Unless Trump loses 50% of his support in six weeks, he’s going to keep a legit candidate out of the first GOP debates.
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) June 16, 2015
That said, Trump currently leads Christie, Cruz, Carson and Huckabee in New Hampshire. http://t.co/DZPl8fx3sI
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) June 16, 2015
Mr. Charles P. Pierce, at Esquire:
… Trump’s vaguely paragraph-like globs of words were shot through with magical spells. There’s this doctor he knows who doesn’t like the Affordable Care Act. There’s this manufacturer he knows who’s having trouble with China. They all call Trump — perhaps through his bridgework, perhaps not — and unburden themselves on him because they know that Trump is the person who can solve their problems because he is a problem-solver on the art of the deal, the four bankruptcies notwithstanding.
He is the inevitable result of 40 years of political conjuring, mainly by Republicans, but abetted by far too many Democrats as well. He is the inevitable product of anyone who ever argued that our political institutions should be run “like a business.” (Like whose businesses? Like Trump’s? Like Carly Fiorina’s Hewlett Packard?) He is the inevitable product of anyone who ever argued why the government can’t balance its books “the way any American family would.” He is the inevitable result of the deregulated economy that was deregulated out of a well-cultivated wonder and awe directed at the various masters of the universe. Sooner or later, all of this misbegotten magical thinking was going to burp up a clown like Donald Trump…
Trump: "Thanks to fracking, and the other things, the oil is all over the place." This is basically Boardroom Palin.
— Big Sexy Jeb! Lund (@Mobute) June 16, 2015
.@simonmaloy with a classy, a very bigly classy, take on Trump http://t.co/WtAlJAAHtr
— Jim Newell (@jim_newell) June 16, 2015
Gilded coprolite Donald Trump held a very classy, very beautiful event today at one of his many very classy, very beautiful properties in Manhattan. Trump said many words as part of this event, though I hesitate to call that assemblage of words a “speech,” as that would unjustly imply that any level of organization or forethought went into his remarks. The polite adjective for Trump’s performance is “meandering,” but such courtesies are wasted on that leathery slug. More accurately, Trump offered a roughly 50-minute stream-of-consciousness extrusion of verbal diarrhea that seemed to be influenced primarily by Trump’s garish ego and/or an undisclosed but serious head injury. But sandwiched in between all of Trump’s insane braggadocio and aggressive ignorance was one key phrase: “I am officially running for president of the United States.”
Now, keep in mind that saying it doesn’t necessarily make it so. As of this moment, Trump still has not filed any paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, which one must do to actually run for president. Until such time has he signs on the dotted line with the FEC, he’s just trolling for attention…
Donald Trump: "I identify as a presidential candidate."
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) June 16, 2015
"The American dream is dead," says Donald Trump. Vote for me!
— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 16, 2015
Trump: "When did we ever beat Japan at anything?"
CNN voiceover: "… except for WWII."
*rolls Hiroshima footage.*
This just happened.
— Jared Keller (@jaredbkeller) June 16, 2015
the first draft of history right here https://t.co/TagBGDpHbp
— Big Sexy Jeb! Lund (@Mobute) June 16, 2015
My @realDonaldTrump report card: Style B-. Substance B-. Overall B-. Full report card here: http://t.co/W16URRSqvW pic.twitter.com/DKwSEKg2LH
— Mark Halperin (@MarkHalperin) June 16, 2015
I know everyone focuses on the grades when mocking Halperin but pic.twitter.com/nAxXj2Un5x
— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) June 16, 2015
To recap: Donald Trump ranted about Mexican rapists and how rich he is, and Mark Halperin gave him a B- for substance.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) June 16, 2015
"My promise: even when I become President, you will still receive the level of quality service you're used to at Donald Trump KIA of Islip."
— David Roth (@david_j_roth) June 16, 2015
CSPAN caller on Trump: [woman with slow, buttery southern black accent] "He may be on drugs."
