Trump won't rule out independent run for president

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LAURIE KELLMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Donald Trump on Sunday refused to rule out an independent bid for president in 2016, and he dug in on creating a database to track Muslims in the U.S.

Asked on ABC's "This Week" whether he would consider a third-party run if GOP opponents try "to take you out," Trump said, "I will see what happens. I have to be treated fairly. If I'm treated fairly, I'm fine."

The billionaire and former reality show star is leading the race for the GOP nomination for the fourth straight month, with Republican establishment candidates such as Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio far behind. All the GOP candidates, Trump included, have signed a pledge to support the party's eventual presidential nominee and forgo independent runs in 2016.

He suggested that his lead in the polls, unshaken by disparaging remarks he's made about ethnic groups or his lack of specifics on foreign policy, has vexed the Republican party.

FULL story at link.


Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds up a campaign button after speaking at a campaign stop Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Eric Schultz)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/514b3eabe8f141ccbf613d0ff51cc080/trump-wont-rule-out-independent-run-president

---

Oh please please please...

[JustAnotherGen]

1. This could be really interesting

And I actually said squeeeeee out loud!

[randys1]

30. Remember what I said? He and Bill met, they planned this all along.

To guarantee Hillary wins WH.

Of course if Bernie gets the nom, it would still probably go same way.

This means Donald is saying all this nazi shit on purpose to actually harm the cons.

We will see,

[okasha]

33. Black helicopters.

[MgtPA]

40. I've been saying the same thing since day one.

Why the hell would he even want that job??

[Hortensis]

42. Experts say Trump has full-blown narcissistic personality disorder.

DISORDER being the operable word here. Trump is profoundly emotionally dysfunctional, and that also profoundly affects his intellectual functioning.

People like Trump don't to anything for others unless it's to show off their own greatness. The behavior you describe is about the last thing someone who only cares about adulation for himself would pursue.

The Trumps of this world are not helpful to their inferiors (everyone else) in this world, to put it mildly. Their inferiors exist to admire and serve them.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

47. That doesn't necessarily mean that isn't what he is doing.

It means there is something in it for him for tossing it to Hillary, if that is what he is doing.

[Hortensis]

50. Oh, yes, it does, and many other realities do also.

First, fake candidacies to benefit another are highly illegal. Even a $1 payoff or ambassadorship to Senagal would be genuine grounds for real impeachment and removal from office -- and both parties would be behind it. No right-wing Fake-Gate but a true unifying national crime at the highest level.

Plus, just to appeal to common sense: Who would ever trust an emotionally dysfunctional, loose flywheel like Trump with any serious secret, much less one that could literally land a president and various associates in prison?

Think about it. You guys keep spreading this slur, but the worst of it is that you don't seem to realize how unbelievably bad, impossible, ridiculous it is. It does show that your opinion of our political process is even worse than reality would allow to be possible.

It's important to keep at least one foot on the ground. Reality offers plenty that we as citizens SHOULD be concerned about.

[rjsquirrel]

51. Yeah no

Silly conspiracy theory.

Who would damage their own reputation this way for such a reason.

He walks and talks like a Nazi. He is a goddamn Nazi.

[Tab]

66. Nobody will ever believe it

I can hear it now: "In the 2016 Election, Hillary, what we should do is get someone like Donald Trump to run against you - I know he'd get more votes than anyone else in the Republican field of 15 candidates."

It's not plausible as a proposal. I think Trump is in it to win it.

That said, if he's losing, he likes to get out before losing too much so he might throw it to her, but I'm pretty sure he won't if he imagines he has even a chance of winning.

[Maeve]

2. Again? Go for it, Il Donald!

Make it that much easier to keep a Dem in the White House

[bowens43]

3. Good and if Bernie doesn't get the nomination , he should too. The two party system is bullshit

[misterhighwasted]

5. Well he really is an Indy. why wouldn't he? HRC will still win the GE but the GOP would be a mess

HRC will still win the GE, and the GOP would be a mess if Trump ran as an Indy. HAAAhaa

Perfect!

[7962]

14. Now THAT would be something! Hillary/Trump/Sanders/"x" all at once!

I know there are always other candidates out there, but this would be the first time there would be FOUR well known people on the ballot.
We could actually have a president who only won 35% of the vote.

[Liberalagogo]

15. Please let "x" be Carson

That would be one circus of an election. Ringleaders vs clowns.

