The reason Trump seems to have a lead in the polls is that he is uncontested *within his unique wing* of the Republican party - the TV personality wing. Here are a few charts that illustrate how quickly the other wings, especially the establishment wing, will come to trounce him once they "consolidate out" some of the weaker hands. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-funke/how-clint-eastwood-could-_b...
The vetting is hardly underway. Trump's divorce revelations are gossip fodder, not substantive analysis of his business practices designed to illuminate how he will govern. The story made the media cut because it has a lot of click-bait potential.
People who support Trump are probably the same kind of people who supported Rob Ford in the Toronto mayoral election 5 years ago. They didn't care about police reports of domestic incidents at his house. They simply liked his in-your-face conservatism.
The media made much of Ford as a "character" candidate and refused to take his early surge in the polls seriously. The candidate's popularity brought them lots of hits so they prioritized coverage of his pre-election antics, which eventually endeared him to many alienated, conservative citizens. People who hadn't voted in decades ( or ever) were invigorated by his entertaining campaign and showed up at the polls.
By the time it became clear that the candidate had enough momentum to win the whole thing, it was too late.
People who support Trump are probably the same kind of people who supported Rob Ford in the Toronto mayoral election 5 years ago. They didn't care about police reports of domestic incidents at his house. They simply liked his in-your-face conservatism.
The media made much of Ford as a "character" candidate and refused to take his early surge in the polls seriously. The candidate's popularity brought them lots of hits so they prioritized coverage of his pre-election antics, which eventually endeared him to many alienated, conservative citizens. People who hadn't voted in decades ( or ever) were invigorated by his entertaining campaign and showed up at the polls.
By the time it became clear that the candidate had enough momentum to win the whole thing, it was too late.
1
"never before held elective office an who, on paper, are not qualified" I would like to see the qualification list. An elected official has has run nothing is qualified? How does that work?
The New York Post, 1990, cover page, quoting Marla Maples: "Best Sex I Ever Had."
Setting a high mark...
Setting a high mark...
1
It doesn't hurt the media to examine its motivation in covering someone like Donald Trump. It seems to me it is less a "vetting" than slacker work since his business and other practices are not covered as part of the examination, just his clownish antics.
2
We need to feed this troll to keep him alive. Click early and click often on every Trump story you can find.
3
I'm not buying it. Trump doesn't really needed to be "vetted" by the Times or other major papers, any more than Mike Huckabee or Rick Santorum does. They are not serious candidates by any standard, they will expose themselves in the debates, and there's an opportunity cost to covering them. What are the issues you aren't covering because you are expending time and resources on somebody who knows nothing, and cares less than nothing, about the issues? If you and the rest of the print media and NPR (I have no hope for the nightly news) cover the issues, people can make up their own minds about which candidate they want to support based on what they say.
Your "vetting" sounds a lot like personality journalism, trying to assess character or style or temperament. I think we voters can see that for ourselves.
Your "vetting" sounds a lot like personality journalism, trying to assess character or style or temperament. I think we voters can see that for ourselves.
3
PLEASE, media. Don't do anything to damage the "candidacy" of Trump---at least not until the primaries actually start. The guy is a one-man comedy machine and the most entertaining element in politics since the "Rent Is Too Damn High" party.
7
The only reason I look at any articles on Donald Trump is that I am a worry-wart and I am panicked that there might be enough, what shall I say?, stupid people in this country that he will get the Republican nomination. As soon as I see that he will not I will breathe easier. Not that the rest of the "gang" is any better. If by any weird, remote chance he were ever elected I don't know where in the world I would move to..
1
Those of you in media worry too much about Trump. He is a member of no party except his own Trump party. He doesn't even really want to be president. Fine. He can get the free publicity and provide us all with some entertainment.
I was delighted that Trump decided to run before Jon Stewart left the Daily Show.
I was delighted that Trump decided to run before Jon Stewart left the Daily Show.
1
Mr. Trump campaigns for president, not out of a sense of civic responsibility, out of a love of country, or wanting to make things better, but as just another form of ego gratification.