— Big Sexy Jeb! Lund (@Mobute) June 16, 2015
Our statement on Trump: pic.twitter.com/8I8ilMzwUh
— Holly! Shulman (@HollyShulman) June 16, 2015
Everyone, please stop. This presidential announcement tease is just a ploy to get you to blow up Donald Trump's favstar.
— Big Sexy Jeb! Lund (@Mobute) June 16, 2015
Herewith please find documented proof that my net worth is $9,240,299,985.01 pic.twitter.com/h0CILksAB2
— Felix Salmon (@felixsalmon) June 16, 2015
If you're embarrassed that Trump is an actual candidate, remember: Italy elected Silvio Berlusconi prime minister *several times*
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) June 17, 2015
Ted Cruz: “I’m pleased to welcome Donald Trump into the race for the 2016 Republican nomination for President of the United States."
— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 16, 2015
Let's give @realDonaldTrump some credit. He is a lot clearer on Iraq than Bush or Rubio.
— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) June 16, 2015
Trump isn't really a more ridiculous person than Newt Gingrich, and Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary calling for a moon base.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) June 16, 2015
Hey, @realDonaldTrump — here's our Wednesday front page. http://t.co/m7V8GbV4r7 pic.twitter.com/MMJWECKq02
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) June 17, 2015
cokane
Really he deserves to win. He’s the perfect GOP representative of today. A fraud of a businessman, he both somehow devotes his life to wealth and materialism while Christian. Dumbly patriotic and cluelessly racist.
John Revolta
Unless Trump loses 50% of his support in six weeks, he’s going to keep a legit candidate out of the first GOP debates.
Yah, well first they’d have to………………………….
oh, fuck it. The snark, it fails me.
A Ghost To Most
@cokane: this
And Halperin is his prophet.
Brachiator
I want Trump to stay in as long as possible. It can only help the Democrats. Please visit states with large Latino populations Suck up votes. Push the other GOPPERS to the right.
Trump will eventually bail, probably when he’s asked for his tax returns.
max
Josh Barro: Trump isn’t really a more ridiculous person than Newt Gingrich, and Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary calling for a moon base.
And that’s why WE NEED NEWT! RUN NEWT RUN!
max
[‘And also Mittens should undeclare that he isn’t running.’]
Omnes Omnibus
@John Revolta:
I know just what you mean.
ms_canadada
Oh, how I love American politics!
Hunter Gathers
Trump’s candidacy just might end up being the greatest work of Performance Art the world had ever known.
piratedan
and the wonderful thing about this, is that it will finally elevate the GOP debates to speak about real imaginary issues to real Americans, who imagine that these are real issues.
maya
The guy has chasmisma.
Redshift
I suppose, in the unlikely event that Kasich is the one on the line who gets bumped out, this statement could actually be true. Calling any of the other mid-level clown car passengers “legit” enough to believe they’re being unfairly excluded is lowering the bar to limbo levels.
Brachiator
I have been having fun with the political attitude quiz originally posted by Elizabelle (I think). My mother and my sister and her family took it as well. We almost all came out Bernie and Clinton or Clinton and Bernie. My niece came out Leftist Authoritarian. My mother is solidly left as well.
My nephew, a college junior, is an outlier. I will not go into details, but either he is deliberately playing with my sister’s mind, or he has got a lot of explaining to do.
http://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz
piratedan
@maya: if there was an upding or rec mechanism, you’d have one from me :-)
Chris
I just saw this same argument made by the talking heads on CNN a couple hours ago. Good grief.
SarahT
I love you, NY Daily News – Cannot wait to see this on newsstands tomorrow.
cokane
@Chris: What’s sad is that this is possible. So weird what US politics has become.
Normally I’d say polls this far out (and even later in Nov) don’t matter. But, they’re going to use such polls to decide debate participation. And that’s going to have a ripple effect on the campaign.
