2 time loser who refused to show his tax returns and called half th country dead beats is giving advice on how to win an election
thats rich, folks, really rich
thats rich, folks, really rich
86
A good down payment on fixing what ails the GOP would be to hold hearings on Obama's SCOTUS pick. Anything else is empty words.
49
"the darkest elements of the party's base are now threatening their Party"
But that IS their Party. That's what they believe, and that's how they "govern".
But that IS their Party. That's what they believe, and that's how they "govern".
68
So according to the Times, even Romney's policy of drying up the work for illegals was extreme. I can't wait until you go out of business and Maureen Dowd and the rest of you scum are writing blog posts with your cats at 2am.
4
Well, certainly Mitt wants a brokered convention. Can you guess who he thinks would be the perfect candidate to emerge from such a convention? I knew you could!
49
"Indeed, Mr. Romney’s denunciation might well help Mr. Trump with his supporters."
That's an important point. Trump's supporters don't want a GOP establishment candidate and the party railing against him will only solidify his supporters.
Like many I thought Trump was a joke and didn't mind some of his statements(Bush didn't keep us safe, Planned Parenthood helps women) but now that the possibility of him becoming the nominee is looking likely it's scary.
That's an important point. Trump's supporters don't want a GOP establishment candidate and the party railing against him will only solidify his supporters.
Like many I thought Trump was a joke and didn't mind some of his statements(Bush didn't keep us safe, Planned Parenthood helps women) but now that the possibility of him becoming the nominee is looking likely it's scary.
26
Mittens and the GOP should have listened to that great philosopher George Bernard Shaw.
Don't wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, and besides, the pig enjoys it.
Don't wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, and besides, the pig enjoys it.
71
Republicans run out a failed candidate Romney to denounce Trump? Romney, who was exporting American jobs while running for President, epitomizes the arrogance of the GOP; let us not forget the 47% comment, number of Cadillacs his wife owns, draft dodging in France, and the trees of Michigan! Romney, as a member of the Salt Lake City religious cult, is delusional, believes he was divinely chosen to ride a white horse and “Save” America! The Republicans, beginning with Reagan, have pursued the politics of “Hate” convincing Americans to vote against their own self- interest and are now reaping the results. There are tens of millions of Americans rightfully enraged at what has been done to them, their families and their communities by the criminal and corrupt corporate elites of both parties with the savage neoliberal assault of Wall Street ultra-capitalism on the American working class as exemplified by Flint, Michigan, but echoed by thousands of communities from Camden, N.J. to Richmond, CA. The Republican identity and core values are corrupt and criminal fascist plutocracy, hypocrisy, fundamentalist religious extremism, xenophobia, racism and misogyny! Each and every Republican candidate, not only Trump, have expressed in varying degree the same GOP values. "I'm a phony and a fraud so I know one when I see one" Mitt!
142
Great editorial. Bravo.
20
Thank you NYT for finally giving Mr. Trump some recognition for his signature -- and astonishing -- achievement: Bringing a a couple decades' worth of GOP chickens home to roost. Virtually overnight.
A few of us have always interpreted Mr. Trump's candidacy primarily as commentary -- a mirror -- on contemporary US politics. Who better to expose the GOP's lofty mission statements as nothing more than shallow opportunism, cheap theatrics, and bad reality TV? And we are not disappointed. Man, are we ever NOT disappointed!
I probably won't vote for you Mr. Trump, but you have done a great service to your country and my hat's off to you. Ahhhh, "the thrill of the fast reverse" (Kurt Vonnegut, in "The Sirens of Titan").
A few of us have always interpreted Mr. Trump's candidacy primarily as commentary -- a mirror -- on contemporary US politics. Who better to expose the GOP's lofty mission statements as nothing more than shallow opportunism, cheap theatrics, and bad reality TV? And we are not disappointed. Man, are we ever NOT disappointed!
I probably won't vote for you Mr. Trump, but you have done a great service to your country and my hat's off to you. Ahhhh, "the thrill of the fast reverse" (Kurt Vonnegut, in "The Sirens of Titan").
37
The chickens do come home to roost, don't they Mitt?
31
Quit snickering at the Rs. It's unseemly.
Take that lede, please: "Holy Mitt, what a meltdown" works well at grabbing a reader's attention, employing clever alliteration and that Mitt-rhymes-wit-'hit thingie.
But is it really a "meltdown" when your editorial reaches the conclusion that Romney's speech was "an excellent thing" in that the former Presidential candidate, and other senior Republicans, have finally "noticed the problem they’ve fostered."
The NYT Edit Board should try to be a little less glibby-dibby. A "meltdown" is a bad thing, not an "excellent thing."
Take that lede, please: "Holy Mitt, what a meltdown" works well at grabbing a reader's attention, employing clever alliteration and that Mitt-rhymes-wit-'hit thingie.
But is it really a "meltdown" when your editorial reaches the conclusion that Romney's speech was "an excellent thing" in that the former Presidential candidate, and other senior Republicans, have finally "noticed the problem they’ve fostered."
The NYT Edit Board should try to be a little less glibby-dibby. A "meltdown" is a bad thing, not an "excellent thing."
8
Makes me nostalgic for Nixon.
20
Mitt is a classic GOP Grand Poobah, totally lacking in self-awareness, such that he fails to realize that wherever he goes, speaks, walks, or talks, there will always be a flashing neon sign behind him that screams, "47%!" What's next Dick Cheney, Bill Kristol, or Paul Wolfowitz touting dump Trump AND invade Muslim Country 3.0? Oh wait!
To paraphrase a line from the House Divided speech of the only great Republican President that ever existed (Lincoln of course), "I believe this Republican Party cannot endure, permanently half obstructionist and half Trump."
To paraphrase a line from the House Divided speech of the only great Republican President that ever existed (Lincoln of course), "I believe this Republican Party cannot endure, permanently half obstructionist and half Trump."
25
I'm not sure if Mr. Romney's attack on Donald Trump represents the `flip' or the `flop'. But whatever it is, Mr. Romney appears to have finally bumped into the truth. But that's foreign territory for Mr. Romney. Let's not crown him savior of the Republican party just yet.
As for Mr. McCain, his charge that Trump is ignorant of foreign policy is touching. Whom did Mr. McCain think was fit to be his second in command? Sarah Palin. Mr. McCain, the day you made that selection you surrendered your right to question other people's credentials. Craven has consequences.
As for Mr. McCain, his charge that Trump is ignorant of foreign policy is touching. Whom did Mr. McCain think was fit to be his second in command? Sarah Palin. Mr. McCain, the day you made that selection you surrendered your right to question other people's credentials. Craven has consequences.
72
As an non-american, who had studied and lived in the US for many years, I am always surprised on how narrow-minded Republicans seem to be: Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz.... are these candidates the future image of the USA?
I know, I know, excluding all the "you are not American" blah blah... I concede, I am not, but I have learned to love and to respect the Star-stripped flag (and not only your popcorn movies, which some of them should need better judgement... "Abraham Lincoln: vampire hunter".... really??)
Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you should vote for someone that is not only a country leader, but also a world leader. And currently, I don't see any Republicans who fit this description.
Come on, you can do better. Stop staring at your bellybutton and show to the World that the USA are great and can lead the way. I've read this small meme/image about how "Americans call this an election, while the rest of the world calls it an IQ test". Prove everyone wrong.
Now, no country is perfect, far from it. At least, have the courage to look at the broader picture and maybe it is time to remove the nonsense (yes, global warming is real, we don't need a Representative to bring a snowball at the Senate and to become the fool of the Planet). Good luck guys.
I know, I know, excluding all the "you are not American" blah blah... I concede, I am not, but I have learned to love and to respect the Star-stripped flag (and not only your popcorn movies, which some of them should need better judgement... "Abraham Lincoln: vampire hunter".... really??)
Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you should vote for someone that is not only a country leader, but also a world leader. And currently, I don't see any Republicans who fit this description.
Come on, you can do better. Stop staring at your bellybutton and show to the World that the USA are great and can lead the way. I've read this small meme/image about how "Americans call this an election, while the rest of the world calls it an IQ test". Prove everyone wrong.
Now, no country is perfect, far from it. At least, have the courage to look at the broader picture and maybe it is time to remove the nonsense (yes, global warming is real, we don't need a Representative to bring a snowball at the Senate and to become the fool of the Planet). Good luck guys.
41
Dear GOP. You are a day late and a dollar short with the sanctimonious "We're the party of Lincoln." It only took the specter of being associated with the Ku Klux Klan to elicit that response. Talk about extremism.
45
You've nailed it...my only comment is that just after he condemned Donald Trump for bullying, lying and disrespecting women, he turns around and does it to Hillary Clinton. Gee I guess "The Donald" is just better at it. All of it just proves the voters are right to push for something else.
26
Mitt was merely taking off on the story of Chicken Little. Don't take him seriously.
4
It's Mitt Romney's 47-percenters who are now voting for Trump.
60
I don't know what back room deals were made or how much money Trump gave Mitt during 2012 but somehow Trump got Romney to boost his support by denouncing him. Say what you will about Trump but the guy is a political genius. Romney is probably the most famous face of the failed 'establishment'.
48
Trump is a radical centrist -- he is soft on the religious issues, and a lot of voters in the middle are tired of having the GOP pay lip service to the religious right just to buy their vote, which is otherwise not going to help their economic interests.
And after ISIS in Paris -- why shouldn't Americans want better screening?
And at least Trump says he wants to get the jobs back into America -- Romney was the guy who shipped those jobs overseas.
And after ISIS in Paris -- why shouldn't Americans want better screening?
And at least Trump says he wants to get the jobs back into America -- Romney was the guy who shipped those jobs overseas.
11
Self-awareness is the most unrepublican trait there is.
If you are prone to pondering your own shortcomings, you are not a Republican.
The closest Republicans ever come to self-awareness, is blaming others of their own faults.
If you are prone to pondering your own shortcomings, you are not a Republican.
The closest Republicans ever come to self-awareness, is blaming others of their own faults.
15
Savor the irony: Romney calling Trump a bully? Keep the scissors away--The Donald could lose his locks.
4
Pray tell, what is a "Republican national security expert?" Is it someone like Wayne Simmons?
16
Why should we even care what Mitt Romney has to say? Is it possible that the RNC is looking to appointment him to become a contender to become "King for Eight Years".
This election is such a farce. We finally ended the Bush Reign when Jeb dropped out. Let's hope that the Clinton Reign ends with an indictment from the FBI and Justice Department. Then we are left with Sanders (who everyone just ignores), Cruz (Self-serving Tea Party member), Rubio (Cruz on some mild performance enhancers), and Kasich (the Republican equivalent of Sanders). What does this say about the United States of America.
It is time to get the establishment politicians out of government, this even includes the "media" and Mitt Romney.
This election is such a farce. We finally ended the Bush Reign when Jeb dropped out. Let's hope that the Clinton Reign ends with an indictment from the FBI and Justice Department. Then we are left with Sanders (who everyone just ignores), Cruz (Self-serving Tea Party member), Rubio (Cruz on some mild performance enhancers), and Kasich (the Republican equivalent of Sanders). What does this say about the United States of America.
It is time to get the establishment politicians out of government, this even includes the "media" and Mitt Romney.
9
Maybe we should call Romney the Hit Man who missed the ball.
12
Romney attacks Trump. That's rich. Literally.
7
For decades, Mitt, Mitch, John Boehner, John McCain and other Republican leaders have taught the base to hate. They have exploited the misinformed anger for political gains. Now that Donald is using the same playbook openly, they are upset! While they are right about what is wrong with Trump, they are hardly any different from him.
21
How low can this go ? . . . .multiple debates without tackling major issues while Trump defends his hand size and we are now discussing Presidential man parts.
We're toast!
We're toast!
12
Did anyone else notice Mitt called out bullying, greed, showing off, misogyny but not racism? Could that be because Mitt welcomed the endorsement of birther Donald Trump in 2012? Does anyone remember Donald screaming how his "team" had the goods on Obama time and time again? And then never produced one shred of anything regarding the president's birth to an American mother in Hawaii? Sorry, Mitt, you and your Grand Old Party have earned what you are currently receiving.
10
Poor little Mittens!
What a brilliant strategy. Sic the guy who lost to the guy who lost to Obama, then waited four years to BE the guy who lost to Obama on the moronic front runner to discredit him. Forget that you not only accepted the moron's endorsements, but that you praised him for all the things you now seek to use to discredit him.
Mitt Romney is an ineffectual, irrelevant politician. He should be a republican pariah not their spokesman. It is because his (and McCain's) abject failures, and Obama's nimble political skills, that the nation has had a democratic president for eight years.
Trump is a clown. He is not qualified to be president. He doesn't have the ability to discuss policy - only pomp. But his popularity seems to be the result of an alarmingly ignorant populace. The unwashed masses seem to be sick and tired of hearing candidates talk about all those things they have never understood; policies, law, the economy, and idealistic platforms. Just give them games! Trump delivers.
But just because the rabble are ignorant doesn't validate a failed former candidate's irrelevant voice, certainly not at this stage of the game.
What a brilliant strategy. Sic the guy who lost to the guy who lost to Obama, then waited four years to BE the guy who lost to Obama on the moronic front runner to discredit him. Forget that you not only accepted the moron's endorsements, but that you praised him for all the things you now seek to use to discredit him.
Mitt Romney is an ineffectual, irrelevant politician. He should be a republican pariah not their spokesman. It is because his (and McCain's) abject failures, and Obama's nimble political skills, that the nation has had a democratic president for eight years.
Trump is a clown. He is not qualified to be president. He doesn't have the ability to discuss policy - only pomp. But his popularity seems to be the result of an alarmingly ignorant populace. The unwashed masses seem to be sick and tired of hearing candidates talk about all those things they have never understood; policies, law, the economy, and idealistic platforms. Just give them games! Trump delivers.
But just because the rabble are ignorant doesn't validate a failed former candidate's irrelevant voice, certainly not at this stage of the game.
8
It seems as if Mitt Romney watched John Oliver lampoon Trump on Last Week Tonight and then stole his material. Oliver's presentation was much better..Mitt should have just stood back and rolled the tape.
7
Didn't Romney already direct his party's anger , for less than noble purposes, at 47 percent of our country's electorate?
13
I seem to remember it took a very, very long time for Mr. Romney to release his own tax returns, and that was AFTER he was the Rs' nominee.
I do not support Mr. Trump. I will vote for whichever person get the Democratic Party's nomination.
But thank you for pointing out that Cruz and Rubio are NOT moderates compared to Mr. Trump.
I do not support Mr. Trump. I will vote for whichever person get the Democratic Party's nomination.
But thank you for pointing out that Cruz and Rubio are NOT moderates compared to Mr. Trump.
10
The comedy just writes itself!
6
Nice try, Mitt. You and all of your GOP buddies are just mad that you've lost control.
5
Hey NYT: Get over it! Accept reality. Or by time November roles around we'll have to be doing interventions on you.
4
And the Republican party hoists itself ever higher on its own petard. Yes Mitt, you of the car elevator and magically self-deporting undocumented immigrants, you tell 'em. I am sure everyone is just waiting for your wise counsel.
7
Your front page headline claims that Romney says that a Trump presidency would imperil the nation. The same could be said about any of the GOP candidates. What do they promise? Trillions in tax cuts for billionaires. More war in the Middle East. Taking health insurance away from millions of Americans. Voucherizing Medicare. Block granting Medicaid. Cutting Social Security.
We saw what happened the last time the GOP occupied the White House, the country barely survived. Why or how would it survive the next one?
We saw what happened the last time the GOP occupied the White House, the country barely survived. Why or how would it survive the next one?
14
Let's be honest with ourselves: McCain started this dumbing-down recklessness when he spent 15 minutes with Sarah Palin in a gazebo in his backyard and emerged to name her as the running mate this nation needed.
The GOP let him get away with that one.
Result?
Where's the Chlorox when you need it, folks?
The GOP let him get away with that one.
Result?
Where's the Chlorox when you need it, folks?
12
1. Mormon Bishop Willard Milton Romney (aka 'Mitt') tries to help out the only Republican candidate raised Mormon - the floundering mini-me, Sen. Marco Antonio Rubio.
2. Bain LLC was built by Willard Romney for one reason - to make him piles of Cayman Island cash by shipping America's manufacturing jobs to his Communist Chinese partners.
Republicans, like the rest of America, are sick of two-faced "conservative" politicians. Bet on Trump.
2. Bain LLC was built by Willard Romney for one reason - to make him piles of Cayman Island cash by shipping America's manufacturing jobs to his Communist Chinese partners.
Republicans, like the rest of America, are sick of two-faced "conservative" politicians. Bet on Trump.
13
I completely agree with this editorial and it echoes what Americans who have any insight have been saying for many months...the GOP leaders have created all these Frankenstein monsters of Trump, Cruz and Rubio... but the only one they cannot control is Trump- hence their angst over Trump and not the others so much.
Well, GOP leaders- with all this hand wringing, have you ever asked yourselves why this is happening? As this editorial says, you did it to yourselves and the GOP base is finally, finally waking up to the fact that the party they have supported for years has not lifted one finger to help them. I guess better late than never.
What legislation has been passed in the last 7 years other than lame attempts to repeal Obamacare? Other than go to war under Bush Jr. and give tax breaks to the wealthy donor class- what exactly has the GOP done for anyone? NOTHING. Moreover, any attempts by Obama to do anything- like raise the minimum wage and take action on global warming- all favored by the American people- have been obstructed. Did you think no one would notice? As the saying goes- you've made your bed- now lie in it.
Well, GOP leaders- with all this hand wringing, have you ever asked yourselves why this is happening? As this editorial says, you did it to yourselves and the GOP base is finally, finally waking up to the fact that the party they have supported for years has not lifted one finger to help them. I guess better late than never.
What legislation has been passed in the last 7 years other than lame attempts to repeal Obamacare? Other than go to war under Bush Jr. and give tax breaks to the wealthy donor class- what exactly has the GOP done for anyone? NOTHING. Moreover, any attempts by Obama to do anything- like raise the minimum wage and take action on global warming- all favored by the American people- have been obstructed. Did you think no one would notice? As the saying goes- you've made your bed- now lie in it.
27
When you play in The Donald's sandbox expect to get grit in your eyes fellows.
7
Mitt.... the spokesman of the One-Percenters; smacking his lips sheateating grin to the hoots and hollers in the room! Just more fuel for the mass histeria following Trump. The party is broken, they did it to themselves..My question is: when are the Democrats gonna revolt also?
8
Essential reading for the GOP and Tea Party elites: Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein's Monster."
11
Mitt? The Mitt everyone remembers with so much respect & affection? That Mitt? The one who told us to ignore the bottom 47%. Yeah, sure, we all believe & obey Mitt. Right.
And the GOP national security experts, the ones who led us into Iraq, kept us in Afghanistan year after year, applauded war in Yemen & the destabilization of Libya & Syria, we in the 99% sure click our heels & snap to attention whenever they speak.
A farce.
And the GOP national security experts, the ones who led us into Iraq, kept us in Afghanistan year after year, applauded war in Yemen & the destabilization of Libya & Syria, we in the 99% sure click our heels & snap to attention whenever they speak.
A farce.
11
It might end the country's crisis, and that is why more support should be given to Romney's speech, as hard as that may be to stomach in the NYT editorial room. I tend to agree with old Mitt, as irritating as he is: Trump cannot be the Republican's Party's nominee. This IS TRUE. It is not a matter of politics, for if it were, the editorial is cogent--i.e., Cruz and Rubio are such poor alternatives and, judging from their policy positions, worse in many respects. BUT that is not the issue. The issue is the hidden agony in Romney's speech: the Party just cannot nominate this man. The Democrats know it, the country knows it, the world knows it. This time, ye olde scriveners of "all the news that fit to print" (whose slogan is it that is "all the new that fits"?- -damn...the Village Voice?), stop playing politics. Country over party. On this we should be the untied: We must stop the Donald. Think about it, listen to the sound: President Donald Trump.
2
During Hitler's rise to power, I'm sure there must have been similar efforts by German politicians to try to stop someone they thought was dangerous, a thug, someone who appealed to the worst in their citizens. All of that came to nothing. I thought Mitt's speech, the parts I saw of it, was excellent and right to the point. The question is, will Trump's supporters, can Trump's supporters, still listen to reason? Or have they already been completely swept away?
5
Ah, that's our Mitt. Tone deaf and willing to shoot anyone in the back (Mountain Meadows runs in his blood stream still!) all while taking the bread out of your mouth with leveraged buyouts. For someone who never released his tax returns or the nature of those accounts in the Cayman Islands, he is more a con than Trump which is saying something. But he always manages to look like a creepy con. Bully or creepy? Most GOP TP will vote bully.
7
Mitt and McCain (potential presidents) are the best barometers of how and why the Republican party as ended up where it has.
McCain with his "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" riff, and Sarah Palin - his "gift" to America as a potential possible future president.
And Mitt, who morphed into a "severe conservative" after giving Mass. Romneycare. And his disdain for 47% Americans who get free stuff, and turning against immigrants.
To this one must add W and his "its your money" lie. During his term in office, besides shock and awe in Iraq and the broken pottery that continues to bleed us, we saw "our money" siphoned away from the bottom 90% to the top 10%. So, he lied about this for sure.
McCain with his "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" riff, and Sarah Palin - his "gift" to America as a potential possible future president.
And Mitt, who morphed into a "severe conservative" after giving Mass. Romneycare. And his disdain for 47% Americans who get free stuff, and turning against immigrants.
To this one must add W and his "its your money" lie. During his term in office, besides shock and awe in Iraq and the broken pottery that continues to bleed us, we saw "our money" siphoned away from the bottom 90% to the top 10%. So, he lied about this for sure.
15
The GOP--ooof--what a party. The anti-gay bigots are alarmed by the bigotry of the anti-Muslim, anti-black, anti-Hispanic bigots.
10
Agree with everything but the last word: crisis. From the "establishment" GOP's point of view, they've had a string of successes in congressional election, in state houses, governorships and local elections.
They've successfully re-districted, gerrymandered, had COLA-written legislation passed, hindered voting rights, had SCOTUS do their bidding on on campaign deforms(not a typo), etc.
The REAL crisis, the one that blocks the solution to EVERY other problem confronting our nation, is the campaign and electoral system!
They've successfully re-districted, gerrymandered, had COLA-written legislation passed, hindered voting rights, had SCOTUS do their bidding on on campaign deforms(not a typo), etc.
The REAL crisis, the one that blocks the solution to EVERY other problem confronting our nation, is the campaign and electoral system!
14
Mitt Romney lecturing the Republican base about the dangers of Donald Trump is like Marie Antoinette lecturing French pesants about the dangers of Robespierre. It only brings more rabble to the barracades. As yee sow,....
18
Everything said here about the mendacity of the Republican Party rings true, but they control both houses of Congress, the largest number of state houses and an undisclosed influence in our court system so? How did this happen, it must say something about one the nature of our people or two the flow of information to them through the media, or both?
Trump yes or no does not really seem to be the problem, we are a scary nation and need some leadership to lift up to what our better selves might want and how in the world would such a person get his/her/their message across?
That could be the problem and is a solution likely – your guess. Could be too late. ‘Lesser of evil’ rules for better or worst – it’s called democracy.
Trump yes or no does not really seem to be the problem, we are a scary nation and need some leadership to lift up to what our better selves might want and how in the world would such a person get his/her/their message across?
That could be the problem and is a solution likely – your guess. Could be too late. ‘Lesser of evil’ rules for better or worst – it’s called democracy.
3
There is a lot to be said against Trump, but Romney is NOT the person to do so.
His health care plan in Massachusetts was similar to Obamacare--but Romney flipped on that and virtually everything else...with NO explanation except he would say ANYTHING to be President.
He treated the voters like idiots; and now I'm guessing he wants a brokered convention so he can swoop in and save the day. He may swoop, but he won't save.
No thanks, Mitt.
His health care plan in Massachusetts was similar to Obamacare--but Romney flipped on that and virtually everything else...with NO explanation except he would say ANYTHING to be President.
He treated the voters like idiots; and now I'm guessing he wants a brokered convention so he can swoop in and save the day. He may swoop, but he won't save.
No thanks, Mitt.
7
It all reminds me of Michael Mann's film version of "The Keep". When the German commandant Kaempffer asks the creature Molasar "Who are you?" The creature answers, "I am from you!" Good luck with your creature GOP.
2
I agree with everything in the Times' editorial. Mitt and the various GOP elders show no sense of irony in denouncing Trump for policies they themselves have advocated. The missing sense of irony also applies to the Times' editors, who are endorsing a weak and untrustworthy candidate. Hillary wants us to believe she will take on Wall Street while taking its money. And she is a very poor choice when it comes to international policy: her sledgehammer approach to Iraq and Gaddafi has only contributed to de-stabilized regions. Missing in the debate, which was preoccupied with insulting Trump, was any focus on Clinton, a very dubious candidate. There is only one candidate I see, worthy of the office of the Presidency: Senator Sanders.
9
What Mitt is REALLY afraid of is having to pay more than 13% in taxes if Trump gets the nomination and loses to Bernie.
10
Today's problems with the Republican party are not new.....Who was the genius who had the idea of proposing Sarah Palin's as the candidate to vice-president of the U.S. of A?
12
Panic! Panic! Trump is not sucking up to Big Money as good as the Establishment. He is not red. He is not blue. He is orange! Dispatch him quickly. Create a third party. Support the Democrats. We, the $$$, need familiar and reliable servants.
8
>
Mittens tried to make an inane point about democracy and John Adams.......but right now Trump has the GOP votes, so it's not Trump that has got himself sideways with democracy but the GOP.
Mittens tried to make an inane point about democracy and John Adams.......but right now Trump has the GOP votes, so it's not Trump that has got himself sideways with democracy but the GOP.
6
This whole business stinks to high heaven much like his oft alluded to perfume which I believe was called tRUMP SCENT.
2
I'm no Trump supporter but at least he got up said the unsayable—George W Bush did not make the USA or the world safe, he lied about WMDs and caused a disastrous war that has set the Middle East on fire. Finally the truth is out! The GOP and its corporate masters have been busy stealing almost everything from the American people—including hope—all the while fanning the flames of bigotry, xenophobia, sexism, racism, homophobia, Obama-hating, and more—now Romney tells the people that Donald Trump isn't fit to be president? He should have offered them a profound apology.
8
"• As the debate wound down, Fox News asked Mr. Trump’s rivals if they would support him, should he become the nominee. All three men gave an unequivocal yes — though Mr. Kasich also gave himself a playful plug. “I kind of think before it’s all said and done, I’ll be the nominee,” the Ohio governor said. “I’m the little engine that can.”"
So what exactly is the point of Romney's Trump bashing if all the candidates will support Trump if he is the nominee? they should have said "No way , Jose". This is really the party of DUMB.
So what exactly is the point of Romney's Trump bashing if all the candidates will support Trump if he is the nominee? they should have said "No way , Jose". This is really the party of DUMB.
9
This country DESERVES Donald Trump.
4
I may not agree with Romney on much politically…but that was a great speech..for calling out Trump for the Fraudster…that is Trump.
Ann Frank's step sister came out publicly last week to say she could see similarities between "the rise of Trump and the rise of Hitler".
Now, that is an opinion that means something….to me…and should mean something to anyone of conscience
Save America…Save the World…Dump Trump.
Ann Frank's step sister came out publicly last week to say she could see similarities between "the rise of Trump and the rise of Hitler".
Now, that is an opinion that means something….to me…and should mean something to anyone of conscience
Save America…Save the World…Dump Trump.
4
I just watched about 2/3 of the latest "debate". I've always said that things like wrestling matches, cock fights and freak shows were entertainment for the mean spirited, but this, um, debate was all three, and wild horses couldn't drag those candidates away.
If I'm convinced of anything, it's that these men are nowhere near hitting their bottoms, and they'll keep it up as long as they can. But the real horror is contemplating the minds who admire men like this--the reason the were together in the first place.
If I'm convinced of anything, it's that these men are nowhere near hitting their bottoms, and they'll keep it up as long as they can. But the real horror is contemplating the minds who admire men like this--the reason the were together in the first place.
4
Trump is the abyss
Cruz is the abyss
Marc O'Rubio is the abyss.
Kasich is the abyss.
Mitch McConnell is the abyss.
McConnell has pulled off the beer hall putsch. He has emasculated Obama. Nothing, nothing the man wants legislated will never ever get out of committee.
Now McConnell has also neutered the Supreme Court.
Mission Accomplished.
Now the Republic Party can take credit for its jobs bill and its infrastructure bill.
Tax reform, immigration, an alternative health care bill, on and on......NOTHING.
Bernie is right, but there is no revolution....it's a coup d'etat.
The rest, including Willard angling for another shot is all Bread and Circus.
Cruz is the abyss
Marc O'Rubio is the abyss.
Kasich is the abyss.
Mitch McConnell is the abyss.
McConnell has pulled off the beer hall putsch. He has emasculated Obama. Nothing, nothing the man wants legislated will never ever get out of committee.
Now McConnell has also neutered the Supreme Court.
Mission Accomplished.
Now the Republic Party can take credit for its jobs bill and its infrastructure bill.
Tax reform, immigration, an alternative health care bill, on and on......NOTHING.
Bernie is right, but there is no revolution....it's a coup d'etat.
The rest, including Willard angling for another shot is all Bread and Circus.
6
Who is looking out for the 'little' guy? Certainly not Mitt or Trump.
3
If the Republican establishment wants to replace Trump as their standard bearer, instead of beating around the Bush, they should simply roll out their moral guide, their conscience, their policy guru, their demigod, Rush Limbaugh. Isn't he mostly the idiot...I mean idol, of the Republican base? Has he not been feeding that base and nurturing that base over decades to its present state of misinformed, anger-filled, state of self-immolation? If the Republican establishment doesn't like Trump, let's be honest, it doesn't like itself.
3
Several times, not enough times for me, but nonetheless, several times during the Trump candidacy, GOP figures like Rick Perry, and yesterday Mitt Romney, have condemned Trump and his candidacy in strident, unambiguous terms. These have been bitter condemnations of Trump using the very type of language and reasoning used by Democratic Party supporters and other non-GOP critics of Trump.
So one might logically think that the non-GOP Trump critics would welcome such expressions against Trump like what we heard from Romney. Sure, such wise people think Mitt Romney sub-human, but at least give him credit where credit is obviously due here.
But no, what we get are editorials like this one indistinguishable than if Romney had said nice things about Trump.
Such a reaction seems counter-intuitive, except that Trump’s candidacy favors the political interests of his non-GOP critics. Thus the NYT’s may say it doesn’t like Trump, but it will report or editorialize nothing that will endanger his candidacy in any way.
Hence this shrill, and if I may say, “Trump” like editorial. The aforementioned Rick Perry coined the term “Trumpism”. Yet it is not only the candidate’s supporters who exemplify the characteristics of “Trumpism” so well described by Mr. Perry in the earliest days of the Trump phenomena.
So one might logically think that the non-GOP Trump critics would welcome such expressions against Trump like what we heard from Romney. Sure, such wise people think Mitt Romney sub-human, but at least give him credit where credit is obviously due here.
But no, what we get are editorials like this one indistinguishable than if Romney had said nice things about Trump.
Such a reaction seems counter-intuitive, except that Trump’s candidacy favors the political interests of his non-GOP critics. Thus the NYT’s may say it doesn’t like Trump, but it will report or editorialize nothing that will endanger his candidacy in any way.
Hence this shrill, and if I may say, “Trump” like editorial. The aforementioned Rick Perry coined the term “Trumpism”. Yet it is not only the candidate’s supporters who exemplify the characteristics of “Trumpism” so well described by Mr. Perry in the earliest days of the Trump phenomena.
1
Oh, my green eggs and ham! Thank you!
But I'll not waste any tears on this foul bunch. There isn't a Republican out there who hasn't drunk the kool-aid.
Sure, Trump is a megalomaniac with no plan, but Rubio has still missed half the votes because he's off doing 'something else',
Cruz is still Tea-party, which is a quasi-religion that says throw it all out and we will be fine, just fine - BELIEVE ME!
and Kasich is still looking women straight in the eye and telling them that even though he has the medical care that can save their life, that if they have an abortion that he will withhold any and all medical care to save their life: Die, you foulness! Die!, he cries and everyone thinks he's so cute and cuddly! He's more of a con man than Trump.
In fact, they are all common-grade, garden-variety Republicans.
Why is the R-Party freaking out?
They are mind-blown because one of their Brand is sticking out more than the rest?But why would they be upset? Trump has said nothing that any number of these whacks have/had/are saying. Proposing 'war-crimes'?
Gosh, didn't Bush/Chaney do that? And then did them?
Women are 'disgusting dogs'? Oh, please, Rush Limbaugh calls us 'whores' and no Republican blinks an eye.
Every one of them proposes to continue to starve out the needy.
Each proposes more Bush wars.
It's all death and destruction no matter who is talking.
And the R-Hierarchy is just this year noticing?
Was Scalia that much of a bought lynchpin?
Why are they freaking out now?
But I'll not waste any tears on this foul bunch. There isn't a Republican out there who hasn't drunk the kool-aid.
Sure, Trump is a megalomaniac with no plan, but Rubio has still missed half the votes because he's off doing 'something else',
Cruz is still Tea-party, which is a quasi-religion that says throw it all out and we will be fine, just fine - BELIEVE ME!
and Kasich is still looking women straight in the eye and telling them that even though he has the medical care that can save their life, that if they have an abortion that he will withhold any and all medical care to save their life: Die, you foulness! Die!, he cries and everyone thinks he's so cute and cuddly! He's more of a con man than Trump.
In fact, they are all common-grade, garden-variety Republicans.
Why is the R-Party freaking out?
They are mind-blown because one of their Brand is sticking out more than the rest?But why would they be upset? Trump has said nothing that any number of these whacks have/had/are saying. Proposing 'war-crimes'?
Gosh, didn't Bush/Chaney do that? And then did them?
Women are 'disgusting dogs'? Oh, please, Rush Limbaugh calls us 'whores' and no Republican blinks an eye.
Every one of them proposes to continue to starve out the needy.
Each proposes more Bush wars.
It's all death and destruction no matter who is talking.
And the R-Hierarchy is just this year noticing?
Was Scalia that much of a bought lynchpin?
Why are they freaking out now?
14
To the Editors,
Who is this "Mitt" of whom you speak?
His relevance was questionable when he ran in 2012.
In 2016, his "speech" yesterday is already forgotten and Mr. Trump will, ultimately, have his way either as the choice of the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE or as an alternate party candidate.
In either case, yay! Maybe some sense, versus "cents" that the Republicans are quite fond of, will finally appear in the "Party of Lincoln". If not, let them fall in total defeat in November.
Who is this "Mitt" of whom you speak?
His relevance was questionable when he ran in 2012.
In 2016, his "speech" yesterday is already forgotten and Mr. Trump will, ultimately, have his way either as the choice of the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE or as an alternate party candidate.
In either case, yay! Maybe some sense, versus "cents" that the Republicans are quite fond of, will finally appear in the "Party of Lincoln". If not, let them fall in total defeat in November.
4
John McCain supported Mitt Romney on Thursday in his attack on Trump, and had this to say:
“I share the concerns about Donald Trump that my friend and former Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, described in his speech today.
...
I would also echo the many concerns about Mr. Trump’s uninformed and indeed dangerous statements on national security issues that have been raised by 65 Republican defense and foreign policy leaders.”
And this comes from the man whose vice-presidential choice was Sarah Palin.
O tempora! O mores!
“I share the concerns about Donald Trump that my friend and former Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, described in his speech today.
...
I would also echo the many concerns about Mr. Trump’s uninformed and indeed dangerous statements on national security issues that have been raised by 65 Republican defense and foreign policy leaders.”
And this comes from the man whose vice-presidential choice was Sarah Palin.
O tempora! O mores!
13
Dr. Jekyll aka Willard Mitt Romney calls out Mr. Hyde aka Donald John Trump. The Republican problem with Trump is that he is brutal, boorish, profane and vulgar. But Trump's style, manner and tone simply and clearly exposes the reckless, inhumane, selfish bigotry of the conservative Republican evangelical Southern Tea Party base. No more smiling faces, soft tones and euphemism.
The Tea Party is the Republican Party. And the Tea Party created and nurtured the immoral brilliant intemperate half-Cuban natural born citizen of Canada, Rafael Edward Cruz. Cruz wants to be President of the United States but he has no allies nor friends in the United States Congress where they know him best. Another Tea Party darling, Marco Antonio Rubio is ignorant, immature, inexperienced, lazy, truant, craven and cowardly. And Marco is the son of two Cubans.
Imagine the likes of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel, Shinzo Abe, David Cameron, Francois Hollande, Hassan Rouhani, King Salman, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Benjamin Netanyahu or Matteo Renzi on any world stage arena with any remaining member of the Republican Party 2016 POTUS class. Imagine the amusement and joy among the ranks of the likes of al Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram and al Shabaab or their affiliates. Imagine the horror and fear among America's allies. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
The Tea Party is the Republican Party. And the Tea Party created and nurtured the immoral brilliant intemperate half-Cuban natural born citizen of Canada, Rafael Edward Cruz. Cruz wants to be President of the United States but he has no allies nor friends in the United States Congress where they know him best. Another Tea Party darling, Marco Antonio Rubio is ignorant, immature, inexperienced, lazy, truant, craven and cowardly. And Marco is the son of two Cubans.
Imagine the likes of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel, Shinzo Abe, David Cameron, Francois Hollande, Hassan Rouhani, King Salman, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Benjamin Netanyahu or Matteo Renzi on any world stage arena with any remaining member of the Republican Party 2016 POTUS class. Imagine the amusement and joy among the ranks of the likes of al Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram and al Shabaab or their affiliates. Imagine the horror and fear among America's allies. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
7
Hold on a minute!
What's all this angst and hair-ripping about?
Nothing has changed.
These are still the same loonies they have been all along.
No one has "changed". All goals are the same....
Except, in the last week or so Dow Chemical has settled, a gas-oil billionaire has driven into an abutment, Mr. 47% is decrying the death of his party and is siccing the forces of the Universe onto Drumpf, who, frankly, hasn't said anything different than what he has ever mouthed off about....
In fact, only one thing HAS changed: Scalia died, croaked on one of his all-expense-paid, Five Star "thank you" trips.
That's it: Scalia has died. That's all that has changed.
The R (for Repulsive) Party is no different.
No policy has changed.
No one else has died (well, except for that suicide), nothing has changed in the world, and yet, suddenly, it's all a CRISIS!!! WE MUST DESTROY TRUMP AND HIS EVIL TWIN, DRUMPF!!!
(Well, yes... but you mustn't stop there... please!)
Was Scalia that important to the Republicans?
Is his death that much of a catastrophe to the R's?
Really? He was the only one holding this whole bag of excretement together?
I find that curious.
Was he truly the lynch-pin? The necessary component?
