to their home countries in Central America, where police do not have the resourcs to keep them under control."

In other words it is better to have them sell drugs and murder here in the US! Trillion dollar a year deficits just don't matter eh. We have plenty of money, just tax the 50% of US citizens that actually pay income tax a lot more.

Does that follow from what I said , really? Is that the only other option? Keep them jailed in here while training officers from other countries and while helping their police departments find better funding. It I not a black-or-white issue. It is more expensive in the long run to do nothing about it, and thn having to deal with all the people from these countries trying to come in to the US to escape a war zone. And, re deficits , maybe we can avoid starting wars based on such strong grounds as Bush's " he attacked my daddy" , which has cost more than $1 trillion, while lowering taxes, because that is one of the 2 things. Dubya learned at Bidness school.

 

[Finny]

From the guy who all the pundits said 'wouldn't run'...'would drop out'...'could not survive his comments about McCain'...funny to see all the 'know it alls' crash and burn...


Trump's lead GROWS over Jeb and other Republican rivals as he captures 25 per cent in new Reuters poll

• Trump picked up nearly 10 points in the national poll of Republican voters since Friday
• He's risen to 25 per cent support, with Jeb Bush in a distant second place at 12 per cent

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...percent-Reuters-Ipsos-poll.html#ixzz3hNlRZyAm
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

If Trump doesn't drop out soon, poor guy may have to live in Washington for four years...a horrible let down from Trump Towers...

I'd love to know what's going on inside each campaign...Democrat and Republican... to know what they really think about Trump and the plots to foil him?? Wonder if Trump would run with Carly Fiorina...two outsiders??
Not so sure Carly could withstand attacks about her leadership at HP and acquisition of Compaq. She must have laid off thousands...

 

[Finny]

I was reminded today of a comment by "Le Grande" Charles [DeGaulle]:

"Politics is too important to be left to politicians."

A good campaign slogan for a Trump/Fiorina ticket.

 

[WWGD]

It ultimately takes up a very simplistic personality to endorse someone like trump based on his (questionable) statements on Mexicans, while ignoring , or at least not asking serious questions on other issues: bankruptcy, military deferment , etc. The decision of who is the right person for the presidency is important -enough to merit a 360 evaluation of his qualifications. His followers do not seem to be doing that.

 

[russ_watters]

From the guy who all the pundits said 'wouldn't run'...'would drop out'...'could not survive his comments about McCain'...funny to see all the 'know it alls' crash and burn...

Today is July 31, 2015.

 

[mr166]

WWGD if you judge Trump only on his stand about criminals entering the US you are mistaken. He also is very vocal about American Exceptionalism, exporting jobs offshore and insuring that the US negotiates trade deals that are in the best interest of the US. He is the exact type person that the founders of the US envisioned running the country. They did not want to see professional politicians running the country but civilians that would serve for a limited period of time and then return to their chosen field.

 

[William White]

Trumps a chump with a dodgy barnet.

Hilary will win it.

 

[jim hardy]

Well, if nothing else he's shown that even a hint at honesty throws the whole PC political system into a frenzy.

 

[WWGD]

Well, if nothing else he's shown that even a hint at honesty throws the whole PC political system into a frenzy.

Honesty? Describing one side of the immigration issue, ignoring the fact that many who are coming are escaping a war zone. Calling into question John McCain's status (never mentioning his own 4 deferments )? How about some honesty about his bankruptcies? Trump is as honest as a $3 bill. I have no problem with having an _honest_ discussion on immigration. Trump never did any such thing; he cherry-picked facts. I am not going to defend the status quo, but Trump is hardly any better.

 

[jim hardy]

Trump is as honest as a $2 bill.

That may be more accurate than you think.

But that bill has Jefferson on it , and Trump is nowhere near Jefferson's level of intellect.

 

[WWGD]

That may be more accurate than you think.
View attachment 86611

But that bill has Jefferson on it , and Trump is nowhere near Jefferson's level of intellect.

Yes, that was a typo, and I edited it just as you were posting.

 

[William White]

I think a lack of PC is very refreshing in a politican.

However,

His comments about McCain's capture in the Vietnam war were just disgusting.
And the comb-over.

How can anybody with comb-over be in touch with reality?

 

[WWGD]

I think a lack of PC is very refreshing in a politican.

.

Is it OK to be un-PC while maligning most of the Mexicans , and without producing evidence to support his claim? How about also mentioning that many of the people trying to get in are trying to escape a war zone? If he is going to be un-PC , at least let him paint a full picture.