Frankly the GOP deserves this shit. For attempting to run the goddamned country like shit, they’ve succeeded wonderfully into turning their party into a damn TLC show.
Omnes Omnibus
@cokane: Counsel for TLC are on the line for you. Something about defamation, I believe…
Ruckus
@piratedan:
Needs a like button.
workworkwork
@maya: Terry Pratchett had the proper word for this: Charisn’t-ma.
NotMax
Too much Trump. Way too much Trump.
And not word one anywhere on the front page acknowledging the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.
:(
Omnes Omnibus
@NotMax: We won’t get anything on the bicentennial of Waterloo on Thursday either.
Ruckus
@Omnes Omnibus:
I’d bet it’s definition, not defamation.
Omnes Omnibus
@Ruckus: Perhaps it was damnation. My one ear is a bit plugged right now.
Cacti
I actually think that Trump will be a boon to the other GOP candidates, as none can match him for buffoonery.
His notoriously thin skin and tendency toward personal insult could also create some fairly colorful debate moments.
Ruckus
@Omnes Omnibus:
Whatever it is, they know what they are, it’s just haggling over the price. And if they can get anyone to pay.
NotMax
@Omnes Omnibus
Indubitably. Thousands of words about a glorified carnival barker suffering from ingrown ego, though.
(The “Zeus descending from Olympus” entrance on the escalator was an obvious tell. Surprised that artificial clouds hadn’t been created, pierced by the beam of a million candlepower amber spotlight.)
Elizabelle
@Brachiator: Good to hear. Thanks to my bud Larry on Facebook for putting up that quiz.
Omnes Omnibus
@Elizabelle: It seems to be making the rounds.
joel hanes
@Brachiator:
I came out Bernie 97 %, HRC 76 %
sm*t cl*de
Chasmiasma.
Elizabelle
@Redshift: The NYTimes is already fellating Kasich too. Their Jeb! horse is faltering. Need an establishment, non-Klown Kar candidate.
John Kasich, Ohio’s Republican Rebel, Nears Run for President
Described within the story as
And this is all one mid-sized article. Before the guy even formally declares.
Villagers, start your engines.
Omnes Omnibus
@joel hanes: I was 98% Bernie, 90% Hillary, but only 81% O’Malley. Maybe the fact that I used the first names of the first two and the last name of the third signifies something.
srv
As someone on /showerthoughts said, the Donald & I are worth $9B dollars, give or take.
No riots yet. Most excellent esoteric yell outside? “Heyyy Warriors, come out and play”
The streets, they have memory.
Major Major Major Major
I was about 95 Bernie 75 hillary but when I dug into why it was mostly because they counted things hillary hasn’t opined on yet as “disagreements”. Mostly.
Elizabelle
@Omnes Omnibus: Good quiz. Might surprise some folks. I was surprised to be so far into the Bernie Sanders camp.
Not that hugely helpful, because I would not vote for a Republican — ANY Republican — for president if my (non-existent) dog’s life was at stake.
Chris
@max:
Let’s be a little more comprehensive:
Newt Gingrich said he’d build a base on the moon. (Because reasons).
Rick Santorum said rape constituted a gift of life.
Jeb Bush said that he would have invaded Iraq even knowing what we now know.
Scott Walker said that refusing to give in to peaceful protesters was like fighting ISIS.
Rand Paul said that for doctors to have to treat patients was like slavery.
Rick Perry was adamant that there were three federal agencies that had to be abolished, but couldn’t remember them all.
Marco Rubio said that it was a “great mystery” whether the Earth was created in seven days.
Ted Cruz self-identified as the future answer to an obscure Trivial Pursuit question. And as a “proud wacko bird.”
These are the candidates who’re supposedly “too serious” for the indignity of Donald Trump’s competition.
The defense rests, Your Honor.
Elizabelle
@Chris: THAT belongs on Facebook. It should go viral.
Funny. And true.
