The GOP's Donald Trump Problem

Yesterday I went on MSNBC's Weekends with Alex Witt to discuss Donald Trump's escalating war of words with his presidential competitors, and what it might mean for the future of the Republican Party:

The Wall Street Journal editorial page had some similar thoughts today, including some subtweets directed at Bill Kristol (who I at least had the decency of mentioning by name). 

Comments

[UnCivilServant]

Once again, your mistake is validating MSNBC's existence.

[Lee G]

A paycheck is a paycheck

[Bam!]

The yuppie Nuremberg defense.

[BigT]

You don't find sinners in church.

[Adans smith]

Does the S stand for socialism? I thnk Bernie Sanders is as big of a nut as Trump. He's a believer in a system that has failed over and over and is responsible for the deaths od hundreds of millions.

[Suthenboy]

It seems to me that it has become SOP for the Democrats to put a stalking horse in every race they consider essential to win.

The stupid party falls for it every time.

[SIV]

Concerned

[Libertarian]

And this morning there is talk of Trump running as a 3rd party and possibly giving the general election to Clinton. Popcorn! Can I get some popcorn here?!

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Why should he do that when recent polls put him in the lead in the GOP nomination?

[soflarider]

You're so right. It's basically all over. Print the ballots!

[Robert]

What makes them think he'd draw more votes from people whose 2nd choice would be the GOP's nominee than the Dems'? Anybody have any breakdown showing how he polls among those who lean Democrat?

[Swiss Servator, rudert schwer!]

Finally, the dearth of Trump report is remedied!

[Lee G]

Trump is making Perot look serene by comparison.

[Fist of Etiquette]

You know who else made people appear a certain way by comparison?

[sarcasmic]

Dee Snider?

[Rich]

Caitlyn Jen, uh, no -- wait, wait, don't tell me!

[Lee G]

Crazy Eddie?

[Lee G]

Crazy Eddie?

[Rich]

David Copperfield?

[Hyperbolical (wadair)]

It seems that Trump is looking to gather all the Republican malcontents under his tent and win the nomination by pitting them against the party establishment. Not sure he has the anti-establishment cred for it, though. And I wonder how much Tea Party or Libertarian support he'll get as a NYC crony. Nonetheless, this is the only sense I can make out his political bridge-burning.

[Lord Humungus]

You know who else burned their political bridges...

[Rich]

Raymon Carter?

[Hyperbolical (wadair)]

Richard Nixon?

[Swiss Servator, rudert schwer!]

Horatius?

[sarcasmic]

Aahz?

[Dark Lord of the wood chipper]

Julius Caeser?

[Pompey]

Hey I knew that guy before he was the big cheese. What a dickhead.

[Rich]

Sid Caesar?

[Chipper Chipping Rodrigue]

Maybe. I think when someone is "seriously" wanting to be nominated they act more like Romney--pandering to a wide spectrum of voters, organizing, giving speeches in Iowa.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

The right leaners here remind me of Turkel in Cuckoo's Nest when the hookers and crazies are in the office behind him and his supervisor is asking if anyone is in there.

"No ma'am, nothing to see here!"

Crash! Bam! Giggle.

[Adans smith]

Since I consider myself a Classical Liberal I assume you meam me too.Your an ass.

[Hyperbolical (wadair)]

Your narrative is showing, Bo.

I have read no support for Trump whatsoever on this board during this continuing saga. Nonetheless, you make your obligatory claim that most of the commentariat is republican even when you have no evidence and even though it mostly off-topic. Get a new spiel--this one's worn out.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

They're not going to support Trump here, that's a hard row to hoe, they're doing what the GOP in general is trying to do: hand wave and deflect attention from the fool and how his appeal in their Party keeps growing.

[Hyperbolical (wadair)]

They're not going to support Trump here, that's a hard row to hoe, they're doing what the GOP in general is trying to do: hand wave and deflect attention from the fool and how his appeal in their Party keeps growing.

Speaking of "hand wav[ing] deflect[ion], you just attempted to deflect attention away from the obvious fact that your narrative is wrong and is merely a product of your lack of imagination.

Admit it. You see red because you want to see blue and you don't. IOW, your gripe is that the Reason commentariat is just not blue enough for you.

[Zaytsev]

Trump the so called clown is gaining traction by tearing the DC establishment apart. Meanwhile, the serious democrat party candidates are competing with each other over who is the biggest socialist and genuflecting to the mob with gems like I didn't really mean that all lives matter.

Obviously the self appointed pope of libertarians (bo caca esq) thinks that trump is the bigger threat to liberty and his supporters completely insane.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

They should make a show where the plot is about a lawyer named Bo who loses every single case.

It could be in a 'Three's Company' type of slapstick style.

[R C Dean]

They should make a show where the plot is about a lawyer named Bo who loses every single case.

A reality show, then?

[Rich]

Donald Trump's inevitable self-immolation arrived on the weekend when he assailed John McCain's war record. The question now is how long his political and media apologists on the right will keep pretending he's a serious candidate.

Hillary Clinton's inevitable self-immolation continued when she doubled down on her email bullshit. The question now is how long her political and media apologists on the left will keep pretending she's a serious candidate.

[Cyto]

The same length of time they did last time. Right up until they find someone more electable.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Yesterday I went on MSNBC's Weekends with Alex Witt...

This is the first I'm hearing of it.

[sarcasmic]

While taking a shit yesterday I was thumbing through 'Billy and the Boingers Go Bootleg,' and got a chuckle when Donald Trump's brain was transplanted into Bill the Cat's head.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

media apologists on the left"

That email thing has and is widely reported on in the MSM. If it doesn't have legs with the public in general or the Democrat Party voters in particular its not because the media has ignored it.

[Rich]

Indeed. "Political apologists."