 

[William White]

I think people should say what they think and let the public be the judge.I thought his comments on McCain's terrible ordeal in the jungles of Vietnam were disgusting.

Others might have their own thoughts on his comments about Mexicans.

It IS refreshing that politicians say what they think, and let the public be a judge of that, rather than contorting and diluting their opinions so they are empty as sunlight so as to offend nobody.

 

[jim hardy]

I doubt i'd support a Trump candidacy

but i do think the system needed the shakeup he's caused.

TPTB must have noticed from his unexpected popularity how much anger is out there.
I fear the country is ripe for a "Pied Piper" who's savvy enough to appeal to that.
I think that's why we have the Electoral College as a 'check & balance' against 'national popular vote' .

 

[WWGD]

I think people should say what they think and let the public be the judge.I thought his comments on McCain's terrible ordeal in the jungles of Vietnam were disgusting.

Others might have their own thoughts on his comments about Mexicans.

It IS refreshing that politicians say what they think, and let the public be a judge of that, rather than contorting and diluting their opinions so they are empty as sunlight so as to offend nobody.

Yes, you have a point, but it would be even better if he tried to contribute with well-informed opinions, whether PC or not. And there are some risks in issuing inflammatory statements, which may lead to mistreatment of some groups. I am for free speech, but there are responsibilities that come with the rights. Ideas have consequences. I mean, if un-PC was enough, then, e.g., the anti-gay remarks by many on the far-right would be welcome.

 

[William White]

Well, of course, the perfect politican would be well-informed on everything, and happen to share the same opinions as I do...As for free speech, as soon as somebody says they agree, "but..." then my alert rings

No buts.

Yes, there are responsibilities that come with ALL rights. That's a different thing altogether.

The famous example of shouting fire in a packed cinema is NOT a good example of "but". If one crys wolf, there are ways to deal with a real breach of the peace rather than curtailing freedom of speech.

 

[WWGD]

Well, of course, the perfect politican would be well-informed on everything, and happen to share the same opinions as I do...As for free speech, as soon as somebody says they agree, "but..." then my alert rings

No buts.

Yes, there are responsibilities that come with ALL rights. That's a different thing altogether.

The famous example of shouting fire in a packed cinema is NOT a good example of "but". If one crys wolf, there are ways to deal with a real breach of the peace rather than curtailing freedom of speech.

In a(n) (more) ideal world, I would agree with you. And then no rules would be necessary. Yes, I do get your point , which is a good one, though, and maybe I am being somewhat self-serving here.

 

[William White]

Trump has stuck his head above the parapet.

He's enjoying the view at the moment.

But there IS a reason politicians are politicians (and why they give politicians answers to questions). Every hack in the land will be investiging his past. He has opened himself up to a world of pain that is going to end in flames. Someone like him WILL have skeletons in the cupboard. You don't get on in business (to his level) without stepping on people and pissing them off!. Those people will be crawling out the woodwork soon enough.

 

[William White]

Dump that Trump

 

[WWGD]

Well, of course, the perfect politican would be well-informed on everything, and happen to share the same opinions as I do...

<Snip>

The famous example of shouting fire in a packed cinema is NOT a good example of "but". If one crys wolf, there are ways to deal with a real breach of the peace rather than curtailing freedom of speech.

I was thinking more of the cases where someone publicly listed the home addresses of doctors who performed abortions , some of whom were attacked afterwards, or about this lady who gave the home address of the "Lion Killer". Should that be allowed?

 

[William White]

YES

I think if we live in public, then we are open to the public. I live in the UK. I am on the electoral role, so my address is public for those that wish to find it.

Assaults are best dealt with by bringing the law down on the person committing the assault using the laws against assault. If there was aiding and abetting (ie the person supplied information in full knowledge that the information would lead to a crime) then that person should be prosecuted for assault too.The danger in the question you pose, is that, like everything you have to draw a line in the sand. Person A says they demand privacy for reason x; then Person B comes along and demands privacy and you have a merry go round of lawyers and courts and gagging orders and injunctions (which of course, is already happening)

We have laws that deal with breaches of the peace, threatening behaviour, etc. My gut instinct is that any curtailing of freedom of speech is wrong and open to abuse. Let people speak freely and deal with the consequences afterwards.BTW I live in a country where freedom of speech is being destroyed. The odious Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 being a prime example.

Curtailing speech does not curtail ideas. It makes them hidden and more dangerous.

