From today's Wall Street Journal:
Clearly, the Donald Works for Hillary
By JOE QUEENAN
July 31, 2015 6:48 p.m. ETNumerous experts have described Donald Trump’s “quixotic” presidential candidacy as a gift to Hillary Clinton. His hateful remarks about immigration, his disparaging of John McCain’s military service and his disrespectful comments about women who breast-feed have put the Republican Party on the defensive.
Forced to fight a war on too many fronts, such respectable, plausible candidates as Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Marco Rubio are floundering. They are forced to direct their meager artillery at a fellow Republican while the real target stays safely out of range. If Hillary Clinton had secretly schemed with Mr. Trump to mount his bizarre campaign, embarrass the Republican Party and confound both the pundits and the pollsters, she could not have designed a more diabolical plan.
But what if this is exactly what she did? What if Mr. Trump’s unorthodox campaign is not the brainchild of a brazen, self-indulgent, narcissistic billionaire—the tired old story line the gullible press has been peddling—but a Machiavellian, cunningly orchestrated, byzantinely subtle plot concocted by Mrs. Clinton, her husband Bill and other strategists inside the Democratic Party? What if Mr. Trump is not a freewheeling, gun-slinging maverick, but a Trojan Horse deliberately planted inside the Republican Party? What if Mr. Trump is not a wild man, a crazy, a clown, but a saboteur, an agent provocateur, a mole?
What if the whole thing is a conspiracy?
The arguments for such a theory are compelling. Until recently, Mr. Trump has been associated much more closely with the Democratic Party than with the Republican Party. Until 2009 he was registered as a Democrat. He has a long history of contributing to Democratic candidates, including Mrs. Clinton in 2008. He has often attended social functions at which the Clintons were present, and both were guests at his last wedding in 2005. These folks are tight. So tight, in fact, that Donald J. Trump is listed on the Clinton Foundation website as donating “$100,001 to $250,000” to the organization.
Mr. Trump has also lived his entire life in New York City, where for all intents and purposes there are no Republicans. If Mr. Trump hates immigrants and poor people and lazy government drones who feed at the taxpayer trough and women who breast-feed in public, why would he live in Manhattan?
The plot thickens when we learn that in 2010 Mr. Trump contributed $50,000 to the Chicago mayoral campaign of Rahm Emanuel. Mr. Emanuel was chief of staff in the first Obama administration and is a close friend of Hillary Clinton. A close, close friend of Hillary Clinton. Starting to connect the dots?
There are many other threads linking Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton. She lives in New York’s suburban Westchester County. He owns golf courses all over Westchester County. Mr. Trump’s television show “The Apprentice” aired on NBC. Until last year Chelsea Clinton was employed by NBC. Mr. Trump did his graduate studies at a snooty Ivy League school: Penn. Hillary got her law degree from Yale. See how it all fits together?
What about motivation? It is obvious why Mrs. Clinton would put Mr. Trump up to running as a bogus candidate for the Republican nomination. If mainstream Republicans do not repudiate him, he will so badly tarnish the GOP brand that she will walk off with the election. But if the Republican establishment spurns him, thereby insulting the millions of Americans who support him, he will run as a third-party candidate, siphoning off enough GOP voters to hand Mrs. Clinton the presidency. Either way she wins.
What does Mr. Trump get out of the deal? Remember: He is first and foremost a real-estate developer whose very name is iconic. Mr. Trump is all about marketing the Trump brand. If his quixotic candidacy does end up sabotaging the GOP next year, some insiders report, Mrs. Clinton has secretly agreed to rename the Lincoln Memorial as The Trump Lincoln Memorial, re-christen Yosemite National Forest as The Donald. J. Trump Yosemite National Forest, and switch from the dowdy old Agriculture Department to the Trump Taj USDA. He will also be allowed to install luxury condos in the Washington Monument.
Debunkers of conspiracy theories will say that this thesis is too far-fetched. Well, get this: It is a little-known fact that Donald Trump is a Presbyterian. And it just so happens that Bill Clinton had his well-publicized heart surgery at—where else?—Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
Coincidence, you say? Pshaw.
Mr. Queenan writes the Moving Targets column for the Journal’s Weekend Review section.
This has been my theory from the get-go.
I often wonder if Trump doesn't just fall down laughing hysterically as soon as he gets out of camera and media range over how all of the ultra conservatives take his insane rhetoric - hook, line and sinker. "His candidacy a gift to Hillary ..." - rewind these pages. I've said that exact same thing several times many weeks ago.
Trump is running because Hillary put him up to it? Tell me another one.
It's impossible to get a read by looking at contributions. People with Trump's net worth contribute to all kinds of candidates on both sides.
Trump has lived his entire life in NY City. No Republicans there. Proof that he's just a mole.
He and Hillary both went to Ivy League schools. More proof of a conspiracy!
The last paragraph is the funniest. Bill got his heart surgery at Presbyterian Hospital and the Donald is a Presbyterian. It's a lock!
I often wonder if Trump doesn't just fall down laughing hysterically as soon as he gets out of camera and media range over how all of the ultra conservatives take his insane rhetoric - hook, line and sinker.
"Insane" rhetoric such as:
Smarter trade deals
Tightening border security
Tax reform
Restoring America to greatness
Taking better care of veterans
Entitlement reform
Energy independence
More "insanity," please!