What an egomaniacal weirdo. I'd love to see him and Sarah Palin marooned together on a desert island. Now that would be fun!
Thank God, we will never be elected to higher office.
What an egomaniacal weirdo. I'd love to see him and Sarah Palin marooned together on a desert island. Now that would be fun!
Thank God, we will never be elected to higher office.
Trump will flame out soon, along with at least half dozen of the nuttier and most bombastic Republican fringe candidates. If not, the party will become hopelessly ridiculous - assuming it hasn't already.
1
Trump has traded the dog whistle for the bullhorn, nothing more.
1
Trump can't be bought. Or it would take a LOT more to buy him than any of the others, who are professional beggars that waste more time seeking money for the next campaign than accomplishing anything during their term.
If the Kardashians can become a cultural juggernaut by doing absolutely nothing of value, then Donald Trump can be nominated for President. Don't kid yourselves. American culture is in the toilet.
6
As mentioned in an earlier comment his value as court jester should not be discounted.
He is neither dumb nor afraid to expose ingredients that others in his adopted party won't admit exist and by continuing to stir the pot he will certainly keep the soup from sticking and we might actually get a real taste of what the others in the Republican kitchen think is a good recipe; hopefully not the same old one of disaster so often cooked up here and abroad
He is neither dumb nor afraid to expose ingredients that others in his adopted party won't admit exist and by continuing to stir the pot he will certainly keep the soup from sticking and we might actually get a real taste of what the others in the Republican kitchen think is a good recipe; hopefully not the same old one of disaster so often cooked up here and abroad
1
Live by the media, die by the media. There has to be more to a candidacy than wildly making outrageous statements that get the candidate in the news constantly.
I would suggest that Trump's bumps in the polls come largely from two forces: 1. Total ignorance of many people of who and what he is other than a celebrity who they've heard about and probably seen on television and who has said some things they like and, 2. Simple name recognition versus the herd of other candidates who are, in the main, nameless faces, or faceless names, to millions of people. Everyone knows that people vote for silly reasons, one of the chief silly reasons being they know the candidates name from long exposure.
Most of us would like to believe that something new and different is possible, that there is some sort of savior out there who can really change things for the better. Some of that longing fell to Obama in 2004 and helped to sweep him into the White House.
There is a deep longing for change that would indicate orderly government and a period of cooperation toward common goals. Ultimately, people will come to their senses about Trump...unless he comes up with something really substantial that would make transform him from the flavor of the month to serious candidate. Not likely.
I would suggest that Trump's bumps in the polls come largely from two forces: 1. Total ignorance of many people of who and what he is other than a celebrity who they've heard about and probably seen on television and who has said some things they like and, 2. Simple name recognition versus the herd of other candidates who are, in the main, nameless faces, or faceless names, to millions of people. Everyone knows that people vote for silly reasons, one of the chief silly reasons being they know the candidates name from long exposure.
Most of us would like to believe that something new and different is possible, that there is some sort of savior out there who can really change things for the better. Some of that longing fell to Obama in 2004 and helped to sweep him into the White House.
There is a deep longing for change that would indicate orderly government and a period of cooperation toward common goals. Ultimately, people will come to their senses about Trump...unless he comes up with something really substantial that would make transform him from the flavor of the month to serious candidate. Not likely.
Trump is going to implode, maybe as soon as next Thursday when he takes part in a debate with his customary lack of preparation. Media coverage is just a part of his implosion. The coverage will not last much longer.
4
As a Texas Democrat I would love to vote for Bernie Sanders in the Texas Democratic primary but I don't think he is going to do very well in Texas. Hilary Clinton should win big in Texas so me voting in the Democratic primary would be a wasted vote.
Texas has open party primaries so I plan on voting in the Republican primary in order to vote for "The Donald". Since Trump appears to be the strongest Republican candidate having him as the Republican nominee would give voters a stark contrast on which direction they want the country to go in the future.
All of the other Republican candidates are lightweights who are only promising more of the same old, same old. They are all jealous of "The Donald" because only Trump has the stones to openly speak what he thinks. Love him or hate him you know that he is driving his political consultants crazy but that same bluntness is what is attracting potential voters.
