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The Trump Debate Corner
A lot happened at the main debate tonight, but let’s focus on Trump on this thread, because, face it: He’s probably the reason most people tuned in.
I didn’t watch the debate; I listened to it from my computer, on Ricochet. From just of one of his answers alone, Trump came out looking as bad as I’d imagined him to be. I’ll dissect it and some more to show you why.
First, his answer to Megan Kelly when she asked him about his rude comments about women just made him sound angry. By the end, he seemed to be attacking Megan just for asking the question.
KELLY: Mr. Trump, one of the things people love about you is you speak your mind and you don’t use a politician’s filter. However, that is not without its downsides, in particular, when it comes to women. You’ve called women you don’t like “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.” Your Twitter account…
TRUMP: Only Rosie O’Donnell.
KELLY: No, it wasn’t. Your Twitter account … For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O’Donnell.
TRUMP: Yes, I’m sure it was.
KELLY: Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who was likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?
TRUMP: I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore. We lose to China. We lose to Mexico both in trade and at the border. We lose to everybody. And frankly, what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding. We have a good time. What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that. What I say is what I say. And honestly. Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that.
He seemed so ungentlemanly.
Second was his reply when asked about his contributions to the Clintons and Democrats. I think he actually spoke the truth for half of his answer:
BAIER: Mr. Trump, it’s not just your past support for single-payer health care. You’ve also supported a host of other liberal policies. Use — you’ve also donated to several Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton included, Nancy Pelosi. You explained away those donations saying you did that to get business-related favors. And you said recently, quote, “When you give, they do whatever the hell you want them to do.”
TRUMP: You’d better believe it.
BAIER: So what specifically did they do?
TRUMP: If I ask them, if I need them, you know, most of the people on this stage I’ve given to, just so you understand, a lot of money.
He made it sound as if he paid then off, like all big businessmen do so, to get in with them, and that is just how business is done. When asked what favors they did for him he deflected.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you get from Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi?
TRUMP: Well, I’ll tell you what, with Hillary Clinton, I said be at my wedding and she came to my wedding. You know why? She didn’t have a choice because I gave. I gave to a foundation that, frankly, that foundation is supposed to do good. I didn’t know her money would be used on private jets going all over the world. It was.
It was so insincere. All I could think was that he had to deflect, but that the truth is either that he really liked them, politically, or that what they did for him was clearly crooked. Probably both. The man loves to brag about doing business, but he comes of like a shark. Why not say, “I pay bribes to all these guys because if I don’t they won’t let me make an honest buck?” No, he always comes off like he is proud to be part of that crooked world.
The final quote that sunk it for me was when he was asked about his business going bankrupt.
WALLACE: Mr. Trump, you talk a lot about how you are the person on this stage to grow the economy. I want to ask you about your business record. Trump corporations — Trump corporations, casinos and hotels, have declared bankruptcy four times over the last quarter-century. In 2011, you told Forbes Magazine this: “I’ve used the laws of the country to my advantage.” But at the same time, financial experts involved in those bankruptcies say that lenders to your companies lost billions of dollars. Question sir, with that record, why should we trust you to run the nation’s business?
TRUMP: Because I have used the laws of this country just like the greatest people that you read about every day in business have used the laws of this country, the chapter laws, to do a great job for my company, for myself, for my employees, for my family, et cetera. I have never gone bankrupt, by the way. I have never. But out of hundreds of deals …
WALLACE: No, but the concept sir …
TRUMP: Excuse me. Excuse me.
WALLACE: … that’s your line, but your companies have gone bankrupt.
TRUMP: Excuse me, what am I saying? Out of hundreds of deals that I’ve done, hundreds, on four occasions I’ve taken advantage of the laws of this country, like other people. I’m not going to name their names because I’m not going to embarrass, but virtually every person that you read about on the front page of the business sections, they’ve used the law. The difference is, when somebody else uses those laws, nobody writes about it. When I use it, they say, “Trump, Trump, Trump.” The fact is, I built a net worth of more than $10 billion. I have a great, great company. I employ thousands of people. And I’m very proud of the job I did. Again Chris, hundreds and hundreds of deals. Four times, I’ve taken advantage of the laws. And frankly, so has everybody else in my position.
WALLACE: Well sir, let’s just talk about the latest example, which is Trump Entertainment Resorts, which went bankrupt in 2009. In that case alone, lenders to your company lost over $1 billion and more than 1,100 people were laid off.
TRUMP: Well, I…
WALLACE: Is that the way that you’d run the country?
TRUMP: Let me just tell you about the lenders. First of all, these lenders aren’t babies. These are total killers. These are not the nice, sweet little people that you think, OK? You know, I mean you’re living in a world of the make-believe, Chris, you want to know the truth. And I had the good sense to leave Atlantic City, which by the way, Caesars just went bankrupt. Every company, Chris can tell you, every company virtually in Atlantic City went bankrupt.Every company. And let me just tell you. I had the good sense, and I’ve gotten a lot of credit in the financial pages, seven years ago I left Atlantic City before it totally cratered, and I made a lot of money in Atlantic City, and I’m very proud of it. I want to tell you that. Very, very proud of it.