[Pompey]

Democracy FTW! Go electorate!

[Rich]

She's "Woman"! Hear her roar!

[Hyperbolical (wadair)]

It's ok that she's corrupt and a possible traitor because the story fails to run with the party faithful. Is that what you're saying?

But somehow Trump is worse because he's just an idiot, and republican.

Now your Team affiliation is showing, Bo.

[Chipper Chipping Rodrigue]

Donald Trump is the most pure libertarian politician since Sarah Palin.

[Cyto]

There is no "Trump" problem for the GOP. He is a buffoon who managed to put voice to the concerns of many a Joe Six-Pack about illegal immigration in terms that they relate to. (think South-Park level concern)

He's already 70% through his run. As the public figures out his schtick he'll be tossed aside relatively quickly.

But then I never understood how people could watch "The Apprentice". From what I saw the guy had the uncanny ability to look at a situation and come to the wrong conclusion almost every time. All while bloviating about something irrelevant. The only thing I was able to garner from the show was an understanding that I'd never want to work for Trump or anyone like him. Oh, and I was impressed by the level of toadying that surrounded him.

Which just goes to demonstrate that my evaluations are worthless on the matter, since his stupid show lasted more than a decade. Still, I stand by my analysis. He's a buffoon and won't gain any real traction, despite the media's best efforts. He is not the Ross Perot of this election cycle. I would say he's the James Stockdale, but that guy was just out of his element, not actually a buffoon.

[sarcasmic]

From what I saw the guy had the uncanny ability to look at a situation and come to the wrong conclusion almost every time. All while bloviating about something irrelevant.

So he's perfectly cut out for politics?

[Rich]

Keep an eye on O'Malley.

[Cyto]

Ok, fair point.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Or how somehow his kids get to judge things as if they're experts.

Please.

[BigT]

Trump is a blessing for the GOP - he gives them an unambiguous villain with whom they can contrast themselves.

[Robert]

Did you see "My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss"? I thought it was great. Had to get the concluding episodes by stream, though. & I didn't even watch "The Apprentice"!

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Myself I enjoyed Presidential candidate and Ray Guy finalist Scott Walkers latest punt:

"But in an interview with CNN on Sunday he backtracked a bit. "I thought the policy was just fine. I'm saying when I was in Scouts, it was fine. You're asking what should the policy be going forward. It should be left up to the leaders of the Scouts," the Wisconsin governor said. Walker also said he didn't know whether being gay was a choice. "I don't have an opinion on every single issue out there. To me, that's, I don't know," Walker said. "I don't know the answer to that question."

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the.....aders.html

[Cyto]

That's a fair punt that more politicians should take. Our lives would be better off if more politicians would say "don't know" on more private issues. Better yet, they should answer "don't know, don't care" on issues of personal life choices.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

If he punted in general maybe, but he tends to have selective agnosticism depending on what audience he's in front of. His punting along with his flip flopping are symptoms of greater pandering.

[Cyto]

If you criticize the broken clock when it happens to be right, what is that a symptom of?

[R C Dean]

Being Canadian?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

There's a certain Joe Divola quality to Matt these days when it comes to Trump.

[Rich]

Like, he keeps fit by lifting weights (sometimes while crying)?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

And is obsessed with Elaine?

I Pagliacci, bra.

[Chipper Chipping Rodrigue]

Prediction: in the AM links, you guys can't help yourself and actually respond to the concern troll, who turns it into a 500 post shitfest.

[Cyto]

I'm gonna go out on that limb with you and predict that water is wet.

[UnCivilServant]

In other words, greatly entertaining

[Rufus J. Firefly]

From the asshole De Blasio article:

"Barbara Gale ? Top Commenter ? Sherman Oaks, California
SCREW UBER - countries have outlawed them - California does not want them and has just fined them big time and is limiting them so are other cites. They think they are invincible, they are not. They have to answer to the city, state and feds."

Stanley Hoffman ? Top Commenter ? University of Washington Huskies, Seattle. WA.
Uber is a tax evasion plan. Uber pays no taxes, the drivers pay no taxes, you have no insurance liability insurance the list goes on and on. It is greedy people who want to scam the system. People should not use the benefits of tax paying Americans and not pay their share.
Reply ?
? 11 ? 8 hours ago

"Maxamed Nur ? Columbus, Ohio
Ann Stanton I agree with you, regulations protect the consumers.
Reply ?
? 1 ? 5 hours ago"

Buzzfeed is a cess pool of stupidity.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Damn wrong thread!

[Jackand Ace]

It's very telling how much this website, both editors and commenters, are so concerned with the well being of the Republican Party and any damage that one of their candidates might be doing to it. Your constant harping about Trump gives you away.

As opposed to the real issue, which is how much Donald Trump's message resonates with the GOP base.

[kbolino]

It's very telling how much this website, both editors and commenters, are so concerned with the well being of the Democratic Party and any damage that one of their candidates might be doing to it. Your constant harping about Sanders gives you away.

As opposed to the real issue, which is how much Bernie Sanders's message resonates with the Dem base.

Really, there have been dozens of articles (and a video or two! and a slogan contest!) on Sanders. Go the fuck away, joe, nobody believes your lying.

[Jackand Ace]

Matt, here is one article and poll that says the Tea Party is fueling Trump's rise in the polls, particularly with his anti-immigration message. I know Reason was all about the Tea Party in the past...does the GOP have a Tea Party problem?

[Jackand Ace]

Link
http://conservativetribune.com.....ald-trump/

[GILMORE, Haiku Pornographer]

MATT WELCH IS NEW ADDITION TO TRUMP PR TEAM. HE KNOWS WHAT TIME IT IS. TRUMPTIME. #MAKEAMERICAGREAT

[tz]

Oatmeal blaming Tabasco for,spicing things