As a Hispanic of Mexican background I had to laugh when Trump went off on Mexico, accusing them of sending their worst citizens to the US. Experts know that Mexican immigrants are not being pushed from Mexico but instead are being pulled by the US.
Sure "The Donald" has exhibited some anti-Mexican tendencies but at least he is overtly upfront about it. Many other Republican nominees feel the same way about Mexico and Mexicans but they are either being muzzled by their political consultants or worse are too cowardly to say what they are thinking out loud.
Texas has open party primaries so I plan on voting in the Republican primary in order to vote for "The Donald". Since Trump appears to be the strongest Republican candidate having him as the Republican nominee would give voters a stark contrast on which direction they want the country to go in the future.
All of the other Republican candidates are lightweights who are only promising more of the same old, same old. They are all jealous of "The Donald" because only Trump has the stones to openly speak what he thinks. Love him or hate him you know that he is driving his political consultants crazy but that same bluntness is what is attracting potential voters.
As a Hispanic of Mexican background I had to laugh when Trump went off on Mexico, accusing them of sending their worst citizens to the US. Experts know that Mexican immigrants are not being pushed from Mexico but instead are being pulled by the US.
Sure "The Donald" has exhibited some anti-Mexican tendencies but at least he is overtly upfront about it. Many other Republican nominees feel the same way about Mexico and Mexicans but they are either being muzzled by their political consultants or worse are too cowardly to say what they are thinking out loud.
17
Ben, you raised some very good points. However, let's remember that the majority of illegal drugs (cocaine, heroine etc) come to the US through the borderless Mexican border, and they are not brought by doctors and PhDs, but by gangs coming from South America, including Mexico. The staggering amount of illegal drugs penetrating the US market (I never took any but I hear that they are readily available anywhere in the US) prove the Donald right regarding the border issue. I am sure there are huge interests to keep the borders like cheese and continue to have all the drugs and the gangs coming in, business as usual. With a fence, migrant Mexican workers can come legally on season visas, like in Australia, receive better wages and treatment and leave at the end of their visas to be with their families. Legal immigration is a matter of national security and of filtering who is allowed to come into the country. Two of Trump's wives were legal immigrants, and he only wants to speed up the process for legal immigrants. His policies sound sensible to me.
4
Too bad about the vote for Bernie Sanders. He's the only candidate that hasn't got a thick veneer on. He's genuine and not everything that he says is a scripted line.
5
The notion that a fence will keep out drugs or Mexican immigrants is as laughable as Trump's candidacy and his crowing. And blaming the drug flow on Latino "gangs" is to completely disregard the demand side; the drugs flow because Americans want and buy them, and NYC (where "Novelist" lives) is a huge market for them. But hey, I hope Trump gets lots of Repub support for the same reason Ben in San Antonio does; Trump simply proves how bankrupt the Repub Party is for ideas.
3
Mr. Trump brings out the lowest common denominator in people. That is why there is the fascination. It is one thing to view this fascination as a guilty pleasure, it will be another if he is elected to office.
7
Why should the media stop covering Trump? I bet the articles on him have the highest number of clicks as he struck a chord with many Americans, Republicans, Democrats and Independent. The articles on him are always in the top 10 viewed on the NYT and are the first ones I read (and sometimes the only ones). I am a liberal leaning independent but if Trump gets the nomination I'll go out and vote for the first time om 10 years. With all the others, the act of voting has seemed so useless that I stopped exercising it.
The media castigates him as a bouffon, as a way to minimize the excellent points he is making in term of policy and trade. I went to the source and listened to his speeches and I find him very smart, direct, spontaneous and charismatic. I couldn't care less by all the criticism in the media. Like Mike Cuban wrote today, he is a total game changer. Go Trump!
The media castigates him as a bouffon, as a way to minimize the excellent points he is making in term of policy and trade. I went to the source and listened to his speeches and I find him very smart, direct, spontaneous and charismatic. I couldn't care less by all the criticism in the media. Like Mike Cuban wrote today, he is a total game changer. Go Trump!