And, now that he's gone.... it's chaos? Panic? "The Night of the Long Knives" time?
No, I'm not buying it that the R-party has suddenly gotten sane. They are no different than they were 8 years ago, The Party of NO!!!
... so it was Scalia all along?
Really...?
Wow.
What's all this angst and hair-ripping about?
Nothing has changed.
These are still the same loonies they have been all along.
No one has "changed". All goals are the same....
Except, in the last week or so Dow Chemical has settled, a gas-oil billionaire has driven into an abutment, Mr. 47% is decrying the death of his party and is siccing the forces of the Universe onto Drumpf, who, frankly, hasn't said anything different than what he has ever mouthed off about....
In fact, only one thing HAS changed: Scalia died, croaked on one of his all-expense-paid, Five Star "thank you" trips.
That's it: Scalia has died. That's all that has changed.
The R (for Repulsive) Party is no different.
No policy has changed.
No one else has died (well, except for that suicide), nothing has changed in the world, and yet, suddenly, it's all a CRISIS!!! WE MUST DESTROY TRUMP AND HIS EVIL TWIN, DRUMPF!!!
(Well, yes... but you mustn't stop there... please!)
Was Scalia that important to the Republicans?
Is his death that much of a catastrophe to the R's?
Really? He was the only one holding this whole bag of excretement together?
I find that curious.
Was he truly the lynch-pin? The necessary component?
And, now that he's gone.... it's chaos? Panic? "The Night of the Long Knives" time?
No, I'm not buying it that the R-party has suddenly gotten sane. They are no different than they were 8 years ago, The Party of NO!!!
... so it was Scalia all along?
Really...?
Wow.
13
The Clinton / Bush Establishment Party is not happy not in control.
George Carlin said: "They want it all, they want everything and then they are coming for your Social Security."
The future: War & Criminal Profits to those in the Club is what lies ahead and behind us - nothing for you but ....words.
Names don't matter - Reagan / Bush / Clinton / Romney / Obama / Ryan / Rubio - all the same end game: steady extraction of jobs - end of bill of rights - debt - Murder by Neglect for all.
Escape ?
George Carlin said: "They want it all, they want everything and then they are coming for your Social Security."
The future: War & Criminal Profits to those in the Club is what lies ahead and behind us - nothing for you but ....words.
Names don't matter - Reagan / Bush / Clinton / Romney / Obama / Ryan / Rubio - all the same end game: steady extraction of jobs - end of bill of rights - debt - Murder by Neglect for all.
Escape ?
4
"Nah, .... Nah ... Nyah Nah ! Takes one to know one!
Sending the Mittster to call Trump a fraud was the biggest own-goal the Republicans have made in a long time.
Trump is immune to charges of corruption because his people see the whole system as corrupt. They see the GOP as the fount of it, with good reason.
The GOP cannot disown Trump; that is as impossible as disowning oneself.
Sending the Mittster to call Trump a fraud was the biggest own-goal the Republicans have made in a long time.
Trump is immune to charges of corruption because his people see the whole system as corrupt. They see the GOP as the fount of it, with good reason.
The GOP cannot disown Trump; that is as impossible as disowning oneself.
8
Trump IS the party's immediate crisis. One at a time....
2
Apparently, the “Teflon Don” is now the Republican Party’s Grendel.
There is a striking resemblance, however.
There is a striking resemblance, however.
3
"Now they (the Republican party) should look in the mirror." Why is Donald Trump winning, in the first place?
Trump is a super-salesman. He could sell you the "Brooklyn Bridge", with ease. He has convinced millions that he should be president, even though he has zero government experience.
Trump is trying to teach us that we still need super-salespeople. The ads are not enough. We need leaders who sell themselves and what they believe in. We need leaders who sell us hope for the future. Trump's ideas are ridiculous and dangerous and he is dangerous. But selling is critical to leadership.
================================================
In 1949, Arthur Miller gave us "Death of a Salesman". He predicted the future where selling has been rejected. Trump, in this crazy way, is bring sales back to politics. In this way, he is making history...
Now, I hope that the real candidates, Democratic and Republican will start to sell themselves and their hopes for America... Time to wake up!
THANK YOU DONALD!
=================
Trump is a super-salesman. He could sell you the "Brooklyn Bridge", with ease. He has convinced millions that he should be president, even though he has zero government experience.
Trump is trying to teach us that we still need super-salespeople. The ads are not enough. We need leaders who sell themselves and what they believe in. We need leaders who sell us hope for the future. Trump's ideas are ridiculous and dangerous and he is dangerous. But selling is critical to leadership.
================================================
In 1949, Arthur Miller gave us "Death of a Salesman". He predicted the future where selling has been rejected. Trump, in this crazy way, is bring sales back to politics. In this way, he is making history...
Now, I hope that the real candidates, Democratic and Republican will start to sell themselves and their hopes for America... Time to wake up!
THANK YOU DONALD!
=================
2
Watching Mr. Romney’s heartfelt plea and argument reminds me of Mr. McNamara’s late in life memoir In Retrospect where he confesses his conduct of the Vietnam War was “wrong, terribly wrong
Mr. Romney rues the day he sought Trump’s endorsement in 2012. And now hopes to atone for his part in legitimizing the farce of Trump with a wrenching call to stop him from wrecking the Republican Party and his beloved country. Too little, too late.
Mr. Romney rues the day he sought Trump’s endorsement in 2012. And now hopes to atone for his part in legitimizing the farce of Trump with a wrenching call to stop him from wrecking the Republican Party and his beloved country. Too little, too late.
4
While Mr. Romney looked and sounded presidential compared to the Republican field, the very essence of his speech was dripping with irony.
Romney, who was happy to pursue and recive Trump’s endorsement when Trump was spewing lies about Obama’s birthplace and religion, now finds Trumps dishonesty unacceptable. Romney, the son of the CEO of American motors and a Michigan governor now decries Trump’s inheritance. Romney, who would not release his tax returns, now criticizes Trump for not doing so. Romney, who complains that Trump changes his positions, not only ran as pro-choice for the Senate and then as pro-life for President. But also as governor championed the model for Obamacare, then ran against it. Romney, who concluded his speech today insulting and calling Hillary Clinton names rather than highlighting policy differences, calls Trump a bully who acts like a 3rd grader.
Like in 2012, Romney showed today that he is woefully out of touch with those beyond his circle. To Trump’s supporters, he represents the very reason they support Trump. To the rest of us, we see what really separates him from Trump: demeanor. Romney will be no more successful in his campaign against Trump than he was against Obama.
Romney, who was happy to pursue and recive Trump’s endorsement when Trump was spewing lies about Obama’s birthplace and religion, now finds Trumps dishonesty unacceptable. Romney, the son of the CEO of American motors and a Michigan governor now decries Trump’s inheritance. Romney, who would not release his tax returns, now criticizes Trump for not doing so. Romney, who complains that Trump changes his positions, not only ran as pro-choice for the Senate and then as pro-life for President. But also as governor championed the model for Obamacare, then ran against it. Romney, who concluded his speech today insulting and calling Hillary Clinton names rather than highlighting policy differences, calls Trump a bully who acts like a 3rd grader.
Like in 2012, Romney showed today that he is woefully out of touch with those beyond his circle. To Trump’s supporters, he represents the very reason they support Trump. To the rest of us, we see what really separates him from Trump: demeanor. Romney will be no more successful in his campaign against Trump than he was against Obama.
37
Lest anyone forget...
Willard Mitty Romney's foreign policy experience is limited to hiding out in France to dodge the Viet Nam draft.
A war he marched in support of, wearing a necktie as a headband, while at Stanford, on a student deferment.
Willard Mitty Romney's foreign policy experience is limited to hiding out in France to dodge the Viet Nam draft.
A war he marched in support of, wearing a necktie as a headband, while at Stanford, on a student deferment.
16
What a surreal moment. Mitt Romney: Trump today is the same man you eagerly courted four years ago. What changed? John McCain: Trump today is no less preposterous a choice for the White House than the individual you selected as your running mate eight years ago. What changed? GOP Establishment: Trump today is using the same electoral playbook that Nixon (Southern Strategy), Reagan (Philadelphia Miss.), Bush 41 (Willie Horton), Bush 43 (McCain's love child) and Romney (grateful recipient of Trump endorsement) have been using for generations. What changed? The fact that that you appear so gobsmacked by this Trump thing proves that the chances it will provoke any introspection within your party are nil. You don't know your own history and are thus forever condemned to repeat it.
20
Wouldn't it just be easier to have Hillary run as the Republican nominee and let Bernie have the Democratic Party?
29
Mr. Trump proposes, "building a wall".
Mr. Romney proposed, "self-deportation".
Is there a difference ?
Mr. Romney proposed, "self-deportation".
Is there a difference ?
12
Trump foreign policies which "could make America safe?" To whom are you talking? Trump policies are more likely to start wars.
3
The New York Times boldly condemns Republican national security experts for the same Iraq adventurism as its endorsed Democratic candidate for president. That's rich.
11
Humpty Dumpty, Pandora's Box, The Golem, ...Sometimes what is broke cannot be fixed, what is set loose cannot be controlled, and what is unleashed will turn on the handler. Let republicans sit in there broken house for a generation or two. They have a very big lesson to learn.
5
I guess Mitt doesn't know the demographics of Trump supporters. Let's just say they are not Mitt supporters, and this naked display of panic will backfire.
8
Yes..the irony. And, yes, there is a certain thrill in watching as the monster eats its own. But, really, the horror is not the candidate, or the leadership's response to the candidate, but the sheer number of our neighbors, friends, adults, who are willing to pursue a path of HATE against their own neighbors. Are we really all that different from the tribal war-lords? And to some extent...these haters are the very ones who have been arming themselves to the hilt...with handguns and automatics and semi-automatics under the guise of protection. But, they are consumed with hate.
Where are we headed?
Where are we headed?
8
As usual, Romney - like all Republicans - is all talk and no clue. I'll give him credit for trying, at least.
But bottomline: Romney would rather see a Cruz or Rubio presidency than a Hillary presidency.
Think about that. "Carpet bomb them" is a war crime. Repealing obamacare is lunacy. As is the flat tax. All stuff Cruz has proposed.
Fanatic Christians making laws to force their religion onto everyone: No gay marriage, no abortion. Freeing Wall St from those pesky regulations that stop them from trashing the economy. Again. All stuff Rubio wants.
Romney would rather see either of these clowns in the most powerful office in history, than see Obama or Sanders or Hillary there. Despite their experience, judgment, and actual good ideas.
The Republicans are a defunct party. They created this mess, they are powerless to stop it, and they still - Still! - cannot admit that maybe they are simply wrong about a few things. Pathetic. Absolute pathetic.
But bottomline: Romney would rather see a Cruz or Rubio presidency than a Hillary presidency.
Think about that. "Carpet bomb them" is a war crime. Repealing obamacare is lunacy. As is the flat tax. All stuff Cruz has proposed.
Fanatic Christians making laws to force their religion onto everyone: No gay marriage, no abortion. Freeing Wall St from those pesky regulations that stop them from trashing the economy. Again. All stuff Rubio wants.
Romney would rather see either of these clowns in the most powerful office in history, than see Obama or Sanders or Hillary there. Despite their experience, judgment, and actual good ideas.
The Republicans are a defunct party. They created this mess, they are powerless to stop it, and they still - Still! - cannot admit that maybe they are simply wrong about a few things. Pathetic. Absolute pathetic.
14
Memo to the GOP:
Excuse me Dr. Frankenstein, your monster is running amok over the countryside. Please do something.
Excuse me Dr. Frankenstein, your monster is running amok over the countryside. Please do something.
12
The Republicans still don't get that they created this mess. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.
19
Perhaps Mitt could cure Trump of his misogeny by showing him binders of women.
17
Mitt Romney has no more credibility than Hillary Clinton. Enough of the same old pablum, let's throw all the corrupt bums out.
9
I guess it makes sense for the party bigwigs, whoever they may be, to try and kneecap Mr. Trump. But do they actually believe the remaining lightweights and ideological extremists are better for the country than Trump? The Republican Party has outFoxed itself to a farthee well.
7
Here's the truth: they are all Trump when it comes to policy and pandering. Is President Cruz with his smarmy request that others "prayerfully" leave better? I think he's at least as scary. Or President Rubio who started the penis discussion? Or President Kasich who believes in the fantasy of balanced budgets? Just wait until he wants to start another war. They are all fantasists and liars. And too many of your reporters treat them with kid gloves. Krugman nailed it today.
13
Trump would be terrible for the country, worst POTUS ever, says the GOP. But the other guys running pledge to support him if he's the nominee
Way to put country over party, boys
Way to put country over party, boys
15
The Romney appearance was a complete disgrace. Mrs. Romney's standing by during her husband's rant reminds of the shame President Nixon inflicted on Mrs. Nixon.
9
Republicans don't get irony.
5
What an imploding, childish GOP we laugh at.
Mittless Romney is a corporate criminal and a professional tax fraud who hides his money in overseas accounts, love the Chinse slave labor camp he visited, and ran a stupid campaign filled, really, with NOTHING.
Too much. Mittless didn't even release ONE complete tax return. The one he supposedly put out did not have the financial info filled in yet, and so was a release, again, of absolutely nothing.
The problem with the GOP is, their entier party have turned into Christian extremists, racists, woman control freaks, and miserable terroristic "Christian" bigots.
When the entire party is a barrel of crapola, you will get nothing but crapola candidates.
I can't think of a greasier set of domestic insurrectionists getting destroyed, at least since the treasonous Confederacy.
Mittless Romney is a corporate criminal and a professional tax fraud who hides his money in overseas accounts, love the Chinse slave labor camp he visited, and ran a stupid campaign filled, really, with NOTHING.
Too much. Mittless didn't even release ONE complete tax return. The one he supposedly put out did not have the financial info filled in yet, and so was a release, again, of absolutely nothing.
The problem with the GOP is, their entier party have turned into Christian extremists, racists, woman control freaks, and miserable terroristic "Christian" bigots.
When the entire party is a barrel of crapola, you will get nothing but crapola candidates.
I can't think of a greasier set of domestic insurrectionists getting destroyed, at least since the treasonous Confederacy.
7
The level of hypocrisy reached by Romney is absolutely stunning. All that was missing from his speech was the truth.
10
It is amusing to watch the Republicans discover that their emperor "has no clothes". After years of lies about global warming, etc. it is amazing that they find themselves with probably the best liar of them all as Trump spins his message.
You will reap as you sow.
You will reap as you sow.
4
Kind of like Fonzi jumping over the shark.
2
Thank you NYT for pointing out this fact. Trump is the result of GOP policies and behaviors that we have seen for many years. The difference is that Mr. Trump does not pretend to spin his Hate into Love as the rest of the GOP have done for as as long as I remember, going back to the Nixon Southern strategy. The cows have come home to roost.
8
The hard cold fact is that Republicans have had record numbers of people voting and Democrat voters have been below average. Anyone want to guess why? I would say it is because it is your fellow Democrat voters who are putting Trump on top. Wait for the states to vote where only registered party voters can cast their votes. I will bet a dollar to a donut that Trump doesn't win them because Democrat voters will not be able to vote for him. So maybe all Democrats should look at their own party before slinging mud at the Republican Party. We shall see....
2
And Pogo the Possum said, "We have seen the enemy, and he is us."
3
Trump is good for the country. I hope he gets elected, then impeached by the republican controlled congress. You have to admit your problems before you can solve them.
4
Mitt Romney insulted 47 million voters as a candidate. Now he's insulting all the voters who pulled a lever for Trump. Does the guy understand that America is a democracy, and that telling voters they're idiots is a bad strategy? When will he get it? He keeps repeating the same mistakes over and over.
5
That awkward moment when a 1%er realizes, "Gee maybe we are all in this together."
10
I am not a fan of Donald Trump.
But I'm not blind. The mere fact that the GOP picked Mr. Romney to speak, let alone speak about Mr. Trump at this point in the process, speaks volumes about how distanced the "old school" GOP is with voters today. Its not that the public loves Mr. Trump- its that they hate THEM.
But I'm not blind. The mere fact that the GOP picked Mr. Romney to speak, let alone speak about Mr. Trump at this point in the process, speaks volumes about how distanced the "old school" GOP is with voters today. Its not that the public loves Mr. Trump- its that they hate THEM.
11
A personality contest between Romney and Trump? No contest according to Trump supporters or anyone for that matter.
5
In essence Mitt is saying that GOP voters are stupid.
5
The so-called GOP leadership can't stand the fact that Trump took their issues (anti-immigration, second amendment rights, radical Islamic terrorism, etc), put it on steroids and is beating the establishment candidates over the head.
Mitt Romney is the latest to come up with the "sky is falling" message. Romney is hoping for a brokered convention and praying that he'll get nominated yet again. Other than that, there is no reason for him to speak up now. It is not as if Trump just started running.
The GOP leadership, Romney included, must come to the realization that the genie is out of the bottle and they have very little control.
Mitt Romney is the latest to come up with the "sky is falling" message. Romney is hoping for a brokered convention and praying that he'll get nominated yet again. Other than that, there is no reason for him to speak up now. It is not as if Trump just started running.
The GOP leadership, Romney included, must come to the realization that the genie is out of the bottle and they have very little control.
4
Like a diseased tree, the GOP needs to be pruned back severely so it can regenerate healthy branches. Who knows, maybe it could become something surprisingly beautiful even in my lifetime. Freakier things have happened, you know.
8
This is really something coming from a waffle like Romney. But hey, we miss him, don't we? I remember his explanation for the 47% leak: "what I said isn't what I think".
8
Thanks to Roger Cohen tonight I watched a real debate featuring a real natural born American conservative politician and came away informed delighted and amused. The Mayor of London Alexander Boris Johnson was born in Manhattan and is the President many Americans wish they had.
He can fly into any world capital and be warmly greeted by the people who make those countries function.
He is warm witty and brilliant.
He can be watched debating whether Rome or Greece were the best of the old Western cultures. He is charming and articulate. He is an experienced legislator and executive. He is a loyal Londoner but no doubt understands that even for Britain the most important job in the entire world is the job of the man in the oval office.
Boris Johnson is eligible for that job and after Mitt in Utah and the childish display in Detroit maybe Boris can be persuaded to save our bacon.
For those hungry to see a real debate and see how uplifting and entertaining a real conservative politician can be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k448JqQyj8
He is not a right wing reactionary like Cruz, Rubio Kasich Ryan and McConnell he is a thinking pragmatic and congenial conservative who understands the global economy.
I particularly enjoyed the part about the qualification for full citizenship in Rome and the quip about Johnson's fortune to be in England where his New York birth did not hinder him.
Adults can debate and not be juvenile sometimes you can feel the love and feel uplifted.
He can fly into any world capital and be warmly greeted by the people who make those countries function.
He is warm witty and brilliant.
He can be watched debating whether Rome or Greece were the best of the old Western cultures. He is charming and articulate. He is an experienced legislator and executive. He is a loyal Londoner but no doubt understands that even for Britain the most important job in the entire world is the job of the man in the oval office.
Boris Johnson is eligible for that job and after Mitt in Utah and the childish display in Detroit maybe Boris can be persuaded to save our bacon.
For those hungry to see a real debate and see how uplifting and entertaining a real conservative politician can be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k448JqQyj8
He is not a right wing reactionary like Cruz, Rubio Kasich Ryan and McConnell he is a thinking pragmatic and congenial conservative who understands the global economy.
I particularly enjoyed the part about the qualification for full citizenship in Rome and the quip about Johnson's fortune to be in England where his New York birth did not hinder him.
Adults can debate and not be juvenile sometimes you can feel the love and feel uplifted.
7
The Republican establishment's continued cluelessness is astounding. 47% Romney is brought in to lecture the people who rejected him? A Trump sycophant is brought in to dis him? The Democrats are salivating and rightly so.
11
It speaks volumes about the Republican Party when they resurrect Mitt Romney from the political dead and obsolete to take down the monster they have created.
10
Or, as Dr. Frankenstein said at the end of the film, "It's alive! Alive!"
9
It is not only Republicans who are voting for Trump. Look at the Massachusetts primary, for example. Apparently almost 20,000 Massachusetts Democrats abandoned their party affiliation to vote for Trump. This is not just a GOP issue, as much as the NYT Editorial Board would like to believe.
7
The people who raised $40 million to fight the Iran agreement, the folks who brought us the Iraq war, have now declared war against Trump. They gave a call to their buddy Romney, and he obliged. If Romney had been even remotely clued into 'common folks', he would've realized it will end up being a huge endorsement of Trump, but alas, he wasn't bright enough to know in 2012 that cozying up to neocons was toxic.
Trump is going to win the nomination, and then he is going to win in November by going after Hillary on Iraq, Libya, emails, foundation, etc.
Trump is going to win the nomination, and then he is going to win in November by going after Hillary on Iraq, Libya, emails, foundation, etc.
4
Hannity did an overlay tape of segments of the phrasing Rubio has been using over the last week, with phrasing Romney used today. It's crystal clear it was Rubio team that got Romney's talking points written.
3
Lets not forget the Democrats "winner "Hillary and who really wants to vote for her? A choice of Trump or Hillary we all lose.
2
The sole reason why the Republican Party has not been able to produce an outstanding pair of candidates, including in 2000, is that its leadership working mostly with Mitch McConnell’s bell cranks and levers is a colossal failure. These are an elaborate set of GOP policy shops such as the Heritage Foundation, funding systems for these such as the Koch Brothers and its money distribution network, the adulation of people like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Bill O’Reilly, and mostly the GOP decision to obstruct and deride governance so it has no bench in the Congress, state houses and governor’s mansions. The GOP has built a divide and regales in it.
The GOP has been out of training for the last 16 years when it comes to producing candidates who have been in the ring and advanced needed legislation. (Governor Kasich is an exception but he is drowned out.) McConnell, Boehner and now Ryan have actually blocked the development of a team and are incompetent in seeing ours and the world’s problems and then seeking to work to solve them. This is why so many experienced Congressmen and woman have resigned in despair and why the tea-party class of candidates and a renegade have been able to enter the ring. Cruz and Trump are the result. There is no comparison to any of this on the Democrat side.
You are looking at a GOP house of cards that is wobbling.
The GOP has been out of training for the last 16 years when it comes to producing candidates who have been in the ring and advanced needed legislation. (Governor Kasich is an exception but he is drowned out.) McConnell, Boehner and now Ryan have actually blocked the development of a team and are incompetent in seeing ours and the world’s problems and then seeking to work to solve them. This is why so many experienced Congressmen and woman have resigned in despair and why the tea-party class of candidates and a renegade have been able to enter the ring. Cruz and Trump are the result. There is no comparison to any of this on the Democrat side.
You are looking at a GOP house of cards that is wobbling.
7
The Republican Party primary is the ultimate TV reality show in the spirit of Survivor or The Bachelor, with the ultimate twist: The winner really COULD become President of the United States! And why not turn it into a show? Isn't that exactly what corporate owned media like Fox wants? Their ratings are going through the roof. It really is more bizarre than any Hollywood movie. America is watching a REAL reality show unfold where the "contestants" win the ultimate prize: a 4 year stay in the White House with the ability to blow up the world at their command. Do we really want President Trump or any of these right wing buffoons have the ability to order a nuclear attack?
7
Romney now says he would have refused Trump's endorsement back in 2012, had the breathe of his stupidity, dishonesty and cruelty been on display.
Really? In 2012, Donald Trump was well known as one of our richest, loudest, nastiest birther. What utter hypocrites these people are.
Really? In 2012, Donald Trump was well known as one of our richest, loudest, nastiest birther. What utter hypocrites these people are.
6
It's hard to believe that Mitt Romney is right on target for once.
All Trump is doing is bring in the spot light just what the GOP has been cultivating for the last 20 years, racial divide, bigotry and playing to the band of fringe hate groups.
When you have Paul Ryan quoted as saying "our party doesn't prey on people's prejudices", that's an outright lie, because that is exactly what the GOP has been doing and more so than ever in the last 8 years. When you hear this cesspool of vile diatribes against decency, Donald Trump, just spews out day in and day out on the campaign trail that is a complete disgrace to human decency.
When you have so-called public servants like Ryan, McConnell, McCain (especially), etc., putting their tails between their legs and saying they will support Trump regardless if he is the parties nominee....it says all you need to know about their integrity and sense of moral decency; they have none!
They can all look to Reince Preibus that real sleazy character, who has presided over this cesspool of muck and refuse they has bottomed out as what is now the Republican Party, a party of haters, race baiters, bigots and fringe gun nuts willing to say anything true or untrue to destroy people at all costs. It's is not only a dumbing down of the social and moral fabric of our country and everything my father, uncles and relatives fought for during WWII.....it's just a disgrace to their memory.
The GOP has set this country back generations.
All Trump is doing is bring in the spot light just what the GOP has been cultivating for the last 20 years, racial divide, bigotry and playing to the band of fringe hate groups.
When you have Paul Ryan quoted as saying "our party doesn't prey on people's prejudices", that's an outright lie, because that is exactly what the GOP has been doing and more so than ever in the last 8 years. When you hear this cesspool of vile diatribes against decency, Donald Trump, just spews out day in and day out on the campaign trail that is a complete disgrace to human decency.
When you have so-called public servants like Ryan, McConnell, McCain (especially), etc., putting their tails between their legs and saying they will support Trump regardless if he is the parties nominee....it says all you need to know about their integrity and sense of moral decency; they have none!
They can all look to Reince Preibus that real sleazy character, who has presided over this cesspool of muck and refuse they has bottomed out as what is now the Republican Party, a party of haters, race baiters, bigots and fringe gun nuts willing to say anything true or untrue to destroy people at all costs. It's is not only a dumbing down of the social and moral fabric of our country and everything my father, uncles and relatives fought for during WWII.....it's just a disgrace to their memory.
The GOP has set this country back generations.
10
I'm surprised at the arrogance of the media and the establishment politicians to think that the people's voice is less than dispositive. These are the "king makers" that Trump proposes to depose once and for all. The Constitution begins with, "We, the people...." not, "We, the media...." or, "We, the establishment politicians...." This is a pitchfork revolution intent on ridding the nation of monarchs and professional pols.
10
As the great Walt Kelly said "I have met the enemy and he is us.".
5
Perhaps we need two President Bushes to denounce the Trump, they at least have the cache of having won.
Though one might see a natural progression from the first ( intelligent ), through the second ( folksy ) to the Trump ( the basest of the base ).
Though one might see a natural progression from the first ( intelligent ), through the second ( folksy ) to the Trump ( the basest of the base ).
1
I'm not sure why Mitt Romney didn't just tell Republicans to vote for Hillary. It seems hard to believe that even at this stage the party elders can't see that Hillary is the best Republican choice out there.
13
Republicans aren't the solution, they're the problem. When they self-destruct, it's morning in America!
21
They are all just a bunch of taunting 14 year-old boys; Cruz, Rubio, Romney are just jealous that Trump is better at it than they are.
8
When Mitt Romney lost the 2012 election to Obama, I thought it was the final nail in the coffin of the GOP that my grandparent's knew. What we have today is something that oozed from the coffin and pooled on the ground and it smells terrible.
18
It is a toss up, who is the most embarrassing and shameless, Christie or Romney, this whole Republican nomination charade, is getting more bizarre by the minute, Romney and Cruz are the worst, then followed by Trump and Rubio and Kasich are tied! I actually felt sick to my stomach watching Romney and Cruz and Rubio, came across as shrewish, bitter women. It was sickening!
4
As noted in the editorial, this may ultimately inure to Trump's benefit.
To all the professed moderate Republicans out there, this is what happens when you look first to save your own neck. Eventually, the hangman will come looking for you.
To all the professed moderate Republicans out there, this is what happens when you look first to save your own neck. Eventually, the hangman will come looking for you.
13
Did Romney have any sense of irony when he derided Trump for his inherited wealth and refusal to release tax returns?
26
While I'm heartened that types like Romney & McCain are finally speaking out, indeed the GOP has sewn the seeds of polarity, divisiveness, cynicism, and contempt for the last 30 yrs and only now seem surprised to see the human Venus Flytrap who appears before them today. I don't think they can fix this with a few speeches or even a brokered convention, and maybe, just ,maybe, Trump is here for a reason. God help us all.
16
Watching these guys take shots at each other brings to mind a circular firing squad.
12
A former Republican "anyone but" presidential candidate denounces a current Republican "anyone but" presidential candidate.
Interesting point about Romney helping Trump and I agree. GOP disdain is making some people scratch their heads and take note. Instead of dismissing Trump as vulgar and crude (which he is), they actually stop to think twice about his candidacy.
The thought process essentially boils down to an enemy-of-my-enemy argument. If Republican voters are truly dissatisfied with the GOP establishment and the establishment really hates Trump, maybe Trump isn't such a bad idea.
Everyone knows Trump is a liar with a flair for hyperbole. His more ridiculous suggestions therefore become less troublesome. He'll likely flip-flop and make some excuse. About the only thing in Trump you can trust is his ability to turncoat and jump on the winning team. Worst case, you'll end up with Clinton.
When you compare that to "honest" candidates like Rubio and Cruz, alarm bells start ringing. When Curz says he'll get rid of the IRS, you can believe he'll try. When Rubio says he'll cut Social Security benefits for younger generations, you can't doubt him. When they both say their tax cuts are designed to help the average citizen and balance the budget, you need to step lightly to avoid the cow pies.
How does the saying go? You can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. It's the honest ones you need to watch out for.
The thought process essentially boils down to an enemy-of-my-enemy argument. If Republican voters are truly dissatisfied with the GOP establishment and the establishment really hates Trump, maybe Trump isn't such a bad idea.
Everyone knows Trump is a liar with a flair for hyperbole. His more ridiculous suggestions therefore become less troublesome. He'll likely flip-flop and make some excuse. About the only thing in Trump you can trust is his ability to turncoat and jump on the winning team. Worst case, you'll end up with Clinton.
When you compare that to "honest" candidates like Rubio and Cruz, alarm bells start ringing. When Curz says he'll get rid of the IRS, you can believe he'll try. When Rubio says he'll cut Social Security benefits for younger generations, you can't doubt him. When they both say their tax cuts are designed to help the average citizen and balance the budget, you need to step lightly to avoid the cow pies.
How does the saying go? You can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest. It's the honest ones you need to watch out for.
12
During the 2012 election, Romney said "why no one asks for my birth certificate". Trump may be a con but so is Rubio Cruz, Ryan, et al.
9
Mr. Trump may well be a pied piper who will lead the Tea Party base of the GOP into a cavern from which there is no return.
14
As long as Trump was useful for Republicans, everyone tolerated the rabid junkyard dog, until he turned on each and every one of them:
1) Trump was wonderful at barking about Obama's birthplace and legitimacy...until he started barking at Cruz and Rubio about theirs.
2) Trump was great at mauling Jeb for Rubio...until he started mauling Rubio.
3) Trump did wonders to take Carson down for Cruz...until he started tearing Cruz down.
Each and everyone of them thought they could put Trump down when the time came, now they are sweating and feeling the fear that comes with being bitten by a cur.
1) Trump was wonderful at barking about Obama's birthplace and legitimacy...until he started barking at Cruz and Rubio about theirs.
2) Trump was great at mauling Jeb for Rubio...until he started mauling Rubio.
3) Trump did wonders to take Carson down for Cruz...until he started tearing Cruz down.
Each and everyone of them thought they could put Trump down when the time came, now they are sweating and feeling the fear that comes with being bitten by a cur.
33
The Republican Party still doesn't get it. To address anti-Establishment rebels, they send Mr. Establishment Romney, with quotes from 60 years ago. With the same old lines about the Democratic Party caring for the people. Middle and lower-class people--who suffer from decades of Republican policies aimed at the rich and the corporations--know better. This isn't 1964. The same old, same old don't work.
11
Mr Romney. Assuming you are not a droid, you probably occasionally grow facial hair and periodically need to shave. If that is the case, is it possible that you look into a mirror?
If so, the vision reflected is exactly that which Americans have found to be so delusional and deceitful that they have been driven in their disgust to embrace the likes of Donald Trump.
If so, the vision reflected is exactly that which Americans have found to be so delusional and deceitful that they have been driven in their disgust to embrace the likes of Donald Trump.
13
Mitt Romney, the architect of the individual mandate and a moderate Republican governor who ran for president as a right wing conservative and denied any comparison between Obamacare and Romneycare, calling Donald Trump a fraud. A little of the pot calling the kettle black, no?
14
They (Republicans), all of them, deserve each other.
7
All of this is so much fun to watch as the GOP implodes. The party that has said no repeatedly over the past 7 years is delusional to think anyone will listen to Mitt Romney or John McCain or GOP foreign affairs advisors. This election is about the unprotected standing up to the protected. When political pundits stand up and tell the populous what they should do, the populous is now pushing back fueled by anger and frustration.
6
Thank you for this editorial. The amount of denial and blame among party leaders for their own disaster is indeed breathtaking. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.
9
About 43% of the population agreed with Mitt Romney's speech the other 47% felt there was nothing they could take from it.
6
And why has the Gop been able to groom these crazies for years, and grooming their voters to accept ever worsening candidates taking the country down?
Because big money finances our elections, or we get super rich self financers. What are their interests and values? They are appealing ever more to the lowest instincts of the public and selling their platforms according to the elite preferences.
Now it’s actually unfashionable to be too responsive to the 'Public Good'. You’re called Left. So our liberals have turned more centrist. And too many media pundits follow right along, as we have seen in this campaign, not to stand out as abnormal. This is what creates the downward spiral in our politics, when even the Dems can’t protect us.
But with public financing and free media time in campaigns, as in other democracies, we’d get a better class of candidates in both parties. These would be counter forces to those too allied to Wall St, or to those heading in a crazy fascist direction, using division. The voters would get a wider range of solutions.
Freed from constant fund raising, politicians could actually turn to representing average citizens.
Research shows how majority public opinion on most issues has been ignored---re Wall St, taxes, jobs, guns, wars, education, health care. If the mass of citizens were better served by our politicians, the Trump type trash wouldn’t gain a foothold. But we’re not better served and he’s on our TV screens day and night.
Because big money finances our elections, or we get super rich self financers. What are their interests and values? They are appealing ever more to the lowest instincts of the public and selling their platforms according to the elite preferences.
Now it’s actually unfashionable to be too responsive to the 'Public Good'. You’re called Left. So our liberals have turned more centrist. And too many media pundits follow right along, as we have seen in this campaign, not to stand out as abnormal. This is what creates the downward spiral in our politics, when even the Dems can’t protect us.
But with public financing and free media time in campaigns, as in other democracies, we’d get a better class of candidates in both parties. These would be counter forces to those too allied to Wall St, or to those heading in a crazy fascist direction, using division. The voters would get a wider range of solutions.
Freed from constant fund raising, politicians could actually turn to representing average citizens.
Research shows how majority public opinion on most issues has been ignored---re Wall St, taxes, jobs, guns, wars, education, health care. If the mass of citizens were better served by our politicians, the Trump type trash wouldn’t gain a foothold. But we’re not better served and he’s on our TV screens day and night.
12
As a life long Democrat I am cheering Trump on!
Finally there is a weapon against the Republican monolith. He is a Trogan horse! I have a feeling more reasonable ideas than those of Cruz and Rubio and McConnell are inside.
Finally there is a weapon against the Republican monolith. He is a Trogan horse! I have a feeling more reasonable ideas than those of Cruz and Rubio and McConnell are inside.
12
If you think a Trump presidency would be bad, I guarantee a Cruz presidency would be far worse.
29
The GOP has done this to themselves. They are just living out the fruit of their own rhetoric and behavior. Whether or not they will humbly admit it, their policies have cause the outrage and people just are buying it anymore.
9
I confess that watching this disintegration of the GOP is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Smug Mitt the jobs destroyer who pays less taxes (%) than many clerical workers and changed his position on just about everything at least twice has no credibility. He dissed 47% of the American people, fired thousands of others through his game of three card monte and is a sickening example of the Republican establishment. I hope the Trump gang burns their party to the ground. They lit the match and Trump is the fire. Bye bye GOP.
27
Despite his flame colored hair and heated antics, Trump is like that certain kind of revenge that is best served cold.
13
Unfortunately, Romney's implication that a "solution" might rest in supporting Cruz and/or Rubio, neither of whom can fairly be considered presidential timber. The "southern strategy" ---> Tea Party ---> Trump ---> Rubio/Cruz quasi evolution does not represent progress within the Republican Party. It's time to rethink the whole matter -- and I don't mean tossing out a new collection of dog whistles or bumper stickers.
Again I offer the analogy of the Democrats finally breaking with their segregationist wing and accepting the political consequences. Even in politics it occasionally occurs that doing a Right Thing is the right thing to do.
Again I offer the analogy of the Democrats finally breaking with their segregationist wing and accepting the political consequences. Even in politics it occasionally occurs that doing a Right Thing is the right thing to do.
9
The Republican Party really is desperate and will use all of its cards, even the ones up its sleeve, to attack Trump. These self-serving politicians will stop at nothing to keep the establishment from collapsing in on their power-brokers' house of cards.
12
It is not just Republicans who are voting for Trump. Reportedly, nearly 20,000 Massachusetts Democrats abandoned their party to vote for Trump in the primary. Trump has also fared best in states with open primaries. His rise is not a statement solely about GOP voters, as much as many people and the NYT would like to believe. But Hillary is taking note, no doubt.
9
I decided when I was four years old that it was OK for me to doodle in the Abraham Lincoln book because some day i was going to be the president. The way things are shaping up I might finally get the opportunity I seek.
Does anybody really want any of these so-called candidates? I suspect not. That is the issue—we are finally at the end of the dollar driven political charade. I'm the World peace candidate. Time is finally on my side.
http://michaelslevinson.com
Does anybody really want any of these so-called candidates? I suspect not. That is the issue—we are finally at the end of the dollar driven political charade. I'm the World peace candidate. Time is finally on my side.
http://michaelslevinson.com
5
As if to prove how soulless the Republican party has become, last night's debate was two hours of Rubio, Cruz and Kasich telling the world that Trump is a dangerous demagogue, a self-aggrandizing fraud, terrifyingly uninformed...and then ending the night promising to support him if he's the nominee.
18
The problem is not so much the message as the messenger
Romney is nothing more than a smoother version of Trump.
As a partner in Bain he shipped jobs to China, he bankrupted companies and his immigration policy was to self deport .
Trump is a disaster , so is a Rubio and Cruz only Kasich seems remotely sane but even he fails to acknowledge that Ohio was saved by the Auto bail out an evil Federal government program.
The only way forward is a Democratic President , a Senate and major gains in the house.
Both Sanders and Clinton can do the job ,what is needed is a manifesto from the Democrats that addresses the problems and the opportunities for our country, then we need as one to communicate the manifesto effectively and GET people out to vote
Romney is nothing more than a smoother version of Trump.
As a partner in Bain he shipped jobs to China, he bankrupted companies and his immigration policy was to self deport .