 

[mr166]

The fact that Trump is even considered to be a contender is solely due to the utter failure of the Republican party to provide a candidate willing to espouse values other than those approved by the Main Stream Media!

He, Ted Cruz and Dr. Ben Carson are the only candidates that are willing to offer a conservative agenda. The Republicans are fools if they think that they will win trying to out democrat the Democrats.

 

[JonDE]

WWGD if you judge Trump only on his stand about criminals entering the US you are mistaken. He also is very vocal about American Exceptionalism, exporting jobs offshore and insuring that the US negotiates trade deals that are in the best interest of the US. He is the exact type person that the founders of the US envisioned running the country. They did not want to see professional politicians running the country but civilians that would serve for a limited period of time and then return to their chosen field.

Do you have a source for that? If so, why did so many of them become career politicians. Just look at James Monroe, the last president who was a founding father. He was a Senator, minister to France, minister to the UK, two time governor, secretary of state and president. Madison was a congressman (8 years), secretary of state (8 years), president (8 years), total of 24 years. Jefferson, was a governor, ambassador, secretary of state, VP, and pres, serving a total of 21 years.

 

[William White]

Can a old school conservative (or rather a White, English, Protestant) win in the USA?

The faces and attitudes of the country are changing?

 

[Finny]

Can a old school conservative (or rather a White, English, Protestant) win in the USA? The faces and attitudes of the country are changing?

We have two essentials for family: a peaceful country administered under law coupled with high productivity. Well, we used to have both. Why do you think so many want to come to the US? It's NOT for the things rampant in, say, Zimbabwe, Syria or even Mexico. Dictators,drug cartels, religious extremism...not so popular with most.

Somebody should give it a try! Responsible finances, family, freedom of religion,building a future your kids and grand kids. In other words run government like you would like your family run...compassion,support, and building a future. Great fodder for Trump:
U.S. wage growth brakes in second-quarter; consumer sentiment slips
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/31/us-usa-economy-idUSKCN0Q51I320150731

If a business man can't explain this to the American people, we are doomed.

 

[mr166]

"Can a old school conservative (or rather a White, English, Protestant) win in the USA? The faces and attitudes of the country are changing? "
Perhaps not, but do you see today's Democratic party trying to meet conservatives half way? No, they are willing to take a stand on their beliefs and not compromise them. I respect them for that even though I do not agree with them on many issues. The Republicans can never win unless they motivate their conservative base to vote for them. As a staunch Conservative I would vote for the Socialist Bernie Saunders, who at least says what he believes, before I would vote for someone like say John Boehner who says one thing, does another and stands for nothing other than getting re-elected.

 

[Finny]

Jeb has been advised to "pull a Hillary"...but why??
This doesn't seem to work so well for her...

"...When Jeb Bush and Donald Trump share a debate stage next week, Bush needs to ignore the real estate mogul at all costs —and if that fails, laugh him off.

That’s the advice given by more than half of the POLITICO Caucus, our weekly, bipartisan survey of the top activists, operatives and strategists in Iowa and New Hampshire.

“The old maxim applies: Never wrestle with a pig,” counseled a New Hampshire Republican. “You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”...

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/...t-engage-with-trump-120845.html#ixzz3hV0r8LKe

 

[mr166]

The amnesty question in the US goes way beyond the 20 million or so illegal immigrants here now. Most of the citizens of the US would be more than glad to grant them a pathway to citizenship if the borders were sealed. It IS a question of controlling our borders and setting a workable immigration policy. If you can show me ONE major country that has totally open borders and still manages to function as a homogenous unit I will change my view on the need to enforce US laws.

 

[Finny]

Strange bedfellows for sure:
Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump? How can this be?

"...Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) found himself at odds with some immigration reform advocates Thursday, defending his 2007 vote against a comprehensive immigration bill and telling an audience hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that "open borders" were a threat to American jobs.

Sanders said. "What I think {Wall Street} is interested in is seeing a process by which we can bring low-wage labor into this county."

... "What right-wing people in this country would love is an open-border policy. Bring in all kinds of people, work for $2 or $3 an hour, that would be great for them. I don't believe in that."

Many progressives do believe in that. They've argued for it, in the face of opposition from many labor unions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...open-borders-at-hispanic-chamber-of-commerce/

 

[mr166]

"
"What right-wing people in this country would love is an open-border policy. Bring in all kinds of people, work for $2 or $3 an hour, that would be great for them."