The Republic of Stupidity
Magical thinking indeed…
And whilst magical thinking can be charming in a five yr old, it’s absolutely revolting in an adult…
Elizabelle
@Omnes Omnibus: Oh yeah. Def making the rounds. But you have no idea how small my FB presence or exposure is!
Omnes Omnibus
@Chris:
I was in the protests in Madison almost every day. I have yet to behead anyone. I do own several razor sharp knives though.
piratedan
@Chris: tbh, the only one who sounds sane is Gingrich, at least a moon base project would be worth a few jobs and isn’t anti-science
Chris
@Elizabelle:
I am happy to be plagiarized, if you like.
@Omnes Omnibus:
What are you waiting for?
Omnes Omnibus
@Elizabelle: Other people have put it out there.
catclub
@Elizabelle:
I would not worry. Huntsman got all kinds of good press. Didn’t do any good.
Omnes Omnibus
@Chris: Willingness to die for the cause. Me, I have things in my life right now that make me very unwilling to do that.
trollhattan
Colbert weighs in on the Donald. I can’t wait until September.
Cacti
Donald Trump might also be the single best living, breathing example of why decedents’ estates should be taxed at about 99% for anything over the first million.
Tommy
@Omnes Omnibus: Yes that. I don’t want to die for any cause.
Chris
@piratedan:
I don’t mind a moon base, all things being equal. I just doubt if the tech’s up to it, and can think of a lot of more urgent things to spend the $$$ on.
@Omnes Omnibus:
Ah, that pesky survival instinct.
max
@piratedan: tbh, the only one who sounds sane is Gingrich, at least a moon base project would be worth a few jobs and isn’t anti-science
EXACTLY! AT THIS POINT, NEWT IS THE TRUE REPUBLICAN MODERATE!
Bahahahahahahahaha.
max
[‘We need just 4 more candidates for a Sweet Sixteen bracket.’]
Omnes Omnibus
@Chris: Yes. And the fact that I like my knives. I don’t want them to be sullied.
Elizabelle
@Omnes Omnibus: You gots your very own jihadi Jane (except not really a jihadist)? Life is good.
Incidentally, for having identified the guy, they have not apprehended Jihadi John (or whatever his real name is) yet, have they? That kind of fell off the front pages …
srv
Why isn’t there already an ActBlue for Donald?
Elizabelle
@trollhattan: That’s excellent. Colbert’s hair is not quite aerodynamic enough, but he’s got the language and voice and mannerisms.
RaflW
@Brachiator:
I’m thinking this was floating around that there Book-o-Faces lately, hadn’t taken it. But with the BJ imprimatur of fun-ness, I just did.
It says I’m with Bernie 98%, Clinton 83%, O’Malley whocares%, and (shockingly) Jeb! 43%.
I also noticed that it wanted me to sign up to receive Bernie’s informative newsletters. I declined.
*You can deduce that I’m between 83 and 43% O’Malley inclined, but again … who cares?
NotMax
@srv
Donald don’t do blue; it’s all about the green. Shill, baby, shill.
Elizabelle
@srv: Candidate does not want just ActBlue. He wants ActBlueChip.
A very classy, very pretty account.
Omnes Omnibus
@Elizabelle: Jihadi Jane? I am not familiar.
Omnes Omnibus
@Elizabelle: It’ll be yoouge.
Ruckus
@Chris:
A moon base would be a great place to send the entire klown kar. With all occupants of course.
joel hanes
@Omnes Omnibus:
I was in the protests in Madison almost every day.
Thank you.
I couldn’t be there; I sent pizza every few days, and sent money to the TA’s union to help cover the costs of cleaning the Capitol.
Fscking working for money can keep a man from doing what’s right.
Elizabelle
@Omnes Omnibus: Something the jihadists often lack.
Well, Jane (real or virtual partners) and real jobs and prospects and a functioning government.