Whatever. His brand of rhetoric will divide the traditional conservative vote - a la Ross Perot. This, especially should he run as an independent. If you vote for Trump as an indy - just as well to count that one in Hillary's column. Trump running as an independent means a shoe-in for Clinton. Argue all you want, but mark my word. 😉
Whatever. His brand of rhetoric will divide the traditional conservative vote - a la Ross Perot. This, especially should he run as an independent. If you vote for Trump as an indy - just as well to count that one in Hillary's column. Trump running as an independent means a shoe-in for Clinton. Argue all you want, but mark my word. 😉
I've already agreed with you on another thread. His running as a third party candidate wouldn't surprise me one bit, and part of me hopes he does that very thing. Save for a handful, the GOP is spineless and gutless, won't stand up for itself, and folds like cheap lawn furniture. It needs to be totally flushed out and rebuilt. As it stands right now there is little difference between the two parties, neither one serious about addressing our most pressing needs/problems.
Maybe he'll end up being Hillary's running mate. Wouldn't that be great!?
I often wonder if Trump doesn't just fall down laughing hysterically as soon as he gets out of camera and media range over how all of the ultra conservatives take his insane rhetoric - hook, line and sinker.
"Insane" rhetoric such as:
Smarter trade deals
Tightening border security
Tax reform
Restoring America to greatness
Taking better care of veterans
Entitlement reform
Energy independenceMore "insanity," please!
I was thinking more along the lines of evil, breast-feeding Mexican immigrants. Freshen that drink for ya? 😉
I often wonder if Trump doesn't just fall down laughing hysterically as soon as he gets out of camera and media range over how all of the ultra conservatives take his insane rhetoric - hook, line and sinker.
"Insane" rhetoric such as:
Smarter trade deals
Tightening border security
Tax reform
Restoring America to greatness
Taking better care of veterans
Entitlement reform
Energy independenceMore "insanity," please!
I was thinking more along the lines of evil, breast-feeding Mexican immigrants. Freshen that drink for ya? 😉
I was already 100% sure that was your line of thinking.
"Insane" rhetoric such as:
Smarter trade deals
Tightening border security
Tax reform
Restoring America to greatness
Taking better care of veterans
Entitlement reform
Energy independenceMore "insanity," please!
Great rhetoric, NO substance. Exactly the kind of platform low info voters flock to.
[Edited on 8/1/2015 by BillyBlastoff]
"Insane" rhetoric such as:
Smarter trade deals
Tightening border security
Tax reform
Restoring America to greatness
Taking better care of veterans
Entitlement reform
Energy independenceMore "insanity," please!
Great rhetoric, NO substance. Exactly the kind of platform low info voters flock to.
[Edited on 8/1/2015 by BillyBlastoff]
What, like "Hope and Change?" Low-info voters sure flocked to that!
Like you, I'd be waiting to hear more specifics, but at this stage in the game none of the
candidates are going to too long on that.
[Edited on 8/1/2015 by alloak41]
Maybe he'll end up being Hillary's running mate. Wouldn't that be great!?
I doubt you could get Hil to run in the VP slot. No way Trump would.
"Insane" rhetoric such as:
Smarter trade deals
Tightening border security
Tax reform
Restoring America to greatness
Taking better care of veterans
Entitlement reform
Energy independenceMore "insanity," please!
Great rhetoric, NO substance. Exactly the kind of platform low info voters flock to.
[Edited on 8/1/2015 by BillyBlastoff]
What, like "Hope and Change?" Low-info voters sure flocked to that!
Like you, I'd be waiting to hear more specifics, but at this stage in the game none of the
candidates are going to too long on that.[Edited on 8/1/2015 by alloak41]
Your pals will be "debating" next week when the circus comes to Ohio. No doubt you'll hear all the details and specifics you want to hear such as Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi, repeal repeal repeal Obamacare, how Bill Clinton was a womanizer, how Obama is the worst President ever...get the drift?
Maybe it will be a slumber party with The Donald or a love fest amongst the other 9 candidates. Then again, maybe a cage match.
Regardless alloak, you should get all the specifics you want to satisfy your thirst.
"Insane" rhetoric such as:
Smarter trade deals
Tightening border security
Tax reform
Restoring America to greatness
Taking better care of veterans
Entitlement reform
Energy independenceMore "insanity," please!
Great rhetoric, NO substance. Exactly the kind of platform low info voters flock to.
[Edited on 8/1/2015 by BillyBlastoff]
What, like "Hope and Change?" Low-info voters sure flocked to that!
Like you, I'd be waiting to hear more specifics, but at this stage in the game none of the
candidates are going to too long on that.[Edited on 8/1/2015 by alloak41]
Your pals will be "debating" next week when the circus comes to Ohio. No doubt you'll hear all the details and specifics you want to hear such as Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi, repeal repeal repeal Obamacare, how Bill Clinton was a womanizer, how Obama is the worst President ever...get the drift?
Maybe it will be a slumber party with The Donald or a love fest amongst the other 9 candidates. Then again, maybe a cage match.
Regardless alloak, you should get all the specifics you want to satisfy your thirst.
Actually, it was BillyBlastoff that was concerned about lack of specifics currently emanating from the Trump camp.
In reality though, a debate stage is not conducive to offering much in the way of details and specifics. You're looking at very short intervals to get points across, not enough time to get into depth or offer point by point specifics on any particular topic.
Your pals will be "debating" next week when the circus comes to Ohio. No doubt you'll hear all the details and specifics you want to hear such as Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi, repeal repeal repeal Obamacare, how Bill Clinton was a womanizer, how Obama is the worst President ever...get the drift?
Not really, no. It will be up to the debate moderators to steer the debate.