“I took advantage of the law.” I nearly snapped my keyboard in two when I heard him say that. What was he saying? I know how the game is played and I play it well. Well, my dear Mr. Trump. The game and its crooked rules are the problem! You did well for yourself (something he never fails to mention) by taking advantage of the law. Good for you, you have all the lawyers and shady accountants that let you get away with it, but what about the rest of us?
The man has provided enough attack ad material in this one debate to last until November 2016.
One more thing. Trump is really down on America. He never says how things will be better. The last thing I recall him saying is that we can’t negotiate, win wars, or keep our allies. We can’t do these things because of the Democrats. But that never comes off from his speeches. I think as people go back and look through his performance here, he will plummet in the polls and I hope to irrelevancy.
Does anyone here think he did well? Is anyone still pleased with him?
Published in Domestic Policy, Elections, General, Politics
He did risk something, he lost 100% of the equity in that deal. You appear to be angry that his losses were limited to 100%. And yes, debt increases the ROI on your equity. That is why it is called leverage.
I will bow out now. You will never convince me and I will not convince you.
As a Canadian, that was insane. Even Guliani said you can’t adopt Hillary Care otherwise where does Canada go for their first tier medicine?
Yah but it works!
Take a look at what she did to Chris Matthews tonight. Matthews challenged her on calling Hillary a liar and then she substantively laid out the entire case for attacking Killary on Benghazi, etc.
Lets not fight, Trump isn’t worth it.
Hm I will have to look that up. I don’t watch much MSNBC for obvious medical reasons.
A post-debate poll (still open).
Okay I just did, and people can look it up here.
OMG! That was way better than what I saw in the debate. I agree with you see is good. Frankly I think maybe a Rubio-Fiorina ticket is the key. You can’t lead with someone that tough and sharp, but you do want here savaging Hillary. Maybe we need to go all outside the box here and have a Carson-Fiorina ticket. Really swing for the fences.
Ok, when I see that 47% of those polling say Trump won, I have to wondering who is clicking the survey?
Ugh…I voted in it and Donal Trump is at 47% for having won the debate. To quote Kent Brockman “I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, democracy doesn’t work.”
Have you watched either Debate Zafar? What do people in your neck of the woods think about all of this. Do they even care at this point?
I voted twice. I may go back for a few more shots.
Honestly, that moved it to a whole new level to me. I cannot believe that was said on a Republican debate stage. That is beyond Kasich’s Medicaid expansion. Bush’s support of Common Core has nothing on that.
Thats the Chicago Way!
If they are too Trump-Stoopid to set up a proper poll, I’ll share my mind, as often as permitted. :)
I had a front row seat for the match in 2010 when he knocked over a very popular governor to win the Republican primary. It was a true David and Goliath story!
May David beat Goliath in 2016.
If Trump runs agains Hillary, this statement is just, well…deja vu.
Trump is the Clinton’s Judas Goat.
It is noteworthy that Trump raised his hand when Bret Baier asked which candidates would run on a third party ticket.
Also, today we learned that Bill Clinton had talked to Trump about running.
Trump raised his hand because the entire point of his running was to split the GOP vote with a third party so as to elect Hillary.
Wow! Thank you Ricochet editor’s for making me look good. You put quotes in and everything.
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Now, are we absolutely sure that Joe Biden didn’t show up in a Donald Trump costume?
So, Hillary is just exchanging political favors with Trump.
Ughh. The visual is just gross.
Clowns and Circus, right?
Carson apparently has an extra half of one lying around somewhere.
I finally figured out who The Donald reminds me of:
Trump can’t not be Trump. The first exchange with Megyn showed how thin skinned he is, going after a moderator for asking about past boorish comments. Later he brags about using and manipulating the system. He can’t quite explain when he became a republican, and can’t promise he won’t run third party. None of this should play well to the base.
Jules, I affirm your diligence!
Valiuth – I have not, it’s not really being followed here with that much interest – yet – though I assume we’ll get some coverage in the news this evening. This whole Republican/Democrat primary thing is a very in-house thing – interest will really pick up a bit later, closer to the actual nominee pick.
There’s a fringe following, mind you, but that’s mostly because “Trump, really, I can’t believe they’re voting for Trump”. (Not that we can talk, mind you.)
In 2012 some members of The Chaser (a comedy team) provided a weekly roundup of the US election and related affairs in ‘Planet America’ (sample here) – which was informative but irreverent. They’ll probably be asked back for 2016, though don’t know when.
Honest question: Is there any chance that the polls represent the voice of ‘the base’?
My guess no.
Is it more likely the polls represent a portion of the general population, who in a survey might self-identify as republicans, whether or not that is true?
Trump can’t explain why he is a Republican because Trump isn’t a Republican or Conservative. Heck he isn’t even a Liberal. Trump is a shyster. He is only loyal to himself and as he is so fond of telling us he has always done well for himself. I’m sure that is exactly what he intends to do with the presidency.
Zafar, please defend our honor and tell them the Trump thing is an illusion, possibly a delusion perpetrated by the media.
A couple of nights ago, I read through all of the Bush-Perot-Clinton debates. I was astounded to see Perot manipulate both candidates, as if he was enjoying feeling powerful in doing so, and then in the last debate, he really supported Clinton by agreeing with every negative thing Clinton said about Bush. It seemed like it was two against one.
I really hope Trump does not run as a third-party candidate.