4
What is sad is that there is apparently a need to articulate that Mr Trump has a snowballs chance in hell to be elected. The interest he seems to be generating fits right in with our excessive exposure to sensational infotainment.
1
I have no choice but to read about the Donald as even the NYT constantly prints articles about him. I am a scientist. I believe in facts. The facts with him are that he is a rich kid who used daddies considerable wealth to build a paper empire. He is a total fraud. Has never accomplished anything in his life other than spend his father's money. His "support" amongst republican voters just confirms how ignorant they are.
15
Walt Kelly's Pogo said it best when he said,
"We have met the enemy and he is us."
"We have met the enemy and he is us."
10
So far, the majority of people are concentrating on Trump's issue with undocumented aliens. I have yet to see or hear of a serious question regarding his thoughts on foreign policy, the US involved conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
10
Trump is not without occasional insights. But he is non-serious as presidential candidate because of his temperament. No matter the party you support (or dislike) we have a pretty good record in American of not electing totally unbalanced people. Clinton and Nixon seem the most pathological in my lifetime. The rest have been people I'd certainly have over for dinner even if I disagreed with them.
2
Anyone can understand your need to distance yourself from Richard Nixon. However, Bill Clinton, no matter how much you dislike him, does not reach the depth of depravity of Richard Nixon.
15
Yes, Richard Nixon was a very disturbed and disturbing individual. I certainly loathed him at the time. And yet detente with Russia, opening the door to normalized relations with China, instituting the Environmental Protection Agency; the man's legacy includes some impressive accomplishments.
Trump on the other hand, is a complete clown. Nixon at least had serious ideas and intentions, even though he eventually ran completely off the rails.
Trump on the other hand, is a complete clown. Nixon at least had serious ideas and intentions, even though he eventually ran completely off the rails.
8
While the frolic over Trump's "celebrity" continues the media might find it equally "fascinating" to examine his business practices. In particular his methods in dealing with small companies, suppliers and professional service people who try to collect on past due invoices.
Trumps methods have always been consistent; "sue me".
I wonder what percent of his billions might be represented among those he has done harm to over his 30 plus years of business genius?
Trumps methods have always been consistent; "sue me".
I wonder what percent of his billions might be represented among those he has done harm to over his 30 plus years of business genius?
21
Trump reminds me of how Hitler came to power, making sure that he points the finger at a certain group of people that he felt was destroying the economy and committing crimes. Riling up people with hatred and the horrible part, is when Hitler came into power and how many people supported him and loved him, all due to his hatred of certain groups of people.
Angry white men in our country are in their cars everyday listening to hate radio, including cops that hate women, and anybody that "talks" back to them. I am 62 year old white woman from the south (Atlanta). I listen to these stations just to hear what the Rush Limbaugh's and the Sean Hannity's are saying everyday. People should be very afraid.
Angry white men in our country are in their cars everyday listening to hate radio, including cops that hate women, and anybody that "talks" back to them. I am 62 year old white woman from the south (Atlanta). I listen to these stations just to hear what the Rush Limbaugh's and the Sean Hannity's are saying everyday. People should be very afraid.
38
You must have a strong stomach. I couldn't possibly listen to either Limbaugh or Hannity without suffering severe nausea!
11
It would be very nice if Hitler were never mentioned again except in the context of World War II. Unfortunately, in drawing historical comparisons, most people under retirement age these days know little about any historical figures other than Hitler and Jesus Christ. This results from schools having long since dropped the study of serious history in favor of such topics as "Environmental Awareness" and "Gender Sensitivity".
7
Please already with silly comments about the study of topics such as "Environmental Awareness" and "Gender Sensitivity" replacing the study of history. It makes you sound like a crank.
Unless, of course, you think there is something wrong with being aware of the environment and sensitive about gender issues. In which case, you are a crank.
Unless, of course, you think there is something wrong with being aware of the environment and sensitive about gender issues. In which case, you are a crank.
2
It has been reported that Trump would like Sarah Palin on his "team" should he be elected.