Trump is a disaster , so is a Rubio and Cruz only Kasich seems remotely sane but even he fails to acknowledge that Ohio was saved by the Auto bail out an evil Federal government program.
The only way forward is a Democratic President , a Senate and major gains in the house.
Both Sanders and Clinton can do the job ,what is needed is a manifesto from the Democrats that addresses the problems and the opportunities for our country, then we need as one to communicate the manifesto effectively and GET people out to vote
15
Makes me want to cite Walt Kelly so that the Republicans may as be reminded of the great cartoonist when he said "I have seen the enemy and he is us". As another great humorist Casey Stengel said. "You could look it up".
3
By their policies of the last 30 years, the Republican Party created this Trumpenstein monster, and now they don't know what to do with him.
He is like a fun-house mirror, reflecting all the bigotry, willful ignorance, intolerance and meanness of the Republican Party in a supersized image.
He is like a fun-house mirror, reflecting all the bigotry, willful ignorance, intolerance and meanness of the Republican Party in a supersized image.
14
No, Romney is not the perfect messenger, and his fellow Republicans are not much more credible. However, Trump is another level of crazy entirely. Let's give them some credit for trying to stop him (though it seems like too little too late to make a difference.)
2
This in essence was the point that just last night I tried making to my so-called independent voter friend. Though he, like always, did not quite accept my take, is it any wonder where the GOP finds itself at? All the downright racist demeaning gestures and comments thrown at the first POTUS of color and his family for no reason at the time other than that he dared to run and legitimately win (not appointed by his father's friends in SCOTUS) were never condemned by most GOPers in the name of 'freedom of speech'. Very few of them, such as Mr. McCain ever admonished comments of that nature. Well, that little monster has grown into a giant that is ready to swallow the parents whole!
7
I think it's obvious that Romney was set up by the GOP donors to halt the "Trump train," however it is going to backfire. Why? Romney is bought and owned by the GOP elite. How dare they tell the base what they want. If they want their party to self destruct- then so be it.
4
I'm waiting for some GOP Elder Statesman to get up and say, "Please forgive us, it's all our fault!"
3
The Republicans started with Lee Atwater and ended with Donald Trump. How appropriate.
7
If Mitt Romney is the chosen spokesperson for the GOP, then it's no wonder that the party has a problem. The Donald was correct when he said Romney was a loser. Why would the GOP put a resounding loser in the forefront to rally the troops?
13
The party on life support continues to use old white snarky males to deliver its message of cynicism, hatred and bigotry.
7
Someday we'll come to appreciate how Donald Trump "outed" the Republican Party, showed them for who they really were. Part of the healing process, hopefully.
11
There are 9 anti trump articles on the op Ed pages... Doesn't anyone realize that the reason trump has gained so much momentum is because middle America is tired of elitist liberals telling them they are inferior and telling them how to act... The more vocal the left gets the more engaged the right gets... One only need to look at the high voter turnout on the republican side of the primaries to see that trump supporters are becoming charged up much like Obama supporters were
4
Republicans are denouncing Trump but they are not taking responsibility for him. It is comical the way Republican politicians and pundits treat Trump as an anomaly that came out of nowhere through no fault of their own. They are always reminding everyone how much Trump is like a Democrat. Some Democrat, Romney prostrated himself before this so-called Democrat, Trump, to get his endorsement in 2012. Instead of looking like a statesman yesterday, Romney looked like a hypocrite.
Republican politicians have been using white working class and evangelical Christian voters to get elected since Ronald Reagan. They say they share their concerns and values, and then do almost nothing for them. Now these voters are in revolt. They have been played for decades then ignored by Republicans and dismissed by Democrats and Liberals as racists, rubes, and Gun freaks, and they are angry. Harry Reid is right when he says the Republicans have been Dog Whistling and Trump is barking back.
Their Dog Whistling has been answered by Trump and he has scampered into their laps. We will know Republicans want to change when they admit their obstruction and heated rhetoric created him. We will know they mean it when they put Obama’s nominee on the Supreme Court.
Republican politicians have been using white working class and evangelical Christian voters to get elected since Ronald Reagan. They say they share their concerns and values, and then do almost nothing for them. Now these voters are in revolt. They have been played for decades then ignored by Republicans and dismissed by Democrats and Liberals as racists, rubes, and Gun freaks, and they are angry. Harry Reid is right when he says the Republicans have been Dog Whistling and Trump is barking back.
Their Dog Whistling has been answered by Trump and he has scampered into their laps. We will know Republicans want to change when they admit their obstruction and heated rhetoric created him. We will know they mean it when they put Obama’s nominee on the Supreme Court.
6
Just happy that someone in the news media has presented this underreported fact: "Of course, in terms of domestic and foreign policy positions, Mr. Cruz is probably more extreme than Mr. Trump, and Mr. Rubio is hardly different."
13
It is not just Republicans who are voting for Trump. Reportedly, nearly 20,000. Massachusetts Democrats abandoned their party to vote for Trump in the primary. Trump has also fared best in states with open primaries. His rise is not a statement solely about GOP voters, as much as many people and the NYT would like to believe. But Hillary is taking note, no doubt.
1
My main concern now is not getting dragged into the morass. I'm finding my own comments in NYT getting more vitriolic as I join in the collective freak out. Peace and love to all those with whom I agree and disagree.
2
Very disappointed. This salvo opens with a typically hyperbolic tribute to Trump for "forcing a reckoning" which moderates in the GOP have been undertaking since 2012. It goes on to call Romney's speech "rambling". I am a progressive who spent 20 years in Massachusetts and I viscerally hate the name Mitt Romney. But what I saw in his speech was the heart of someone who at long last fired the political hacks tossed away their script
1
Romney and the littoral elites of both parties are exactly what's wrong with the American political power structure and why Trump has attracted such a following in the first place.
5
Romney's input will perhaps hold sway with voters in the west--Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona-- primaries yet to be held.
The self-destruction of the Republican party is no laughing matter. I know its tempting to become giddy (shame on you, editorial board) about their troubles, but they really need a leader who can reign in the crazies, not inflame them. The two party system has served our country well. Unfortunately, we now have a 1 1/2 party system.
Trump has succeeded in getting the right-wingers out to vote. Now it is up to him to provide a positive vision to direct their discontent. Heaven help us if they start forming active militias akin to the Brown Shirts!
The self-destruction of the Republican party is no laughing matter. I know its tempting to become giddy (shame on you, editorial board) about their troubles, but they really need a leader who can reign in the crazies, not inflame them. The two party system has served our country well. Unfortunately, we now have a 1 1/2 party system.
Trump has succeeded in getting the right-wingers out to vote. Now it is up to him to provide a positive vision to direct their discontent. Heaven help us if they start forming active militias akin to the Brown Shirts!
1
Even in his pathetic attempt to act like a statesman, Romney parrots Karl Rove's lies. There is no evidence of Hillary Clinton being dishonest except the constant mantra from the right claiming she is. Hillary does not lie. George Bush lied, and American servicemen died. Dick Cheney lied, Condaleeza Rice lied, and yes, Mitt Romney has lied ("Obama doubled the deficit", among others). The right claims Hillary Clinton lied because she changed her position on gay marriage, and because the State Department's statement on Benghazi did not include speculation that later proved to be true. These are not lies. I would bet most of us have changed our position on gay marriage over the past 25 years. Does that make us liars?
9
It is a series of "just not getting it moments", so fascinating. The GOP protests Trump, as if that is what the people area caring about. That FUELS Trump. No one wants what is left of the GOP as the article properly describes. On the other side, again, the establishment candidate, Hillary, no one wants her. Trust levels down, likability down, ability to beat Trump in general, less than Bernie.
Folks, I have voted democratic for a long time, and if Bernie prevails he gets my vote. Happily. If not? I am voting against the establishment. That means Trump. Think about it.
Folks, I have voted democratic for a long time, and if Bernie prevails he gets my vote. Happily. If not? I am voting against the establishment. That means Trump. Think about it.
2
The leadership -- and so the rank and file -- of GOP is clearly without a sense of irony, either congenitally or by choice. They have the guile to be manipulative but not the wit or self-awareness to introspect, their rubes, er, base, either bamboozled by their con or willingly complicit in a sort of cultural fraud. Statesmen simply do not come from bullies and clowns. But Trump surely does.
That said, criticism of the GOP for inconsistency is like criticism of an alligator for ferocity. The GOP has long since dropped introspection except insofar as its leadership (or Fox News, which often amount to the same thing) worries about losing elections -- and their remedies (limiting voter turnout, redrawing districts more favorably, etc.) show little regard for the true heart of good governance.
My only consolation is the faith I place in democracy. But even that, I fear, has been misplaced by the rampant corruption of our electoral process in the last 20 or 30 years. This corruption is, of course, financial at its root; and those responsible (such as the ever-popular bogeymen the Koch brothers) are simply seditious. After 52 years on the planet, I've finally come to the conclusion that money absolutely corrupts and that without a system of publicly financed elections, our short experiment in representative democracy is doomed to go the way of Rome.
In short, f*%^ Mitch McConnell and the whole gang who seem to think democracy is best served ignorant and myopic.
That said, criticism of the GOP for inconsistency is like criticism of an alligator for ferocity. The GOP has long since dropped introspection except insofar as its leadership (or Fox News, which often amount to the same thing) worries about losing elections -- and their remedies (limiting voter turnout, redrawing districts more favorably, etc.) show little regard for the true heart of good governance.
My only consolation is the faith I place in democracy. But even that, I fear, has been misplaced by the rampant corruption of our electoral process in the last 20 or 30 years. This corruption is, of course, financial at its root; and those responsible (such as the ever-popular bogeymen the Koch brothers) are simply seditious. After 52 years on the planet, I've finally come to the conclusion that money absolutely corrupts and that without a system of publicly financed elections, our short experiment in representative democracy is doomed to go the way of Rome.
In short, f*%^ Mitch McConnell and the whole gang who seem to think democracy is best served ignorant and myopic.
11
Romney is a Mormon, one of the most exclusionary religions in the U.S., it begs the question, what dog does Mitt Romney have in this fight? Why should he care about Trump?
I think he's just planting an early seed on the outside chance there is a brokered convention. All the Republicans will be crying out for Mitt to save the day? He's like a running back, looking for that opening, where he can carry the ball into the end zone unscathed by people asking to look at the size of his hands.
I think he's just planting an early seed on the outside chance there is a brokered convention. All the Republicans will be crying out for Mitt to save the day? He's like a running back, looking for that opening, where he can carry the ball into the end zone unscathed by people asking to look at the size of his hands.
3
Release the Mittens!
That's all the GOP can come up with. Sorry, but as much as I dislike Trump, the Republicans are once again attacking democracy. So are the Democrats, but less overtly.
The good news of this election cycle is that voters are sick of being deprived of candidates and debate.
That's all the GOP can come up with. Sorry, but as much as I dislike Trump, the Republicans are once again attacking democracy. So are the Democrats, but less overtly.
The good news of this election cycle is that voters are sick of being deprived of candidates and debate.
Trump is not the worst of the lot. Cruz is. He deeply despises the federal government for what it can do to protect, empower or improve the lives of ordinary working people. He is a religious zealot and a rabble-rouser. That combination is lethal. If Republican voters are persuaded by the anti-Trump forces to abandon Trump or otherwise deny him the nomination, it will be like toppling Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Assad in Syria, and Gadhafi in Libya. Into the vacuum of those dictators came ISIS. In America, it will be Cruz armed with the power to complete the job he started in the Senate: Blow it up, tear it down. The only government agency left standing will be the Pentagon.
4
I am assuming that Romney did not call on Trump to release his income tax returns, because if he had, his head would have exploded.
Conservatism is a mental disorder and everything we see nowadays proves it.
Why it is a disorder? Because it lacks compassion and it's based on selfishness.
(Trying to be brief here)
Why it is a disorder? Because it lacks compassion and it's based on selfishness.
(Trying to be brief here)
7
But it may end the public's perception of the party's crisis. Which seems even more dangerous.
The salvation for the Republicans is right in front of their nose: John Kasich. He would be a great president and once the presidential campaign gets rolling he could beat Hillary. His nomination will have to come at a contested convention, the ultimate gong show, where Trump, Rubio and Cruz are dispatched.
If that does not occur, the Republicans are in a giant mess, and so is the country.
Mitt has a lot of baggage of course but he said things that needed to be said. What was said by Romney and is being said by others about Trump is on the record and cannot be retracted, just as is the NYT's editorial board characterization of Trump as a "shady, bombastic liar". How can a person about whom such things are said function as the President of the US? It is not possible, which is why the more statements like this that are made by high level people the more necessary it becomes that Trump not be the nominee. The NYT should be supporting the core message in Romney’s statements and ignoring the party issues, and they should be thanking him for speaking out, not degrading him
If that does not occur, the Republicans are in a giant mess, and so is the country.
Mitt has a lot of baggage of course but he said things that needed to be said. What was said by Romney and is being said by others about Trump is on the record and cannot be retracted, just as is the NYT's editorial board characterization of Trump as a "shady, bombastic liar". How can a person about whom such things are said function as the President of the US? It is not possible, which is why the more statements like this that are made by high level people the more necessary it becomes that Trump not be the nominee. The NYT should be supporting the core message in Romney’s statements and ignoring the party issues, and they should be thanking him for speaking out, not degrading him
1
I realize I'm going against the grain on this one, but after listening to Governor Romney's remarks earlier today, I couldn't help thinking that there was finally an adult in the Republican nursery.
I don't disagree with most of the charges of hypocrisy leveled against Romney, but I am so tired of the infantile behavior and language coming out of the GOP candidates (excluding Kasich) that I felt a breath of fresh air coming from someone who was willing to call out Trump for the complete and utter phony that he is.
This doesn't mean I am in favor of leveraged buyouts or support the carried interest loop hole. It certainly doesn't mean that I have ever voted for Romney-- either for state or federal office. But it does reflect that he was a tolerable, if largely unremarkable, governor here in Massachusetts: the politician responsible, indeed, for the first version of Obamacare, something we all call Romney-care.
So I don't think Romney is the same as a Cruz or a Rubio or a Trump. I wish he had had the guts to endorse Kasich, but that (alas) would have been a bridge too far. (I know Kasich is VERY conservative but he's not a nutter like the others.)
The "good news" -- if many of the commentators here are to be believed-- is that Romney's remarks will actually cause Trump's support to redouble. I truly hope that is not the case.
Meanwhile, I look forward to voting for either Sanders or Clinton (or both if they're together on the Democratic ticket) this November.
I don't disagree with most of the charges of hypocrisy leveled against Romney, but I am so tired of the infantile behavior and language coming out of the GOP candidates (excluding Kasich) that I felt a breath of fresh air coming from someone who was willing to call out Trump for the complete and utter phony that he is.
This doesn't mean I am in favor of leveraged buyouts or support the carried interest loop hole. It certainly doesn't mean that I have ever voted for Romney-- either for state or federal office. But it does reflect that he was a tolerable, if largely unremarkable, governor here in Massachusetts: the politician responsible, indeed, for the first version of Obamacare, something we all call Romney-care.
So I don't think Romney is the same as a Cruz or a Rubio or a Trump. I wish he had had the guts to endorse Kasich, but that (alas) would have been a bridge too far. (I know Kasich is VERY conservative but he's not a nutter like the others.)
The "good news" -- if many of the commentators here are to be believed-- is that Romney's remarks will actually cause Trump's support to redouble. I truly hope that is not the case.
Meanwhile, I look forward to voting for either Sanders or Clinton (or both if they're together on the Democratic ticket) this November.
6
They've exploited uneducated base to win elections. They lied about Bill Clinton, Hillary, Iraq, President Obama's citizenship, his religion, they've pretended to be religious zealots to Evangelical extremists, they were friends of people who plotted against the Federal Government. They've demonized education, calling it "elite". They gave us Sarah Palin, a mentally imbalanced, dumb, exploitive, paranoid megalomaniac using terms like "hockey mom" to exploit other uneducated, "hockey moms" The Republicans have knowingly mislead a great many people and fostered the Tea Party which is even crazier than most Republicans. Now Trump is taking crazy further and away from their reigns.They're scared. I saw this coming years ago. Many of us did. What a mess they have made of fellow Americans. One can only be fearful and sad.
7
I can't think of a worse person than Romney to be the face of the GOP anti-Trump crowd. Romney is guilty of many of the same things that he criticized Trump for. Being a religious family man doesn't give Romney a pass; it just makes him look like a hypocrite.
What Romney did today just proved that he's still completely out of touch. He would've been much better off working behind the scenes to defeat Trump rather than becoming the face of the opposition that pro-Trump voters only want to continue flipping off. This is going to backfire and play right into Trump's hands.
The GOP leadership, now that they've lost control of their own monster, now wants a door "C". How exactly are they planning to ramrod a third-party nominee down the throat of a GOP electorate that refuses to toe the party line?
They can't. So I were Mitch McConnell, here's what I'd do:
Do the unthinkable: make a deal with the Democrats. Band together with them to defeat Trump. The GOP concedes the Presidency to Hillary, because they created her path to the White House and it's too late now to change it. In return, GOP moderates get important cabinet positions in Hillary's administration AND her help in running the extremists out of the GOP. GOP also gets 50-50 nominating rights for the next Supreme Ct. justice, mediated by a bipartisan panel of our nation's top legal minds. Under this scenario, the GOP loses the election. But they win back their party, and can rebuild anew. And our country will be saved.
What Romney did today just proved that he's still completely out of touch. He would've been much better off working behind the scenes to defeat Trump rather than becoming the face of the opposition that pro-Trump voters only want to continue flipping off. This is going to backfire and play right into Trump's hands.
The GOP leadership, now that they've lost control of their own monster, now wants a door "C". How exactly are they planning to ramrod a third-party nominee down the throat of a GOP electorate that refuses to toe the party line?
They can't. So I were Mitch McConnell, here's what I'd do:
Do the unthinkable: make a deal with the Democrats. Band together with them to defeat Trump. The GOP concedes the Presidency to Hillary, because they created her path to the White House and it's too late now to change it. In return, GOP moderates get important cabinet positions in Hillary's administration AND her help in running the extremists out of the GOP. GOP also gets 50-50 nominating rights for the next Supreme Ct. justice, mediated by a bipartisan panel of our nation's top legal minds. Under this scenario, the GOP loses the election. But they win back their party, and can rebuild anew. And our country will be saved.
4
Mitt and the 1% are wasting their time with speeches. At this point, the only tool they have to make Trump go away is their checkbooks and I don't mean buying network time. Donald loves a deal and listens to money and little else. I'm guessing that for something north of $20bn Donald would agree to a buy-out and go away laughing all the way to the bank.
4
Early on, when the Cult of Trump was catching fire with voters, the GOP was terrified he'd bolt the party and run as an independent. Now the GOP is bolting Trump.
Oh, the irony.
Oh, the irony.
4
GOP puts out a casting call for a Republican presidential candidate. Trump auditions and wins the role. Man deserves an Oscar.
3
"Our anger"? Since when did Mr. Bain Capital 1% feel our anger, our pain?
6
If the useless Republican party will not endorse Trump then we need a 3rd party that actually speaks for the people, not just a milder version of radical liberal tyranny. Of course the NYT is the mouthpiece of radical liberal tyranny so we need to make changes there too. Maybe Trump could just buy it and do a major house cleaning.
And when democrats and liberals lean right, they also pave the way. Perhaps president Obama and editorial boards will come to a reckoning with their belief that education is merely job training.
3
I'm loving the Great Republican Meltdown of 2016. The chickens have come home. Trump is essentially the same candidate that the Republicans have been putting forward for years but with a huge dollop of Jerry Springer. For decades, they've been appealing to the very basest of their base to drive their agenda. Now the base is driving them. Trump is just Bush/Romney dressed down and talking trash. The brakes are off the truck which is careening down the mountainside with a bed filled nitro. We've all seen that movie.
9
Let's not let ourselves off the hook. We, the electorate, have been quite happy being lazy about information & even lazier about taking action. Not only did we hire these government employees, we allowed them to sell off the company, our nation, to the highest bidder.
Now we are so angry with the current powers that be that we're willing to elect someone who seriously displays some mental disorders. But who is really to blame? It's very easy to blame the politicians & Wall St but we not only turned a blind eye, we handed out promotions. These people are in it for ego & a stepping stone to a more lucrative business on K street, the pundit circuit or Wall St.
There is no difference between H1B visas & migrant workers. They are all shipped in, indentured to the employer & a blatant insult to American workers. Disney can't say with a straight face that American workers are less skilled while the American workers are training their replacements! Not only do they take your job, you are given the humiliation of having to train your replacement. And if I had to hear Trump talk about shipping in and shipping out workers I was going to stroke out. He also blamed the American worker. "They don't want part time, they want full time so that's why I hire foreigners." And the usual follow up logic of a 2nd grader.."all the other hotels do it too." Why not ask the workers who were turned down if they wanted that job. After all, they did apply for it.
Now we are so angry with the current powers that be that we're willing to elect someone who seriously displays some mental disorders. But who is really to blame? It's very easy to blame the politicians & Wall St but we not only turned a blind eye, we handed out promotions. These people are in it for ego & a stepping stone to a more lucrative business on K street, the pundit circuit or Wall St.
There is no difference between H1B visas & migrant workers. They are all shipped in, indentured to the employer & a blatant insult to American workers. Disney can't say with a straight face that American workers are less skilled while the American workers are training their replacements! Not only do they take your job, you are given the humiliation of having to train your replacement. And if I had to hear Trump talk about shipping in and shipping out workers I was going to stroke out. He also blamed the American worker. "They don't want part time, they want full time so that's why I hire foreigners." And the usual follow up logic of a 2nd grader.."all the other hotels do it too." Why not ask the workers who were turned down if they wanted that job. After all, they did apply for it.
9
If only this is the beginning of the "self deportation" of this entire obscenity that masquerades as a political party.
5
The GOP continually trumpets that they are the party of the American people. So a decent bloc of voters cast their lots for Trump and now the GOP leadership believe their voice doesn't matter. Am I the only one missing the irony?
9
Darkest elements of the publican base-I assume you would include the turtle and grassy in that bunch, along with ryan. The positions of trump, cruz and rubio are so extreme and are basically the same. Rich that mitt talked about a speech by ronnie supporting goldwater in 1964. Talk about extremist. And poor mitt didn't even know. What a pitiful little guy.
3
I'm sure it was very deliberate that Romney didn't specifically endorse any one of the others - that would have been like the kiss of death from a black widow - and the Republicans know it. All they can do now is muddy the waters in a futile attempt to obscure the fact that they haven't a clue as what to do. They never really did in the first place, so this really isn't anything new for them.
It's ironic that the Republicans have to file the equivalency of bankruptcy when their convention comes because they messed everything up so badly and can't pay for their empty promises and failures.
So maybe they do know something about what they're talking when they all go after Trump for his business defaults. But his will be minor compared to theirs, and most voters see that.
It's ironic that the Republicans have to file the equivalency of bankruptcy when their convention comes because they messed everything up so badly and can't pay for their empty promises and failures.
So maybe they do know something about what they're talking when they all go after Trump for his business defaults. But his will be minor compared to theirs, and most voters see that.
4
Ahh, this reminds me of the good old days when us Ron Paul supporters were steamrolled, disenfranchised, insulted, humiliated, and browbeaten by the Romney establishment machine. Then we were told after our delegates were relegated to the nose bleed seats at the convention where it was literally forbidden to mention the name Ron Paul, even by his own son who actually had to call him "a certain man I know", that if we did not support Romney in the general it would be OUR fault if Obama win. I do not know one of our numbers who voted for him after that. Not one. And we know how that election turned out. I guess they never learn. At least the Trump crowd is big enough this time around to finally unseat and disenfranchise them. And they deserve every second of it.
11
Corrected Comment:
No matter how many Republican leaders condemn Trump’s tactics in his quest for the US presidency, such condemnations are likely to be ineffective if they, like Mr. Romney’s recent condemnation, fail to address the root causes of Mr. Trump’s appeal: The obstructionist tactics of the current Republican leaders of both houses of Congress, which have shut down, or threatened to shut down government, thus preventing it from fulfilling its obligations of carrying on the people’s affairs, and the general aura of public anger and fear.
The current tactics of Republican leaders of both houses of Congress in attempting to prevent President Obama from fulfilling his constitutional obligation of nominating a Supreme Court replacement for the recently departed Justice Scalia, and of declaring their determination to abdicate their own constitutional obligation by never holding a hearing or voting on such a nominee is an example of these obstructionist tactics.
Republican leaders of both houses of Congress have also long exploited the serious issues of immigration and of national security, spreading public fear and anxiety, which opened the flood gates of demagoguery that have characterized Donald Trump’s and others’ shameful Republican presidential campaigns.
These are the issues Mr. Romney and other Republican leaders should address, if their condemnations of Donald Trump's reckless tactics are not to fall on deaf, fearful and angry Republican ears.
No matter how many Republican leaders condemn Trump’s tactics in his quest for the US presidency, such condemnations are likely to be ineffective if they, like Mr. Romney’s recent condemnation, fail to address the root causes of Mr. Trump’s appeal: The obstructionist tactics of the current Republican leaders of both houses of Congress, which have shut down, or threatened to shut down government, thus preventing it from fulfilling its obligations of carrying on the people’s affairs, and the general aura of public anger and fear.
The current tactics of Republican leaders of both houses of Congress in attempting to prevent President Obama from fulfilling his constitutional obligation of nominating a Supreme Court replacement for the recently departed Justice Scalia, and of declaring their determination to abdicate their own constitutional obligation by never holding a hearing or voting on such a nominee is an example of these obstructionist tactics.
Republican leaders of both houses of Congress have also long exploited the serious issues of immigration and of national security, spreading public fear and anxiety, which opened the flood gates of demagoguery that have characterized Donald Trump’s and others’ shameful Republican presidential campaigns.
These are the issues Mr. Romney and other Republican leaders should address, if their condemnations of Donald Trump's reckless tactics are not to fall on deaf, fearful and angry Republican ears.
9
The only thing that excites the Times Editorial Board more than internecine Republican combat are tax increases. While The Times and the rest of the media seem to be happy at the moment, the reality is their candidate, should she not be indicted for his summer, is perhaps more flawed than Trump. Also, as she has the personality of a tree and the ethics of Al Capone, the American people mat just hold their noses and vote for the real estate developer. I am hardly amused by this scenario, but the Left should not delude itself into thinking it will be smooth sailing into November. Who knows? Maybe Obama will save the Party by having the FBI actually enforce the law and arrest HRC. Stranger things have happened.
All of these accusations about Trump being "a danger to the country" yet ALL of the Republican candidate tax plans will destroy the fiscal health of the nation and jeopardize Social Security and Medicare (the GOP objective, no doubt). Nice to see Fox bear down on Trump on the specifics of his tax plan, but would they dare ask the same questions to the other candidates? Don't hold your breath.
3
Mitt Romney and the members of his cabal all seem to rely on digging up names t.o call Mr. Trump. As they frantically heave handfuls of insults at Mr. Trump they don't seem to realize that they are wallowing in the same mud that they accuse Mr. Trump of wallowing in. If Mr.Trump uses any word that names any group, no matter how objectively, his Republican detractors leap on the word to accuse Mr. Trump of attacking the group when he merely mentioned them in relation to some political problem. The so-called debates have turned into a mud-slinging sideshow better suited to a county fair than to selecting the coming leader of a democratic nation. And Mitt Romney has lent himself to sanctimoniously joining the mud-slingers.
Trump exemplifies the conservative personality. They like to follow strong, alpha male, authoritarian leaders; they don't have to be consistent or follow the rules, but everyone else does; and what I say is what we're doing. The only ones that don't realize that Trump is the GOP are the GOP leaders now being beaten by a new strong authoritarian leader. Get out there and vote because we should live in a society of consistently applied, fair and just laws and traditions and not one run by a GOP authoritarian and his pack.
3
I cannot imagine a candidate that is more qualified in terms of accomplishments and the executive experience and has more solid character than Mitt Romney. But because his campaign was so poorly managed and the Republican primary forced him to become "severely conservative" flip flopper, and the media generally was somewhat unfavorable to his candidacy, his qualifications were completely overshadowed. Sure. he wasn't the most exciting media-worthy candidate and he does come across as an elitist. But don't we want our president to be smarter and more accomplished than us? i don't understand monetary policy or global economy. But I sure hope that the guy who is running our country does. With that said, much as I respect Mitt Romney, I believe that his current crusade is misguided. He is fueling the fire of Donald Trump's populist agenda. The people who are voting for him will be motivated by Mitt Romney's condemnation of Trump to do everything they can to elect Trump. Trump's voters are voters that feel left behind by the new economy and want someone who will turn back the clock to the time when American was great and the rest of the world wanted to be America. They are focusing their anger at the elites like Mitt Romney and John Mccain who they hold responsible. My advice to Mitt Romney is to stop helping Trump.
A division within the GOP? Really? The day a Republican speaks out to defend the American workers and all economically vulnerable people is the day you'll have a split within the GOP.
What we have now is just a squabble over style: innuendo versus in-your-face. Not a division over substance.
What we have now is just a squabble over style: innuendo versus in-your-face. Not a division over substance.
6
Mitt Romney will forever live in my mind as the idiot who put his dog in a carrier on his luggage rack. The fact that he is a member of a religious cult founded by a philandering charlatan is almost incidental. Trump could win based on votes from people who are sick of political correctness regardless of his politics.
1
The Republican Party has always relied on fear to cobble together a "coalition of the fearful" that enabled them to compete with the Democrats. But regardless of whatever "fear du jour" they employed, it was always just a mechanism for drawing the gullible into their "protection". Their one and only agenda has always been making the rich get richer and more powerful. And as long as their fear-mongering worked, they could get everyone to overlook this fact. But after decades of promising the faithful that they would solve their biggest fears, only to see them continuing and even growing, the sheeple have opened their eyes.
They see that even as they've worked harder, for less pay, and less job security, they've continued to fall further behind, while the big whigs are getting bigger. They see that as corporations get bigger and richer, all they're doing is cutting jobs and wages and sending them offshore. In short, they see a party that has failed to deliver on any of the promises made to them.
So now here comes Trump, talking like a combination of FDR and Hitler, promising that he'll do what the "establishment" has failed to do. It doesn't matter that he has no actual plan to do it - his followers don't care about the "details", they just want the results, and by the time they realize they've been lied to again, Trump will have gotten what he wants, and that's all that matters to him.
They see that even as they've worked harder, for less pay, and less job security, they've continued to fall further behind, while the big whigs are getting bigger. They see that as corporations get bigger and richer, all they're doing is cutting jobs and wages and sending them offshore. In short, they see a party that has failed to deliver on any of the promises made to them.
So now here comes Trump, talking like a combination of FDR and Hitler, promising that he'll do what the "establishment" has failed to do. It doesn't matter that he has no actual plan to do it - his followers don't care about the "details", they just want the results, and by the time they realize they've been lied to again, Trump will have gotten what he wants, and that's all that matters to him.
3
Early on, when the Cult of Trump was catching fire with voters, the GOP was terrified he might bolt the party and run as an independent. Now the GOP is bolting Trump.
Oh, the irony.
Oh, the irony.
5
The GOP was crowing not to long ago that their candidate field was the strongest in years. I judge the precise opposite, it was/is an incredibly weak field, brought about in part to the failed policies the GOP has been adhering to in recent years.
4
So Mitt thinks Trump is a "danger to democracy"..... Let's see: Extensive voter suppression legislation attacking working people, the poor and minorities, rampant gerrymandering, failure to renew the voting rights act, pandering to big money with entrenched 'pay to play', open assault on a democratically elected president. That isn't Trump, that is the entire republican party. They (and some democrats unfortunately) are not the slightest bit interested in democracy. They are only interested in WINNING, at whatever cost to American values.
I'm no fan of Trump but he remains less of a threat to core democratic principles than this truly dreadful bunch of hypocrites.
I'm no fan of Trump but he remains less of a threat to core democratic principles than this truly dreadful bunch of hypocrites.
4
All this talk of the Trump candidacy destroying the GOP fails to recognize that the GOP is simply a business selling a product to market, the market being the worst tendencies and ideas that ignorance breeds. That market isn't going away, and that is the real problem. If the GOP dies, another snake oil salesman will pop up to take its place.
2
Interesting that although Republicans often claim you can't solve a problem by throwing money at it, they are throwing a ton of money at the problem of stopping Donald Trump. A repudiation of Republican principles? What a surprise!
5
When Trump "wins" the nomination, the Democratic nominee's ads will simply need to highlight verbatim Mitt's words while asking of the GOP "What have they done, and when did they realize their message of conservatism was wrong?"
All Trump has done is amplify and clarify the GOP "open" message of the last few decades - a message used to obfuscate their real intent of maximizing the wealth of the fewest at the expense of everyone else.
All Trump has done is amplify and clarify the GOP "open" message of the last few decades - a message used to obfuscate their real intent of maximizing the wealth of the fewest at the expense of everyone else.
4
When the Republican Party gleefully hatcheted the moderate, Rockefeller Republicans they lost their balance, literally. The fringe became the core and the core is what we see on stage today. It even frightens Republicans.
8
Trump wouldn't be in the position that he is now in if the GOP had better candidates. Cruz is a nasty poorly informed man. Rubio is young and raw but generally just a nicer version of Cruz. The rest have no personality at all.
5
Mitt should check his binders of women for that misogyny problem. I'm sure someone in there can explain the greed that was the watchword at Bain Capital. The Republicans even misfire when they're picking a spokesperson.
I can't imagine Romney believes the electorate understands the candidate selection process has to do with anything more than the popular vote. Nobody could be that dense, unless they lived in some kind of bubble. Oh...
I can't imagine Romney believes the electorate understands the candidate selection process has to do with anything more than the popular vote. Nobody could be that dense, unless they lived in some kind of bubble. Oh...
4
To paraphrase: moderation in opposing the Republicans is no virtue. Extremism in opposing the Donald is no vice.
4
Bravo!! They hypocracy of Mitt Romney is nauseating. His own phoniness shows through loud and clear. The Republicans seem very frightened by Trump's extremism which is only an extension of their own long-standing policies and practices. What is really threatening to them is a possible loss of their own power. I don't think they're so concerned for America as they are for themselves and their standing in society. Norm Coleman wrote an article for the Minneapolis Star Tribune repeating Romney's accusations against Trump the man without ever mentioning Trump's policies with which he himself agreed over the years. A pox on all of them.
7
I don't think that blaming the Republican party per se is the real reason that Donald Trump is their leading candidate. Americans don't care about party affiliation loyalty. They listen & vote for the candidate who tells them what they want to hear. The fact that Donald Trump will likely by the Republican nominee says more about Americans than it does about the Republican party.
4
At this point, Trump could shoot himself and still win the nomination.
Marco drops Christie a patronizing email and Christie endorses Trump.
Trump carries on, calling his rivals, losers. Then, the Republican party picks someone who is literally, a loser. What better person to attack Trump for being a heartless business tycoon than Mitt Romney?
Here's what I think should happen next. George W. Bush needs to go on TV and tell the country that Trump's judgement is so bad that if Trump is elected, he's likely to start a pointless war in the middle east.
Marco drops Christie a patronizing email and Christie endorses Trump.
Trump carries on, calling his rivals, losers. Then, the Republican party picks someone who is literally, a loser. What better person to attack Trump for being a heartless business tycoon than Mitt Romney?
Here's what I think should happen next. George W. Bush needs to go on TV and tell the country that Trump's judgement is so bad that if Trump is elected, he's likely to start a pointless war in the middle east.
230
I actually admire Romney for doing this. He has little to gain personally from taking on Trump, and plenty to lose. It seems likely that his message, however imperfect, was intended to serve what he believes to be the needs of the country.
Memo to Democrats: Mitt Romney won't derail Trump. Nor will a plea from nearly 100 military and intelligence officials that a Trump presidency would be disastrous. What is needed is someone from the professional wrestling circuit or a reality TV show to say he's not up to the job. Then his poll numbers will finally plummet.
1
If Mr. Romney was going to clean up his party, he needed to come clean with the voters: an apology for the obstructionism, the corruption, and the war-mongering of the Republican party. Will that ever come? Probably only after the Democrats clean up in the election.
3
The GOP has decimated education in this country. It is mainly the uneducated that get Mountebanked. Now voters who are angry and lack critical thinking skills are placing our country in harms way. I honestly hope the GOP reaps the whirlwind of what they themselves have sowed for my entire adult life.
The real GOP hides behind coded language. Their policies and speeches have racist, misogynistic, homophobic and segregationist undertones and they couch these repugnant ideas behind God and the flag.
I actually have a grudging respect for Mr. Trump saying it like it is when it comes to the Iraq War. If he only had been a real candidate and not some bigot snake oil salesman. I hope we have a third party by 2020. The Misanthropacrats? The Fundamentalist Lascivious Anti-People Party? (FLAPP)The National Socialist American Workers Party? (NSAWP)
4
They can't control him, that's their issue.
9
The real irony in Romney's speech is right there at the beginning -- when he cites Reagan's famous speech in 1964. Barry Goldwater was the candidate Reagan was extolling (and yes, Mitt, he did lose). But that dark path that Reagan was so dire in warning about? The Voting Rights Acts. Medicare.
7
These pages endorsed Republicans from Lincoln to Eisenhower for the presidency. Well done. The editorial boards in those elections knew that the Republican Party was not a menace to the republic. Nor is it now. Public discourse is harmed whenever, every four years, a major publication behaves like a shadow newsletter for either of the parties. Donald Trump is a problem. The Republican Party is not.
The Trump fire is burning out of control and when it burns out it will have taken not just the Republican Party down but, also the two party system. Burn Baby Burn.
2
The GOP elite do not want to end their choke-hold on the American government or people. They just want to be able to continue doing it without all the hoopla.
A good faith effort to show a willingness to be reasonable would be drop their absurd opposition to replacing Scalia on the supremes. Getting the court back in to some semblance of unbiased and focused on the common good would be a start.
A good faith effort to show a willingness to be reasonable would be drop their absurd opposition to replacing Scalia on the supremes. Getting the court back in to some semblance of unbiased and focused on the common good would be a start.
6
Given the way that the Republican Party has carried on for years, Mr. Trump would seem to be an ideal standard-bearer. It's no use, their disavowing the insanity now, after they've injected it into every corner of our political system.
1
What the GOP (and the Dems, and anyone else who professes to be a leader) needs to do is attempt to persuade the angry Americans who are voting for Trump.
Somehow we need to reach out to their better natures and craft a vision of the future that doesn't include concentration camps for Muslims. A vision that allows for happiness and security even if women and people of color are allowed to do things like vote and have bank accounts.
True, the GOP has spent the past 40 years fanning the flames of xenophobia, misogyny, and homophobia. They've managed to convince a big chunk of voters with their do-nothing Congress that government doesn't work and have created a power vacuum into which this near-fascist is stepping.