[7962]

20. If it wasnt him, i'd think maybe Rubio. Still think Jeb is out of it

[Hortensis]

43. Me too. My guess is Trump will not be the GOP nominee,

no matter what. The GOP is worried that it could cost them control of Congress (!), previously considered almost impossible, plus many other down-ticket seats.

I've read speculation that, if the GOP is not able to push a viable candidate like Rubio ahead via major Super-Pac attacks, they might draft a "white knight" candidate in the new year (Romney?). There's also the possibility that the convention wouldn't produce a nominee ( ), leading to an brokered convention with more establishment control (apparently someone with a very recognizable political name, like Romney or McCain, could be enlisted precisely to draw off votes and produce that result).

Carl Rove thinks Trump, Carson, Bush, Rubio and Cruz have the money to stay in. Cruz is a big no for the GOP. The things I've read recently agree with you, Jeb has disappointed severely. Right now Rubio (and perhaps fascist Kaisich), are supposedly sounding most acceptable...

How can people prefer watching football to this? Or thrill-seekers throw themselves off cliffs instead?

[7962]

46. I know a guy who has INSISTED since July it would be Bush/Romney

That they have some secret deal that was made months ago. He is absolutely convinced of it.
Me, i dont see Romney being a #2 after trying twice to win #1. Especially to Bush.
And so far, the voters have been squashing that theory

[Hortensis]

53. Interesting theory, but I'm with you in that

I don't see Romney as accepting #2 either, for the obvious but also another reason.

Even though the press treats religious motivations as if our elections are tea parties and thus in bad taste to discuss, there is good reason to believe Romney's runs for president were, above all (pun intended), because he believed God wanted him -- or perhaps some Mormon yet to be identified -- in charge of the U.S. arsenal during the Second Coming and faceoff with Satan, as well as during the establishment of God's earthly capital near Independence, Missouri. Last time, Huntsman ran but fell away, seeming to suggest it might be Romney.

If this is correct, who knows what Romney might do. Romney has said many times all he is and has is devoted to the service of God and that he believes God gave him his assets to use in His service, so no doubt he is always looking for further signs.

I'm not worried about Satan, et al, btw, but it does not seem sensible to allow one of the many end-times believers who've been running anywhere near the Oval Office.

[7962]

54. I read that many evangelicals refused to vote for Romney & stayed home.

Wouldnt doubt it

[Hortensis]

55. That has to have been a big reason those prior backers

told Romney they wouldn't support him in 2016. We'll see. I do believe Romney dances to music pollsters don't hear. Except for that one HUGE exception, he'd be the truly independent candidate most say they want.

[Volaris]

58. If trump is the nominee, my monies on Cruz for the VP spot.

Trump is sharp enough to know he will need evangelical support to come close to a GE win, and Cruz has done an impressive job so far of kissing The Donald's ass like a good little bootlicker. Trump is NOT sharp enough to know that Cruz will run white house policy via proxy control of the gop-majority Senate, however, and I think Cruz knows this.
Take that for what you will.

[NYC Liberal]

26. 1912:

[7962]

31. Well, I HAVE heard of all 4 of them, so I stand corrected!!

Wilson wins with 41%.
I think if this happened today, the winner would have a lot lower % of the vote. Too much splintering out there

[JackRiddler]

61. Clinton (1992) won with 42%, Lincoln (1860) with 40%

[Jarqui]

4. I hope they screw Trump over and he runs

Trump's a problem for the Koch's because he's not easily bought. He's a problem for everyone else who isn't GOP because he's a racist nut case.

[misterhighwasted]

7. He also hates the Bush Family. GW's mortgage fiasco cost Trump a lot of money, & a bankruptcy or two

In the beginning I swore Trump was in the race for the sole purpose of keeping JEB out of it.

I still believe that in the world of billionaires & multi millionaires, this would indeed be a game of revenge. Its personal with Trump & the Bush crime family.

[Jarqui]

10. He hates himself then

Here he's advocating bringing back Bush's torture techniques
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027371714

[misterhighwasted]

12. No.

Where Billionaires live, its all about being screwed over with money or territory & the revenge taken to right that wrong.

It has nothing to do with politics.
Those are two completely different playing fields and personal wealth is first on their list.