It then makes us wonder who else he may have up his sleeve that he thinks is a "very special person."
What A Circus this Trump thing is; the media's popcorn stand.
It then makes us wonder who else he may have up his sleeve that he thinks is a "very special person."
What A Circus this Trump thing is; the media's popcorn stand.
17
He playing the Palin card because it's one of the cards he's playing to get out of a campaign that was never meant to be more than advertising for his next reality TV venture, and an ego trip.
Its not that the issues he's addressing aren't real its the fact that the gov. hasn't done anything about it as much as they used to lie about throwing it around in chambers. People don't want to hear candidate he has ideas, people already know what the ideas are people want a Bull dog to act on them with the ability to get it done.
2
I've watched several Trump speeches now. He's a very good public speaker. The speech in Arkansas started with an anecdote about two of his friends being told that the cancer they were diagnosed with would take their lives in months. They were treated by the same Arkansas doctor and were doing well years later. He probably has lots of stories like that and audiences will like them.
The Republican Party had things set up to nominate Jeb Bush easily by making the Florida primary, the 5th contest, winner take all delegates. None of the other candidates would have the money to compete in such a large state so regardless of what happened in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, Bush would be way out ahead in delegates with Florida.
Cynical plan and Trump has thrown a monkey wrench into it.
The Republican Party had things set up to nominate Jeb Bush easily by making the Florida primary, the 5th contest, winner take all delegates. None of the other candidates would have the money to compete in such a large state so regardless of what happened in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, Bush would be way out ahead in delegates with Florida.
Cynical plan and Trump has thrown a monkey wrench into it.
10
I wish you folks would post his ex wife, Ivanka's statement in support of him, recanting the "rape" accusations and saying he would make an incredible president. This type of incomplete, one sided reporting is what makes folks doubt the veracity of the press
6
His ex-wife is IVANA, their daughter together is Ivanka. Just to make sure there is no mixup.
That said, your latter comment is quite justified. Mr. Leonhardt starts with the assumption that Donald Trump is somehow unqualified for President and should be dismissed simply because he thinks so. Mr. Trump is no different than Sen. Cruz or Sen. Rubio or Gov. Huckabee or any of the others running for President, and his not having won office before is relevant but not a disqualifier.
For the record, I do not see myself voting for Donald Trump for President, but I defend his right to run and I am grateful to him for speaking plainly, if sometimes crudely, about issues that are inconvenient or uncomfortable according the establishment. Good kings respected the value of a Court Jester, as Kings of this Republic we need to be as wise.
That said, your latter comment is quite justified. Mr. Leonhardt starts with the assumption that Donald Trump is somehow unqualified for President and should be dismissed simply because he thinks so. Mr. Trump is no different than Sen. Cruz or Sen. Rubio or Gov. Huckabee or any of the others running for President, and his not having won office before is relevant but not a disqualifier.
For the record, I do not see myself voting for Donald Trump for President, but I defend his right to run and I am grateful to him for speaking plainly, if sometimes crudely, about issues that are inconvenient or uncomfortable according the establishment. Good kings respected the value of a Court Jester, as Kings of this Republic we need to be as wise.
9
I only hope that Mr. Trump survives as long as possible on the campaign trail. At least for this and next year's fall live season of Saturday Night Live.
15
It would be perfectly okay with me if the media (or at least TNYT) reduced its Trump diet to a paragraph a day or an article a week.
I'm allergic to bullies, and do all I can to limit exposure to them.
I'm allergic to bullies, and do all I can to limit exposure to them.
24
Trump would be nowhere in the polls if he hadn't brought up the central issue for the future of America: immigration policy. An American public tired of hearing only Carlos Slim's line on immigration has responded enthusiastically to some straight talk.
4
The national audience would never have heard of Kate Steinle's murder if it had not been for Donald Trump campaigning against illegal immigration. An effective use of a "bully pulpit" right off the bat.