I suspect that what the GOP is scared by is that Trump is not THEIR anointed fascist. They don't have the same level of control over Trump that they do over a Rubio or Cruz. Personally I can't tell much difference in the views of any of them – in fact in some areas Trump has at least appeared to be more moderate.
Government can be good. Government can work for us and by us. Government can be a system that brings us, imperfectly, to a better world.
But not when it's run by a dictator.
Somehow we need to reach out to their better natures and craft a vision of the future that doesn't include concentration camps for Muslims. A vision that allows for happiness and security even if women and people of color are allowed to do things like vote and have bank accounts.
True, the GOP has spent the past 40 years fanning the flames of xenophobia, misogyny, and homophobia. They've managed to convince a big chunk of voters with their do-nothing Congress that government doesn't work and have created a power vacuum into which this near-fascist is stepping.
I suspect that what the GOP is scared by is that Trump is not THEIR anointed fascist. They don't have the same level of control over Trump that they do over a Rubio or Cruz. Personally I can't tell much difference in the views of any of them – in fact in some areas Trump has at least appeared to be more moderate.
Government can be good. Government can work for us and by us. Government can be a system that brings us, imperfectly, to a better world.
But not when it's run by a dictator.
5
Unfortunate as it is, that the Clintons were invited to and attended Mr Trump's wedding sends the same message as Mr Romney thanking Mr Trump for his endorsement. Mrs Clinton is unquestionably the vastly preferable candidate; her life-long commitment and service to democratic causes is beyond impressive. Yet under these circumstances her judgment cannot but appear flawed. Recognizing this, she and the Democratic party should unite behind the candidate who can lead us out of this looming disaster, Senator Sanders.
3
Seems like the coastal elites just don't get it - this is not about Trump, but about America's working class being tired of constant dismissal and barely veiled contempt from people like you. Trump will come and go, but the grievances remain. Both parties are in the grip of their donors and ideologues (Republicans: Tax cuts! Democrats: Multiculturalism and micro-aggressions!) and neither have much interest in a class of people who have seen their jobs and hope disappear since the early 1970s. If y'all could simply march them off a cliff, you probably would.
6
Ultimately what's in it for Mitt?
He is pushing for a brokered convention by not endorsing any candidate and positioning himself as a possible savior nominee.
I know this may sound absurd but at this point the elite are so desperate that they would do anything to save the day.
He is pushing for a brokered convention by not endorsing any candidate and positioning himself as a possible savior nominee.
I know this may sound absurd but at this point the elite are so desperate that they would do anything to save the day.
3
Donald Trump is little more than a mirror. The trouble is the Republican Party thinks he has been a funhouse mirror, and now realizes all the warps and deformities they see in their own reflection are genuine. Their projected images of Cinderella lack the airbrushing they thought was reality.
3
Sad thing to say, but Trump is actually the best of the republican lot. But that is not saying much when the only alternative is Cruz, Rubio and that other guy.
6
I have never seen a Democrat controlled congress obtusely and mindlessly voting on any issue that came before them as one man. There were always dissenters who demonstrated their individuality. Not so with the Republicans. With stunning regularity they show no dissension as their Senators just demonstrated by refusing to even consider a Supreme Court nominee. This groveling adherence to party line when for example embracing Tea Party dogma has finally destroyed a large portion of the GOP’s credibility and has hardly left any sense of their identity.
It appears that Romney’s panic will change very little. They keep digging their own grave with astonishing stubbornness.
It appears that Romney’s panic will change very little. They keep digging their own grave with astonishing stubbornness.
4
It doesn't matter Mr. Romney who your party selects as the Republican candidate for president. They are all anti-women. Mr. Trump is more crass, but they oppose contraceptives provided by Planned Parenthood and eliminate low cost female health checkups and, of course allow no abortions for any reason. It is a total and complete takeover of a woman's body by men - sounds like we are in a Middle East country. On the environment they all continue to deny any warming of the planet. A vote for anyone of them is a vote against Earth. They all oppose raising the minimum wage even as they want to deport the low cost illegal immigrants. Health care is for those who can afford it, though Trump had a glimmer of concern for people dying on the streets of America. The Republican Party, Mr. Romney is crass and anti the majority of Americans. You won't fix it by eliminating Mr. Trump.
3
The Republican party is tearing itself apart, limb by limb, in public.
They must realize that they have painted themselves into a corner, because they are proving, on a daily basis, that they do not know how to govern, not in the House, not in the Senate, and not in any of the candidates they put forth for President.
And the rest of the civilized world is watching and must be laughing, when they are not simply horrified.
They must realize that they have painted themselves into a corner, because they are proving, on a daily basis, that they do not know how to govern, not in the House, not in the Senate, and not in any of the candidates they put forth for President.
And the rest of the civilized world is watching and must be laughing, when they are not simply horrified.
3
Thanks to the NYTimes editorial staff for an outstanding analysis. Wouldn't it be great if Trump was conspiring to show the real underlying themes of the Republican Party and tear the party in two with his incredible bellicose statements; his entire candidacy a satyric charade ultimately aimed to make fun of the sad, fearful, bigoted, and angry base and deliver the country a democrat dominated congress and presidency.
2
What the Republicans are now trying to say on virtually every topic is as ironic as it is hilarious. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell solemnly pontificating that "no true Republican would ever accept the support of bigots". Have these guys not ever noticed that the South-including Kentucky-did not send a Senator or Congressmen to Washington from Reconstruction to the passage of the Civil Rights Act? When all the 'segregation forever ' Democrats became Republicans-like Strom Thurmond. And tonight, Rubio actually said that the Party of Lincoln could only support a conservative. Huh? I mean, does he actually consider Lincoln a conservative? Without the Klan, without the White Citizens Councils, McConnell would be a slightly challenged grocery store clerk. Surely, the country has noticed that only the Republicans attract the support of David Duke, et al. Why get on Trumps case?
The hysteria is also interesting. Romney, Cruz, Rubio all want to push policies that favor wealthy people, upper middle class or better, by packaging those policies with red meat condemnations of welfare which, Reagan's black, urban, welfare queens (Reagan hated bigots too, I guess) notwithstanding, mainly goes to rural white poor people and gibberish about "right to work"-as opposed to the right to get paid. Now, I think that the Republican elite is fearful that they are losing their blue collar, downwardly mobil base toTrump-who might actually do something for those guys.
Personally, I like Hillary.
The hysteria is also interesting. Romney, Cruz, Rubio all want to push policies that favor wealthy people, upper middle class or better, by packaging those policies with red meat condemnations of welfare which, Reagan's black, urban, welfare queens (Reagan hated bigots too, I guess) notwithstanding, mainly goes to rural white poor people and gibberish about "right to work"-as opposed to the right to get paid. Now, I think that the Republican elite is fearful that they are losing their blue collar, downwardly mobil base toTrump-who might actually do something for those guys.
Personally, I like Hillary.
2
During his 2008 campaign Romney was about as shallow and self serving as they come. He had no problem defiling Obamacare even though it was generally accepted that Obamacare was modeled quite closely to the healthcare program he birthed while governor of MA. Romney was just the wrong guy to give this reasonably accurate speech.
But, to me, Trump's clearest, most concise, and conclusively damning position is his advocacy of torture. Torture is a war crime, and those who direct it and conduct it are war criminals.
The "open letter" from the Republican national security experts states:
"His (Trump's) embrace of the expansive use of torture is inexcusable."
But this statement actually gives Trump the green light for torture, as long as it's not EXPANSIVE. So does that mean that a moderate amount of torture is OK? When does it become EXPANSIVE? Trump could have a ball with that one word. I'd guess that most of the experts that signed the letter approved of non-expansive use of torture.
During the debate Trump took another step towards espousing flagrant criminality. In response to an observation that the military personnel are trained to reject an unlawful order, such as committing torture, Trump said they would do because he told them to. As commander and chief he would direct his soldiers to commit war crimes.
And at the end of the debate the other candidates sagely promised to support him if nominated. No profile in courage to be found.
But, to me, Trump's clearest, most concise, and conclusively damning position is his advocacy of torture. Torture is a war crime, and those who direct it and conduct it are war criminals.
The "open letter" from the Republican national security experts states:
"His (Trump's) embrace of the expansive use of torture is inexcusable."
But this statement actually gives Trump the green light for torture, as long as it's not EXPANSIVE. So does that mean that a moderate amount of torture is OK? When does it become EXPANSIVE? Trump could have a ball with that one word. I'd guess that most of the experts that signed the letter approved of non-expansive use of torture.
During the debate Trump took another step towards espousing flagrant criminality. In response to an observation that the military personnel are trained to reject an unlawful order, such as committing torture, Trump said they would do because he told them to. As commander and chief he would direct his soldiers to commit war crimes.
And at the end of the debate the other candidates sagely promised to support him if nominated. No profile in courage to be found.
4
Gov. Romney warned that if the US followed Trump's economic policies, it would end in a huge recession.
How ironic, then, that when the US followed the GOP economic policies, we ended up in a huge recession.
It is like Republicans have no memory or any grasp of the real world.
How ironic, then, that when the US followed the GOP economic policies, we ended up in a huge recession.
It is like Republicans have no memory or any grasp of the real world.
6
I believe everyone is missing the point of this so called GOP 'rebellion' against Trump. The GOP establishment already realize that they have all but lost the nomination to Trump. But they also realize that if Trump wins the presidency, he is taking the GOP down for years to come. All these salvos against Trump are not for the consumption of their disillusioned base - whose minds they are unlikely to change at this point anyway; rather, they are a desperate plea to the others - the disillusioned moderates, progressives and independents - to not fall under the spell of Trump. They are doing this to ensure that Trump loses the general election now so that the GOP can live to fight four years later.
2
While I agree that the GOP needs to look in the mirror, I find it a little ridiculous to tell the Republican Leadership that they need to now speak out and stop Trump.
I occassionally listen to right wing talk radio to get a sense of what is happening in that alternative reality. In GOP Land, the narrative is that Mitt Romney is just a sore loser and he is just arrogant if he thinks GOP voters are too dumb to figure out who they should nominate.
And that is the whole point. Donald Trump is a very accurate reflection of the GOP base. His genius, if you want to call it that, is that like any successful demagogue, he is able to distill the most urgent themes of a group of disaffected and angry voters and then give voice (however crudely) to their worst fears and frustrations. It is a symbotic relationship - they feed his ego and he promises to make it all OK.
Let's be clear. This is a democracy. It is a democracy that guarantees freedom of speech. This group of Republicans, no matter how abhorent the vast majority of Americans may find their views, deserve to be heard.
Of course that will destroy the Republican Party. But if you are a highminded sincere conservative, of which there are many, is the death of the current GOP a bad thing? Or is it real American progress.
I occassionally listen to right wing talk radio to get a sense of what is happening in that alternative reality. In GOP Land, the narrative is that Mitt Romney is just a sore loser and he is just arrogant if he thinks GOP voters are too dumb to figure out who they should nominate.
And that is the whole point. Donald Trump is a very accurate reflection of the GOP base. His genius, if you want to call it that, is that like any successful demagogue, he is able to distill the most urgent themes of a group of disaffected and angry voters and then give voice (however crudely) to their worst fears and frustrations. It is a symbotic relationship - they feed his ego and he promises to make it all OK.
Let's be clear. This is a democracy. It is a democracy that guarantees freedom of speech. This group of Republicans, no matter how abhorent the vast majority of Americans may find their views, deserve to be heard.
Of course that will destroy the Republican Party. But if you are a highminded sincere conservative, of which there are many, is the death of the current GOP a bad thing? Or is it real American progress.
4
The image of Mitt Romney, spoiled inheritor of massive wealth, criticizing Trump, another trust fund brat who failed upward is just beyond belief. How sad that the supporters of either one don't realize that these two con men, and their ilk on Wall Street, are the very cause of their problems. Romney, like Rubio, will say anything he's paid enough to to say. Nothing matters more to all these grifters (with the possibly the demented Cruz) then making their bank accounts bigger, the country be damned. None of them has a single idea, a single policy position or anything resembling the qualities of leadership fit for the Presidency.
3
The Republican establishment still doesn't get it. They roll out Mitt Romney a failed candidate and hedge fund manager who epitomizes the worst of Republican policies:
Tax policy that so favors the rich Romney pays a lower tax rate than the maid who serves him coffee in the morning.
Wall Street hedge fund managers whose core strategy is to take over companies, load them up with debt to extract money, leaving a shell company that then closes down putting loyal employees out of work.
My God he even abused his dog by strapping its cage to the top of his car roof during a long and extended road trip.
Don't they get it? The money lenders are being driven from the temple. There is revolution in the air.
Tax policy that so favors the rich Romney pays a lower tax rate than the maid who serves him coffee in the morning.
Wall Street hedge fund managers whose core strategy is to take over companies, load them up with debt to extract money, leaving a shell company that then closes down putting loyal employees out of work.
My God he even abused his dog by strapping its cage to the top of his car roof during a long and extended road trip.
Don't they get it? The money lenders are being driven from the temple. There is revolution in the air.
4
The GOP has spent years grooming these voters for Donald Trump. They've told them that they should be angry. They aided and abetted the birther nonsense, insinuated that the president was a Muslin, embraced the Christian right against everybody else -- instead of doing what they should have done, which is drag these people into the 21st century.
They wanted to win at all costs. Well, this is the cost. They now have a presidential candidate who matches the voter base they built.
They wanted to win at all costs. Well, this is the cost. They now have a presidential candidate who matches the voter base they built.
4
Are the "establishment" candidates really any worse than Trump? The entire GOP appeal for 30 years has been one long con, but now that a voice that can't be manicured and controlled has emerged, beating them at their own game, the pearl clutching ensues. This is really fun to watch.
5
I am gleefully watching Trump destroy the Republican party using the mean and stupid spray Rove showed them worked so well. I only wish the "genius" Karl Rove's name figured more prominently in all these stories about mean and stupid coming home to roost.
7
This is a clear illustration of the biblical quotation "Those who sow the wind, reap the whirlwind." The Republicans having been playing these cards for decades. Trump has just taken it to the wall.
5
Instead of simply shaming Trump supporters why doesn't a single anti-Trump Republican candidate reach out to them, as trump has done, show they understand them (their better sides) and promise to do better for them by renouncing loyalty to their donors and corporate lobbyists who promote things that for their own self-interests, and promising to do reasonable things that will help improve these voters' lives. There are apparently lots of very wounded - white -people out there who can vote and who hate the establishment which has ignored them.
6
Ted Cruz can't be more extreme than Donald Trump. In order to be more extreme than someone, two people have to have secured positions that can be juxtaposed, one with the other. Trump has no positions, other than claiming he's going to do a thousand wonderful things. That said, does the editorial board think Cruz has positions "more extreme" than ordering the U.S. military to kill terrorists' family members, and, if so, what might those be?
Trying to place Trump along our left-right divide is fallacious:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/greeces-bid-for-more-control-fol...
Trump cannot become President of the United States. There's a difference between someone you just despise becoming president and Trump becoming president. Trump is in a different category. The conspiratorial bent of his mind should worry anyone with a brain. As Romney said, his imagination cannot be wedded to real power. No one like him can be allowed to sit in the Oval Office.
Whatever it takes, he must be stopped. #NeverTrump
Trying to place Trump along our left-right divide is fallacious:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/greeces-bid-for-more-control-fol...
Trump cannot become President of the United States. There's a difference between someone you just despise becoming president and Trump becoming president. Trump is in a different category. The conspiratorial bent of his mind should worry anyone with a brain. As Romney said, his imagination cannot be wedded to real power. No one like him can be allowed to sit in the Oval Office.
Whatever it takes, he must be stopped. #NeverTrump
1
Mitt Romney is positioning himself to be drafted during a deadlocked/brokered GOP Convention. Trump is capturing most of the Republicans, but not enough to defeat Hilary. The more moderate Romney, teamed with a more "right" VP like Cruz or Rubio, would have a decent chance of beating Hilary; a least it would a step towards elevating the level of politics and healing the divide within our country.
Holy New York Times, what a change of face. Yesterday, a piece by the Editorial Board that sounded in its vehemence for all the world like Romney's speech. Then late in the afternoon a front page with blazing headlines in black bold type face, GOP Declares War on Donald Trump and underneath in a break from the traditional format a list of articles outlining who is taking the battle forward and on which front. At first glance, I thought Pear Harbor!
Then today, no such thing. The front page format has returned to its usual form. The war rhetoric in bold face has been quietly replaced by the reassuring usual. Democrats are encouraged to attack Donald Trump freely. Republicans who do that are having meltdowns.
Then today, no such thing. The front page format has returned to its usual form. The war rhetoric in bold face has been quietly replaced by the reassuring usual. Democrats are encouraged to attack Donald Trump freely. Republicans who do that are having meltdowns.
1
Mitt was Mitt.
In addition to all the valid points made in the editorial, the one area of Mitt's speech that I found truly galling was his praise of Reagan's 1964 speech in support of Barry Goldwater as the right answer to LBJ and the passage of the civil rights legislation.
Goldwater, Nixon, Reagan and Mitt all the logical precursors to Trump. The more things change the more they stay the same.
In addition to all the valid points made in the editorial, the one area of Mitt's speech that I found truly galling was his praise of Reagan's 1964 speech in support of Barry Goldwater as the right answer to LBJ and the passage of the civil rights legislation.
Goldwater, Nixon, Reagan and Mitt all the logical precursors to Trump. The more things change the more they stay the same.
10
The Republican party has for several elections put "winning" ahead of proposing rational policy goals to solve the very real problems voters face. Just because you can "win" by appealing to the voting public's fears does not mean that is a viable strategy for a major party over time. Promising you will hold back implementing policies which reflect the findings of science and that you will keep the US a country dominated by white male Christians are promises that cannot be kept in a competitive global economy. Refusing to fund any federal government service other than national defense contractors does not lead to a healthy, secure country. If the only ones who benefit from the policies of a party are the 1%, eventually the other 99% catch on to the lies. The names of the Republican passed legislation can be filled with "Freedom, Jobs, Restoring, Protecting" and other fine words but when those words are used for policies which do the opposite of what they are called, voters eventually catch on.
And, no, the Democratic Party's failures--however many-- are not even in the same ballpark as the Republican Party's failures.
And, no, the Democratic Party's failures--however many-- are not even in the same ballpark as the Republican Party's failures.
9
Apparently, Mitt is unaware of the fact that much of the main stream media declared his Presidential candidacy all but futile, shortly after the Republican Party nominated him in 2012. When compounded by his predictably bland and soft manner his campaign was all but doomed. The President beat him by almost 5 million votes.
What's more disconcerting is that the Bush and Koch wings of the Republican Party are apparently still unaware of those facts.
What's more disconcerting is that the Bush and Koch wings of the Republican Party are apparently still unaware of those facts.
9
Over the years I have been able to vote for both Democrats and Republicans. However, the last time I would have voted for a Republican would have been for Senator Richard Lugar, a true statesman. Unfortunately, he was beaten by a misogynistic Tea party idiot, he of the "God intended rapes." (The Democrat who beat that Republican is afraid to upset either the conservatives in Indiana, or the more progressives who elected him, so he does nothing.)
I think the country benefits from a reasonable dialogue between differing ideas, but the Republicans have abdicated that responsibility, preferring instead to debate the size of a candidates "hands". (Wow)
To the extent the Republican Party has a leadership, they need to jettison the racist, anti-science zealots in their party and again take part in this democracy.
I think the country benefits from a reasonable dialogue between differing ideas, but the Republicans have abdicated that responsibility, preferring instead to debate the size of a candidates "hands". (Wow)
To the extent the Republican Party has a leadership, they need to jettison the racist, anti-science zealots in their party and again take part in this democracy.
12
The right, much like the left, are being skewered by their own political agendas.
Trump runs, saying he will do the exact things all the others have said they will do, but he means it. The establishment knows this. The last thing they want is for anyone to go to DC and get anything done. When a bush league senator like Rubio flat out tells lie after lie in a national debate you know the establishment right is desperate beyond belief.
The left's identity politics and PC obsession is turning back on them when we see their enthusiasm for enforcing speech codes ex post facto turn on Hillary with her predator comment, for example. I'm not sure how any politician will succeed if everything they've ever said can be used against them.
Trump runs, saying he will do the exact things all the others have said they will do, but he means it. The establishment knows this. The last thing they want is for anyone to go to DC and get anything done. When a bush league senator like Rubio flat out tells lie after lie in a national debate you know the establishment right is desperate beyond belief.
The left's identity politics and PC obsession is turning back on them when we see their enthusiasm for enforcing speech codes ex post facto turn on Hillary with her predator comment, for example. I'm not sure how any politician will succeed if everything they've ever said can be used against them.
The Republican party is completely broken and Trump is just their latest con man on a spree trying to repackage and resell the broken pieces to the same suckers one more time. Since Reagan, too many working class white guys have complacently sipped their long necks while their incomes eroded, jobs were outsourced, wives work for unequal pay, and the safety net was pulled out from under their bar stools by the Republican establishment. And when and if they did vote these last 35 years, why they were gung ho for tax cuts since the only work they got was as a part time contractor paying his own costs and double social security taxes in exchange for the right to be let go for no reason in no time at all. Now these guys and their families face an inescapable reckoning. Trump looks like a lottery ticket if you think his vague promises of standing up for you are your last chance to score. And when this last lottery ticket fails to pay? No cash, no credit, no pension, no union, Social Security and Medicare underfunded, and nowhere left to to go but an empty trailer in the dark at the end of the road.
3
To be a Republican today cognitive dissonance and some aspects of the Dunning-Kruger effect are effectively precrequisites. Our country is in very deep trouble.
3
The American Republican and Chinese Communist parties have both been playing the same dangerous game. They each depend on their respective far rights to act as shock troops when called upon.
As part of an ongoing dispute over a group of islands, the Chinese Government occasionally uses "the far right street" to ransack Japanese businesses throughout China. The problem is that the last time this occurred - in September 2012 - they ended up having trouble reigning in the mob. All of a sudden, the government panicked that the protesters might not be able to be contained.
Similarly, the Republican Party has for years nourished its far right with its many "dog whistles"; knowing that it could be relied up as a solid voting block and tool of intimidation of the opposition, while the plutocrats could continue business as usual.
But now with Trump, that unwritten compact is coming unglued. What will happen if or when this very riled up (and well armed) Republican plurality feels the nomination was "stolen" from them at the Convention?
As part of an ongoing dispute over a group of islands, the Chinese Government occasionally uses "the far right street" to ransack Japanese businesses throughout China. The problem is that the last time this occurred - in September 2012 - they ended up having trouble reigning in the mob. All of a sudden, the government panicked that the protesters might not be able to be contained.
Similarly, the Republican Party has for years nourished its far right with its many "dog whistles"; knowing that it could be relied up as a solid voting block and tool of intimidation of the opposition, while the plutocrats could continue business as usual.
But now with Trump, that unwritten compact is coming unglued. What will happen if or when this very riled up (and well armed) Republican plurality feels the nomination was "stolen" from them at the Convention?
Through their increasingly irrational, unpopular policies and their inability and refusal to govern the gop has become less popular. Gerrymandering and voter suppression are keeping them in power but these things are also indicators that they're becoming increasingly desperate to stay relevant. They have gone farther and farther right in an attempt to attract the numbers of the extreme. Now they're paying the price. The Frankenstein monster has turned on it's creator and the gop elite are horrified. They're wringing their hands and wondering how this could have ever happened. They only need to look in a mirror.
2
The flaws of democracy was well-understood by the founding fathers: separation of church/state, three equal branches of federal Goverment and the Electrol College. It was clear that (things like the jailing of Baptist Ministers) was instructive and that the will of the people was inadaquate to the task of government in a dangerous world. Sense forever, the masses of people live by appetite and not reason. With the advent of FOX news in this political era, disgruntlement, distopic diatribe and racism has retrenched in the white downtrodden population. Now, absence of reason is stealing the gavel of democracy and the Republic is threatened. Now, we're finding out exactly how large the racist population is and how much power they want.
1
Romney and the rest of the GOP establishment are a bunch of fools. How better to get the disaffected base (and a whole lot of moderate Republicans, Democrats and Independents based on Trump's turnout numbers) to turn away from him then to get a failed establishment Presidential candidate to scold them into voting for Rubio or Cruz. It really is a tone deaf blunder of major proportions. All it did was to energize Trump voters and draw more voters to him. Whether you like Trump or hate him, I believe the enthusiasm gap between his voters and HRC voters is going to put this guy in the White House. This country desperately needs an outsider in the White House. Next we need to take money completely out of politics and the revolution is complete.
1
The more what now passes for a pathetic political establishment, formerly known as the Republican Party, lashes our at Donald Trump, the stronger he gets. The frightened mainstream operatives of the establishment is so tone-deaf that they just don't get this fundamental truth about the monster they've created that is about to consume them. The Donald is the angry face of what has become an anti-establishment base that has already sent both Eric Cantor and John Boehner packing. It's no longer about ideas or ideology, but about raw anger and, most unfortunately, visceral hate as the changing population demographics have diminished the power and dominance of white males to the bigoted bluster of The Donald.
3
Let us not forget that the GOP briefly flirted with self-reflection in the interest of a return to inclusive populism after Romney's stunning (to some) defeat in 2012. After a very short period of hand wringing, they stuck their heads back in the sand, and dug in their heels. Unless they lose control of congress to the tune of democratic super majorities, we can reasonably expect the GOP to continue playing twister well beyond the debacle that is Trump.
6
Every Republican candidate for president is a blustering racist loudmouth who will destroy the economy, except two. John Kasich is not a blustering, racist loudmouth. He will just destroy the economy. That leaves Donald Trump, a blustering, racist loudmouth, who may do the economy some good. Who is really the "best" of the bunch for the United States? Haven't we had enough beer buddies?
1
If Republicans were genuine in their concerns about racism and other forms of bigotry, they would have rejected Nixon's Southern Strategy in the years following his administration. But their savior announced his candidacy on a platform of States Rights in Philadelphia, Miss., the States Rights being the right for white vigilantes to murder civil rights protesters without remorse or fear of prosecution. There is no secret being withheld, Mr. Romney. This is exactly what the Republican Party has been championing for decades. Trump IS your man.
How many establishment Republicans will advise their constituents to sit out the election, to not to vote for Trump if he is the nominee?
How many establishment Republicans will advise their constituents to sit out the election, to not to vote for Trump if he is the nominee?
7
Like an upstart, Trump has stormed into the GOP country club, thrown his money around, insulted or threatened one and all, except some of the hired help whom he's patronized into believing he's just a regular guy, and has boasted about his game, at which he's suspected of cheating.
For Romney, with a lifetime membership club paid for with ill-gotten gains, Trump must seem like one of those "takers." He may be far up the economic ladder from the loathsome 47%, but he's still a taker, having absconded with primary victories and endorsements, and possibly the nomination, and all done so effortlessly. All done, as Romney and the GOP elders resentfully see it, without really having to work for his election gains. What must really make them envious though is that Trump has managed to defer all taxes or dues on his political earnings.
For Romney, with a lifetime membership club paid for with ill-gotten gains, Trump must seem like one of those "takers." He may be far up the economic ladder from the loathsome 47%, but he's still a taker, having absconded with primary victories and endorsements, and possibly the nomination, and all done so effortlessly. All done, as Romney and the GOP elders resentfully see it, without really having to work for his election gains. What must really make them envious though is that Trump has managed to defer all taxes or dues on his political earnings.
4
I could not agree more with this editorial. For decades, the Republican Party has taken the people who now support Trump for granted. The GOP "establishment" enacted many forms of corporate tax breaks, individual tax breaks, and global competition agreements that marginalized those who were, in many but not all cases, under-educated for the resultant information economy.
For three decades, countless authors have argued that failing to give a better education to more people was going to have a wide variety of negative effects on people who lacked information economy skills, and now we are seeing who many of them are. They are that group of "poorly educated" white males in their forties who see no future in the GOP and are voting for Trump to signal their dissatisfaction.
If the Republican "establishment" wants them back, on what are they willing to relent? These voters want opportunities to decent paying jobs and a sense they are valued by their government. So, if Trump's voters are going to influence the party platform, where do the negotiations start? The GOP establishment will have to give them something to get them back. What comes first, another president named Clinton, or a new GOP that respects its entire membership?
For three decades, countless authors have argued that failing to give a better education to more people was going to have a wide variety of negative effects on people who lacked information economy skills, and now we are seeing who many of them are. They are that group of "poorly educated" white males in their forties who see no future in the GOP and are voting for Trump to signal their dissatisfaction.
If the Republican "establishment" wants them back, on what are they willing to relent? These voters want opportunities to decent paying jobs and a sense they are valued by their government. So, if Trump's voters are going to influence the party platform, where do the negotiations start? The GOP establishment will have to give them something to get them back. What comes first, another president named Clinton, or a new GOP that respects its entire membership?
8
The Editorial Board hit a home run with this short powerful editorial. It would be pilling on but they could have added, rejection of science, rejection of infrastructure spending that would have created jobs for much of Trump's base, demonization of Mr. Obama. and obstructionism on all levels of government.
I listened to Mitt's speech and truly the number 3 reason for deposing Trump was the election of Hillary Clinton! He then followed with gratuitous slanders and lies about the Clintons. So much for statesman like behavior and rhetoric.
I listened to Mitt's speech and truly the number 3 reason for deposing Trump was the election of Hillary Clinton! He then followed with gratuitous slanders and lies about the Clintons. So much for statesman like behavior and rhetoric.
17
In 2008 the GOP had a clear choice: purge itself of the anti-intellectualism and business cronyism which the George W. Bush administration rode to utter disaster (in the immortal words of Will Ferrell, the only things Bush got wrong were foreign policy, and domestic) or double down on stupidity, ignorance and greed and hope that they could limit a half-black president to one term with obstruction and deception. Trump is the result of that strategy. Welcome to your own nightmare, GOP. Let's just hope it doesn't become the country's also.
10
One positive effect of Donald Trump's winning the presidency would be to diminish if not destroy the power of the neo-con, interventionist, low tax, anti-union, outsourcing and offshoring elitists who have controlled the Republican party since 1964.
2
It's totally right that Romney denouncing Trump won't affect his current supporters. We can only hope it might make a difference in November.
What was most lacking was him endorsing anybody else. Unless the Republicans can unite behind an alternative, Trump can't be beaten. But they are left with Cruz who is liked by no one who actually has worked with him, Rubio who belatedly decided his way to win was to be as nasty and childish as Trump, and Kasich, the Republican that Democrats like the most.
I'm sure we will still read tons of analysis, but Trump has it. In my opinion, Democrats need to stop nitpicking every decision Hillary made the last 30 years and work to defeat Trump, who if he has his way would seriously harm our country.
What was most lacking was him endorsing anybody else. Unless the Republicans can unite behind an alternative, Trump can't be beaten. But they are left with Cruz who is liked by no one who actually has worked with him, Rubio who belatedly decided his way to win was to be as nasty and childish as Trump, and Kasich, the Republican that Democrats like the most.
I'm sure we will still read tons of analysis, but Trump has it. In my opinion, Democrats need to stop nitpicking every decision Hillary made the last 30 years and work to defeat Trump, who if he has his way would seriously harm our country.
1
I continue to be surprised at the comments that avoid the main issue with Trump's fearmongering - racism, pure and simple. Politics, economy, foreign policy are critically important to be sure, but hatred of the other just might win the nomination for him. Unlike Romney, Trump is not an empty suit - he is a dangerous preacher with a willing flock. Yikes.
1
Nothing will change in US even if Trump come to power. I thought even if Hitler, Stalin or somebody like these evil genious will elected to White House, they can not defeat democracy, in contrary US has quickly transformed them to the good guys and politics. That is a nature and quality of american strong society and its talents to make a jevel from rubbish. In the same time autoritarian states with the weak and outdated society like Russia, Iran, China and many others have a special gifts to make a rubbish from pure gold in power.
Of course we can not right make a joke about such serious matter as election of president of US but I have strongly believed to the nature and power of american democracy which ruled by this country nearly 300 years.
Of course we can not right make a joke about such serious matter as election of president of US but I have strongly believed to the nature and power of american democracy which ruled by this country nearly 300 years.
2
One has to wonder what was really motivating Mitt's diatribe. Was it sour grapes at being talked into bowing out of the primary in favor of Jeb Bush, only to see Bush go nowhere? After years as the outsider is Mitt suddenly carrying water for the Republican establishment? Whatever the motivation, the brokered convention gambit that Mitt is proposing as a way to wrest the nomination from Trump and hand it to the establishment favorite Marco Rubio would be nothing short of a coups d'état. A reveal to the American public that all this democracy stuff is just for show as long as the establishment gets the desired result and if not, well, the power behind the curtain will just install their favorite anyway. If this happens it will completely rob the Republican nominating process of any hope at legitimacy. Indeed, on the heels of the Supreme Court handing a Presidential election to George W. Bush after he lost the popular vote by a wide margin Mitt's convention coups d'état will undermine the legitimacy of the entire process of electing a president in this country.
5
I always thought that Republicans hated Bill Clinton so much because he beat them at their own game. He was a 'pro-business Democrat' and they clearly thought being 'pro-business' was the GOP angle and other folks were not supposed to use that strategy.
Likewise, Trump is acting an awful lot like Republicans in the House and Senate. He is arguably just a bit more polished at it, which is sort of weird to think about. Cruz and Rubio do not hate Trump because of what he says, they are mostly saying the same thing. They hate him because he is winning.
Likewise, Trump is acting an awful lot like Republicans in the House and Senate. He is arguably just a bit more polished at it, which is sort of weird to think about. Cruz and Rubio do not hate Trump because of what he says, they are mostly saying the same thing. They hate him because he is winning.
5
Democrats should be thankful that Trump did not enter the Presidential race as a Democrat.
He would have decimated the Democratic Party, the same way that he has the Republican Party.
The Republican leaders have not fostered the Trump candidacy .
The Obama Presidency, with its divisiveness, economic stagnation, and failures in foreign affairs, is the cause.
The Trump candidacy is the Obama legacy.
He would have decimated the Democratic Party, the same way that he has the Republican Party.
The Republican leaders have not fostered the Trump candidacy .
The Obama Presidency, with its divisiveness, economic stagnation, and failures in foreign affairs, is the cause.
The Trump candidacy is the Obama legacy.
1
My enduring image of the Republican party will be John Boehner alternately sneering and snoozing behind Obama as the President spoke eloquently and passionately of the country's needs and the work that must be done. Instead of governing they built themselves a great chariot harnessed to their constituents' lowest impulses, and now look who's out for a joyride. The comeuppance is breathtaking--may we all survive it.
12
It was good to be reminded of what a terrible candidate Mr. Romney was. He was rejected by the American people for being a phony and a fraud and he managed to attack Mr Trump with that same 1950's TV dad style that he uses to talk to us all as if we are idiots.
He is Trump with more genteel mannerisms. Trump is right about one thing, Romney loved Trump when he thought it would work for him. The party of Lincoln is no more, its really the party of Goldwater, Reagan and George Wallace. They would boo Eisenhower off the stage.
As others have commented Trump is actually the more compassionate of the three candidates (sorry Kasich you don't count). At least he has moments were he says he cares if we die in the streets for lack of health insurance. The other two don't.
He is Trump with more genteel mannerisms. Trump is right about one thing, Romney loved Trump when he thought it would work for him. The party of Lincoln is no more, its really the party of Goldwater, Reagan and George Wallace. They would boo Eisenhower off the stage.
As others have commented Trump is actually the more compassionate of the three candidates (sorry Kasich you don't count). At least he has moments were he says he cares if we die in the streets for lack of health insurance. The other two don't.
6
In a climate of irony generated by the whole Trump/GOP fiasco, there is one irony being overlooked. The system of checks and balances that was devised by the founding fathers to avoid the very situation that now prevails is in fact largely responsible for it. It is a straitjacket binding the country to the 18th century ethos that invented it.
2
I have to give Mitt credit, if the business's hiring illegals were arrested, prosecuted and jailed for what should be a crime against the country, illegals (I'm so sorry - undocumenteds) would self-deport. It is only through the wonder of illegal hiring practices that illegals thrive here.
I do not trust any politician who will not articulate the obvious fact of illegal hiring practices and run the corrupt businesses engaged in this activity into the ground.
I do not trust any politician who will not articulate the obvious fact of illegal hiring practices and run the corrupt businesses engaged in this activity into the ground.
4
Liberals have had their way in America for the past 25 years. Most of their most important goals have now been largely achieved, and the country is considerably better for it.
But liberals have not been content to rest on their laurels. They have pressed on relentlessly with politically-correct agendas that are often extreme and absurd leaving millions of Americans feeling despised, isolated and disrespected in their own country; and feeling alone in a world where rapid economic change is calling into question many of values and certainties they once counted on. That is why Trump is winning.
But liberals have not been content to rest on their laurels. They have pressed on relentlessly with politically-correct agendas that are often extreme and absurd leaving millions of Americans feeling despised, isolated and disrespected in their own country; and feeling alone in a world where rapid economic change is calling into question many of values and certainties they once counted on. That is why Trump is winning.
2
Rubio argues that the president is purposely weakening the country. Crude wants a European style value added tax and another war on a credit card. Trump is a disaster but he is in the GOP middle. His only divergence is that he seems more willing to disadvantage big money. This is the real source of the GOP angst.
3
If Trump wins the Republican nomination, it won't be because Republicans or conservatives voted for him. While "open" primary rules are well-intentioned, the result has been masses of "independents" and disaffected Democrats voting for Trump in the Republican primary. People who really have no business voting in a Republican primary are making someone who is neither conservative nor a Republican the nominee of the Republican party.
1
big money Republican-backers are anti-trump because they want to continue to ship jobs overseas and exploit illegal workers while reaping obscene profits from American consumers. Or, they want wars to fatten their pockets by creating wars to sell their weapons, steal other countries' resources and use taxpayer dollars to rebuild the very countries they destroyed.
they exploit working class whites. they want them so focused on other ethnic groups, gays and progressive women that they don't see its the elitist whites who are the greatest enemy to their prosperity. they are now waking up to this fact.
He has also taken on the media, which is waging its own campaign against trump under the guise of objective news sources. its obvious they are owned by the very billionaires who want to continue to fleece the country.
they exploit working class whites. they want them so focused on other ethnic groups, gays and progressive women that they don't see its the elitist whites who are the greatest enemy to their prosperity. they are now waking up to this fact.
He has also taken on the media, which is waging its own campaign against trump under the guise of objective news sources. its obvious they are owned by the very billionaires who want to continue to fleece the country.
3
Just as mainstream media outlets have long been in the tank for Hillary, so is its machinery sputtering to life in anti-Trumplestiltskin mode. I listened, fascinated, this morning, as Bloomberg Radio's morning hosts questioned economists and investment pros on both sides of the aisle, each of whom were darkly predicting devastation for the US and world economies should Trumplestiltskin be elected.