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. Follow the money..always follow the money. n/t

[Hortensis]

44. Interesting.

[aintitfunny]

6. We can but hope

[PearliePoo2]

8. Hahahaha!! The remaining so called "mainstream " Pubs...

are tearing their hair out and throwing up. They're wondering how the fuck did this happen?
Hey Trump...they have declared war on you!
Go Donald..take the brawl all the way to the convention and rip the G.O.P to shreds!

[misterhighwasted]

13. K & R.

Go Trump Go!!

[COLGATE4]

9. Can you imagine - a shit fight to end all shit fights

among all the monkeys at the Rethuglican convention? A thing of beauty.

[world wide wally]

11. He truly deserves the humiliation of losing the primary and then the general

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. Please, please, please!!

[Hepburn]

29. From your post to tRump's fluff covered ears!

Oh, yeah, I am begging, too!

[NastyRiffraff]

17. Now the RNC wants Mitt!

You know they're panicking when they want Mittens to run. They're scared shitless of Trump and his rabid base, which they, the RNC, created. They own them now.

[JudyM]

24. So true, they created that rabid base. Appealing to the lowest human emotions... Nt

[titaniumsalute]

18. But but but...he signed a GOP pledge...he won't run as an Indy...LOL

[malthaussen]

19. Well, that didn't take long.

Wasn't it just a little while ago that Mr Trump made an undertaking that he would not run as a third-party candidate?

-- Mal

[INdemo]

21. Dont think he would get the signatures needed to get on all the

States ballots but then there are probably a hell-of-a-lot of voters that would follow him that agree with his Fascist
ideology.

[annabanana]

22. ha.. He may never have bothered to trouble himself with the

pesky little details!

[Hepburn]

32. The rabid racists would trample each other trying to get to his petition! JMHO n/t

[TexasBushwhacker]

25. Sounds like it's time for James Carville's quote about

Ross Perot running in 1992:

"the biggest single act of masturbation in the history of the world."

It is, and always will be, all about Donald.

[Kennah]

28. Except he mostly jerked off all over Poppy. Perot didn't give the race to Clinton.

Perot also accurately warned about the great sucking sound of jobs going overseas.

OK, OK, OK. I will concede the truth about stopped clocks.

[TexasBushwhacker]

34. But that's the thing about Trump

He wouldn't pull votes from both sides, just from the GOP. It would guarantee a Democratic win.

I agree that Clinton still would have won.

[Skittles]

48. who was it that said

Trump is such an egotist, if he was having sex with a model he'd be fantasizing he was whacking off

[Kennah]

27. Run Forrest, I mean Donald n/t

[Agnosticsherbet]

35. Yes please.

[okasha]

36. Please, please, please, please. ....

Go, Donald! Go!

Right over the cliff.. ...

[MADem]

37. I second that emotion....oh please, please, PLEASE, indeed!!!! nt

[okasha]

38. That would likely

hand Texas over to Hillary and stop both Trump and the R's in their tracks.

I hope he does it.

[DCBob]

39. This actually might be preferable to the old guard Republicans.

I think they might fear more Trump winning the Republican nomination and forever tainting the GOP image... even worse than it is already.

[Hortensis]

45. I read the GOP's worried Trump could lose Congress

to the Democrats, plus a whole slew of other "down-ticket" races.

[abakan]

41. I'm with you!

Oh please make it so. Just for the record, I thought he already promised to not do this. He must of had his fingers crossed when he signed the pledge.

[trillion]

49. But, But, But he promised he would not run independently if he was up for the Republic nomination

and so allowed into the Republican debates. He has just broke his word to the RNC. Not surprised. I thought it was weird they let him in their debates at all since he's spouting Tea Party rhetoric. Nothing about him is new, it's all tea party.

[thesquanderer]

62. I believe he said the same thing then

i.e. that he would not run independently, as long as he was treated fairly. Of course, only he gets to define what is fair treatment.

[tblue37]

52. Run, Forrest, run! nt

[liberal N proud]

56. Perfect!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

57. "The Donald" better not go hunting with Cheney.

[vkkv]

59. I think we should all call Trumps campaign offices and ask the staffer "IS DONALD TRUMP A LOSER ??""

Quit the race? What ARE YOU, A LOSER ??????

[Nye Bevan]

60. That would be amazingly good news for the Democrats.

Splitting the Republican vote between the completely insane faction and the slightly more sane faction would open the door wide for the Democratic candidate.

[OverBurn]

63. I think that's what would happen, I sure hope so anyway.

[SunSeeker]

64. K & R

[Blue_In_AK]

65. I certainly hope he does.