(You mentioned you had something to live for…. assuming it’s beyond music links… or us.)
RaflW
@srv: OK, that’s actually funny. Or I’m really tired.
In fact … g’night, y’all!
Signing off in CDT-land.
Omnes Omnibus
@joel hanes: It was interesting to see Wobblies and cops agreeing. I lived six blocks away. Being there was the right thing to do. No thanks are necessary. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t been there.
Elizabelle
@catclub: True that re Huntsman. And — except for the Sunday shows — we did not get President McCain.
But I worry about media fluffing of Kasich or whoever is the “establishment” candidate, especially since they denigrate HRC and ignore Sanders as much as possible.
Omnes Omnibus
@Elizabelle: (
Dear god, I would certainly hope so.
ETA: Although music is important, FFS.
David Koch
I was watching MSNBC tonight and they had a poll showing Bernie Sanders is surging in New Hampshire and after only a couple of weeks he has cut her previous 50 pt lead to just 10 points.
And it makes me wonder, what will Hillary’s supporters do if he wins. Will they be as upset as they were in 2008 or will they be more resigned to it?
Chris
@max:
Barry Goldwater remembered sharing a moment with Bob Dole in the late nineties when they realized “we’re the moderates of the party now, can you imagine that?” Barry effing Goldwater.
@Ruckus:
What has the Moon ever done to you?
Elizabelle
WaPost website headline:
Somehow, decapitations seem more civil when they’re done with drones rather than knives/swords.
/semi-snark
Cacti
This is my first spring in the Pacific northwest (Washington), and I have to say…
Holy balls does it stay light for a long time here in late spring.
It’s 10:09 p.m. and still not completely dark. And the longest day of the year is still 4-days away.
No wonder the state’s an agricultural powerhouse. With sunrise around 5:00 a.m., that’s about 17-hours of sunshine a day during peak growing season.
Chris
@Elizabelle:
CNN was talking about how “if you cut off the head of the snake, all you get is more snake heads.”
Can’t believe they passed up a chance at a HYDRA reference.
Brachiator
@RaflW: I wondered a bit whether the test is weighted to push toward Bernie or other candidates, but I don’t look at the thing as being definitive, and it has led to some fun discussions of real political issues. Go figure.
The one thing that’s fun is that none of the responses lead to this conclusion: “both sides, no difference.”
jl
Dammitall. Simon Maloy says the sleazebad hasn’t filed the papers. Was we all punked by Trump today? I hope not. I want to see him up there on the stage at the first debate. He’s just as qualified to be president as half of the GOP candidates. Trump is just as classy, just as qualified and just as deserving.
Ruckus
@Chris:
Let’s see…..
Hasn’t made me long for green cheese.
When full has kept me awake on camping trips.
Kept my boat in the harbor because of low tide.
OK the moon is too close and hasn’t done me that wrong. Now the sun, there’s a good place. I don’t think it would be damaged in any way. Alright maybe a small burp, but how would you know?
ETA Of course they’d have to go at night so that the sun couldn’t see them coming.
Ruckus
@jl:
He’s just as qualified to be president as
halfall of the GOP candidates.Needed a touch of fixing.
Jerzy Russian
@Cacti: You are in the sweet spot where it is daylight for a long time and where the Sun has a reasonably high elevation at noon so that it can do some good. If you were in Fairbanks you would have nearly 24 hours of continuous daylight but would have much cooler weather to deal with since the Sun is much closer to the horizon.
jl
@Ruckus: Forget the moon. The moon is for losers. It’s small and drab, no class. It’s basically a slum. Trump will announce the Trump Jupiter Base soon, you watch. Private public partnership, highest quality work. I’d start scraping together the cash for early discount memberships in the Trump Jupiter Gold Star Club for special executive perks on your visits.
A Jupiter Base will be on Jupiter and Jupiter is big, it has class, its a big colorful, very colorful and special planet, it’s the biggest there is, and America deserves the best and the biggest. It will inspire the country to do great things.