I expect that kind of coirdinated attack from Faux News...not from doctrinaire Wall Streeters the owner of whose station has demurred at a third party candidacy, mooted by the Times under cover of anonymity, now that the Hillary campaign has stabilized itself from the freefall it was in.
I expect that kind of coirdinated attack from Faux News...not from doctrinaire Wall Streeters the owner of whose station has demurred at a third party candidacy, mooted by the Times under cover of anonymity, now that the Hillary campaign has stabilized itself from the freefall it was in.
2
They started appealing to the Strom Thurmond, George Wallace supporters with the Southern Strategy.
They continued with Reagan and the culture wars of welfare queens and dog whistle politics of states rights.
This has been 50 years in the making.
They continued with Reagan and the culture wars of welfare queens and dog whistle politics of states rights.
This has been 50 years in the making.
5
The drama that will play out at the Republican convention will get very interesting if no current candidate fails to garner enough delegates to assure a first ballot win. Seem clear that Trump will likely have a plurality, and all hell will break loose if he is rejected by the party. Some say that Romney has set up a "draft Romney" play, but I think that, if there is any move to nominate a candidate not in the current field, it will be a "draft Ryan" play. If that happens, the GOP will not unify behind a single candidate, and may well disintegrate into who knows what. Perhaps a far right socially conservative, predominantly white, Christian, southern regional party, and a far right, predominantly western, radically libertarian, regional party. A few other Republican sects may also arise.
I just hope that the Democratic Party doesn't waste the opportunity being handed them by the GOP.
I just hope that the Democratic Party doesn't waste the opportunity being handed them by the GOP.
3
Mitt Romney is a phony. He flushed any principles he may have held in his desperate and pathetic attempt to win the nomination and then the Presidency in 2012. I was staying in Davenport, IA for several months during the nomination battle. The local cub reporters had a field day with him, relentlessly exposing his contradictions. Unlike the networks, they would confront him at the small events: the barbecues, church socials and rallies, in the restaurants, taverns and wherever else he went. And always with cameras at the ready to catch his facial expressions along with his loopy responses.
The Republican caucuses ended in something like a 3-way draw, but Romney was a beaten man. Afterward and near the end of the presidential campaign, he self-immolated by saying 47% of the American people were essentially incompetent. Mr. Obama despatched him with ease. It was as much an act of mercy as a victory.
The Republican caucuses ended in something like a 3-way draw, but Romney was a beaten man. Afterward and near the end of the presidential campaign, he self-immolated by saying 47% of the American people were essentially incompetent. Mr. Obama despatched him with ease. It was as much an act of mercy as a victory.
4
I can't believe I'm going to pay a complement to Mitt Romney yet here it is. What the gentlemanly Mr. Romney did today was admirable, a true profile in courage.
Mr. Romney's remarks were backed up by a war hero, yes, a bona fide war hero, despite denials to the contrary which spewed out of Donald Drumpf's vicious, vindictive mouth. What Senator McCain did in captivity in Vietnam, defend his captive comrades in arms, as he spent five years ensconced in the Torture Suite at the Hanoi Hilton, he did today, backing up his former opponent in the presidential sweepstakes. Well done, Senator McCain.
These two men, these two Republicans, whom I did not support in their presidential quests, today have my deepest admiration. When the world turns topsy-turvy as it has of late, it is nice to know that there still are men of honor whom will come forward to expose, and attempt to eradicate, a cancer growing within their party. Kudos to you both, gentlemen.
As a lifelong Democrat it's men like Romney and McCain who give me solace and hope, that through their courageous statements, they may act as a catalyst to bridge our deep and wide political chasm toward forming a truce between the two parties. One hopes this may serve to begin construction of that bridge to a time and place when both sides are willing to work together, to sort out their differences with the objective of making our government work better for all the American people.
DD
Manhattan
Mr. Romney's remarks were backed up by a war hero, yes, a bona fide war hero, despite denials to the contrary which spewed out of Donald Drumpf's vicious, vindictive mouth. What Senator McCain did in captivity in Vietnam, defend his captive comrades in arms, as he spent five years ensconced in the Torture Suite at the Hanoi Hilton, he did today, backing up his former opponent in the presidential sweepstakes. Well done, Senator McCain.
These two men, these two Republicans, whom I did not support in their presidential quests, today have my deepest admiration. When the world turns topsy-turvy as it has of late, it is nice to know that there still are men of honor whom will come forward to expose, and attempt to eradicate, a cancer growing within their party. Kudos to you both, gentlemen.
As a lifelong Democrat it's men like Romney and McCain who give me solace and hope, that through their courageous statements, they may act as a catalyst to bridge our deep and wide political chasm toward forming a truce between the two parties. One hopes this may serve to begin construction of that bridge to a time and place when both sides are willing to work together, to sort out their differences with the objective of making our government work better for all the American people.
DD
Manhattan
2
Sorry, you are too kind by half to both men. Romney relayed his disdain for the american people by admitting he did not care for the 47%; by proudly stating "corporations are people my friends," (which they most assuredly are not); and by not releasing his fiances which would have revealed that a) his only charity is the Mormon church which is in fact a business empire and b) that his business model allows him to pay taxes below the level of most pretty successful Americans. John McCain legitimized himself as a potential presidential candidate when he chose Sarah Palin as his veep-- an astonishingly ridiculous choice, which blessedly back-fired. If these two are their statesmen, heaven help us.
3
Is it necessary to call voters who don't want trickle down and other elitist policies "dark elements"? This would be a fine time to pull them to the democratic side by praising their wisdom. These voters may very well be overlooking Mr Trump's vulgar remarks in desperation over their own economic status and they may see no home in a democratic party that has also overlooked them.
The progressives have stuck to a firm policy of condemning the heartland as racist, presumably in an attempt to draw minorities voters. But what evidence do you have they are truly racist? What you see as racism may just be frustration with a democratic party that ignores their issues while chasing identity politics. People who object to identity politics may simply be objecting to perceived unfairness. I know people from small towns and they are proud of not being racist.
Summation: This is the perfect opportunity for progressives to expand their base. Just stop insulting and demeaning people. You don't have to change your policies or support for minorities. Just tone down the hate. It does get back to people .
The progressives have stuck to a firm policy of condemning the heartland as racist, presumably in an attempt to draw minorities voters. But what evidence do you have they are truly racist? What you see as racism may just be frustration with a democratic party that ignores their issues while chasing identity politics. People who object to identity politics may simply be objecting to perceived unfairness. I know people from small towns and they are proud of not being racist.
Summation: This is the perfect opportunity for progressives to expand their base. Just stop insulting and demeaning people. You don't have to change your policies or support for minorities. Just tone down the hate. It does get back to people .
5
It's easy to blame the Republicans, but it is reflexive. Dems have been openly contemptuous of the concerns and worries of voters in the flyover states for a long, long time. The progressives and their fixation on bi-coastal, urban issues and identity politics put that disdain into hyperdrive. Trump is blowback. He will be defeated, but the anger that got him to where he is will remain and fester.
1
The superficial argument that the old neocons are just like Trump and Romney is just like Trump truly misses the point. The Republican establishment represents self-interested plutocrats. The Trump constituency are nationalist, protectionist blue-collar workers. You cannot explain the culture war going on between those two groups by painting the entire Republican party as xenophobes, war-mongers, and hard-hearted bullies.
3
The Trump "problem" is this: he understands the Republican base far better than the mainstream members of the party do.
Live by the sword, die by the sword" is cliche but true. There is no message (that would appeal to the remainder of the country) that will bring those voters back to the fold because it cannot be said out loud. Racist, hateful, anti science, xenophobic, intolerant, anti urban are all adjectives that come to mind.
The unspoken subtext that truly held the Republican party together is exposed.
Live by the sword, die by the sword" is cliche but true. There is no message (that would appeal to the remainder of the country) that will bring those voters back to the fold because it cannot be said out loud. Racist, hateful, anti science, xenophobic, intolerant, anti urban are all adjectives that come to mind.
The unspoken subtext that truly held the Republican party together is exposed.
5
Your say: "...Republican leaders [awakened] to the fact that the darkest elements of the party’s base, which many of them have embraced or exploited". I have long believed that this "embracing and exploiting" is what differentiate us from to-day's Europeans. They have as many red necks and ignorant voters as we have, but their political leaders haven't pushed the hot buttons as ours do so frequently. When there are bigoted attacks in Europe they are seldom fueled by the leaders to the extent ours do. Even an extremist like Marine LePen doesn't spew the kind of venom a Trump or a Cruz throws up.
There is hardly a significant difference between the verbiage of Trump, Cruz or Rubio regarding the millions of uninsured, or the rights of women, or immigrants or international relations with Iran or Cuba; for International relations they only care to have the foreigners fear us, not like us. And those views energizes the "Darkest elements of their bases".
There is hardly a significant difference between the verbiage of Trump, Cruz or Rubio regarding the millions of uninsured, or the rights of women, or immigrants or international relations with Iran or Cuba; for International relations they only care to have the foreigners fear us, not like us. And those views energizes the "Darkest elements of their bases".
2
Jesse Ventura was in CNN last night. He saidthat, as a former misty man, he could not support any Replica candidate because they all promote war crimes, i.e. torture by waterboarding.
He also said that he likes Sanders but is afraid that Bernie will kill the revolution by endorsing Clinton. He also pointed out that there are other parties. You don't have to keep going back and forth between two bad choices.
He wants the revolution to continue. I agree.
He also said that he likes Sanders but is afraid that Bernie will kill the revolution by endorsing Clinton. He also pointed out that there are other parties. You don't have to keep going back and forth between two bad choices.
He wants the revolution to continue. I agree.
The Republican party created this "monster" that they now are desperately trying to contain. Mr. Romney is considered the voice of reason. CNN and Fox News also contributed to this cacophony and circus act. I refer to CNN as "The Trump Channel". Mr. Trump saw an opportunity and seized the moment. That is what one does in real estate negotiations. Get the property as cheaply as possible, point out all of the shortcomings and try to brow beat one's opponent into selling cheap. The next step is to come up with a plan for that property and sell the idea of investors and buyers. He is selling a dream to the unwary like swamp land. All the other candidates are playing into his act and they are diminishing the Office of the Presidency. Mrs. Clinton is taking a few plays from the Trump book too. If all of the news media would relegate Trump to back page stories, he would not be as important. That is how they treat Mr. Sanders. Trump is winning State after State but It is simply a media and social media frenzy that sadly has spilled over to the caucus process. The film and book "The Manchurian Candidate" told us this story some time ago.
1
Sanders is not being revolutionary enough. He is playing it to safe, trying to save the Democratic Party from the inside. Trump will save the corporate revolution by blowing up the Republican Party. If we do not blow up the Democratic Party, it will continue to limp along providing just enough votes to pass policy designed by global billionaires like wars, deregulation, and tax cuts.
If you think the battle for economic and social justice begins with compromise you're deluding yourself.
Viva la Evolution
If you think the battle for economic and social justice begins with compromise you're deluding yourself.
Viva la Evolution
What a bad choice we have for President this year! As your editorial points out, "... in terms of domestic and foreign policy positions, Mr. Cruz is probably more extreme than Mr. Trump, and Mr. Rubio is hardly different," so our choice is between one of them, and a volatile real estate billionaire who doesn't have any real policies, merely promises he will never be able to keep. And on the other side, we have a candidate who has policies which are good for the country, but carries with her so many scandals that a huge percentage of the country simply doesn't trust her honesty. It would have been refreshing to have a candidate survive the primaries whom we could actually support.
1
Vote Bernie, but don't expect even him to have a revolution by himself. No matter who is president, it will take millions of citizens actively organizing protests and creative actions to remake true democracy. Our government has been sold.
And I dare all of you that believe that we can't take care of people to see the new Michael Moore film. It's not that we can't have universal healthcare, etc, it's that we can't be bothered.
Viva la Evolution.
And I dare all of you that believe that we can't take care of people to see the new Michael Moore film. It's not that we can't have universal healthcare, etc, it's that we can't be bothered.
Viva la Evolution.
3
The Republican Party has been on this self destructive trajectory ever since they formulated and embraced the Southern Strategy. The schizophrenic Tea Party grew malignantly out of the Republican Party's Wall Street connections and their billionaire backers. Income inequality, and the devastating effects on the middle class, regardless of ones political leanings, has finally been the sentinel event that has caused the Republican base to see through the shroud of economic lies told to them for decades. The result has been feral capitalism and a bribed political class. Rolling out Mitt, of all people, will just infuriate the base even more.
10
The original Tea Party was a protest against crony capitalism, the same kind of capitalism that Sanders is against.
One of the original Tea Party organizers sent an open letter to the Occupy movement in its early days, explaining how the Tea Party had been co-opted by the billionaires and how to avoid it. #1 don't take their money.
One of the original Tea Party organizers sent an open letter to the Occupy movement in its early days, explaining how the Tea Party had been co-opted by the billionaires and how to avoid it. #1 don't take their money.
The problem with the Republican party is that they have no Leaders. A true leader would not have stooped to dog-whistles and race-baiting. A true leader would have sell ideas and not emotions. A true leader would have wanted an educated populace and not supported a dismantling of our education systems. A true leader would not support voter suppression. No, the Republicans have no Leaders. This is why Donald Trump is doing well - people are mistaking him for a leader in the void that they have created.
12
Is it just me that the NY Times Editorial Board and almost all of its opinion writers has spending all most all of their time on Trump, Trump, and Trump this last week?
Sure he is a story. But, the bigger story is the fight over the data on the iPhone.
Ask yourself how many people have been hurt or killed by terrorists or anarchists in the last 100 years versus how many by despotic governments?
I am finding all the focus on Trump somewhat insulting as a reader. He would be something good or bad as a President, however, the checks and balances in our system would keep him from too much excess.
The story that needs the focus and discussion of our time in the iPhone story. The results of which will either free our children and grandchildren to continue what the Founding Fathers started or be the beginning of the end of it.
Trump is just an bubble gum diversion.
Sure he is a story. But, the bigger story is the fight over the data on the iPhone.
Ask yourself how many people have been hurt or killed by terrorists or anarchists in the last 100 years versus how many by despotic governments?
I am finding all the focus on Trump somewhat insulting as a reader. He would be something good or bad as a President, however, the checks and balances in our system would keep him from too much excess.
The story that needs the focus and discussion of our time in the iPhone story. The results of which will either free our children and grandchildren to continue what the Founding Fathers started or be the beginning of the end of it.
Trump is just an bubble gum diversion.
3
JD-- good point. But the powers that be love these distractions-- whether it is trump, abortion, anti-abortion or guns. It makes the average joe unable to see the forest for the trees.
1
The media talks about nothing but Trump, then everyone voted for Trump. Shocking.
For the GOP, things have fallen apart. The best of the party lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity. After years of vilifying centrists as the “far left” the party cannot return to any sort of center right position without betraying the few stalwart supporters that now make up the truncated party. The GOP has devolved into a regional political faction representing only a small segment of the population. It is no longer a national party. And, having eschewed governance, can only exercise influence by obstructing the functioning of our constitutional system. I shed no tears for the GOP. Its eventual demise will be a blessing for the Republic.
2
All the time now when I read these editorials and the readership comments that accompany them, I get the feeling that the time to talk has run out. Sometimes an event happens that is so enormous, so outside the bounds of what makes sense, that people become lost in confusion and utterly unable to see a way forward. Instead, they go in circles, going over and over what is wrong, and how it can't stand, but with no clear strategy to get out. This is where we are now. And if we don't think clearly and act decisively, we may lose our democracy. As a Democrat I applaud Romney for having the guts to publically renounce Trump. We need more elected officials on both sides of the divide to stand up and declare that this man cannot run for elective office. The train wreck we are watching from the sidelines has more to do with civil revolt than electing a new leader. It's a crisis. No more talk. Time for planning next steps.
The GOP is reaping bitter fruit that it has consistently sown over the past several decades. It has embraced a Southern strategy to win the South and its legacy of hate and bigotry; it has eviscerated public education and resources for infrastructure repair; it has shifted resources away from human service to the military industrial complex; it has been under spell of "evangelicals"who prefer deny health care service to the women and citizen of limited means; it has embraced trickle down economics that favor the few and disadvantage the many;it has failed to govern in the spirit of statesmanship by doing everything in its power to thwart the will of the people by obstructionism from day 1 of the Obama presidency.
The adage " you reap what you sow" is true. Donald Trump is the GOP's harvest harvest.
The adage " you reap what you sow" is true. Donald Trump is the GOP's harvest harvest.
3
The disconnect between the Republican elite and their presumed electorate has never been starker.
I'm not sure which is more troubling - men who want to lead our country resorting to puerile bullying OR my fellow Americans thinking that this is appropriate behavior and rewarding it with votes.
I'm not sure which is more troubling - men who want to lead our country resorting to puerile bullying OR my fellow Americans thinking that this is appropriate behavior and rewarding it with votes.
I am repeatedly struck by the failure of Mr. Trump's Republican critics to take responsibility for his rise. GOP congressional leaders and conservative pundits repeatedly urged on the Tea Party, which had extremist views about governing and conflicting feelings about government largess. The party took these people into the fold, figuring they could be tamed, despite their ignorance about and contempt for government and governing. The Tea Party was not tamed, it was disappointed and frustrated. Add in those who lost jobs and homes during the financial crisis, and you have a lot of angry people who looked to the government for various, sometimes conflicting, solutions and didn't get them. Had Mitch McConnell and others in power diligently worked with Democrats on programs to re-build American's middle class -- whose buying power drives the economy -- instead of trying to demonstrate how they, too, hate government, imagine what kind of candidates and electorate the party might have produced this year. Whether they support Trump or not, congressional leaders like Mr. McConnell and Paul Ryan, as well as past candidates, owe all voters an apology for encouraging a destructive and thoughtless approach to governing that has served only to reduce our choices at the ballot box.
Of course, all of this assumes that most Republicans actually supported the orthodoxy that has dominated the party for decades, based almost exclusively on the best interests of big business and the wealthy. Perhaps the old Republican party is just a shallow shell in an era when vast numbers on both sides have finally figured out that their interests are very different. But then the irony that many turn to a wealthy businessman.
1
The jobs report today showed that average hourly wages declined again. But none of that affects the billionaires and plutocrats running the Republican Party establishment. That's all you need to know about Trump's appeal.
It isn't the "dark forces" in the Party that make up Trump's supporters. It is the dark forces in the Party--the neocons who support pointless wars; the billionaires who support disenfranchising American workers through offshoring and lax immigration law enforcement; the cynical cultural warriors who use opposition to abortion and gay marriage to mask their warmongering and economic exploitation--who Donald Trump is running against in the Republican Party.
Donald Trump is shining a light on these politically-correct frauds and the people love it. The Republican Party establishment is a corrupt cabal exploiting the minions of the party for their own advantage. Donald Trump, who didn't rise through the ranks of the party so owes them nothing, has the establishment terrified in his ability to expose their hypocrisy. (All of the foregoing applies, if in slightly different ways, to the Sanders candidacy and the Democratic party apparatchiks).
Average wages showed another decline last month. The Mitt Romney's of the world don't work for wages, but for capital gains. That's all you need to know to understand the Trump (and Sanders, for that matter) phenomenon.
It isn't the "dark forces" in the Party that make up Trump's supporters. It is the dark forces in the Party--the neocons who support pointless wars; the billionaires who support disenfranchising American workers through offshoring and lax immigration law enforcement; the cynical cultural warriors who use opposition to abortion and gay marriage to mask their warmongering and economic exploitation--who Donald Trump is running against in the Republican Party.
Donald Trump is shining a light on these politically-correct frauds and the people love it. The Republican Party establishment is a corrupt cabal exploiting the minions of the party for their own advantage. Donald Trump, who didn't rise through the ranks of the party so owes them nothing, has the establishment terrified in his ability to expose their hypocrisy. (All of the foregoing applies, if in slightly different ways, to the Sanders candidacy and the Democratic party apparatchiks).
Average wages showed another decline last month. The Mitt Romney's of the world don't work for wages, but for capital gains. That's all you need to know to understand the Trump (and Sanders, for that matter) phenomenon.
3
Corporate mass media, the tool that the global billionaires use to divide and conquer the People, so we tell each other that taking care of people is not only too expensive but immoral, has created a culture of hate and greed. Donald Trump is exploiting this phenomena to his own ends. He is riding the beast that is the Republican base, and the establishment is powerless to stop it.
Unfortunately, at a time that the People, especially independents, where three real fight will be, is in a revolutionary spirit the Democrats might put Clinton against Trump. Turnout will be lower than ever, and will lean Trump. The Democrat propensity for going the "safe" route will put Trump in the White House. We could put a much saner, positive, forward looking candidate, Sanders, who is popular with independents, and even some Trump supporters, but most Democrats don't believe in their own philosophy. They would rather go with "No we can't" than demand real change.
And, if you don't believe what Bernie purposes is possible, I dare you to go see the new Michael Moore movie.
Unfortunately, at a time that the People, especially independents, where three real fight will be, is in a revolutionary spirit the Democrats might put Clinton against Trump. Turnout will be lower than ever, and will lean Trump. The Democrat propensity for going the "safe" route will put Trump in the White House. We could put a much saner, positive, forward looking candidate, Sanders, who is popular with independents, and even some Trump supporters, but most Democrats don't believe in their own philosophy. They would rather go with "No we can't" than demand real change.
And, if you don't believe what Bernie purposes is possible, I dare you to go see the new Michael Moore movie.
This election is showing us how politics really works. It is all about money, but the most interesting part is that Citizens United has not helped keep the well funded politically correct candidates on top. Trump and Sanders are upsetting the apple cart, each in their own way. I see this as the culmination of many years of dysfunctional government which can only be blamed on the status quo that is enmeshed in Washington to keep those in power, in power. We can now see how we got to this point. The established parties and their candidates cannot understand how this could have happened. The answer of course is that they live in a totally different universe from the masses.
2
Drumpf's adventure into birtherism is indication enough that the man is a complete scoundrel. The notion that he has any "views" ot "philosophy" on governance is ludicrous.
With the exception of the un-electible, Kasich, Trump is the best alternative for Democrats if a Republican were to win in November. Trump is not playing into the Republican party game plan and has demonstrated the ability to change his mind when new information comes forth. He's no fool; he was able to explain away to the other Tea Partiers on the stage why he's donated to both Republican and Democratic politicians in the past.
For the Dems, better to have Trump as a possible president than either Cruz or Rubio. I doubt the general electorate will buy off on Trump in November.
For the Dems, better to have Trump as a possible president than either Cruz or Rubio. I doubt the general electorate will buy off on Trump in November.
If Mitt and other GOP leaders are serious about putting country before politics, because they believe that a Trump presidency would be a disaster for America, they should deny him the GOP nomination. If they do not and Trump continues to mouth off and flip-flop on issues, or as he prefers to call it "being flexible," we might just see some Clinton Republicans (analogous to the Reagan Democrats of 1980/84) show up at the polls in November? As their favorite Gipper had professed during another dark era, it's "a time for choosing." Only this time, they must make the right choice or likely face another generation in presidential wilderness.
Mitt Romney also benefited from Trump repeatedly and falsely stating that Obama wasn't born in the U.S. He and the Republicans have helped create the rise of Trump by making false statements, promising what can't be accomplished, driving wedges between people, and grossly misrepresenting what Democrats and Obama have accomplished and propose. Once Republicans are elected (after whipping up their base with falsehoods) they pursue policies that benefit the wealthy and undermine benefits and opportunities for the middle class. In short, they have been instrumental in creating the great income equality and misery many people are angry about.
But I watched Romney's speech today and I believe he did the country a great service. He spoke eloquently but with blunt language about Trump's dangerous and insulting personality, his lack of experience, his empty promises, and nearly total ignorance about international norms and affairs.
I hope voters will finally see through Trump's bombast and see he is totally unfit for public office.
But I watched Romney's speech today and I believe he did the country a great service. He spoke eloquently but with blunt language about Trump's dangerous and insulting personality, his lack of experience, his empty promises, and nearly total ignorance about international norms and affairs.
I hope voters will finally see through Trump's bombast and see he is totally unfit for public office.
The people who created this monster were all on stage this evening. Trump is a creation of the current Republican Party, and the only way he can be stopped is if all the other candidates decide to unite behind one. Yet that requires all but one of these ego-driven puppets on stage to agree to drop out "for the good of the party." Won't happen, and the result is Trump wins the nomination.
No matter in any case. If they cut Trump out via a contested convention, one of the other candidates wins the nomination, but splits the vote with a "yuge" number of disaffected Trump supporters. Hillary wins.
The professional cynics in the Republican party have been trying to square this circle for more than 40 years, starting with Nixon's Southern Strategy. The Republican coalition of blue-collar social conservatives and small-government/low-taxation oligarchs has always been a bipolar monster, with a limited life span. Trump is just the executioner.
It's been a long time coming, and couldn't happen to a more deserving group. The Republicans lose, and America wins.
No matter in any case. If they cut Trump out via a contested convention, one of the other candidates wins the nomination, but splits the vote with a "yuge" number of disaffected Trump supporters. Hillary wins.
The professional cynics in the Republican party have been trying to square this circle for more than 40 years, starting with Nixon's Southern Strategy. The Republican coalition of blue-collar social conservatives and small-government/low-taxation oligarchs has always been a bipolar monster, with a limited life span. Trump is just the executioner.
It's been a long time coming, and couldn't happen to a more deserving group. The Republicans lose, and America wins.
3
Could one think that, just possibly, the electorate is tired of seeing elected representatives sign "loyalty pledges" to government outsiders, bring the operation of the government to a halt over policy quibbles, orient an entire party's policy toward a personal vendetta against the president, and refuse to compromise on any issue, when compromise is the heart and soul of politics? The Republican party built itself into this corner over the last twenty years by such unthinking behavior. Republican party: meet the reformation.
5
Well, better late than never!
But, though Romney is of noble mien his low and ugly swipes at Hillary Clinton, even as he conjured the virtue of the GOP's values, were absurd in view of the fact that "conservative values" created the angry people supporting Trump. The GOP has spent the last 7 years blindly and furiously obstructing our duly elected president, demeaning him and preventing progress with all their might.
Trump may go away but the people won't. They are still out there, angry, seething. GOP policies, years of obstructionism, racist innuendo, the phoniness of "conservative values," endless kissing of Reagan's hem, an utter dearth of creative policies, these have resulted in Trump.
Romney says it is A Time For Choosing, as Reagan said in 1964. It was a time to choose because the Great Society and Civil Rights were such a threat to the nation that we needed to head off the right wing cliff in order to save ourselves from this terrible darkness. So Reagan stumped for Goldwater!
The GOP has been down that path ever since - attacking social networks, attacking civil rights, but not out loud, not like the naked attacks on entire groups of people we're hearing from our Presidential candidates this year.
It's been coded, polite, voiced only in private, like Mitt's 47% speech.
It's high time this stuff was out in the open. And it's long past time the GOP reviewed its awful policies because Trump didn't create those growling crowds.
The Republicans did.
But, though Romney is of noble mien his low and ugly swipes at Hillary Clinton, even as he conjured the virtue of the GOP's values, were absurd in view of the fact that "conservative values" created the angry people supporting Trump. The GOP has spent the last 7 years blindly and furiously obstructing our duly elected president, demeaning him and preventing progress with all their might.
Trump may go away but the people won't. They are still out there, angry, seething. GOP policies, years of obstructionism, racist innuendo, the phoniness of "conservative values," endless kissing of Reagan's hem, an utter dearth of creative policies, these have resulted in Trump.
Romney says it is A Time For Choosing, as Reagan said in 1964. It was a time to choose because the Great Society and Civil Rights were such a threat to the nation that we needed to head off the right wing cliff in order to save ourselves from this terrible darkness. So Reagan stumped for Goldwater!
The GOP has been down that path ever since - attacking social networks, attacking civil rights, but not out loud, not like the naked attacks on entire groups of people we're hearing from our Presidential candidates this year.
It's been coded, polite, voiced only in private, like Mitt's 47% speech.
It's high time this stuff was out in the open. And it's long past time the GOP reviewed its awful policies because Trump didn't create those growling crowds.
The Republicans did.
4
Victory through demonization and fear. Republican leaders now find themselves treating each other in exactly the same manner as they have the rest of America. It's the inevitable outcome of decades spent learning this core behavior. When your ideas are no longer attractive to most voters, these tactics are employed in a series of desperate attempts to hold onto power. The reflexive political behavior behind the dog whistle politics of welfare queens, birther-ism and immigrant invaders is now eating away at its most ardent purveyors. Truth and substance take a back seat to demeaning commentary of the lowest order. Your opponent is a weak, lying, con-artist, loser. The voter can't be trusted with facts, they must be manipulated using only empty rhetoric. The Republican Party is but an empty shell. It leaders have no new compelling ideas relevant to governing in a twenty first century world. It is left only to this.
If the Republican "establishment" (they'll have to find a nicer word) truly wants to recreate the Republican Party, they will have to (a) jettison Cruz, the "tea party" and The Donald, and (b) redefine what "conservative" means as the driving force of the party. The latter (b) means actually embracing social changes, economic policies and truly "inclusive" appeals to win back, some day, a majority of voters. But (a) requires something more immediate. If they can't get Trump and Cruz to form a third party (why should they if they can take over the existing Republican Party?), then the "establishment" needs to do it, i.e, form its own third party and field a presidential candidate in 2016. Predictions: Neither (a) nor (b) will happen. Cruz will support Trump and there will likely be a Trump/Cruz ticket in November. The Democrats, with a lot of hard effort, will win the election.
The ignorant GOP base, long cultivated by the GOP elite for their own selfish ends, has taken up their pitchforks. They have their own ideas.
Letters from foreign policy "experts" will carry no weight with a base that has been taught for decades to deride expertise (or evolutionary biologists, climate scientists, economists, etc etc). In fact, it will only fire them up.
There was a canary in the mineshaft in 2014. That year, 100 establishment Republicans wrote a letter urging Kansans to vote against Sam Brownback, who's conservative trickle-down poverty experiment had gutted the state's economy. Brownback won reelection by almost 4 points.
Attacks on Trump by establishment types only make him stronger. Critiques that he's not "conservative" fall on the deaf ears of people long driven to the polls not by ideological fealty but by the bigotry, fear, and ignorance the GOP has carefully cultivated in their base.
The peasants are revolting. The aristocrats only have themselves to blame.
Letters from foreign policy "experts" will carry no weight with a base that has been taught for decades to deride expertise (or evolutionary biologists, climate scientists, economists, etc etc). In fact, it will only fire them up.
There was a canary in the mineshaft in 2014. That year, 100 establishment Republicans wrote a letter urging Kansans to vote against Sam Brownback, who's conservative trickle-down poverty experiment had gutted the state's economy. Brownback won reelection by almost 4 points.
Attacks on Trump by establishment types only make him stronger. Critiques that he's not "conservative" fall on the deaf ears of people long driven to the polls not by ideological fealty but by the bigotry, fear, and ignorance the GOP has carefully cultivated in their base.
The peasants are revolting. The aristocrats only have themselves to blame.
3
I have never even imagined that my country could be this awful. It reminds me of a friend I wanted to keep but was forced continually, by him, to downgrade my opinion. I couldn't keep up with the evidence he kept presenting of his unworthy character, so finally I gave up. I can't give up on our country.
One of the most startling things about Trump, in addition to his idiotic policy proposals, is his lack of any relationship with what the rest of us call truth. He can state something emphatically in the morning, change his mind by noon and deny he ever said it by 4. Actually, he's able to do all of that in a few minutes time. Lying is his default setting.
Blaming Republicans and their unending habit of playing to the lower instincts is entirely appropriate. This is where leadership would have come in, if we had any leaders in their party. True leadership, instead of appealing to racism and other negative traits, would have led the nation away from base motives. Ha! Instead, the "nut case fringe" has been coaxed by politicians and right wing media into the main stream of their party.
There is great danger right the horizon. A massive backlash to progressive change in our nation is well formed and ready to spring. The idea is to shutdown ANY discussion of the serious problems facing us by making those who see the problems into enemies, symbols of evil. If we can't move forward, we will fracture as a nation and explosive, violent confrontations would surely follow.
One of the most startling things about Trump, in addition to his idiotic policy proposals, is his lack of any relationship with what the rest of us call truth. He can state something emphatically in the morning, change his mind by noon and deny he ever said it by 4. Actually, he's able to do all of that in a few minutes time. Lying is his default setting.
Blaming Republicans and their unending habit of playing to the lower instincts is entirely appropriate. This is where leadership would have come in, if we had any leaders in their party. True leadership, instead of appealing to racism and other negative traits, would have led the nation away from base motives. Ha! Instead, the "nut case fringe" has been coaxed by politicians and right wing media into the main stream of their party.
There is great danger right the horizon. A massive backlash to progressive change in our nation is well formed and ready to spring. The idea is to shutdown ANY discussion of the serious problems facing us by making those who see the problems into enemies, symbols of evil. If we can't move forward, we will fracture as a nation and explosive, violent confrontations would surely follow.
Mitt Romney sold his political soul to the 1%ers long, long ago. That, the biggest of all frauds, disqualifies him from calling Trump or anyone else a fraud. That sell-out causes the decay that brings down all governments if left unchecked -- an amassing of wealth in fewer and fewer hands until the victims, here the middle and lower classes, revolt, 1st politically, then with arms if necessary.
Trump is no better. Although he's not a politician accepting payoffs from special interests with a "decent interval" between the payment and the payoff, he's worse and that's possible. He's that politician and that 1%er all in one. Just one example of the resulting evil: the tax reforms he's already proposed would put millions more into his pockets and stack on more national debt.
Hillary is no better. Like Romney, she sold her political soul to the 1%ers long, long ago. African Americans should realize Hillary's 1st loyalty is to the 1%ers, who must approve movement of any assets to middle and lower income classes.
Only Bernie refuses to sell his political soul. He proposes reversing the decades long legal larceny from the middle and lower income class by the 1%ers via several methods -- provide: 1. 4 yrs of free public college education; 2. Medicare for all; 3. increased Social Security; 4. $15 minimum wage by 2020, etc. History teaches us that if political revolution does not work, violent revolution follows.
I choose Bernie's political revolution now, not a blowup later.
Trump is no better. Although he's not a politician accepting payoffs from special interests with a "decent interval" between the payment and the payoff, he's worse and that's possible. He's that politician and that 1%er all in one. Just one example of the resulting evil: the tax reforms he's already proposed would put millions more into his pockets and stack on more national debt.
Hillary is no better. Like Romney, she sold her political soul to the 1%ers long, long ago. African Americans should realize Hillary's 1st loyalty is to the 1%ers, who must approve movement of any assets to middle and lower income classes.
Only Bernie refuses to sell his political soul. He proposes reversing the decades long legal larceny from the middle and lower income class by the 1%ers via several methods -- provide: 1. 4 yrs of free public college education; 2. Medicare for all; 3. increased Social Security; 4. $15 minimum wage by 2020, etc. History teaches us that if political revolution does not work, violent revolution follows.
I choose Bernie's political revolution now, not a blowup later.
3
As usual, Romney - like all Republicans - is all talk and no clue. I'll give him credit for trying, at least.
But bottomline: Romney would rather see a Cruz or Rubio presidency than a Hillary presidency.
Think about that. "Carpet bomb them" is a war crime. Repealing obamacare is lunacy. As is the flat tax. All stuff Cruz has proposed.
Fanatic Christians making laws to force their religion onto everyone: No gay marriage, no abortion. Freeing Wall St from those pesky regulations that stop them from trashing the economy. Again. All stuff Rubio wants.
Romney would rather see either of these clowns in the most powerful office in history, than see Obama or Sanders or Hillary there. Despite their experience, judgment, and actual good ideas.
The Republicans are a defunct party. They created this mess, they are powerless to stop it, and they stil - Still! - cannot admit that maybe they are simply wrong about a few things. Pathetic. Absolute pathetic.
But bottomline: Romney would rather see a Cruz or Rubio presidency than a Hillary presidency.
Think about that. "Carpet bomb them" is a war crime. Repealing obamacare is lunacy. As is the flat tax. All stuff Cruz has proposed.
Fanatic Christians making laws to force their religion onto everyone: No gay marriage, no abortion. Freeing Wall St from those pesky regulations that stop them from trashing the economy. Again. All stuff Rubio wants.
Romney would rather see either of these clowns in the most powerful office in history, than see Obama or Sanders or Hillary there. Despite their experience, judgment, and actual good ideas.
The Republicans are a defunct party. They created this mess, they are powerless to stop it, and they stil - Still! - cannot admit that maybe they are simply wrong about a few things. Pathetic. Absolute pathetic.
3
Who cares what Mitt Romney says?
2
It seems to me that the decision Mitt Romney made to include a passage attacking Hillary Clinton -- and only Hillary Clinton -- was an ethical and rhetorical mistake. One understands that he is a Republican, and that he will oppose a Democratic nominee, but the attack on Clinton in a speech about Trump undermines and distorts the logic of his speech into the same argument made by Rubio and Cruz -- it's not about Trump's racism, xenophobia, and brutalism, it's about the tactical game of getting a Republican in the White House. I suppose it could be argued, and with some force, contrary to this analysis, that the urgency of deflecting remaining Republican primary voters justified an essentially partisan appeal, foregoing what I would have preferred--an appeal to more general national values.
The party of mudslingers is now using its mud against its own. There's a Shakespeare play here somewhere. There never was any policy among these conservatives- only the systematic lowering of the expectations of government to destroy. Democrats must use this as a teachable moment, the Trumpicide is in tune with the demonization of Obama and Clinton and are symptoms of a party with no interest in using our resources to serve we the people. With all three branches up in this election, may the Romney rant be held up for its absurdity as the death rattle of an agenda that scorched the very earth from which we need to grow.
The problem with the current crop of Republican presidential candidates is that Trump has become a metaphor of all the mistakes that were made by the previous Bush years. A bigger problem is that such metaphor is a summary of the well deserved accusations against Republican performance not only in the White House, but also in Congress. The current stalemate about replacing Justice Scalia is the latest example.
No one can destroy Trump unless they destroy his erratic positions one by one, giving the democrats enough ammunition to win the election based on its tradition to those positions. and doing so will accelerate the political hara-kiri of a Grand Old Party that will not be Grand or even a Party. Rubio, Cruz, Kasich ad even Romney look like the grieving family standing around watching the demise of their life long patriarch.
No one can destroy Trump unless they destroy his erratic positions one by one, giving the democrats enough ammunition to win the election based on its tradition to those positions. and doing so will accelerate the political hara-kiri of a Grand Old Party that will not be Grand or even a Party. Rubio, Cruz, Kasich ad even Romney look like the grieving family standing around watching the demise of their life long patriarch.
Are we living in the same world as the NYT Editorial Board?