And the Left wing, exclusive of Bernie I guess, wants open borders because of the potential votes it represents. Boy is the US screwed!

 

[mr166]

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/o...o-the-idea-of-citizen-politicians-932989.html

"Do you have a source for that? If so, why did so many of them become career politicians. Just look at James Monroe, the last president who was a founding father."

Here you go JonDE

 

[Finny]

Here is another great opportunity for Trump to stump [stomp] the establishment:
He should proclaim:

"If elected I will not pass any legislation which has unrelated riders attached. I will require that every senator and every house member voting for each bill attest they have actually read the bill." edit: and pay for the spending.

The Senate Republicans this weekend attached an amendment resurrecting a big corporation welfare program called the Export Import bank to the 'must pass' highway bill. This is government largess at its worst. Paying off cronies. And not even funding the Highway Bill. Another stop gap with more deficit spending. May daughter can't afford all this!

Conservatives have been fighting to stop the Export-Import Bank that loans billions of dollars to foreign companies and countries to buy products from big corporations like GE, Caterpillar and Boeing... Even the CEO of Boeing said the Export-Import Bank wasn’t needed.

If I had a personality, I'd run!

 

[JonDE]

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/o...o-the-idea-of-citizen-politicians-932989.html

"Do you have a source for that? If so, why did so many of them become career politicians. Just look at James Monroe, the last president who was a founding father."

Here you go JonDE

That is written as a letter to the editor. After googling the person's name, it appears she works for a paper company as a supervisor. Here is my source arguing the opposite. The federalist paper #62 written by James Madison.

. It is not possible that an assembly of men called for the most part from pursuits of a private nature, continued in appointment for a short time, and led by no permanent motive to devote the intervals of public occupation to a study of the laws, the affairs, and the comprehensive interests of their country, should, if left wholly to themselves, escape a variety of important errors in the exercise of their legislative trust

http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa62.htm

 

[mr166]

Thanks for the link JonDE. I will have to do a little more research and see if Madison represented the majority at that time.

 

[jim hardy]

I was raised in the 50's and 60's
high school reading included Henry Thoreau
we idolized iconoclastic nonconformists like Zorba the Greek and Murray Burns (of "A Thousand Clowns) and later on Kurt Vonnegut's characters

though i was probably more of "A Rebel Without a Clue" .

still the appeal of somebody who rocks the boat is strong.

I'm not sure Trump is president material
but he's no mealy-mouth lackey either.

The body politic needs a KITA. Maybe his contribution will be as a catalyst.

 

[mr166]

JH the US political system is in a really dangerous state. Yes, the Republicans made some symbolic noise during the first 2 years of Obama's administration. But this was when they were in the minority in both houses and could not win. When they won the house of representatives in 2010 all real opposition stopped. Sure there was some lip service but there was no real attempt to defeat the Democratic agenda to date. Thus we really have a one party system and therein lies Trump's appeal. Can we ever return to a system that is not controlled by a few cronies?

 

[mr166]

George Washington almost went bankrupt because he was serving his country and could not attend to his business whereas the Republicans are afraid to take any sort of political stand for fear of not getting reelected.

 

[Dembadon]

An interview with Trump concerning his views/concerns about other GOP candidates:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/43923546...hment/?playlist_id=928378949001#sp=show-clips

In the section where he was asked to come up with a question for each candidate, I was surprised by what he said his question would be for J. Bush: "Do you have the energy to get out there and do it?" Pretty weak, if you ask me. Was he simply caught off-guard by Bolling's scenario?

I also noticed a different tone from Trump, something he's stated would change if he were elected:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/politics/donald-trump-anderson-cooper/

He's much less inflammatory/retaliatory in the interview than I've been used to seeing. Perhaps he's realizing one can't rely on shock-value alone in a presidential campaign?

 

[mr166]

Trump is the most determined business man that I have ever seen. You have to be relentless to deal with the New York City Planning and Zoning boards in order to get your plans approved. There is always huge pressure put on these boards by advocacy groups to deny permits and preserve the Status Quo. Trump knows politics and how to deal with it. I would not put it past him to build a 20 story 2000 mile long condominium along the Mexican border and end the problem once and for all. You do not want to mess with condo boards.

 

[mr166]

In fact I heard that is how he plans to pay down the entire US national debt. The US will build it, he will sell it for a small trillion dollar or so commission and bingo, problem solved. Not feasible, well show me ANY other plan that our glorious politicians have put forth to solve both problems at once.