Mike G
One true statement, as it stands. I live near Refugio Beach, California, which is currently covered in 100,000 gallons of the stuff after a criminally negligent and under-regulated oil company let their pipe rust through.
ruemara
I’m exhausted. Got one more day to help a rhino out. https://experiment.com/projects/using-high-tech-toys-to-improve-foraging-in-captive-rhinos?s=discover
our giant herbivores need help surviving at all and if they have to be in captivity, we need enrichment toys. SO if you have some scratch, let the rhino win.
Also, fuck Donald Trump.
Aleta
Well, for sure like the savings and loan business .
Villago Delenda Est
It’s so appropriate that he chose Trump Tower to make is big announcement, as the place is so crass that Midas himself would blush.
Kropadope
@ JoshBarro:
What’s wrong with a moon base?
Aleta
@Ruckus:
from Sailing Alone Around the World, written by Joshua Slocum (around 1900)
NotMax
@jl
The clock starts ticking on the filing when (1) an announcement of candidacy is made and (2) $5,000 is spent on the campaign. Papers must be filed no later than 15 days after both those things occur.
Whether or not he will actually file is, well, a crapshoot.
Kropadope
@RaflW: I got something like:
Bernie 87%
Clinton 70
O’Malley 54
Rs <= 20*
Cruz 7
*Huckabee may have made it into the 30s
Major Major Major Major
I don’t think they’re shilling for anybody (the quiz site). I’ve used that every election over the years I think and I always got like 98% Green Party, then dean or Edwards or what have you, then whoever actually got the nomination.
Aleta
acapella
When the Moon Shines in the Evening
When the moon shines in the evening
And the trees glow with a silver light
I go out and I watch and wonder
That I live to see this night
When the moon is a silver fire
In the east burning soft and low
All my sorrows rise and leave me
None can see them as they go
by Stanley Scott ©1983 Stanley Scott Music
Recorded on Angels in Daring Kallet, Epstein and Cicone Overall Music OM-1 http://www.cindykallet.com
TriassicSands
Funny, I can’t identify a single “legit” candidate in the entire GOP.
TriassicSands
I don’t see sociopaths as “legit” candidates.
sharl
~~~BREAKING~~~BREAKING~~~BREAKING~~~BREAKING~~~
Citizen Alan
@Brachiator:
I just took that quiz earlier this evening. 96% Bernie, but a still respectable 81% Hillary. O’Malley at 64%, Christie (inexplicably) at 34% and the rest in single digits.
Amir Khalid
@Citizen Alan:
Just for a lark, I took the quiz too: 98% Sanders, 93% Clinton, 79% O’Malley, no Republican higher than 27% Christie. Oddly enough, Jeb isn’t among the R comparisons.
Amir Khalid
It would seem from that poll that there’s not that much distance on the issues between Sanders and Hillary.
Death Panel Truck
@Cacti: We like it.
satby
@Amir Khalid: There really isn’t that much distance between them.
I’m still a bit surprised at how low(ish) O’Malley scores on real progressive policies though. Askew has been noticeable in her absence about that.
BruceFromOhio
The NY Daily News cover is all you really need to know. And a Twitter account valued at 3 beel-yun dollars? That’s amusing all by itself.
But ewww, I accidentally read something by Mark Halperin first thing in the morning. Thanks for fucking up an otherwise ordinary Wednesday. Just kidding! It’ll be fine. But still: ewww.
NorthLeft12
You know, the fact that Trump is actually running is not hugely surprising. He has the money, time, “organization”, lack of shame, and outrageous ego/vanity to do it, and it makes sense for the publicity he will receive.
What is absolutely stupefying is that there are pundits and news organizations that are actually taking this seriously. UN-FRACKING-BELIEVABLE!!
danielx
Let’s see, hashtags to be associated with Donald Trump…#clownshoes, #badhair, #douchecanoe….the possibilities are endless.