Trump is a natural outgrowth of what the Republican establishment has become. There are a large number of people for whom the Democrat Party is not a viable option but which are ignored and overlooked by the Republican establishment. These people have reached the point where they do not see the current Republican establishment as a viable option either.
Trump has tapped into that base, and, at the end of the day, his tactics are no less objectionable that those the Republican establishment is using to try to unseat him. The Republican establishment totally fails to understand that people want a change, and that when they attack Trump, they are burnishing his image that he is the one who can bring a change.
Trump is sympathetic to the plight of the ignored and overlooked Republicans and is offering them the possibility that he will pay more attention to their needs and wishes and, at the same time, improve the country in ways that are meaningful to them.
This is, of course, threatening to the Republican establishment, because it means they will lose their power and influence. If Trump makes the Republican Party more appealing to larger numbers of people, that would be beneficial. Political parties do not belong to their established leaders. Like the government, they belong to the people they serve.
More important, government exists to serve the people, not to provide jobs for established political leaders.
Trump is a natural outgrowth of what the Republican establishment has become. There are a large number of people for whom the Democrat Party is not a viable option but which are ignored and overlooked by the Republican establishment. These people have reached the point where they do not see the current Republican establishment as a viable option either.
Trump has tapped into that base, and, at the end of the day, his tactics are no less objectionable that those the Republican establishment is using to try to unseat him. The Republican establishment totally fails to understand that people want a change, and that when they attack Trump, they are burnishing his image that he is the one who can bring a change.
Trump is sympathetic to the plight of the ignored and overlooked Republicans and is offering them the possibility that he will pay more attention to their needs and wishes and, at the same time, improve the country in ways that are meaningful to them.
This is, of course, threatening to the Republican establishment, because it means they will lose their power and influence. If Trump makes the Republican Party more appealing to larger numbers of people, that would be beneficial. Political parties do not belong to their established leaders. Like the government, they belong to the people they serve.
More important, government exists to serve the people, not to provide jobs for established political leaders.
Political parties gain influence by incorporating different coalitions within their group. The Republican Party is a loose coalition of (a) fiscal conservatives and those seeking favorable treatment for business interests and (b) social conservatives, religious zealots and racists. That is not, and never will be, a stable coalition. The fiscal conservatives are happy to take the votes of the social conservatives, as long as the fiscal conservatives get to pick the Presidential candidate. They are not willing to play the role of second string.
From 1916 to 1964, the Democratic Party faced a similar problem. They were a coalition of Northern Progressives and Southern social conservatives and racists. It was never a comfortable coalition. We way a young Minneapolis Mayor named Hubert Humphrey delight as Southern delegations march out of the 1948 convention. And in 1964, Lyndon Johnson accepted the notion that Democrats would lose the South for a generation when he signed open housing laws. So the Southern racists left the party.
The Republicans were pretty happy back then to accept their new wing of the party. The new voters gave them a chance to rule. But they want the votes without giving that wing a dominant voice. Good luck with that. Time for the Republicans to do a little soul searching.
From 1916 to 1964, the Democratic Party faced a similar problem. They were a coalition of Northern Progressives and Southern social conservatives and racists. It was never a comfortable coalition. We way a young Minneapolis Mayor named Hubert Humphrey delight as Southern delegations march out of the 1948 convention. And in 1964, Lyndon Johnson accepted the notion that Democrats would lose the South for a generation when he signed open housing laws. So the Southern racists left the party.
The Republicans were pretty happy back then to accept their new wing of the party. The new voters gave them a chance to rule. But they want the votes without giving that wing a dominant voice. Good luck with that. Time for the Republicans to do a little soul searching.
This editorial is long, long overdue. It's past time that people recognize that the Republican party is responsible for targeting, winding up and empowering the voting block that is now supporting Trump. That the party's response is to lash out at Trump for stating plainly what they have been promoting with slightly more subtlety is hypocrisy of the highest order. And what if they are successful in scaring voters away from him? That leads to Cruz as the nominee, an outcome far more frightening. Trump may be a bombastic, bullying egomaniac, but pragmatism is at least a concept he can comprehend. Cruz, the true believer, could reduce the earth to a cinder without ever losing that smug fake smile and the unshakable certainty of his convictions and rightness.
1
What exactly the Republican party nationally. These are the people who think compromise is a dirty word, they legislate by gpvernment shut downs, threats to default on the national debt, demand a greater military but refuse to raise any additional revenue forever, want government so small that it cannot limit corporate power, yet big enough to decide who can love whom and to police every pregnancy and to control; ever uterus in the nation while declaring that this is a Christian nation, and would privatize SS, voucherize and destroy Medicare, block grant Medicaid and repleal Obamacare so we can return to the wonderful days of prexeisting conditions to deny care and of course to break unions, keep wages low and build nothing and privatize everything.
For some time the Republican party has been a cancer hidden by conservative ideology and dog whistle politics. That cancer has now burst through for all to see thanks to Trump, Cruz and Rubio and dozens of failed candates. The would is open and starting to stick. Peroxide will not work and major surgery at the polls is feared and necessary.
For some time the Republican party has been a cancer hidden by conservative ideology and dog whistle politics. That cancer has now burst through for all to see thanks to Trump, Cruz and Rubio and dozens of failed candates. The would is open and starting to stick. Peroxide will not work and major surgery at the polls is feared and necessary.
1
As a lifelong liberal, I'm appalled and frightened by the entire GOP spectacle. It's a relief to see some of the staunchest conservatives, whose world view I generally abhor, beginning to disown Trump. While for most this may be a cynical calculation, I believe some Republicans fear for our country's future and are motivated by patriotism.
That's how I interpreted Romney's decision to speak out against Trump in such forceful, even shocking, terms. This is my first and no doubt last apologia for Romney, but I actually thought he was trying to be statesmanlike. He undercut himself disgracefully by incorporating a diatribe against Hillary into his remarks -- but in the context of the GOP circus and the inconceivable prospect of Trump as commander in chief, I'm willing to assume that Romney's motivations were more pure than not.
No matter, for the moment, that the conservative agenda is disastrous, that the remaining candidates are frightening in their own ways, and that the GOP's core constituents are voting against their own best interests along with everyone else's. It takes some courage to put country ahead of party loyalty. That's where I think Romney was ultimately coming from.
That's how I interpreted Romney's decision to speak out against Trump in such forceful, even shocking, terms. This is my first and no doubt last apologia for Romney, but I actually thought he was trying to be statesmanlike. He undercut himself disgracefully by incorporating a diatribe against Hillary into his remarks -- but in the context of the GOP circus and the inconceivable prospect of Trump as commander in chief, I'm willing to assume that Romney's motivations were more pure than not.
No matter, for the moment, that the conservative agenda is disastrous, that the remaining candidates are frightening in their own ways, and that the GOP's core constituents are voting against their own best interests along with everyone else's. It takes some courage to put country ahead of party loyalty. That's where I think Romney was ultimately coming from.
As a lifelong liberal, I'm appalled and frightened by the entire GOP spectacle. It's a relief to see some of the staunchest conservatives, whose worldview I generally abhor, beginning to disown Trump. While for most this may be a cynical calculation, I believe some Republicans fear for our country's future and are motivated by patriotism.
That's how I interpreted Romney's decision to speak out against Trump in such forceful, even shocking, terms. This is my first and no doubt last apologia for Romney, but I actually thought he was trying to be statesmanlike. He undercut himself disgracefully by incorporating a diatribe against Hillary into his remarks -- but in the context of the GOP circus and the inconceivable prospect of Trump as commander in chief, I'm willing to assume that Romney's motivations were more pure than not.
No matter, for the moment, that the conservative agenda is disastrous, that the remaining candidates are frightening in their own ways, and that the GOP's core constituents are voting against their own best interests along with everyone else's. It takes some courage to put country ahead of party loyalty. That's where I think Romney was ultimately coming from.
That's how I interpreted Romney's decision to speak out against Trump in such forceful, even shocking, terms. This is my first and no doubt last apologia for Romney, but I actually thought he was trying to be statesmanlike. He undercut himself disgracefully by incorporating a diatribe against Hillary into his remarks -- but in the context of the GOP circus and the inconceivable prospect of Trump as commander in chief, I'm willing to assume that Romney's motivations were more pure than not.
No matter, for the moment, that the conservative agenda is disastrous, that the remaining candidates are frightening in their own ways, and that the GOP's core constituents are voting against their own best interests along with everyone else's. It takes some courage to put country ahead of party loyalty. That's where I think Romney was ultimately coming from.
The Trump "surge" is not all that difficult to explain. The GOP moderates, especially in the Northeastern and Midwestern suburbs, have all quietly left the party over the past 10 years, leaving only the far right, Southern-based, Tea Party wing of the party remaining in the GOP primary electorate.
Then you add in the multiplicity of candidates and, voila, to get the nomination Trump only needs to win one-third of the remaining 30% of total voters who, according to Gallup, still consider themselves to be Republicans. Effectively, it is only 10-15% of the total electorate that is responsible for the Trump "surge".
Then you add in the multiplicity of candidates and, voila, to get the nomination Trump only needs to win one-third of the remaining 30% of total voters who, according to Gallup, still consider themselves to be Republicans. Effectively, it is only 10-15% of the total electorate that is responsible for the Trump "surge".
2
This would be hilarious if it were not so pathetic and disgraceful.
On the Rep side we have dysfunction galore as party money men run around trying to get Trump out on the premise that he is a "fraud" but really he is just someone they can't control which is the worse sin of all. The hypocrisy in Mitt's ridiculous speech is dumbfounding and equally baffling is why does he think any of us really care what he thinks? These are all millionaires talking to each other in their own echo chamber and furthermore they act like owners of the country which reveals the awful truth that the 1% do run this country and these elections are a sham.
On the Dem side it appears the winner will be a woman who used political office to rake in over $100 million with her spouse. This is really the Dem party that looks out for poor people and minorities? Sanders is an outsider so in reality the Dem party could not find one other reasonable candidate in a country of over 300 million people and they have worked their best to kill him. It's massively cynical and shameful.
The American people have been let down by both parties beyond words because the parties are owned by the 1% and they want to control the POTUS office at all costs. The presidential race is where all the cockroaches are visible from both parties and we see there is a lot of them.
If Bloomberg or someone reasonable runs as an Independent I will vote for him/her.
On the Rep side we have dysfunction galore as party money men run around trying to get Trump out on the premise that he is a "fraud" but really he is just someone they can't control which is the worse sin of all. The hypocrisy in Mitt's ridiculous speech is dumbfounding and equally baffling is why does he think any of us really care what he thinks? These are all millionaires talking to each other in their own echo chamber and furthermore they act like owners of the country which reveals the awful truth that the 1% do run this country and these elections are a sham.
On the Dem side it appears the winner will be a woman who used political office to rake in over $100 million with her spouse. This is really the Dem party that looks out for poor people and minorities? Sanders is an outsider so in reality the Dem party could not find one other reasonable candidate in a country of over 300 million people and they have worked their best to kill him. It's massively cynical and shameful.
The American people have been let down by both parties beyond words because the parties are owned by the 1% and they want to control the POTUS office at all costs. The presidential race is where all the cockroaches are visible from both parties and we see there is a lot of them.
If Bloomberg or someone reasonable runs as an Independent I will vote for him/her.
4
Blomberg is, I think, in the top 10 of richest people in the US, if not the world. That makes him in the .0001%. What makes you think that he would be more "reasonable" or sensitive to the needs of the middle class?
Romney says:
1. A lot of people immigrate here illegally for economic reasons.
2. Employers exploit these people by hiring them and paying them substandard wages and/or making them work in substandard conditions.
3. Romney proposes, not building a wall, but enforcing our current employment law, so these unethical employers will hire American citizens.
4. Romney points out that many economic migrants will return to their country of origin if employers stop hiring them. He succinctly refers to this a self-deportation.
For the life of me, I don't understand why forcing employers to hire American citizens is xenophobic, as the Times editorial states.
1. A lot of people immigrate here illegally for economic reasons.
2. Employers exploit these people by hiring them and paying them substandard wages and/or making them work in substandard conditions.
3. Romney proposes, not building a wall, but enforcing our current employment law, so these unethical employers will hire American citizens.
4. Romney points out that many economic migrants will return to their country of origin if employers stop hiring them. He succinctly refers to this a self-deportation.
For the life of me, I don't understand why forcing employers to hire American citizens is xenophobic, as the Times editorial states.
2
The problem, Brian, is that Romney is asking his fellow businessmen, pretty much Republicans all, to act against their self-interest. Now the GOP, with their racist dog-whistles and class warfare fully expect their low-information voters to do exactly that, but you can bet your proverbial bottom dollar that the business elite are never going to do that. The business community is only too happy to hire cheap labor and suppress wage growth.
The xenophobia part of the GOP pitch is how they rope in and rein the lower and middle class whites -- the "Others" are taking your jobs away. Just like the Black "Others", lazy and unwilling to work, are living off your tax dollars.
The xenophobia part of the GOP pitch is how they rope in and rein the lower and middle class whites -- the "Others" are taking your jobs away. Just like the Black "Others", lazy and unwilling to work, are living off your tax dollars.
I am looking forward to the result of the Utah Republican caucus on March 22 and then the convention on April 23. Mr. Trump is popular here, as he is everywhere. If he is the choice of Utah Republicans, Mr. Romney will then know even his religious affiliation is useless now in the face of the Republican Party's angry voters.
I, too, loved the irony in Mr. Romney speech. Calling for publishing tax returns, criticizing the bankruptcies, rebuking the lies. Has the man no self-awareness?
I, too, loved the irony in Mr. Romney speech. Calling for publishing tax returns, criticizing the bankruptcies, rebuking the lies. Has the man no self-awareness?
15
It's not a problem the republicans fostered. They exploited it, but we have all those angry and disaffected people because our society has let down a lot of its members. And they aren't going away
5
Mitt Romney and his ilk are modern-day Victor Frankensteins, looking on the "vile insect" they've created and wondering how things could possibly have gone so horribly wrong.
You just have to laugh.
You just have to laugh.
147
They both have tons of money but when it comes to political capital they as well as their party are dead broke
3
Where was Romney when Trump was lying about President Obama's place of birth and his religion? Where were other Republicans when Trump was peddling his disgusting lies about President Obama. Well, the chickens have come home to roost in the rotting, fetid body of the Republican Party. The former Party of Lincoln is now the Party of Trump. Romney and others are responsible for the death rattle we now hear as Trump ascends.
7
I wonder how many can see that Romney's takedown mimicked elements of John Oliver's February 28th show (the Drumpf episode), both in content and ferocity.
Oliver's show was better, though: funnier, less sneering, more pointed, with a humane acknowledgement of DT's current supporters' feelings.
Oliver's show was better, though: funnier, less sneering, more pointed, with a humane acknowledgement of DT's current supporters' feelings.
2
It is certainly cynical of Mitt Romney to lay out all of Mr. Trump's failings, but then not endorse anyone else in the desperate hope that this will all get pushed into the convention where the party will turn to him as its savior. Romney doesn't get better with age. We might disagree with Trump on a lot of things, but his characterization of Romney is spot on.
6
I do find solace in the broad spectrum of lucid editorials and blunt words from both pundits and politicians, who are speaking clearly alarmed at what Trump represents, and what Trump's ascent says about what has happened -- is happening -- to the GOP.
But I am waiting for the editorial or leader who goes that one necessary step further. This is not really about Trump. This is also not really about the GOP. What is happening, the scale of it and its viciousness, cannot happen simply because one man has decided to go full Mussolini, nor can it happen simply because one political party has played too dangerous a game for too long.
I am waiting for the editorial or leader who lucidly and bluntly testifies that something much broader is afoot, something beyond Trump, and something beyond Party politics. There is a cancer on the body politic, and these troubles with Trump and these troubles of kingmakers, are merely symptoms, not the sickness itself.
I am waiting to see if anyone has that fearless a vision, so fearless they can hold up that mirror, to all of us.
So ask not for whom the rabble rouses; it rouses for thee.
But I am waiting for the editorial or leader who goes that one necessary step further. This is not really about Trump. This is also not really about the GOP. What is happening, the scale of it and its viciousness, cannot happen simply because one man has decided to go full Mussolini, nor can it happen simply because one political party has played too dangerous a game for too long.
I am waiting for the editorial or leader who lucidly and bluntly testifies that something much broader is afoot, something beyond Trump, and something beyond Party politics. There is a cancer on the body politic, and these troubles with Trump and these troubles of kingmakers, are merely symptoms, not the sickness itself.
I am waiting to see if anyone has that fearless a vision, so fearless they can hold up that mirror, to all of us.
So ask not for whom the rabble rouses; it rouses for thee.
3
It is really about money. That is who is going get the more and who is going to get the lest. The rest is just a cover.
3
So right pjc, and what I see, underneath the bigotry-rousing, is the roar of an economic class war that is long overdue.
2
Bernie Sanders
1
The Whigs disappeared to be replaced by the Republicans, during Lincoln's lifetime. Now the GOP is doing the same.
It has self-destructed. And Mitch McConnell will go down in history as the "leader" of the disappeared party. Just what he deserves. Ignominy.
It has self-destructed. And Mitch McConnell will go down in history as the "leader" of the disappeared party. Just what he deserves. Ignominy.
4
"Some were Bush administration officials who supported some of the worst foreign policy disasters this country has ever experienced, including the Iraq war."
Many more people than Bush administration officials supported going into Iraq, including the NY Times.
Instead of driving a deeper wedge between people in this country supporters of the Democratic party might do better by trying to build bridges, however small. Remember that some recent polls show that perhaps 20% of Democrats may switch and support Trump if Sanders loses the ticket.
Many more people than Bush administration officials supported going into Iraq, including the NY Times.
Instead of driving a deeper wedge between people in this country supporters of the Democratic party might do better by trying to build bridges, however small. Remember that some recent polls show that perhaps 20% of Democrats may switch and support Trump if Sanders loses the ticket.
3
I still don't understand the difference between Trump and the other Republicans. HIs policy proposals (taxes, immigration, race) is not that different. It seems primarily to be that he's more rude, and through insult and vulgarity he's found a more effective way to campaign. This is not a significant difference--he can obviously turn his rudeness off and on as needed. Perhaps the most significant difference is that his vocabulary and sentence structure is pitched to the second grade level, rather than the sixth grade level of the other Republican candidates. This is offensive to people like Mr. Romney, who doesn't want people to forget that he went to Harvard Business School.
3
The difference is that he is not a bought and paid for puppet for his donors.
Trump shills for no one.
The other significant difference is he has the confidence to call the ME a mess that our Establishment made and we the people paid for. The War Party is apoplectic about that alone.
No shill for the Party Establishment has the courage to tell the truth.
Trump shills for no one.
The other significant difference is he has the confidence to call the ME a mess that our Establishment made and we the people paid for. The War Party is apoplectic about that alone.
No shill for the Party Establishment has the courage to tell the truth.
1
Republicans have dirt on their face but they are trying to clean the mirror to wipe their image
4
Much of the Republican constituency has been played for a fool for far too long. It is critical to foster the ideas that could allow some of their outrage at the Republican establishment's betrayal to be channeled productively. Obama, and Hillary Clinton will someday be viewed as transitional Presidents through a chaotic era. Let's figure out how to make someday get here a bit faster. Just calling names and gleefully watching the meltdown is not enough.
Democratic party policy leaders: Just because Mitt Romney (and his ilk) are utterly incapable of auto-critique does not mean YOU are the masters of it. Some introspection about your own loss of working class allegiance--yes I know Republican propaganda is partly to blame--would be instructive.
Democratic party policy leaders: Just because Mitt Romney (and his ilk) are utterly incapable of auto-critique does not mean YOU are the masters of it. Some introspection about your own loss of working class allegiance--yes I know Republican propaganda is partly to blame--would be instructive.
2
Republicans have been tooting dog whistles for decades. Trump just lowered the pitch enough that normal people can now hear it.
5
I for one love what Trump has done to the GOP he is just what the party deserves. I sincerely hope he gets the GOP nomination and leads the party to a ashen fiery pit of doom at the end of it all.
The GOP breaking up into several parties has been long overdue IMO.
The GOP breaking up into several parties has been long overdue IMO.
6
McCain said, "I'm with Mitt on Trump". He also voiced concerns about Trump's uninformed and dangerous views on national security. It does not getter better that this considering that his vice-presidential choice was Sarah Palin.
16
I think McCain holds a lot of responsibility for this problem. He gave a huge voice to these awful GOP policies of attack and hate by nominating Sarah Palin as his vice president.
2
It is amazing to me that the people in the Republican party coming out against Trump are exactly the people making voters seek an outsider candidate. Romney ran as a business man who wanted to repeal Obamacare yet couldn't articulate why Romneycare was okay. Every time someone points out how much Republicans hate Ted Cruz, I am reminded of how much they hate Romney. Every time someone refers to Marco Rubio as "Bubble boy" or a light weight, I am reminded of Dan Quayle. Rubio and other Republicans have been reading from scripts and talking points for years. This is the party that shut down the government, got the U.S. credit rating down graded and tells the American people that Scalia's seat on the Supreme Court should remain empty for a year. They are responsible for out do-nothing congress. The party that has bullied the American people is not effective speaking out against Trump, who has the advantage of at least not being the bully who's already taken our lunch money.
9
Delightful to read this analysis of Mr. Romney's hypocrisy. He accuses Trump? He gushed over Trump's endorsement of his candidacy 4 years ago. Now, some miracle has wakened Romney to the depravity of Trump's hatred, his racism, sexism, xenophobic cruelty. Where was Mitt when Trump was savaging Obama over purported "birther" racism?
Trump is not an aberration within the Republican Party, he is the epitome of the vile cynicism and exploitation of base instincts that Republicans need to survive. Now they are trying to wrestle the Presidency from Trump and give it to Rubio, Cruz? How stupid is the electorate? Save us from the wild Boar, Trump, by choosing a toady for the Koch's or a snake pretending "evangelical" motives? Truly sickening. Oh, maybe the voters will go for Mitt? No, too late they have been become a blood thirsty mob. The Republican party is so out of touch that they think Romney, the most out of touch, "47% taker" can be a voice of reason?
Repudiate Ryan and McConnell, hold hearings on Obama's SCOTUS nomination, compromise on a comprehensive immigration reform, raise taxes on the rich, on off shore profits, end tax incentives for fossil fuels now or stick with the monster Trump, Republicans. He is your Golem.
Trump is not an aberration within the Republican Party, he is the epitome of the vile cynicism and exploitation of base instincts that Republicans need to survive. Now they are trying to wrestle the Presidency from Trump and give it to Rubio, Cruz? How stupid is the electorate? Save us from the wild Boar, Trump, by choosing a toady for the Koch's or a snake pretending "evangelical" motives? Truly sickening. Oh, maybe the voters will go for Mitt? No, too late they have been become a blood thirsty mob. The Republican party is so out of touch that they think Romney, the most out of touch, "47% taker" can be a voice of reason?
Repudiate Ryan and McConnell, hold hearings on Obama's SCOTUS nomination, compromise on a comprehensive immigration reform, raise taxes on the rich, on off shore profits, end tax incentives for fossil fuels now or stick with the monster Trump, Republicans. He is your Golem.
6
Dusting off the Mitt corpse and trotting him out as some sort of symbol of Republican party sensibility was stupendous in its stupidity and illustrates just how out of touch they really are. If they get even one vote in November, it would be a surprise.
38
I feel badly for Trump supporters.
They were told to support Republicans who would:
> repeal Obamacare
> balance the budget
> stop illegal immigration
> slow (or reverse) social change
> make American stronger
Trump supporters dutifully checked the boxes for Republicans and none of these things happened.
What did happen, beyond the international chaos sparked by our disastrous invasion of Iraq, is that the American working and middle classes declined as the wages of workers in rest of the world (China, India, Vietnam, etc) shot up. The American 1% did quite nicely, too.
So now Trump, who says he cannot be bought, promises a better way. There is literally nothing to it, beyond his puffery and posturing, but at least he is, to them, different. He speaks to their angry belief that that no one has actually been doing anything for them for decades.
Whatever the fate of Trump, it is hard to see how the Republican elite will be able to put the angry genie back in the bottle.
They were told to support Republicans who would:
> repeal Obamacare
> balance the budget
> stop illegal immigration
> slow (or reverse) social change
> make American stronger
Trump supporters dutifully checked the boxes for Republicans and none of these things happened.
What did happen, beyond the international chaos sparked by our disastrous invasion of Iraq, is that the American working and middle classes declined as the wages of workers in rest of the world (China, India, Vietnam, etc) shot up. The American 1% did quite nicely, too.
So now Trump, who says he cannot be bought, promises a better way. There is literally nothing to it, beyond his puffery and posturing, but at least he is, to them, different. He speaks to their angry belief that that no one has actually been doing anything for them for decades.
Whatever the fate of Trump, it is hard to see how the Republican elite will be able to put the angry genie back in the bottle.
99
It's too bad that Republicans are so fearful of change or anything "different" that they'd believe the lies of their leaders. But that's what happens with an uneducated, ill-informed populace who is fed a steady diet of "buy this, buy that!" instead of learning about what is really valuable in life--the importance of community, of connection, of the Golden Rule.
Bravo.... and nearly all of it true.... But Mitt, you couldn't stop there. Still had to load up on Hillary with the kinds of tired smears that you party uses in place of reason.
In order to fling it you need to be up to your elbows in it. Funny how the stench is choking your party.
But as Hillary says, let's replace hate with love.... do that and the Donnie problem takes care of itself, and America can start to heal and progress.
But, my fellow Americans, let's take heed. If Mitt has started the beginning of the end of the serious and deadly mistake that is Donnie, then we all owe him our gratitude. Remember, our young people will be dying in the wars and terrorism he spawns.
I don't know what sewer he was born in but of this I'm sure, Donnie IS NOT AN AMERICAN !
In order to fling it you need to be up to your elbows in it. Funny how the stench is choking your party.
But as Hillary says, let's replace hate with love.... do that and the Donnie problem takes care of itself, and America can start to heal and progress.
But, my fellow Americans, let's take heed. If Mitt has started the beginning of the end of the serious and deadly mistake that is Donnie, then we all owe him our gratitude. Remember, our young people will be dying in the wars and terrorism he spawns.
I don't know what sewer he was born in but of this I'm sure, Donnie IS NOT AN AMERICAN !
20
Give me a break e, the Republican Party has already gotten us into unjust and illegal wars. They have already brought death and misery to our country. They have ruined us financially. The country is broken and divided thanks to them. If anything the Donald may actually be a better president than his republican predecessors.
1
Hillary.... love???? Yeah, Right, OK, Yup
1
The day of reckoning has come for the Republican Party. How are republican politicians any different than Trump when one of them called Obama a liar during his State of the Union speech, they have constantly obstructed his policies, and they refuse to vet his nominee to the Supreme Court. This is the aftermath of the creation of the Tea Party by the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson and their ilk. The civil war with the Republican Party was expected to happen.
106
The whole edifice of Republican oligarchy is threatened by Trump. Sending the Mittster out to attempt to restore order just made it clear to the public that there's nothing going on here other than a mafia war. But it's probably too late to try to send the hit-men to the mattresses -- they're all feeble old grifters, their dentures in the glass on the sink, suddenly getting ready to gum each other .. to death?
When the Mittster, vulture capitalist, starts lecturing about 'greed' you know exactly what the GOP is about.
When the Mittster, vulture capitalist, starts lecturing about 'greed' you know exactly what the GOP is about.
2
NYT Editors, very circumspect - and for you all, surprising.
Kudos.
Let's do a tweet-test, though, before we jump in with both feet.
Put this out, there, and see if TheDonald retweets it:
"...a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character...
I think he would.
Like he said - everything is negotiable.
Or - you could ask him...off the record.
;=)
Kudos.
Let's do a tweet-test, though, before we jump in with both feet.
Put this out, there, and see if TheDonald retweets it:
"...a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character...
I think he would.
Like he said - everything is negotiable.
Or - you could ask him...off the record.
;=)
3
What the GOP establishment finds objectionable about Trump is his refusal to adopt to their traditional bait n switch tactics.
Romney got burned by his comments about the "losers" who were certain not vote for him. You are supposed to speak nicely in campaigns--the bait--switching only after the election. That way you can get away with much more--hiding all the 1% in your inside pockets.
Romney got burned by his comments about the "losers" who were certain not vote for him. You are supposed to speak nicely in campaigns--the bait--switching only after the election. That way you can get away with much more--hiding all the 1% in your inside pockets.
23
Romney made only one good brilliant point in his speech..............
Recognizing the traditional Republican angst and the anger being stoked by Trump, he said, paraphrasing...........we should forge anger into good.
The only good thing Trump ever conveyed was the idea of stopping the bleeding of America's economy and manufacturing.
I noted that Romney said you cannot force Companies to return. But I say, Romney made his money in part on the import of foreign made goods citing sales at Staples and possible Bain investments.
All in All, knowing more about Trump now, I really fear him. He alluded to the idea that Romney might have gotten on his knees to beg him for recognition. This truly alarmed me as a sign of an emerging despot.
Trump is a Television man being pushed on us by lots of free airtime on Television. N.B.C. has a record of dabbling in politics, most notably when Jay Leno launched Arnold Swarzennegars political career and called the 1980 election for Reagan long before the West Coast polls closed. At the Time, N.B.C. was accused of tilting the election.
Television already rules millions of minds. Will they rule our nation?
Television wins all elections.
I'm not watching the circus show presented as a debate. I'm boycotting most Television. I'll read about the debate here. I love the fact checking. Thanks.
Recognizing the traditional Republican angst and the anger being stoked by Trump, he said, paraphrasing...........we should forge anger into good.
The only good thing Trump ever conveyed was the idea of stopping the bleeding of America's economy and manufacturing.
I noted that Romney said you cannot force Companies to return. But I say, Romney made his money in part on the import of foreign made goods citing sales at Staples and possible Bain investments.
All in All, knowing more about Trump now, I really fear him. He alluded to the idea that Romney might have gotten on his knees to beg him for recognition. This truly alarmed me as a sign of an emerging despot.
Trump is a Television man being pushed on us by lots of free airtime on Television. N.B.C. has a record of dabbling in politics, most notably when Jay Leno launched Arnold Swarzennegars political career and called the 1980 election for Reagan long before the West Coast polls closed. At the Time, N.B.C. was accused of tilting the election.
Television already rules millions of minds. Will they rule our nation?
Television wins all elections.
I'm not watching the circus show presented as a debate. I'm boycotting most Television. I'll read about the debate here. I love the fact checking. Thanks.
10
Why would you fear him pat? At least Trump can change his mind and not be frightened by ridiculous blowback from the ideological rigid right. He said as much last night. I can't remember the exact phrasing but it amounted to why stay on a path if it turns out to be the wrong path. The more people dump on him the more I like him. And I have never been a Trump fan.
1
Mitt just wants the GOP to turn to him in desperation.
28
It's a beautiful thing, to watch the self-immolation of the Republican Party.
42
'It's a beautiful thing, to watch the self-immolation of the Republican Party.'
You may not say that when you see what inevitably takes its place. Politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum. And one-party rule, to put it mildly, rarely works out well; a healthy body politic needs a 'loyal opposition', a counterpoise to the rulers - whichever party it may be - to force them to think. (Consider Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia sharpening their arguments by answering each other.)
What you should be wishing for, rather than ugly and juvenile gloating, is for a moderate, thoughtful, sane 'conservative' party. Democracy generally shakes down to two major parties, the 'left' and the 'right'; if one implodes, another along the same lines will arise to replace it. And Trump has stirred up the muck on the bottom. In the Bible, an Israelite king tells his subjects, 'my father chastised you with whips; but I will chastise you with scorpions'. Trump's supporters are stirred up now, and with or without him they'll be on the march. I foresee scorpions, and the day is nigh when you'll sigh nostalgically for the whips.
You may not say that when you see what inevitably takes its place. Politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum. And one-party rule, to put it mildly, rarely works out well; a healthy body politic needs a 'loyal opposition', a counterpoise to the rulers - whichever party it may be - to force them to think. (Consider Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia sharpening their arguments by answering each other.)
What you should be wishing for, rather than ugly and juvenile gloating, is for a moderate, thoughtful, sane 'conservative' party. Democracy generally shakes down to two major parties, the 'left' and the 'right'; if one implodes, another along the same lines will arise to replace it. And Trump has stirred up the muck on the bottom. In the Bible, an Israelite king tells his subjects, 'my father chastised you with whips; but I will chastise you with scorpions'. Trump's supporters are stirred up now, and with or without him they'll be on the march. I foresee scorpions, and the day is nigh when you'll sigh nostalgically for the whips.
Well put. I would only add that none of what any of these people say or what they will pay to be said will have the slightest impact on what is occurring now with Mr. Trump, if anything it will only help him.
Why should anyone listen to anything they say? Where were they when the country was plunged into war, into recession, into engineered government shutdowns and legislative sabotage? Answer: They were aiding and abetting all of the above, for their own personal and political gain. And they still are. In this regard, Mr. Trump, for all of his faults, stands apart from them.
Why should anyone listen to anything they say? Where were they when the country was plunged into war, into recession, into engineered government shutdowns and legislative sabotage? Answer: They were aiding and abetting all of the above, for their own personal and political gain. And they still are. In this regard, Mr. Trump, for all of his faults, stands apart from them.
47
At least the Republicans are beginning to realize that extremism in the pursuit of political power really can be a vice rather than a sign of great machismo. But, they have to do more than just say that Trump is talking nonsense to turn around Trump's supporters. Trump's talk resonates with his supporters, that means that it sounds like what they think. They are going to have to convince Trump's supporters that the Republican Party will not just cut taxes and shrink government and threaten foes with a big military, they are going to have to explain why their simplistic solutions are different from Trump's. That will not be easy because the real solutions are not simplistic, cannot be fixed by cutting taxes and shrinking government, nor by trying to scare the heck out of terrorists by promising to send more of them to heaven where they will be welcomed by 70 virgins.
25
"they are going to have to explain why their simplistic solutions are different from Trump's. "
In some - though certainly not all - themes, Trump leans more towards Democratic positions than Republican. He has, for example, opined that we should not permit people to be dying on the streets.
I don't believe the GOP is actually upset about Trump's xenophobia, misogyny, or racism. Rather, they are unhappy that he is using those key components of the GOP toolbox to promote positions less hateful than their own.
...Andrew
In some - though certainly not all - themes, Trump leans more towards Democratic positions than Republican. He has, for example, opined that we should not permit people to be dying on the streets.
I don't believe the GOP is actually upset about Trump's xenophobia, misogyny, or racism. Rather, they are unhappy that he is using those key components of the GOP toolbox to promote positions less hateful than their own.
...Andrew
1
Dude, who wrote that thing? Lady Mary Crawley? Meow. And Bravo!
7
The Republican party has been a sick, dysfunctional body for a long time. Denying reality and living within a narrative of its own creation, it cannot really participate in national governance and it cannot recognize its own illness. Donald Trump is the opportunistic infection that comes in the terminal phase. A weak bacteria that normally lives innocuously in the colon suddenly becomes a pathogen when the body is so weakened. It is political sepsis we are witnessing. I hope we have the strength as a nation to resist but it will require some painful soul searching on the parts of many who seem to have lost their souls.
79
Well just brilliant, Bob. I will remember this analogy for a LONG time. And I don't think Romney is the antibiotic needed. The scary question is, what kind of experimental "cures" will they deploy at the convention?
Let's add the irony of Republicans grinding government to a screeching halt and then being shocked when people lose faith both in government and with those establishment figures charged with making it work.
75
Let's be perfectly clear, here.
There are credible reports that Lord Romney's speech today--far from being any sort of high-minded call to heed some sort of higher calling or angels--was a calculated move designed to lead to a brokered convention--where the Donald would be cast aside and a "white knight" (t.b.d.) would fly into the breech, rescuing the party and the nation for...um...I don't know exactly--shall we guess and say the beneficiaries of the status quo?
A scenario that--according the more than one Romney confidant--envisioned the curtain coming up in Cleveland this summer--revealing---TA-DAH--the knight in shining armor to be Mitt the Magnificent.
Really, it would be farcical--if it wasn't so frightening.
The founders clearly envisioned and designed a two-party system.
Granted, the Democrats survived McGovern--and the Republicans survived Goldwater.
Having lived through both, though, I have to say this seems worse.
A lot worse.
There are credible reports that Lord Romney's speech today--far from being any sort of high-minded call to heed some sort of higher calling or angels--was a calculated move designed to lead to a brokered convention--where the Donald would be cast aside and a "white knight" (t.b.d.) would fly into the breech, rescuing the party and the nation for...um...I don't know exactly--shall we guess and say the beneficiaries of the status quo?
A scenario that--according the more than one Romney confidant--envisioned the curtain coming up in Cleveland this summer--revealing---TA-DAH--the knight in shining armor to be Mitt the Magnificent.
Really, it would be farcical--if it wasn't so frightening.
The founders clearly envisioned and designed a two-party system.
Granted, the Democrats survived McGovern--and the Republicans survived Goldwater.
Having lived through both, though, I have to say this seems worse.
A lot worse.
66
The funny thing is, I predicted this six months ago.
6
'The founders clearly envisioned and designed a two-party system.'
No, they did absolutely no such thing. If you actually read the Constitution you'll find no provision in it for parties, whether two or two thousand. In fact, they initially wanted to avoid 'faction' and were so far from envisioning a party system that, if you read the original design of Article II Section 1 (electing the executive), they provided for the Electoral College to appoint the top vote-getter president, and the runner-up - who would almost certainly be of a different party - as VP. What a hoot that would have been - Pres Nixon and VP McGovern, Pres LBJ and VP Goldwater - not to mention an incentive to any nut with a gun who voted for the loser to 'set things right' by casting a vote with lead.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
Of course, times have changed. The electorate is far larger and definitely more diverse than the founders envisioned, when they figured the franchise would be confined pretty much to people like themselves, a small group of educated men who would paternalistically sit down, reason together, and decide what was best for the country as a whole.
No, they did absolutely no such thing. If you actually read the Constitution you'll find no provision in it for parties, whether two or two thousand. In fact, they initially wanted to avoid 'faction' and were so far from envisioning a party system that, if you read the original design of Article II Section 1 (electing the executive), they provided for the Electoral College to appoint the top vote-getter president, and the runner-up - who would almost certainly be of a different party - as VP. What a hoot that would have been - Pres Nixon and VP McGovern, Pres LBJ and VP Goldwater - not to mention an incentive to any nut with a gun who voted for the loser to 'set things right' by casting a vote with lead.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
Of course, times have changed. The electorate is far larger and definitely more diverse than the founders envisioned, when they figured the franchise would be confined pretty much to people like themselves, a small group of educated men who would paternalistically sit down, reason together, and decide what was best for the country as a whole.
2
Yes, it is worse. In the past, neither party was unveiled for the horrible monster the GOP has become. They are a zombie party, devoid of ideas, devoid of self-reflection, authoritarian, and calcified by doctrine.
