Donald Trump, GOP candidate for President
Donald Trump, “The Donald,” declared his candidacy for President of the United States yesterday. To the dismay of many pundits and the GOP establishment. His announcement struck a cord across the county. Trump was blunt, arrogant, condescending, unhesitant in his criticism of Obama and democrats in general. He, in contrast to the GOP establishment whose darling is Jeb Bush, declared he would build a fence across our southern border and send the bill to Mexico.
The public ate it up.
The RNC is appalled. How could this bumpkin, this showman, this reality TV star, dare run against the anointed of the GOP establkishment? Easily. The leaders both parties refuse to understand a simple fact. The establishment of both parties, is equally hated across the country. Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, along with their ‘leadership’ teams are seen as being no different from Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and their ‘leadership’ teams.
Trump, like all the other ‘Pub candidates, appeared on Hannity’s radio show yesterday afternoon. Well, all except for Jeb who wanted his announcement to ‘seep’ twenty-four hours before he would deign appear with Hannity.
Trump was very careful of the timing of his announcement. He ended his speech just before Noon, Eastern time—just in time for the start of the Rush Limbaugh show and guess what? Trump was the leading topic. Free advertisement for Trump!
Trump may be arrogant, a showman, and a buffoon. He is no conservative with his donations to many democrat pols and his support for abortion. Given all that, he’s not stupid. He knows what topics are of interest in the country and he plucks those interests, those sentiments, those harp strings with expertise.
Do I think Trump can win in the primaries? No.
Do I think he could win the GOP nomination? No.
I do believe, however, and it’s evident if you just watch the news reports, even those from FOX, that he’s sucked the wind from all the other GOP candidates. Trump, like Ross Perot and Ron Paul before him, is a spoiler. He’s not driven by a need to serve. He like Perot and Paul, is driven by a need to feed his ego. The media, and FOX as well, has presented Trump and his ego with an exceptional banquet.
This morning, Erick Erickson, of Red State, made this observation.
“Donald Trump is the disrespectful candidate for people who disrespect the process. He’ll be rude. He’ll be loud. He’ll be confrontational. And he won’t get the nomination. But along the way, he will speak to the fears and hopes of a lot of people who no longer connect with Washington or trust the government to get it right.” — Erick Erickson.
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Open warfare has erupted between John Boehner and conservatives in the House. Included in Boehner’s ‘enemy list’ now are three Representatives from his own leadership team.
After Democrats helped imperil President Obama’s trade agenda, conservatives are insisting they can help rescue the trade effort—if House Republican leadership will let them.
Conservative lawmakers today railed against House Speaker John Boehner and his leadership team for working closely with Democrats on a failed strategy to usher Trade Promotion Authority through Congress.
“What’s most interesting to me is this is the second or third time they’ve [House leadership] negotiated with Democrats and the Democrats go back on their word and they still don’t come to the conservatives to talk,” said Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, speaking at a monthly House conservative lunch before reporters on Capitol Hill.
“Either they [House leadership] are not listening or they are completely unaware about what’s happening in their surroundings and they are only talking to special interest groups that go to fundraisers with them,” Labrador continued. — The Daily Signal
The rebellion is growing. Boehner had three members of his ‘leadership’ team removed from their positions after they voted, against Boehner instructions, “No,” on TPP this week. Representatives Cynthia Lummis (WY), Steve Pearce (NM) and Trent Franks (AZ) joined other conservatives to defeat Obama’s Transpacific Partnership (TPP) bill.
34 Republicans voted against the rule setting up floor debate for the trade package known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership last week and now three will have to pay a price.
Reps. Cynthia Lummis (WY), Steve Pearce (NM) and Trent Franks (AZ) were booted from their party leadership positions for breaking with the Grand Ole’ Party and voting against a part of the package the that gives the President the ability to negotiate trade deals known as fast track according to the National Journal. It was left to Rep. Steve Scalise (LA), House Majority Whip, to make the demotions.
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…the move appears to come at the direction of House Speaker John Boehner who reportedly told rebellious GOP House members that he was fed up with their “nonsense,” a remark that evidently “sparked applause” in the room full of Republican lawmakers.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Boehner made clear that he was disappointed by Republican members who did not vote with the party on the controversial trade legislation authority, “you know, we’re a team. And we’ve worked hard to get the majority; we’ve worked hard to stay in the majority,” said Boehner. He continued, “and I expect our team to act like a team, and frankly, I made it pretty clear I wasn’t very happy.” — Salon.
All treaties must be presented to Congress for approval. Congress has a responsibility to provide the President with ‘advice and consent.’ In the case of TPP, Congress provided a lot of advice, mostly negative, and no consent.
Like Obama in the Senate, Boehner has been ‘trumped’ by members of his own party.