Presumably there are actual sentient human beings out there somewhere who think a Trump presidency would be wicked radical cool. I wish these individuals could be easily identified – you know, purple fingertip, American flag pin, dunce tattoo on forehead, something.
Edit: Mark Halperin continues to be an idiot. In this uncertain world, it’s good to have at least a few things one can count on.
Joel
@Cacti: envious of anyone in my former home…
debbie
@Omnes Omnibus:
I bet it was. Do you think it will endure through the 2016 election?
Omnes Omnibus
@debbie: If you mean do I think that the 1016 Dem presidential nominee and Feingold have decent chances of winning? Then, yes. But the unique circumstance of the those protests have passed.
Omnes Omnibus
@Omnes Omnibus: 2016, damn it. 2016.
Amir Khalid
@NorthLeft12:
Until he files the paperwork, he’s not technically running, is he? And he can only claim to be running. As he was in 2012, until he decided not to file the paperwork.
debbie
@Omnes Omnibus:
Whichever year, hopefully it will still be a factor. I’m hoping the unions’ hatred of Kasich will also be key to the failure of any dreams he has of running.
JMT
@ruemara:
That is a great project! I made my pledge, and shared the link on Facebook. Got my fingers crossed that more BJ folk will do the same.
boatboy_srq
Maybe it’s just the Old Money in me, but I can’t help thinking “classy” and “beautiful” here translate to “not equipped with solid gold commodes.” Trump oozes slime, and most of his properties strike me as less classy-and-beautiful and more cheap-and-crass.
@cokane: Exactly, except… “Christian”? Please. There is no GOTea god but Mammon, and Rand (Ayn, not Tribblehead – just for clarity) is his prophet.
Ruckus
@boatboy_srq:
Saw somewhere, someone calling him Ayn Paul. Seems rather appropriate.
NonyNony
Uh, Dave? I hate to break this to you m’boy but in this here country the only “legit” candidates are the ones who can bring in the votes. If Trump is bringing in more voters than Cruz or Carson or Huckabee then Trump is a more “legit” candidate than Cruz or Carson or Huckabee.
@Redshift:
It would be so delicious to me if Donald Trump’s antics knocked King John Kasich out of the first debate. It would be so fitting for the former Fox News TV personality to get kicked off the island by Trump that I might giggle hysterically for days.
That said, the downside of the Trump announcement is that now all of the little guys are likely to focus their fire on Trump instead of taking potshots at Bush and Walker (and Kasich when he throws his hat in officially). Trump’s targetting “their” low information gullible sheep and if he can steal them away, then the whole point of the “running for President” grift disappears.
(Trump has basically two weeks to file his paperwork. I actually predict that he might just drop out before then and not file. He doesn’t really want to be President – he really just wants to keep his national profile up where his ego thinks it deserves to be.)
bjacques
I hope the Donald does file. They’re only a few arrows short a Quiverfull.
Librarian
@Omnes Omnibus: I think the 1016 election was between Canute and Aethelred the Unready.
g
“Boardroom Palin.” That’s perfect.
Grumpy Code Monkey
He’s just as “legit” a candidate as 90% of these knuckleheads.
However, for the good of the country, the GOP needs to nominate one of the True Believers (Kasich, Walker, Scott) who then needs to lose to the Democratic nominee by a margin so large that it can’t be waved away by allegations of “voter fraud”.
Then, maybe, we’ll have finally hit Peak Wingnut and start crawling back to sanity (although most state houses will still be drowning in tea, so maybe not).
If the GOP nominee winds up being another Establishment weenie (Jeb! or Mitt) who winds up losing by a slim margin, then things will continue to get more surreal.
Brachiator
@Librarian:
More a contest between Cnut and Edmund Ironside. Æthelred died in April 1016.
Not just pedantry. I’ve been listening to a podcast called The ReX Factor, about English kings.