1
The dirt is on Republican face but they are trying to clean the mirror not their face
97
Trump is the logical end of the GOP's longtime Southern Strategy. Why are the party elders so surprised?
91
Donald Trump's contributions to the Clintons should cause Democrats to stop and think about their attempts to anoint Mrs. Clinton as the standard bearer for the party, notwithstanding the "hatred" for Donald Trump by the Democratic establishment.
With Donald and Hillary as the standard bearers for their parties, the American voters would be offered a repulsive choice between Charybdis and Scylla. More on Charybdis and Scylla here: http://www.britannica.com/topic/Scylla-and-Charybdis .
With Donald and Hillary as the standard bearers for their parties, the American voters would be offered a repulsive choice between Charybdis and Scylla. More on Charybdis and Scylla here: http://www.britannica.com/topic/Scylla-and-Charybdis .
12
Absolutely! Trump and Hillary - when you peel back the rhetoric - aren't that far apart. They will both charge boldly in to war, back Planned Parenthood, support Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and some sort of insurance driven health care. Both are filthy rich AND they party together with Wall Street. They are from the same class, folks.
I don't think either of them means a quarter of what they say. Only Trump really is against the TPP. Hillary will be until she is elected.
I don't think either of them means a quarter of what they say. Only Trump really is against the TPP. Hillary will be until she is elected.
1
I understand you might not like Hillary or her policies, but there is no comparison between the two. The Donald is a racist who terrifies and insults entire demographics. He cannot lead all of America. He is emotionally unstable and becomes unhinged at the slightest criticism. I can go on and on. He has more in common with Kim Jong-un than HRC.
"At one point, Mr. Romney said: “Mr. Trump is directing our anger for less than noble purposes. He creates scapegoats of Muslims and Mexican immigrants” — with absolutely no sense of self-awareness. Mr. Romney himself played to the worst kind of xenophobia when he proposed getting rid of 11 million undocumented immigrants by forcing them to “self-deport.” He also listed Mr. Trump’s offenses — “the bullying, the greed, the showing off, the misogyny, the absurd third-grade theatrics.” Did Mr. Romney have any sense of irony when he said those words? For far too long, they could have been used to describe many in his party: legislators, congressional leadership, its policy makers."
Everything in this editorial is pointedly correct. The GOP is in every regard the party of the far right. They represent everything that is wrong with America from just below the radar racism, to hatred of minorities. The GOP helped elect George Bush who is perhaps the worst president in history. He took us into a war which had catastrophic consequences for the middle east. They deny climate change, the validity of the Iran deal, etc., etc. Trump is only a part of this story, one which has tarnished the image of our nation. Misogyny is only one part of this equation. The rights of a woman to have an abortion are challenged even in the case, for Mr Rubio, of rape or incest. I could go on.
Everything in this editorial is pointedly correct. The GOP is in every regard the party of the far right. They represent everything that is wrong with America from just below the radar racism, to hatred of minorities. The GOP helped elect George Bush who is perhaps the worst president in history. He took us into a war which had catastrophic consequences for the middle east. They deny climate change, the validity of the Iran deal, etc., etc. Trump is only a part of this story, one which has tarnished the image of our nation. Misogyny is only one part of this equation. The rights of a woman to have an abortion are challenged even in the case, for Mr Rubio, of rape or incest. I could go on.
65
And Cruz pledges to take us out of the Iran deal on his first day in office, a move which would make our word mud on the world stage, anger our allies, and leave us isolated changing nothing of the actual situation.
Let's hope the GOP crisis does not become the nation's crisis and then a major world crisis.
Let's hope the GOP crisis does not become the nation's crisis and then a major world crisis.
71
This editorial doesn't say one word about jobs.
It doesn't remember the video showing the workers who'd built a stage at a company Romney took over. Who were then told the company was closing and they'd all been fired.
Trump talks about jobs being lost, companies closing, manufacturing shipped overseas.
But even Trump is now calling for an increase in H1B visas for highly skilled workers. The type of visa that led to the layoff of Disney workers who were required to train their cheaper replacements.
Until the Republican party, the Democratic party, and the media repudiate the policies that have hammered and destroyed this country's middle class as its hopes, Trump supporters will not listen.
It doesn't remember the video showing the workers who'd built a stage at a company Romney took over. Who were then told the company was closing and they'd all been fired.
Trump talks about jobs being lost, companies closing, manufacturing shipped overseas.
But even Trump is now calling for an increase in H1B visas for highly skilled workers. The type of visa that led to the layoff of Disney workers who were required to train their cheaper replacements.
Until the Republican party, the Democratic party, and the media repudiate the policies that have hammered and destroyed this country's middle class as its hopes, Trump supporters will not listen.
56
"Mr. Cruz is probably more extreme than Mr. Trump, and Mr. Rubio is hardly different."
Well said. These other guys just use smoother rhetoric.
Cruz uses his TV-evangelist persona and Mario his 'boyishly likable' routine.
If the GOP dislikes Trump it's because they think he is not conservative enough. They have said as much repeatedly.
Well said. These other guys just use smoother rhetoric.
Cruz uses his TV-evangelist persona and Mario his 'boyishly likable' routine.
If the GOP dislikes Trump it's because they think he is not conservative enough. They have said as much repeatedly.
61
I think the GOP doesn't like Trump because he is not malleable enough. They fear their owners, the Kochs, won't be able to direct him to serve their nefarious ends. Rubio, on the other hand, will do anything he is told.
2
What is the connection between the GOP and the Tea Party people? To me, Trump is a Tea Party candidate. He is running against the GOP establishment as much as against the Democrats. He is like the guy who knocked off Eric Cantor here in Virginia in that primary contest. The Tea Party (or their ilk) support Trump and loath Hillary. The Tea Party people don't care what Trump says. The worse he is, the better they like him. The real question is how can we have a working democracy when a large number of people have adopted such extreme views. They all seem sure the world is coming to an end. Perhaps "their world" is indeed in danger of disappearing. But Trump can't bring it back, no matter how hard he tries. As one of the oped people wrote, these folks are like the southern whites after the Civil War. Their way of life has been destroyed and they will do anything to bring it back.
11
Maybe they can all hang yellow toupees on their front doors, kind of like flying the Confederate flag to identify where their sympathies lay.
And Drumpf's fascism looks like a great way to "make America great again".
Trump supporters don't care what Mitt Romney has to say. The more the GOP panics about the situation they have created for themselves, the more they try to throw at Trump. the more confirmed in their beliefs Trump's supporters will feel. At this point he's the Teflon candidate. Cruz can't touch him, Rubio can't touch him. He's going to be the nominee. The November election will see the Republican Party routed. I'm hoping that something decent will be created from the wreckage, something thinking conservatives can be proud of.
5
Mitt Romney, who said, to a room full of country club Republicans all nodding their heads in agreement, that half of all Americans were "takers", is aghast and appalled that Donald Trump is appealing to the Republican base by blaming other groups of citizens for ruining "their" country, looking down on them and convincing them that they, good hardworking Christians, are victims of Mexican, Chinese, Muslim and Washington "takers".
Romney's "takers" didn't "pay income taxes" and lived their welfare cheating lives solely to victimize those poor Country Club Republicans. Never mind that they didn't pay taxes because they either took legitimate deductions or they didn't make enough money, but filed tax returns anyway for the one or more jobs they held to make ends meet. But they were to be despised, resented and targeted for being the root of all the problems with our country.
Now, according to Trump, the victims are the lower middle class who have lost their jobs because of the "taker" Mexicans, all other immigrants, anyone not for the middle class and all the politicians like Romney on the "take".
You, Karl Rove and all the others so deserve what you're getting right now.
Romney's "takers" didn't "pay income taxes" and lived their welfare cheating lives solely to victimize those poor Country Club Republicans. Never mind that they didn't pay taxes because they either took legitimate deductions or they didn't make enough money, but filed tax returns anyway for the one or more jobs they held to make ends meet. But they were to be despised, resented and targeted for being the root of all the problems with our country.
Now, according to Trump, the victims are the lower middle class who have lost their jobs because of the "taker" Mexicans, all other immigrants, anyone not for the middle class and all the politicians like Romney on the "take".
You, Karl Rove and all the others so deserve what you're getting right now.
33
Pat, in response to your second paragraph:
Also, Romney's "takers" followed his path: they paid the least amount actually and legitimately owed. He bragged about being able to pay the minimum, and not a penny more.
This is common conservative behavior: convince the low-information and low-intelligence voter that some "other" is the real cause of his misfortunes, but at the same time that result of tax breaks for the rich will magically trickle down to them.
But I'm forgetting; Romney's base, which includes hedge fund managers who compete among themselves to acquire the largest number of $500,000,000 works of art, can never have enough. can never have enough houses, golf club memberships, etc.
Also, Romney's "takers" followed his path: they paid the least amount actually and legitimately owed. He bragged about being able to pay the minimum, and not a penny more.
This is common conservative behavior: convince the low-information and low-intelligence voter that some "other" is the real cause of his misfortunes, but at the same time that result of tax breaks for the rich will magically trickle down to them.
But I'm forgetting; Romney's base, which includes hedge fund managers who compete among themselves to acquire the largest number of $500,000,000 works of art, can never have enough. can never have enough houses, golf club memberships, etc.
It's starting to look like the GOP might actually split, at least for this election. If this comes true, Donald Trump will officially be my favorite politician ever.
24
Wow, the inmates are taking over the asylum and the wardens haven't a clue what they did wrong!
35
Ever since Nixon's southern strategy, the Republican party has been pandering to racists, then the Tea party extremists, and worse. But always using dog whistles and code language.
Now along comes a candidate who declines to whisper and hint, and instead crassly and brazenly says these same things, and sheer panic erupts. Running around like headless chickens because they don't have a clue what to do now that Trump and his minions have taken them at their word.
It would be hilarious if it wasn't so terrifying that this man could actually be elected.
Now along comes a candidate who declines to whisper and hint, and instead crassly and brazenly says these same things, and sheer panic erupts. Running around like headless chickens because they don't have a clue what to do now that Trump and his minions have taken them at their word.
It would be hilarious if it wasn't so terrifying that this man could actually be elected.
31
Donald Trump is a product of the media, not the Republican Party. The media has given Trump massive amounts free coverage and fawned over him for the sake of ratings. Republicans have limited ways of countering the media's love affair with Trump. Whether Republicans ignore him or criticize him--and they have tried both--they are criticized. Either approach has its pitfalls, but again, the Trump phenomenon is rooted in the media, not with Mitt Romney. The hypocrisy of the media to now criticize Mitt Romney or Marco Rubio for trying to deal with a problem that they created is of epic proportion. Mitt Romney has courageously taken a stand under the most extraordinary circumstance. He is opposing his own party's likely nominee in unequivocal terms. He should be commended, not sniped at by the very people who enabled Trump.
5
The Empire Strikes Back.
Talk about the darkest elements: Darth Romney needs to face the fact that he is Trump Skywalker's father. Trump's GOP boilerplate replacement for the ACA is about what Romney proposed in '12.
Emperor Koch Palpatine and the rest of the storm troopers, your Death Star is about to blow.
Talk about the darkest elements: Darth Romney needs to face the fact that he is Trump Skywalker's father. Trump's GOP boilerplate replacement for the ACA is about what Romney proposed in '12.
Emperor Koch Palpatine and the rest of the storm troopers, your Death Star is about to blow.
29
"...Skywalker's father.."
I'm still smiling.
I'm still smiling.
After Trump and his supporters secure the nomination, all that will be left of the Republican party, is the rump of the old Whig party. They then will be able to march unhindered back to the 19th century.
16
"But until they see the need to alter the views and policies they have promoted for years, removing Mr. Trump will not end the party’s crisis."
Exactly. But do enough pitchforks and torches exist to oust Dr. Frankenstein (the Republican establishment) from his stronghold (the U.S. Capitol Building), and not merely destroy the current monster so ruefully created (Trump)? The answer to that question is yet to be found in the number of Republican House and Senate incumbents that the voters can replace. This is the next question after Trump's success or failure, and it is by far the most important question. The G.O.P.'s megalomanic, obstructionist power trip is what created the dysfunction that gave rise to Trump, and they do not intend to stop.
Exactly. But do enough pitchforks and torches exist to oust Dr. Frankenstein (the Republican establishment) from his stronghold (the U.S. Capitol Building), and not merely destroy the current monster so ruefully created (Trump)? The answer to that question is yet to be found in the number of Republican House and Senate incumbents that the voters can replace. This is the next question after Trump's success or failure, and it is by far the most important question. The G.O.P.'s megalomanic, obstructionist power trip is what created the dysfunction that gave rise to Trump, and they do not intend to stop.
31
This editorial hits the nail on the head, and one point it makes deserves highlighting: "Mr. Cruz is probably more extreme than Mr. Trump, and Mr. Rubio is hardly different." The other candidates cannot criticize Trump's campaign promises, because, with a few exceptions, they are the same ones they are making: repeal Obamacare, cut taxes, deport illegal immigrants, further arm the border with Mexico, bomb everywhere, lord it over every other country. What is alarming for them is that Trump doesn't try to hide the implications of these promises in spin but says them baldly, bringing the vulgarity, cruelty, and unfairness of Republican positions out in the light.
63
Romney and McCain (and Paul Ryan) all helping Trump. The GOP still doesn't get it.
Most disturbing to me at the moment is Robert Kagan saying he & Bush neocons would support Hillary b/c Trump "wouldn't keep us safe blah blah". That's the biggest strike against HRC yet, in same category as Romney et al against Trump.
What an election. Choice between devil and deep blue sea.
Most disturbing to me at the moment is Robert Kagan saying he & Bush neocons would support Hillary b/c Trump "wouldn't keep us safe blah blah". That's the biggest strike against HRC yet, in same category as Romney et al against Trump.
What an election. Choice between devil and deep blue sea.
16
Julie, despite what this paper tells you, Hillary is not the only choice. Check out Bernie Sanders. The reports of his political death have been greatly exaggerated.
2
Of course, The New York Times Editorial Board failed to notice in this retort to Mitt Romeny's take down of Donald Trump; 'Some were Bush administration officials who supported some of the worst foreign policy disasters this country has ever experienced, including the Iraq war." that this "newspaper of record" itself supported the run up to the war in Iraq, as did its candidate of choice in this presidential election, Hillary Rodham Clinton, the previous Secretary of State with so much more foreign policy experience than Berie Sanders, who opposed this intervention. Just saying; the NYT Editorial Board gets itself in a bind.
36
Mitt (dog on the car roof) Romney was the failed Hedge Fund candidate. He ran an inept campaign that wrote off 47% of the population. He is not the one to choose the next presidential candidate.
62
I have never heard Romney insulting anybody during the last campaign 2012.
Or did he?
Or did he?
8
He only insulted 47% of the public.
10
Not as bad as Trump has. Read the article: Mexicans who will be forced to self deport; and then there was the 47%.
1
He was too busy catering to the preferences of whatever group he was addressing that day, or even that hour. That was so obvious that I feel it lost him support.
The Republican political machine doing pretty well given the number of governors they have and the fact they own both houses. It's a shame they can't come up with a decent presidential candidate but plenty of Americans seem on board with them.
8
Thanks to the millions and millions supplied by the Koch brothers on a mission to take over the central government by infiltrating from the ground up by redistricting each state based on control of state legislatures.
3
330 million Americans to choose from and and the Democrats nominate a dishonest,untrustworthy,political favor selling,oligarch like Clinton?
How long do you think that status quo will last?
"Fool me once . . ."
"Fool me once . . ."
The GOP has been spoon feeding its base a steady diet of toxic rhetoric for a good chunk of my entire life. And now that Trump has appeared as a self-inflicted cancer within their ranks, they seem to be progressing nicely through the stages of grief as the erstwhile "Party of Lincoln" enters a new stage of its modern decline into a party struggling to explain why the KKK, neo-Nazis, short-tempered [*ahem*] "militias" and other domestic terrorists seem so infatuated with their values (my parents assure me that there used to be far left-wing terrorists in their day, but I'll have to take their word for it I guess).
Stage 1: Denial- "The GOP hasn't become so extremely unhinged that someone like Trump could manipulate its increasingly paranoid base simply by spewing hatred and ignorance, right? He'll implode."
Stage 2: Anger- "He said WHAT about Bush?! Rubio, Cruz, Christie... ATTACK! (Jeb, Kasich... hang back and check on Carson... I think Trump sedated him or something)"
Stage 3: Bargaining- "Okay, the whole divine condemnation schtick doesn't work on this guy. Maybe if a couple of us sacrifice our campaigns, whoever's left can consolidate the remaining voters and... what? NO, I'M NOT 'VOLUNTEERING' RUBIO! [sigh] Well, maybe we can get an anti-Trump Super PAC going..."
Stage 4: Depression- [see Christie standing behind his new overlord after Super Tuesday]
Stage 5: Acceptance- "[sigh] I don't like him, but I'll stand behind the Republican nominee... I guess."
Stage 1: Denial- "The GOP hasn't become so extremely unhinged that someone like Trump could manipulate its increasingly paranoid base simply by spewing hatred and ignorance, right? He'll implode."
Stage 2: Anger- "He said WHAT about Bush?! Rubio, Cruz, Christie... ATTACK! (Jeb, Kasich... hang back and check on Carson... I think Trump sedated him or something)"
Stage 3: Bargaining- "Okay, the whole divine condemnation schtick doesn't work on this guy. Maybe if a couple of us sacrifice our campaigns, whoever's left can consolidate the remaining voters and... what? NO, I'M NOT 'VOLUNTEERING' RUBIO! [sigh] Well, maybe we can get an anti-Trump Super PAC going..."
Stage 4: Depression- [see Christie standing behind his new overlord after Super Tuesday]
Stage 5: Acceptance- "[sigh] I don't like him, but I'll stand behind the Republican nominee... I guess."
51
Trump attacked Romney by making his usual unsupported assertion that Romney had begged him for an endorsement in 2012 and contrasted that to Romney's current attack. He of course didn't mention that Christie had been attacking Trump only days before endorsing Trump. Can anyone else see that Christie is apparently groveling for the VP or a cabinet slot? (Heaven help us!)
I should be extolling the Mittster’s harangue, as a brokered nominating convention is what I’ve been after since Jeb Bush bowed out – if it was left to party establishmentarians it’s quite possible that Jeb! could get the nod as the one most likely to give Hillary a run for her money.
But all this was before I was saved.
Everyone is down on Donald Trump over his MANNER and his lack of experience. Yet it’s that manner that has gotten him accepted by this primary electorate when normally a soft-cheese “Republican”, only a few years removed from being a Democrat, would have been laughed off the stage at the FIRST debate. Yet, in forty years of watching Trump in NYC, I’ve never seen him act stupidly or precipitately, only loudly. Ideologically, he represents a fusion of the polarized forces of the far-left and far-right that have frozen our politics, and I’ve come to believe that only SOMEONE like him could finally break the logjam. Hillary certainly wouldn’t. As to his lack of political experience, this is what has charmed the base, so disgusted with politics as usual; and in this protest year could charm the left, as well. It took Nixon to open up China. It could take Trump to re-balance our politics.
So, my advice to party luminaries is to get on the Trump wagon. I haven’t actually LIKED a president during my politically aware lifetime, and that includes Reagan. I’m willing to hold my nose for someone who can move us forward again: they should be, too.
But all this was before I was saved.
Everyone is down on Donald Trump over his MANNER and his lack of experience. Yet it’s that manner that has gotten him accepted by this primary electorate when normally a soft-cheese “Republican”, only a few years removed from being a Democrat, would have been laughed off the stage at the FIRST debate. Yet, in forty years of watching Trump in NYC, I’ve never seen him act stupidly or precipitately, only loudly. Ideologically, he represents a fusion of the polarized forces of the far-left and far-right that have frozen our politics, and I’ve come to believe that only SOMEONE like him could finally break the logjam. Hillary certainly wouldn’t. As to his lack of political experience, this is what has charmed the base, so disgusted with politics as usual; and in this protest year could charm the left, as well. It took Nixon to open up China. It could take Trump to re-balance our politics.
So, my advice to party luminaries is to get on the Trump wagon. I haven’t actually LIKED a president during my politically aware lifetime, and that includes Reagan. I’m willing to hold my nose for someone who can move us forward again: they should be, too.
7
Last night we were treated to this: "the army will obey my illegal orders because I tell them to." That's your night in shining armor? I understand. You want to be a winner too. It's contagious, isn't it? You've lost EVERY SHRED of credibility in this forum and elsewhere. Dress appropriately, I hear it's warm where the GOP is going.
2
Sure let's just put the favorite son of the establishment elite in the office even though the republican voters rejected them as their choice.
I can see the establishment telling the party faithful, even though you don't like the taste of castor oil. Jeb Bush is who we select to oppose the democratic nominee.
That will really bring the party into total harmony
I can see the establishment telling the party faithful, even though you don't like the taste of castor oil. Jeb Bush is who we select to oppose the democratic nominee.
That will really bring the party into total harmony
1
It's not his manner (not sure why you put that in quotes), but rather what he's saying; about women and their menstrual cycles, about women going to the bathroom, about immigrants, about the size of his penis. How about talking policy, long term goals, edcuation, the environment, college debt? the Iran nuclear deal? . He has no foreign policy, or none at least that he's clarified. Anyone with a big enough mouth can stir up people who are determined to be mad at someone, and who are, in fact, always mad at Democrats. Anyone who's willing to sink to the levels that Mr. Trump has, can rile up a crowd. Crowds like these are easily manipulated -- just point at Hillary or Obama and make an obscene gesture and they go wild. Romney, Rubio, Cruz, McCain and most of the rest of the Republican leadership, have been using this easily tapped anger for years and now it's coming back to haunt them in the person of Mr. Trump. When Mitch McConnell sayid that his only job is to defeat Obama, he was speaking for a lot of the Republican Party. The party has no ideas left, it has no forward vision, it has no solutions except the old, very old, ideas of a strong military and lower taxes. We saw where that brought us with the Bush administration - a war in Iraq and a global recession, two problems that will be with us for the forseeable future. If you don't like the "soft cheese" aspect of less vitriolic candidates, how about the rotten chesse aspect of this one?
2
Perhaps the GOP needs to become defunct and renew, regroup and re-establish sanity under a new banner/party.
Happened to the Conservative party in Canada years ago.
Happened to the Conservative party in Canada years ago.
12
I can't believe I going to pay a complement to Mitt Romney yet here it comes. What the gentleman Mr. Romney did today was admirable, a true profile in courage.
Mr. Romney's remarks were backed up by a war hero, yes, a bona fide war hero, despite denials to the contrary which spewed out of Donald Drumpf's vicious, vindictive mouth. What Senator McCain did in captivity in Vietnam, defend his captive comrades in arms, as he spent five years ensconced in the Torture Suite at the Hanoi Hilton, he did today, backing up his former opponent in the presidential sweepstakes. Well done, Senator McCain.
These two men, these two Republicans, whom I did not support in their presidential quests, today have my deepest admiration. When the world turns topsy-turvy as it has of late, it is nice to know that there still are men of honor whom will come forward to expose, and attempt to eradicate, a cancer growing within their party. Kudos to you both, gentlemen.
As a lifelong Democrat it's men like Romney and McCain who give me solace and hope, that through their courageous statements, they may act as a catalyst to bridge our deep and wide political chasm toward forming a truce between the two parties. One hopes this may serve to begin construction of that bridge to a time and place when both sides are willing to work together, to sort out their differences with the objective of making our government work better for all the American people.
DD
Manhattan
Mr. Romney's remarks were backed up by a war hero, yes, a bona fide war hero, despite denials to the contrary which spewed out of Donald Drumpf's vicious, vindictive mouth. What Senator McCain did in captivity in Vietnam, defend his captive comrades in arms, as he spent five years ensconced in the Torture Suite at the Hanoi Hilton, he did today, backing up his former opponent in the presidential sweepstakes. Well done, Senator McCain.
These two men, these two Republicans, whom I did not support in their presidential quests, today have my deepest admiration. When the world turns topsy-turvy as it has of late, it is nice to know that there still are men of honor whom will come forward to expose, and attempt to eradicate, a cancer growing within their party. Kudos to you both, gentlemen.
As a lifelong Democrat it's men like Romney and McCain who give me solace and hope, that through their courageous statements, they may act as a catalyst to bridge our deep and wide political chasm toward forming a truce between the two parties. One hopes this may serve to begin construction of that bridge to a time and place when both sides are willing to work together, to sort out their differences with the objective of making our government work better for all the American people.
DD
Manhattan
8
Wait...it was Mr. War Hero McCain who accepted another unqualified undisciplined scaremonger self-aggrandizing person as his running mate (Palin), whose most recent performance in support of a GOP candidate who is #fascist was both pathetic and just plain weird: http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000004154981/palin-endorses-...
If Romney and McCain had a bit more character they would 1) say they are sorry (Romney for accepting Trump's endorsement and McCain for choosing Palin, maybe for a few other things Keating Five scandal?) and then they would 2) refuse to support Trump under any circumstances, calling him for what he is: a fascist and 3) mapping out a plan to stop supporting the 1% and lay out a plan for recovery from the situation that they helped create which includes social and economic justice for the 99%.
If Romney and McCain had a bit more character they would 1) say they are sorry (Romney for accepting Trump's endorsement and McCain for choosing Palin, maybe for a few other things Keating Five scandal?) and then they would 2) refuse to support Trump under any circumstances, calling him for what he is: a fascist and 3) mapping out a plan to stop supporting the 1% and lay out a plan for recovery from the situation that they helped create which includes social and economic justice for the 99%.
2
There talk the men sitting on a comfortable cushion who have no future left to loose. If these are nowadays heroes ...
1
I offer the thought it isn't courage as much as political expediency and fear that drove Mr. Romney's comments. Two things to be considered: Recall that Mr. Romney believed that the "46 percent" didn't count when it came to his campaign. Recall, also, that it was Mr. McCain who foisted Sarah Palin upon this country and thereby begat the Tea Party and thereby begat Trump.
Republicans always were an unlikely coalition. Small business owners and rural vote aligned with big business makes some sense. (After all, farmers are in the the business of producing food.) But there always was a great deal of slight of hand in getting the blue collar vote out for a party which largely is in the service of multinational corporations. Lest Democrats get all puffed up over this. The same fault lines can be found in their party. Hard to see how they get the support of labor unions while advocating internationalism. In short, the USA probably could use an honest debate on the sacrifices the average citizen makes to maintain the world economic order. Perhaps case can be made for it that does not insult our intelligence.
18
One can only hope that come November, a hundred million people vote for the Democratic nominee and Democrats straight down the ballot and sweep out of office as many Republicans from the Senate, the House, Governors' Mansions, and state houses as possible.
Only a massive, overwhelming Democratic victory at all levels of government will rid the nation of this blind, selfish, bigoted, and hateful cult called the Republican Party.
If you aren't registered to vote...do so now.
Only a massive, overwhelming Democratic victory at all levels of government will rid the nation of this blind, selfish, bigoted, and hateful cult called the Republican Party.
If you aren't registered to vote...do so now.
51
Great idea...
Then the entire country will be in the same boat as the likes of NYC, Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit and so on.
Shucks, we're only approaching $20 TRILLION in debt, which evidently isn't high enough. If Grease, Spain, Italy, Venezuela, Argentina etc can run their countries economies deep into the ground, America should be able to do it bigger and better.
Democratic run enclaves have all proven that as long as they can squeeze the last drop of money from the folks, they have a better place to spend it.
Besides, if we go along with nothing but your prognosis, look at the money the country would save by not having these stupid elections every year.
Hip hip Hooray
Then the entire country will be in the same boat as the likes of NYC, Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit and so on.
Shucks, we're only approaching $20 TRILLION in debt, which evidently isn't high enough. If Grease, Spain, Italy, Venezuela, Argentina etc can run their countries economies deep into the ground, America should be able to do it bigger and better.
Democratic run enclaves have all proven that as long as they can squeeze the last drop of money from the folks, they have a better place to spend it.
Besides, if we go along with nothing but your prognosis, look at the money the country would save by not having these stupid elections every year.
Hip hip Hooray
1. If Romney’s speech doesn’t cook Trump’s goose, nothing will. The likelihood is, it won’t. The likelihood is, Trump has just been assured of the
nomination.
2. And Trump being Trump, I’m expecting him to come back with a lot more wild stuff about Romney. Maybe even something about polygamy and incest. And yes, I am looking forward to enjoying all of it. Some things can never be denounced enough.
nomination.
2. And Trump being Trump, I’m expecting him to come back with a lot more wild stuff about Romney. Maybe even something about polygamy and incest. And yes, I am looking forward to enjoying all of it. Some things can never be denounced enough.
15
The Republican party's crises will not end with a simple awakening of the party elite to cold, hard facts. It will end when the party fractures and leaves the pestulance of bigotry, willful ignorance and bible thumping behind. Republicans have catered to the most ignorant and hateful in this country. It is a drug. As powerful a drug as heroin. They will have to break before they can break from this dangerous addiction.
30
I agree with everything you said; just add that they need to divorce themselves from the Koch money machine that has them trembling in their boots.
"He’s forced a Republican Party reckoning overdue for years, all in a few days. It took the Trump-dominated Super Tuesday contests to awaken Republican leaders to the fact that the darkest elements of the party’s base, which many of them have embraced or exploited, are now threatening their party."
Here is the perfect example of republican cronyism: Romney and McCain teaming up against Trump with the support of the party’s leadership. Irony upon irony: the takers against the makers.
If I had any trepidations about Trump they were all wiped away with todays unprecedented actions supported by the party leadership. It appears that republican power brokers are afraid of a new-deal man who might decide on side of the republican party conservatives who believe that the country has had enough government regulation and tax burdens and that repealing half of them might well be on a Trump agenda. Hopefully the era of the US gives all, and takes away, by a gang of Washington cronies is on the way out. Throw Trump in, have him throw the bums out!
Here is the perfect example of republican cronyism: Romney and McCain teaming up against Trump with the support of the party’s leadership. Irony upon irony: the takers against the makers.
If I had any trepidations about Trump they were all wiped away with todays unprecedented actions supported by the party leadership. It appears that republican power brokers are afraid of a new-deal man who might decide on side of the republican party conservatives who believe that the country has had enough government regulation and tax burdens and that repealing half of them might well be on a Trump agenda. Hopefully the era of the US gives all, and takes away, by a gang of Washington cronies is on the way out. Throw Trump in, have him throw the bums out!
46
Talk about cronyism! What about Hillary Clinton! All these damn so-called super-delegates! Now, all the DNC cronies are lining up behind "their" girl. Never the average Democrat, let alone the independent voters. They've even infiltrated the news: CNN, MSNBC and the Times are showing their true stripe. Elizabeth Warren stands alone in supporting Bernie Sanders against the DNC. Even Al Franken lost my financial support by selling out to the Clinton machine.
The Clintons pushed through NAFTA depriving 34% of North Carolinians jobs. (I don't have statistics on other states.) And, then the Clintons took credit for the IT revolution boom that eliminated more jobs. They've taken credit for the all the positives and pushed the rest under the carpet: Clinton's poor performance during the recessions of 2001, her support of the Iraqi invasion, their squashing of Howard Dean, their lack of support for John Kerry leaving us to suffer four more years of Bush.
We must unite, as Democrats, as reject the Clinton machine.
The Clintons pushed through NAFTA depriving 34% of North Carolinians jobs. (I don't have statistics on other states.) And, then the Clintons took credit for the IT revolution boom that eliminated more jobs. They've taken credit for the all the positives and pushed the rest under the carpet: Clinton's poor performance during the recessions of 2001, her support of the Iraqi invasion, their squashing of Howard Dean, their lack of support for John Kerry leaving us to suffer four more years of Bush.
We must unite, as Democrats, as reject the Clinton machine.
1
Trump must be on to something:
- Wall Street is going after Trump, and wealthy donors are spending millions in anti-Trump ads.
- Republican "national security experts" (or military-industrial complex) are united in opposition to Trump.
- Republicans in Congress (and their lobbyists) are pushing an anti-Trump campaign.
- Reacting to Trump's "he will pay a price" comment, speaker Paul Ryan says he laughed out loud. A nervous laugh ?
Trump appears to be doing what Sanders has promised to do, and what Clinton claims cannot be done.
- Wall Street is going after Trump, and wealthy donors are spending millions in anti-Trump ads.
- Republican "national security experts" (or military-industrial complex) are united in opposition to Trump.
- Republicans in Congress (and their lobbyists) are pushing an anti-Trump campaign.
- Reacting to Trump's "he will pay a price" comment, speaker Paul Ryan says he laughed out loud. A nervous laugh ?
Trump appears to be doing what Sanders has promised to do, and what Clinton claims cannot be done.
16
No matter who the Republicans nominate their candidate will be, and I quote, "a liar", "unfit to hold the office of the presidency", "too unstable to have his finger on the nuclear button", "unhinged", "the biggest liar in the World", "clueless", "a con man", "a light weight", "disgusting", "school yard bully", "will make America more vulnerable to terrorism", "charlatan", "choke artist", "lacks any understanding of the issues" just to name a few of the biggies. These are the Republican candidates' own words and opinions about their eventual nominee and I assume about to be s cut and spliced into ads for the Democrats showing what the Republicans think of their own candidate and how bad are they. These are not differences on policy which would justify someone 'getting behind' the eventual nominee after their candidate suspends his campaign, but rather, these statements and opinions from the Republicans' own mouths on video describing their candidate as basically a menace to humankind and that would make any rational person not vote for someone exhibiting these dangerous characteristics.
7
Yes, and after saying all that, they say they'll support him if he's the nominee.
That doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
That doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
1
As much as we liberals and progressives wish to gloat over the disintegration of the Republican Party and point out that they created their own Frankenstein, the real possibility that Trump will win the nomination should force us to help the GOP defeat Trump. His nomination is an existential threat to the American republic. Anything we can do to partner with the Republicans to defeat Trump should be our priority as a party including voting for his opponents in open primary states. The time for schadenfreude is over.
5
Oh, I couldn't (respectfully) disagree more. What real damage could a President Trump possibly do to the country? All Presidents must ultimately implement (or not) their agendas through Congress. Even someone as statesmanlike such as President Obama has been unable to maneuver around his political enemies in Congress. I don't think Trump will fair any better.
And, yes, I am experiencing a profound, glorious feeling of schadenfreude over the chaos in the GOP. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.....
And, yes, I am experiencing a profound, glorious feeling of schadenfreude over the chaos in the GOP. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.....
1
Nice thought, except Cruz and Rubio are much worse.
MItt Romney is Donald Trump with country club manners.
David Philly
David Philly
39
....And also with garages with car elevators.
Then Mitt has the cheek to say, "Under President Obama, the rich have gotten richer, income inequality has gotten worse and there are more people in poverty than ever before," Romney said. "Their liberal policies are good every four years for a campaign, but they don't get the job done....The only policies that will reach into the hearts of the American people and pull people out of poverty and break the cycle of poverty are Republican principles, conservative principles." Seriously, Mitt?
Then Mitt has the cheek to say, "Under President Obama, the rich have gotten richer, income inequality has gotten worse and there are more people in poverty than ever before," Romney said. "Their liberal policies are good every four years for a campaign, but they don't get the job done....The only policies that will reach into the hearts of the American people and pull people out of poverty and break the cycle of poverty are Republican principles, conservative principles." Seriously, Mitt?
3
For years I would have loved to have voted for a moderate, responsible, ethical, sensible, honest conservative candidate for president. Someone strong on national defense but opposed to national offense. Someone who was respectful and reasonably knowledgeable about science and didn’t say the earth was a few thousand years old, and pandered to religion. But there was no such Republican candidate. Any who showed any inclination along those lines were nipped in the bud early by the plutocratic oligarchs & the their media, (made stronger by the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling) because the last thing they want is someone who is rational, compassionate & thinks for him/herself & therefore can’t be reliably controlled. That's what they dislike most about Trump; he's not on their lease; it's not that he's vulgar or prejudicial.
But you can’t fool all of the people, all of the time, so enough of them have revolted by supporting Trump who does speak for himself, & not the establishment (even though I don’t like a lot of what he says either) because he’s got the thing you need in this plutocracy to be able do so in politics – lots of money.
Welcome to the America of the 21st century where every dollar has an equal voice in government. It's plutocracy now, no longer a democratic republic. The government of the people, by the people, and for the people has perished from the earth.
But you can’t fool all of the people, all of the time, so enough of them have revolted by supporting Trump who does speak for himself, & not the establishment (even though I don’t like a lot of what he says either) because he’s got the thing you need in this plutocracy to be able do so in politics – lots of money.
Welcome to the America of the 21st century where every dollar has an equal voice in government. It's plutocracy now, no longer a democratic republic. The government of the people, by the people, and for the people has perished from the earth.
297
The conservative Republicans can not allow a rational, well read, thoughtful and educated individual who believes in science and facts because that type of person will support or propose policies in line with conservative positions. The type of politician you describe would be one who is sensible and intelligent regarding immigration, foreign wars, reasonable gun controls, reconizes the need for an appropriate progressive tax system, and supports the constitutions separation of church and state. So what happens is they have to support Tea Party candidates. It's a vicious cycle as the more they support the Tea Party, the less control they end up having. You can see how this has played out in the House of Representatives. They took control with the election of Tea Party candidates then lost control of the Speaker position because of it. Soon the same will happen to the Senate Majority Leader position. McConnell will be replaced as too "moderate" by someone like Cruz or Lee. The Republican party is in a death spiral.
2
"For years I would have loved to have voted for a moderate, responsible, ethical, sensible, honest conservative candidate for president. Someone strong on national defense but opposed to national offense. Someone who was respectful and reasonably knowledgeable about science and didn’t say the earth was a few thousand years old, and pandered to religion. But there was no such Republican candidate."
There was such a Republican in recent years who I believe would have made an excellent consensus president: Colin Powell.
There was such a Republican in recent years who I believe would have made an excellent consensus president: Colin Powell.
1
Jojo,
You hit the nail on the head. Citizens United has enabled the person with the most money to have the most speech, the loudest voice. The Republicants should thank their revered Saint Scalia for creating this opportunity for their party to weigh the merits of Trump vs. the Koch Puppets. A Plutocrat besting the proxies of other Plutocrats. Bye bye Miss American Pie.
You hit the nail on the head. Citizens United has enabled the person with the most money to have the most speech, the loudest voice. The Republicants should thank their revered Saint Scalia for creating this opportunity for their party to weigh the merits of Trump vs. the Koch Puppets. A Plutocrat besting the proxies of other Plutocrats. Bye bye Miss American Pie.
2
Coming at this from a slightly different angle:
The problem with people like Romney saying that Trump is bad is that ignores that for many people Cruz, Kasich and Rubio are worse.