4
For Mr. Trump and all other candidates it's always the immigrants who are the bad guys. What about the employers who pay them low wages taking illegal advantage of the situation. Why are they never prosecuted? Why is this never in the press. I see stories about 'big raid on illegal immigrants' in the headlines yet never a story about the arrest and prosecution of the real cause of the problem, those that provide the jobs. No one would migrate here if there were no jobs for them. Please lets focus on the real culprits that put citizens out of work and force the rest of us to take lower wages to compete. It is time to change our policy on immigration, lock up the real bad guys. Then the situation would change very quickly I believe.
3
Why should the media stop covering Donald Trump? He clearly represents the thoughts and beliefs of a large number of Americans. We may not like what he has to say, but surely he has the right to express those ideas.
The Trump candidacy should be a wake-up call that this country has some serious issues to address. Not that Trump is the person to address them, but let''s face it -- he speaks for a large number of Republicans. If you don't like those ideas, many of which are popular throughout the Republican party regardless of how "main stream" the other candidates want you to think they are, vote for a Democrat.
The Trump candidacy should be a wake-up call that this country has some serious issues to address. Not that Trump is the person to address them, but let''s face it -- he speaks for a large number of Republicans. If you don't like those ideas, many of which are popular throughout the Republican party regardless of how "main stream" the other candidates want you to think they are, vote for a Democrat.
12
The press seems to be obsessed with Donald Trump. Enough already; isn't there anything worthwhile to report about???
2
Obsessed for better and worse.
Nice and thoughtful piece and yes, "the vetting is underway". It is a shame that many in the media did not engage in the same vetting before running with the utterly fallacious WMD stories in the run-up to the Iraq war...
38
The media did not create Trump, but they adopted him pronounced him a celebrity and gave him preferential access to print and TV space. He used the opportunity to promote himself -- most of the time at the expense of a hapless public. That a man of Me. Trump's caliber, character and conduct is currently he front-runner for the Republican nomination for president simply shows that a sizable contingent of Americans long for the gaudy, soulless, after-me-the-deluge mentality with which Mr. Trump lives.
12
Not only is the news media on a "self-hating binge" with Trump's candidacy, but also the Republican base must be consumed with self-loathing when they support a pluto-quack -- and fairly recent registered Democrat. Trump is only qualified to be a lunatic Roman Emperor (Heliogabalus perhaps). What his standing in the polls really tells the nation is just how unpalatable the other Republican presidential candidates are.
38
Mr. Trump is exercising his rights. The alternative approach the media may consider is to stick to the policy and raise the questions that media professionals often do. The more the media tries to coral Mr. Trump from the rest of the candidates' campaigns the more it appears that Mr. Trump remains in the lead. However, following GOP leadership campaigns over several past elections, voters will eventually congregate toward the average less hostile candidate as democrats rally to nominate Mrs. Clinton. The GOP endgame will be to nominate the best candidate that can defeat a well qualified presidential candidate that Mrs. Clinton represents Given that she would be the first woman POTUS the GOP will have a difficult time backing a candidate like Mr. Trump who tends to go off-script and raise controversial issues - like the John McCain insult. Mr. Trump's approach - "You're fired!" - approach may work for reality TV but most voters will see Mrs. Clinton has the edge on governance and political experience over the past ~ 30 years. If being the POTUS relied on building casinos, hotels and hosting reality TV programs, Mr. Trump would have the lead.
8
The media cannot afford to 'concentrate on policy'. A rational analysis of illegal immigration would should that it has lowered wages for low-skilled workers, caused American-born low-skilled workers to become unemployed, and cost hundreds of billions in added education and health care costs.
So the media has to harp on the 'Trump is a buffoon' story, rather than examining what he has to say.
So the media has to harp on the 'Trump is a buffoon' story, rather than examining what he has to say.
6
Yeah, what is he going to do about the 11 million? I hear a lot of huffing and puffing and threats to blow the house down. March 11 million people to Mexico? [Pol Pot had only 4 million to work with.] But they are not all Mexicans. And then what? Remember, two can play this game.
4
hmmm...wouldn't have anything to do with the destruction of the middle-class through relentless attacks on unions and teachers the past 40 years now, would it? Nope...gotta be those Mexicans, right?
22