For example, while Trump advocates small scale war crimes--killing families of opponents--Cruz advocates major war crimes--carpet bombing--although some of what Cruz has said indicates he is ignorant of the meaning of the term. Trump: less criminal and less ignorant that Cruz.
Rubio has repeatedly presented himself as an entitled, indignant brat, for example, in responding to the debate question about his being characterized as a "savior" for the Republican Party, he responded belligerently that Jesus was the only savior.
Assessment; Trump is less emotionally unstable that Rubio. Trump: less unmoored from reality.
Kasich comes across as more ignorant on issues than Trump--when given a chance to talk, he works hard at saying nothing.
Pandering to resentments: Trump panders to those who have been shafted by the system. Cruz, Kasich, Rubio, Romney and the rest of the Republican establishment pander to those who have been doing the shafting.
As to the complaint about Trump's dangerous ignorance and ideas on national security, the same could be said of Cruz and Rubio. Trump comes out the better because he seems to be intentionally pandering, whereas Cruz and Rubio seem to believe their nonsense.
Summary: Trump: the less abysmal choice.
The problem with people like Romney saying that Trump is bad is that ignores that for many people Cruz, Kasich and Rubio are worse.
For example, while Trump advocates small scale war crimes--killing families of opponents--Cruz advocates major war crimes--carpet bombing--although some of what Cruz has said indicates he is ignorant of the meaning of the term. Trump: less criminal and less ignorant that Cruz.
Rubio has repeatedly presented himself as an entitled, indignant brat, for example, in responding to the debate question about his being characterized as a "savior" for the Republican Party, he responded belligerently that Jesus was the only savior.
Assessment; Trump is less emotionally unstable that Rubio. Trump: less unmoored from reality.
Kasich comes across as more ignorant on issues than Trump--when given a chance to talk, he works hard at saying nothing.
Pandering to resentments: Trump panders to those who have been shafted by the system. Cruz, Kasich, Rubio, Romney and the rest of the Republican establishment pander to those who have been doing the shafting.
As to the complaint about Trump's dangerous ignorance and ideas on national security, the same could be said of Cruz and Rubio. Trump comes out the better because he seems to be intentionally pandering, whereas Cruz and Rubio seem to believe their nonsense.
Summary: Trump: the less abysmal choice.
20
I hope the democratic process plays out within the Republican party and Trump wins at this point. It is an almost unbelievable act of the people saying 'enough is enough' to having the self-anointed establishment use them as voter fodder every four years to then simply forget about them. And as the editorial pointed out, the establishment politics gave us Iraq, Afghanistan and this indirectly ISIS. It is difficult to see how they can oppose Trump credibly with that kind of record. And Trump simply realizes that Putin has legitimate interests too and comes to a deal with Russia. Looking at our allies, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Russia seems a heck of a lot better place to be, whether you are a woman, gay, secular, or simply an average human being trying for a decent life. I am not a Trump follower, but I understand being sick of the establishment that hasn't done anything for them ever, and of a political correctness that lets the most humorless and sensitive flower determine the level of acceptable discourse.
8
Trump's supporters are the people who have elected the Republicans
for decades -- the party pretty much took them for granted. They are at the political fringe; many at least marginally racist, hostile to elites, hostile to "upstart" powerful women, isolationist to the core, clueless about foreign policy, and disgusted by American urban culture. It is a movement
that first emerged in 19th c. America and is going strong, however unacknowledged. They have occasionally voiced their dissatisfaction with the treatment they get from the major parties and they started to feel out of touch with their Republic leaders a decade ago (though they liked W, who, like them, likes to bomb things and has trouble with ideas) -- the Tea Party movement was the result. Now that is not enough. Trump is their most recent champion. He is perfect for them. I feel no sympathy for Romney and his buddies -- the deceitful mainstream Republicans who want to use but control this political fringe. They deserve Trump and the walloping they are almost certainly going to get in November. All I hope for is that if Clinton get a super majority in her first term, she makes better use of it than Obama. This country is desperate for real reform.
for decades -- the party pretty much took them for granted. They are at the political fringe; many at least marginally racist, hostile to elites, hostile to "upstart" powerful women, isolationist to the core, clueless about foreign policy, and disgusted by American urban culture. It is a movement
that first emerged in 19th c. America and is going strong, however unacknowledged. They have occasionally voiced their dissatisfaction with the treatment they get from the major parties and they started to feel out of touch with their Republic leaders a decade ago (though they liked W, who, like them, likes to bomb things and has trouble with ideas) -- the Tea Party movement was the result. Now that is not enough. Trump is their most recent champion. He is perfect for them. I feel no sympathy for Romney and his buddies -- the deceitful mainstream Republicans who want to use but control this political fringe. They deserve Trump and the walloping they are almost certainly going to get in November. All I hope for is that if Clinton get a super majority in her first term, she makes better use of it than Obama. This country is desperate for real reform.
18
The issue I have with this editorial is the implicit suggestion that ANY of the current Republican candidates represent a more reasonable alternative to Trump. They do not. There are no "moderate" Republican candidates waiting in the wings. This is who, and what, the Republican Party now is. If anything one could make the argument that at least Trump's presentation of the party's current ethos is a more honest reflection of it.
42
Mitt Romney may still feel sore that he lost the election and never stood a chance with the far-right momentum within his party. But the Republicans are no more interested in him today than when he tanked. And he is a hypocrite in his attacks.
Trump is "phony" and a "fraud?" Mitt "I'm severely conservative" Romney was so phony it was embarrassing to watch. As a Governor, Romney fraudulently said that reproductive rights were safe with him, then turned his back on that pledge. Trump has an uninformed foreign policy? Romney thought that Russia was America's biggest global threat. Trump is uninterested in people less wealthy than himself? Romney put down "the 47%" of moochers and takers that he can't convince to take responsibility for themselves. Romney thinks Trump is hiding something by not yet releasing his taxes? Romney dragged his own feet about releasing taxes throughout his election.
Neither Romney nor Trump deserves to be a leader and Romney's critique comes down to "it takes one to know one."
Trump is "phony" and a "fraud?" Mitt "I'm severely conservative" Romney was so phony it was embarrassing to watch. As a Governor, Romney fraudulently said that reproductive rights were safe with him, then turned his back on that pledge. Trump has an uninformed foreign policy? Romney thought that Russia was America's biggest global threat. Trump is uninterested in people less wealthy than himself? Romney put down "the 47%" of moochers and takers that he can't convince to take responsibility for themselves. Romney thinks Trump is hiding something by not yet releasing his taxes? Romney dragged his own feet about releasing taxes throughout his election.
Neither Romney nor Trump deserves to be a leader and Romney's critique comes down to "it takes one to know one."
27
Trump knows his target market. The GOP base (primary voters) have been cultivated with misinformation and extreme comments by the GOP for decades.
At this point, in order to win the GOP base (who now believe all this misinformation) means a candidate must say so many ridiculous things as to become largely unelectable in the general presidential election.
Trump's target market are the uneducated, especially when it comes to business, economics & world affairs. Trump knows darn well that what he says is horse manure but also knows that the establishment GOP have been saying this stuff for decades so the base is primed to believe it. Romney did the exact same thing only to a slightly lesser degree in order to win the primary. The GOP realize all the manure they have spread for decades is now coming home to bite them
When you tell your base that facts are "pesky" and don't matter and that math is subjective and "fuzzy," well then - anything goes.
Trump knows the GOP base is primed to believe anything he says and if he contradicts himself, they don't really care, they don't really have the background to understand it all so they simply want an authoritarian figure. They think the GOP is a party that is good for business - but that has always been part of the spin.
By disavowing facts and reason as having a liberal bias, the GOP created the conditions that lead to a Trump possibility.
The possibility for complete nonsense.
GOP : Trump :: Dr Frankenstein : Monster
At this point, in order to win the GOP base (who now believe all this misinformation) means a candidate must say so many ridiculous things as to become largely unelectable in the general presidential election.
Trump's target market are the uneducated, especially when it comes to business, economics & world affairs. Trump knows darn well that what he says is horse manure but also knows that the establishment GOP have been saying this stuff for decades so the base is primed to believe it. Romney did the exact same thing only to a slightly lesser degree in order to win the primary. The GOP realize all the manure they have spread for decades is now coming home to bite them
When you tell your base that facts are "pesky" and don't matter and that math is subjective and "fuzzy," well then - anything goes.
Trump knows the GOP base is primed to believe anything he says and if he contradicts himself, they don't really care, they don't really have the background to understand it all so they simply want an authoritarian figure. They think the GOP is a party that is good for business - but that has always been part of the spin.
By disavowing facts and reason as having a liberal bias, the GOP created the conditions that lead to a Trump possibility.
The possibility for complete nonsense.
GOP : Trump :: Dr Frankenstein : Monster
50
What makes it even weirder is that at the same time the GOP establishment are criticizing Trump for all the nonsense, they are calling Trump a phony and saying that he does not really believe in all of the nonsense and that they really do. Sigh... when you lie for decades the web of lies can get really tangled
48
If only, as an opening to any GOP debate, the contestants had to perform that great version of "Putting on the Ritz" from the film "Young Frankenstein".
It would be much more dignified than their usual song & dance.
It would be much more dignified than their usual song & dance.
1
This is what happens when Wall Street takes over a government. It's just like a hostile takeover of a company. Get control, strip the assets and leave the bones for the "lesser" to clean up. Unfortunately, 90% of Americans are the "lesser". Fortunately, America is wounded - not broken - and WE must elect socially conscious people who actually care about America to help us restore OUR country to a vital democracy. Our next President, Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton, is the woman to work with us to do the job.
30
Its impossible for Hillary to do the job because she is so beholden to Wall Street.
Clinton tops in donations from drug industry (guess who benefits if she wins, not the patient) http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/257234-clinton-brings-in-most-big-p...
Also, "Even as Hillary Clinton has stepped up her rhetorical assault on Wall Street, her campaign and allied super PACs have continued to rake in millions from the financial sector, a sign of her deep and lasting relationships with banking and investment titans. Through the end of December, donors at hedge funds, banks, insurance companies and other financial services firms had given at least $21.4 million to support Clinton’s 2016 presidential run — more than 10 percent of the $157.8 million contributed to back her bid, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by The Washington Post."
Its an endless list of Clintons receiving donations for either their foundation or political ambitions....Hollywood celebrities, entertainment big wigs, Media, Silicon Valley big monied, wealth foreigners, wealthy minorities (particularly Indians and Chinese)...
Clinton tops in donations from drug industry (guess who benefits if she wins, not the patient) http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/257234-clinton-brings-in-most-big-p...
Also, "Even as Hillary Clinton has stepped up her rhetorical assault on Wall Street, her campaign and allied super PACs have continued to rake in millions from the financial sector, a sign of her deep and lasting relationships with banking and investment titans. Through the end of December, donors at hedge funds, banks, insurance companies and other financial services firms had given at least $21.4 million to support Clinton’s 2016 presidential run — more than 10 percent of the $157.8 million contributed to back her bid, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by The Washington Post."
Its an endless list of Clintons receiving donations for either their foundation or political ambitions....Hollywood celebrities, entertainment big wigs, Media, Silicon Valley big monied, wealth foreigners, wealthy minorities (particularly Indians and Chinese)...
2
Sadly, your candidate, Hillary Clinton is bought by the same Wall Street that has taken over the govt. I am feeling the Bern for as long as I can. I suggest Americans who care about this country, do the same.
Everybody has been acting like some sort of "revolution" is tearing the GOP apart. Sorry, it was torn apart long ago, only the party leaders refused to see it.
Trump is nothing more than a vulgar and profane version of what every candidate and party elder represents: intransigence, exaggeration, an alarming tendency to lie and flip flop, and a deeply ingrained sense of racism, xenophobia, and a belief in white superiority.
Trump is nothing more than a vulgar and profane version of what every candidate and party elder represents: intransigence, exaggeration, an alarming tendency to lie and flip flop, and a deeply ingrained sense of racism, xenophobia, and a belief in white superiority.
314
You left out misogyny.
3
yes exactly.
Vulgar is the term.
Vulgar is the term.
1
The Republican Establishment is clearly against Trump and the Trumpeteers. I tuned into the debate to see if Mr. Trump would announce that he was leaving the party. No such luck. But it is only a matter of time before there is a parting of the ways between the Republican Establishment and Mr. Trump.
If Mr. Trump were smart and had integrity, he would split and form his own party.
If Mr. Trump were smart and had integrity, he would split and form his own party.
7
His lack of integrity goes without saying (like most of the Republican candidates, who wouldn't recognize a fact if it punched them in the face (channeling Trump)), but he is being smart for his own goal: He wouldn't have a faction of his current chance if he started his own party. He's in the driver's seat; it couldn't get any better for him.
1
What does this have to do with integrity? Trump is winning most of the primaries. You may not like it, but he's is more in tune with the actual Republican Party (ie, the voters) than the Party establishment is.
Why should he? Too much work when he already has a party!
When it comes to having put Country last, greed for wealth and power first, there's no one like Mitt Romney, Donald J. Trump, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan and all the rest who relentlessly denigrated everything that's not white bread, everything that's not white male and freed the beast which now has all of them on the menu. It is a mistake to view Donald J. Trump as a clown, a fool, or a nut: he's a dangerous calculator with racism and murder on his mind and, like many did with Hitler, we're underestimating the fact that he's a megalomaniac moral neuter.
101
Ronald, I think it's an act to grab media time. Without the outrageous, he won't get as much attention. He is denying breathing room to the others. I say it's a clever move.
Unfortunately greed is a vice that has not spared the Clintons either.
1
The pot calling the kettle black
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stone.
Ye who is without sin, cast the first stone.
Mr. Romney, you lost in 2012, because you were so disconnected from 99% of America; you still are. And, if you are hoping the GOP picks you at a brokered convention; you are in for a big surprise.
The people are angry at all establishment politicians (fro both parties).
The 1% is so bent on milking even more from the 99%, they have put forth a bunch of minion candidates. What is left, less Trump and Sanders, are the cream of these minions.
The politicians are so far out of touch, that they do not know how angry the populace truly is. And Mr. Romney today, and the debate tonight, only gave more strength to Mr. Trump. Because for two hours, that "debate" was more about insulting Mr. Trump, while at the same time, not selling themselves to why they should be president.
The bad part of all of this, it may come down to Clinton, Trump and Cruz in a three way race. And, in such a race, who ever wins; America and the world loses.
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stone.
Ye who is without sin, cast the first stone.
Mr. Romney, you lost in 2012, because you were so disconnected from 99% of America; you still are. And, if you are hoping the GOP picks you at a brokered convention; you are in for a big surprise.
The people are angry at all establishment politicians (fro both parties).
The 1% is so bent on milking even more from the 99%, they have put forth a bunch of minion candidates. What is left, less Trump and Sanders, are the cream of these minions.
The politicians are so far out of touch, that they do not know how angry the populace truly is. And Mr. Romney today, and the debate tonight, only gave more strength to Mr. Trump. Because for two hours, that "debate" was more about insulting Mr. Trump, while at the same time, not selling themselves to why they should be president.
The bad part of all of this, it may come down to Clinton, Trump and Cruz in a three way race. And, in such a race, who ever wins; America and the world loses.
34
And to top it off, some of these neocons have come out and said they would vote for Hillary. Now that gives real credibility to their views among Trump supporters.
I find it amazing that people with such little smarts have managed to pocket so much in a rigged system.
I find it amazing that people with such little smarts have managed to pocket so much in a rigged system.
At let Clinton won't dismantle the EPA or appoint a justice whose vote will reverse Roe. If she does nothing for four years she'll do less damage than any of the GOP.
1
And, both entirely owe their success to something that can be neatly spelled as D-A-D.
The only thing worse than Trump, is Romney dumping on Trump.
The only thing worse than Trump, is Romney dumping on Trump.
A fellow, Mitt Romney, whose fortune is built on raiding companies and shafting their workers, comes to tell us that supporting someone who wants to put a stop to that is a danger to the country. And to Mitt, 47% of the public is off his radar.
Mitt, don't you understand that YOU ARE THE PROBLEM? Its sort of like Louis XVI, after starving his public, warning that those Revolutionaries can be dangerous.
Mitt, don't you understand that YOU ARE THE PROBLEM? Its sort of like Louis XVI, after starving his public, warning that those Revolutionaries can be dangerous.
337
Driving past the Belmont Hill (Mitt) Temple on Route 2, I am constantly reminded of Mitt's generosity, "The church requires Mormons to tithe 10 percent of their income to remain members in good standing". "Around $5 million went to the LDS Church between 2000 and 2012, a combination of private donations and also donations through Romney's charitable foundation...in 2013, Brigham and Women's Hospital received $25,000 through the Romney Foundation for Children. Other sums in recent years have gone to Alliance for Lupus Research, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, and National MS Society. Children's health also appears to be a growing interest, and the foundation has also supported Miami Children’s Hospital, an international outfit called Operation Kids, and Center for Treatment of Pediatric MS."
1
How does the Times justify this much front page space to Romney attacking Trump? I can't recall being as disappointed in the Times' coverage in an election year as I am this year. It's either the lowest kind of horse race coverage or following its own agenda as if the Grey Lady were a candidate herself. Where do I go for something like journalism?
34
Mr. Romney was designated by the Republican Establishment to be the hit man. It is big news when such power plays are conducted in the open. And it is big news when the Party revolts against the candidate amassing the most votes.
PS. The only person who has gotten too much media exposure is Trump.
PS. The only person who has gotten too much media exposure is Trump.
42
The New York Times may be debasing itself by covering the Romney/Trump spectacle, but cover it they must. This clown, this reality TV star, embarrassing as he is, is the leader of the Republicans...the frontrunner. Truth is the best disinfectant, and the Republican party and Trump need to be liberally doused with gallons of Lysol.
1
Bloomberg news, McClatchy, BBC, etc. It all depends on what you want!
They gave us Bush and his cabal of neocons and war.
They gave us McCain.
They gave us Romney.
Then they gave us Trump and the Three Stooges.
Then all of the above turned on Trump and called him a liar and a phony.
We should give them all a mirror and have them take a long hard look at themselves.
Liars and phonies all look alike to me. I can't tell them apart.
They gave us McCain.
They gave us Romney.
Then they gave us Trump and the Three Stooges.
Then all of the above turned on Trump and called him a liar and a phony.
We should give them all a mirror and have them take a long hard look at themselves.
Liars and phonies all look alike to me. I can't tell them apart.
251
Pathetic. Romney's trying to protect his hedge fund pals; plus he brought Trump on stage in 2012
110
So what will end the crisis in the Republican Party? It won't be progressive policies because the party is rooted in the past and has no plans for the future. It won't be conservative policies because to most Republicans that would mean only less taxes, fewer regulations, and a stronger military. It should be easy for the Democrats in November but it won't be.
42
The arrogance and utter detachment from reality (read: the mood of the American people) on the part of the GOP establishment is nothing short of breathtaking. Romney's speech will undoubtedly have the opposite of its intended effect, as any fool could see. Irony doesn't come close.
218
Mitt Romney 2016: The Sequel
"There are 47% of Republican who will vote for Donald Trump no matter what...who are dependent upon a phony and a fraud, who love Donald's con game. ...these are people who are not real Republicans. ...and so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their political lives."
Clueless Mitt Romney once again shows he has no idea how to find America's pulse.
"There are 47% of Republican who will vote for Donald Trump no matter what...who are dependent upon a phony and a fraud, who love Donald's con game. ...these are people who are not real Republicans. ...and so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their political lives."
Clueless Mitt Romney once again shows he has no idea how to find America's pulse.
542
The funny thing out the 47% of Republicans who will vote for Trump is that a sizeable proportion of them voted for Obama.
America no longer has a pulse. It's become the Dis-united States of America.
First of all, ALL of these GOP clowns need to apologize to President Obama.
What they have done first to our country's democratic system is unforgivable, never mind their party, which rightfully is on life support. The mendacity is of a level historians will be writing about for decades.
Mitt has the gall to diss Hillary Clinton in his attack on Trump. The rot is to the bone with these people.
What they have done first to our country's democratic system is unforgivable, never mind their party, which rightfully is on life support. The mendacity is of a level historians will be writing about for decades.
Mitt has the gall to diss Hillary Clinton in his attack on Trump. The rot is to the bone with these people.
1118
And to the American. Millions of them have lost everything, including hope. These GOP clowns just don't get it.
The Republicans want it both ways: they want Donald Trump to go away and they want to win the White House and retain control of the Senate and House of Representatives by running candidates who are...no different from Donald Trump. The A-list GOPers decided to trot out a Letter of 95 (much like the Letter of 47 to Iran last summer) to warn us of what a Trump presidency would mean on the international stage. However, not one of them stood up to then-House Speaker John Boehner a year ago when he invited Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington to beg Congress to sabotage President Obama's delicate negotiations with Iran. The GOP looks the other way when the president is a Democrat and refuses to work with him. But now, aghast at the degradation to which their party has sunk, all they can do is bleat about Trump's unfitness. The party elite cheered H. W.'s Desert Storm and W.'s excellent Iraq and Afghanistan adventures but now find it inconvenient that Trump corrals state after state in the primaries, destroying seasoned politicians in the process. The time for Republican statesmanship and diplomacy expired long ago. Even President Eisenhower has blood on his hands today (the destabilization of Persia) and Nixon undercut his Russia and China initiatives with an office burglary six months later. Reagan destabilized much of Central America, bullied Grenada, and traded arms for hostages with Iran. And they're afraid of Donald Trump?
492
Anyone who actually believes Mitt when he says he's not angling to snatch the nomination for himself doesn't know Mitt. I remember when he said, quite adamantly, that he would not run against an incumbent Republican for Governor of Massachusetts. He promptly pushed aside the incumbent Republican, Jane Swift, and ran for Governor himself. Those of us who have been watching him for a long time know just how slippery he can be and how conditional his truth can be. I've felt for some time that this disastrous Republican primary season was a set-up for Romney to ride in on his white horse, accept a draft in a brokered convention and save the day. Compared to the jokers who have been campaigning he'll look like gold to many people, but quite frankly the only difference I see between Mr. Trump and Mr. Romney is that (metaphorically speaking) Trump will spit in your face, but Romney will stab you in the back.
478
Amazing that a reasonably intelligent man could be so dumb. Americans didn't want him in 2008 OR 2012. I'm a Democrat, but the only GOP candidate that doesn't nauseate me is Kasich. Why would anyone want Romney?
1
OMG, you are right. Romney didn't endorse anybody while unifying the opposition would be the only way to beat Trump. He wants a brokered convention, giving him a shot to come in and run again. Brilliant, but no way is it going to work.
Amen!
So, what do you think of your creation now, Mr. Frankenstein?
94
If Romney had been elected president, his comments would possibly have some gravitas. Instead, he, along with so many in the GOP, are acting as those who are sorry for getting caught doing something wrong. Yes, Trump hardly appears as a legitimate candidate, but is he any worse than what said party has offered in recent memory?
71
Editors, your absolutism is showing. You should welcome the explicit denunciation of the dark elements you claim to oppose. But instead you're trying to use this as just another wedge issue. Unsurprising.
5
Mitt is the one trying to give a wedgie to Trump, although it came across like Eddie Haskell. He seems pretty oily himself.
4
The party is painting with a brush and trump is using a roller. The dark elements are the same. Own it
1
Mr Romney is annoyed because The Heritage Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute, the Koch brothers and Ayn Rand are no longer in control of the Republican Party.
615
Yo! Don! Ayn Rand gave up trying to control the Republican party 34 years ago when she bought the ranch.
1
Don
Before making a statement re the influence of the Heritage Foundation, Americn Enterprise Institute, and one you missed, the Cato Institute, and Ayn Rand, I suggest you read "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer. In this book she notes in great detail how the Koch brothers and their allies have worked to install the GOP in statehouses throughout the country and to push forward their agenda.
Before making a statement re the influence of the Heritage Foundation, Americn Enterprise Institute, and one you missed, the Cato Institute, and Ayn Rand, I suggest you read "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer. In this book she notes in great detail how the Koch brothers and their allies have worked to install the GOP in statehouses throughout the country and to push forward their agenda.
7
Well Ayn Rand was never in control of anything - well perhaps a codependent sex partner.
She saw an opportunity to be an apologist for radical conservatism and seized the moment. That's it. That's all. buh bye Ayn.
How embarrassing it must be to have read the Fountain Head and then said (as we have all heard them say): "It changed my life."
She saw an opportunity to be an apologist for radical conservatism and seized the moment. That's it. That's all. buh bye Ayn.
How embarrassing it must be to have read the Fountain Head and then said (as we have all heard them say): "It changed my life."
Just what the Republican Party needs one mean-spirited, bigot attacking another. Mitt, Mr. Self-Deportation, Romney is just about the last person you'd want to defend any establishment including what passes for the Republican Party. If a millionaire who made his money by looting companies of their workers' pensions, throwing them out of work and then denouncing them as the 47 percent "takers" is your chief defender, you have ceded both your credibility along with any semblance of legitimacy and viability. Mr. Romney seems to be engaging in a classic case of "sour grapes" while revealing the Republican Party as heartless zombies needing a proper burial. The voters were right to reject him and his party in the last election and hopefully will do the same to the billionaire bully posing as a populist savior who owes no allegiance to any party or anyone. The impending Trump triumph for the Republican nomination represents the demise of the modern Republican Party and even more ominously that of democracy itself if he wins in November and ushers in an era of plutocracy.
150
"...if (Trump) wins in November and ushers in an era of plutocracy."
Maybe THAT is the abyss that the other candidates are warning us about.
Maybe THAT is the abyss that the other candidates are warning us about.
1
Any one of the GOP candidates will be the final death of democracy. The Kochs of the John Birch Society, a kissing cousin to the KKK, have decreed it.
1
Anyone who follows politics and has observed the Republicans' tradition of using veiled racism, xenophobia, and religious bigotry could probably see a reckoning coming. Well here it is. No fan of Romney although I give him credit for calling out Trump ... but not for seeing these odious, long-standing elements in his own party.
39
you know why sharks don't attack swimming lawyers? professional courtesy.
Romney doesn't even make a good shark. The GOP could have done this another way---now, they all just look like the fools they are.
Romney doesn't even make a good shark. The GOP could have done this another way---now, they all just look like the fools they are.
1
"Mr. Romney spent 20 minutes calling Mr. Trump a fraud and a phony with a record of business failures, whose economic ideas would put the United States into recession and whose foreign policy approach would endanger Americans."
Pot, meet Kettle.
Pot, meet Kettle.
304
As things progress, I wonder when GOP members will drop the gloves and replace words like "phony" and "fraud" with terms like "evil" to mobilize a rejection of Trump. Will things get that ferocious?
There is an argument to be made for bringing in the word "evil," but one must step carefully. There isn't enough room to consider the historical nuances for this in a comments section, but for anyone that's interested....
http://thefourteenthfloor.com/2016/03/03/is-donald-trump-evil-a-14th-flo...
There is an argument to be made for bringing in the word "evil," but one must step carefully. There isn't enough room to consider the historical nuances for this in a comments section, but for anyone that's interested....
http://thefourteenthfloor.com/2016/03/03/is-donald-trump-evil-a-14th-flo...
3
I have a suspicion that this whole business is going to backfire for the very reason that people have picket their candidate and telling them now that the person of their choice is a fraud is saying to that crowd--you made a mistake, your choice was an error--and people are not going to like it one bit to be pointed out as fools (which they are). they will dig their heels in deeper. The GOP needs to try a different tack, one that gets the message out but doesn't "dumb-shame" anyone.
Personally Bernie is the only candidate that I see as qualified is ALL ways. He is scandal free and upstanding with integrity .
Personally Bernie is the only candidate that I see as qualified is ALL ways. He is scandal free and upstanding with integrity .
2
The whole GOP cast is a nightmare...this goes back 50 years to the Southern Strategy and followed up by corporate right wing money, religious, militaristic and racist pandering and finally a fractured media , capped off by FOX News...a fake news organization that serves as the right wing extremist fear mongering propaganda machine ....today's Romney panic attack is a joke..he and his cynical ilk brought this mess down on their own heads... and threatens the well being and security of this nation. Frankly, I take most of them to be criminals.
348
One billionaire who's a three time failed candidate criticizing another billionaire candidate who's trying to win this time around.
Boil their financial plans and they both have the same goals: tax cuts for the wealthy and stick it to the middle and working class.
Why are they so angry with each other when they're playing for the same team?
Boil their financial plans and they both have the same goals: tax cuts for the wealthy and stick it to the middle and working class.
Why are they so angry with each other when they're playing for the same team?
238
Trump exposed them. He has forced them to see their base for what it is.
They'll never forgive him for it. It's out in the open now.
Thing is though, they awakened a monster - first when they put Sarah Palin on the ticket and now, when they've humored Donald Trump, even pledged to support him, odious as he may be, if he's the GOP nominee in the fall.
Think about that. Trump may be the Second Coming of Mussolini but, oh well.
Party first!
It's pretty disgusting. And scary.
A few Republicans have come out and said they won't support him no matter what, but far, far too few. Instead they're trying to paper over it with candidates as bad as Trump, considering their policies, the values, and what they intend to do if elected.
They'll never forgive him for it. It's out in the open now.
Thing is though, they awakened a monster - first when they put Sarah Palin on the ticket and now, when they've humored Donald Trump, even pledged to support him, odious as he may be, if he's the GOP nominee in the fall.
Think about that. Trump may be the Second Coming of Mussolini but, oh well.
Party first!
It's pretty disgusting. And scary.
A few Republicans have come out and said they won't support him no matter what, but far, far too few. Instead they're trying to paper over it with candidates as bad as Trump, considering their policies, the values, and what they intend to do if elected.
1
'Why are they so angry with each other when they're playing for the same team?'
No, as teams of one, they are out only for themselves. I am much more afraid of Cruz and Rubio who play for Team Theocracy.
No, as teams of one, they are out only for themselves. I am much more afraid of Cruz and Rubio who play for Team Theocracy.
1
If anything, Romneys speech just confirms that the Republican Party and its supporters continue not to get it and how, because of this monster that they created, they will ultimately, end up on the scrap heap of political history. This group honestly still thinks that the people that are supporting Trump are different from those that support the mainstream Republican Party.
Clearly, they are in a continual state of denial that the attitudes and prejudices of Trump supporters are and have always been the attitudes of Republican voters in general. Sadly, for them the cat is now out of the bag and they are at a total loss of how to handle it all.
Clearly, they are in a continual state of denial that the attitudes and prejudices of Trump supporters are and have always been the attitudes of Republican voters in general. Sadly, for them the cat is now out of the bag and they are at a total loss of how to handle it all.
71
Trump is merely the symptom not the disease. The disease is the party itself - notably McConnell - and Fox News. They can get rid of Trump but it won't solve the GOP's problems. When a party wants the people rather than the President to select a Supreme Court Justice, and wants a brokered convention rather than the people to select a president, the body politic is too sick to survive. Call a Doctor - just not Dr. Carson.
129
Sarah,
Interesting.
They are turning everything on its head for short term political survival. This is what panicked desperation in a dying party looks like.
The nation has been drifting in this direction since Goldwater was nominated, Nixon perfected the 'southern strategy', and RR declared 'Government is the problem'.
Interesting.
They are turning everything on its head for short term political survival. This is what panicked desperation in a dying party looks like.
The nation has been drifting in this direction since Goldwater was nominated, Nixon perfected the 'southern strategy', and RR declared 'Government is the problem'.
2
the body politic is too sick to survive. Call a Doctor"
NO, call the undertaker. GOP IS DEAD.
NO, call the undertaker. GOP IS DEAD.
1
All of this rending of garments by Republicans would have more impact if they announced that a Trump nomination would force them to vote for the Democratic front runner. The most qualified, non-Vice President, in our nations history. But, once again, they see obstruction as their only tactic. They can't see the, obvious, solution to their problem when it's standing right across the aisle.
55
Rick, you got that right.
They are worried and want to destroy Trump, but not to save America. They want to save the GOP. They give not a hoot in Hades about America at large.
Why Mitt and why now?
Theory;
Trump threatens to bring some of the 47% into the GOP and the GOP elites no like-ee.
They are worried and want to destroy Trump, but not to save America. They want to save the GOP. They give not a hoot in Hades about America at large.
Why Mitt and why now?
Theory;
Trump threatens to bring some of the 47% into the GOP and the GOP elites no like-ee.
1
YES, the GOP super pacs could pay for political ads for Hillary and Bernie and really use them to DUMPF DRUMPF. The billions that could go to defeat their own guy. I can see the movie now. Art imitates life big time. Everyone could come out of this smellin' like a rose by any other name would be a democrat in the White House.
"It is an excellent thing that the Republican leaders have noticed the problem they’ve fostered, now embodied in the Trump candidacy."
The problem is embodied in the Rubio and Cruz candidacies as well. I don't say this to defend Trump, but to recognize the scope of the problem. Not a single one of these candidates is qualified to be president. We have a rigid evangelical ideologue, a carnival barker and an empty suit. These three candidates are the remaining choices, as selected by a Republican base that the party leadership exploited, fomented and can no longer control. It is a base that no longer understands or values democracy. I'd laugh about just desserts were it not so terrifying for our nation.
The problem is embodied in the Rubio and Cruz candidacies as well. I don't say this to defend Trump, but to recognize the scope of the problem. Not a single one of these candidates is qualified to be president. We have a rigid evangelical ideologue, a carnival barker and an empty suit. These three candidates are the remaining choices, as selected by a Republican base that the party leadership exploited, fomented and can no longer control. It is a base that no longer understands or values democracy. I'd laugh about just desserts were it not so terrifying for our nation.
281
>>>>It is a base that no longer understands or values democracy.
Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. And while that part of the Republican base swings in the wind at Obama's alleged lack of constitutional regard, they advocate processes and solutions that are decidedly unconstitutional, on a number of levels. Of course, they can't see this because they are, as characterized recently on some news shows, "low information voters"; people who take a position on a me-too basis, along with their tribe, without obtaining nor even caring about the facts. And, in yet another blow to our democracy, to your point, these people VOTE!
Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. And while that part of the Republican base swings in the wind at Obama's alleged lack of constitutional regard, they advocate processes and solutions that are decidedly unconstitutional, on a number of levels. Of course, they can't see this because they are, as characterized recently on some news shows, "low information voters"; people who take a position on a me-too basis, along with their tribe, without obtaining nor even caring about the facts. And, in yet another blow to our democracy, to your point, these people VOTE!
3
JF,
Well said. Terrifying it is.
Now we know why every argument on every subject of national importance we have made with these people are rejected out of hand regardless of logic or the facts.
Well said. Terrifying it is.
Now we know why every argument on every subject of national importance we have made with these people are rejected out of hand regardless of logic or the facts.
Seldom have I agreed so much with the Editorial Board of the NYT as in their last paragraph. The Republicans are hoist with their own petard, fueled by the anti-government powder supplied over decades by Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, blasting caps inserted by the Tea Party. Now they have a figure whom Hugo von Hofmannsthal characterized when the Hapsburg parliament descended into the chaos of nationalism and anti-Semitism at the end of the 19th century: "Who can summon the powers from below, him will they follow."
78
Rambling, less than noble, incompetent.
Republican leaders should look in the mirror but lacking reason or rationality ( climate change? ) they are too disorganized to mount a defense to Trump. And this is our pro-business party? Republicans cannot run a lemonade stand in the desert.
Republican leaders should look in the mirror but lacking reason or rationality ( climate change? ) they are too disorganized to mount a defense to Trump. And this is our pro-business party? Republicans cannot run a lemonade stand in the desert.
51
"Republicans cannot run a lemonade stand in the desert."
They might have to learn how if the Democrats take home all the marbles in November. I think Trump U. offers a 2-semester course on the subject.
A credit course, of course.
They might have to learn how if the Democrats take home all the marbles in November. I think Trump U. offers a 2-semester course on the subject.
A credit course, of course.
3
Mitt Romney is giving more material for Trump to react to, which his supporters love.
And New York Times you are pushing out more material on Trump, which is eclipsing other news stories. Just look at your home screen. It's all Trump vs. GOP, Fights with Trump, Romney Denounces Trump, and Trump and Trump and Trump!
I don't pay for the subscription to be fed Trump for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All I am asking for is a midnight snack of other news on the election than just Trump. We need full coverage. It's been two days since Super Tuesday and I have no idea if Clinton or Bernie are still alive.
And New York Times you are pushing out more material on Trump, which is eclipsing other news stories. Just look at your home screen. It's all Trump vs. GOP, Fights with Trump, Romney Denounces Trump, and Trump and Trump and Trump!
I don't pay for the subscription to be fed Trump for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All I am asking for is a midnight snack of other news on the election than just Trump. We need full coverage. It's been two days since Super Tuesday and I have no idea if Clinton or Bernie are still alive.
129
NYT is obsessed with Trump and Hillary. Although they have officially endorsed Kasich, they barely write a word about him (too boring). And they barely write about Sanders as well. Nate Cohn has already declared Hillary a winner, even though most/majority states in the country have not yet voted in the primaries. Their bias is blatant and unprofessional. But thankfully voters can see through it.
1
Game over for Rubio, Cruz, Mitt, one-term Mitchie and everybody in the GOP!
You have destroyed the party of Lincoln. Do not expect Abe to rise up now and emancipate you from Trump!
You have destroyed the party of Lincoln. Do not expect Abe to rise up now and emancipate you from Trump!
61
rg,
What a cold, cruel, unkind, statement.
I love it!
What a cold, cruel, unkind, statement.
I love it!
3
Actually, they are representatives of the party of LINCOLN :
"george LINCOLN rockwell the founder of the American Nazi Party ...a neo-Nazi movement in the United States,.... influential among white nationalists and neo-Nazis." (adapted from Wikipedia).
"george LINCOLN rockwell the founder of the American Nazi Party ...a neo-Nazi movement in the United States,.... influential among white nationalists and neo-Nazis." (adapted from Wikipedia).
1
A phony calls a phony a phony. Bring out the popcorn.
831
Mitt Romney's Bain Capital made tons of money for its partners by taking over troubled companies, stripping their saleable assets and throwing thousands of people out of work. You can read the details in David Stockman's book "The Great Deformation".
3
Actually checked out Trump's accusation about the 9 car garage. It's true. Romney did build a garage with a car elevator in his San Diego multi million dollar home. And Romney speaks for the people?
And then there's Hillary the phony. What's a voter to do?
1
In a way, Donald Trump is the best thing to happen to the GOP. He may likely represent the compete destruction and extinction of the party as we know it, while at the same personally sabotaging their November electoral chances as much as possible. It's a win-win for America in that neither Trump nor the GOP win. There is a silver lining to this
760
I remember when we liberals gleefully predicted that Ronald Reagan couldn't win. I'd be very careful before I started gloating that the Republican party is destroyed and that Trump can't win.
4
The grey cloud to your sliver lining is a Clinton presidency. More of the same I'm afraid. An ever changing panderer. Last week she was the great black leader and second coming of Obama. This week she is Bernie 2.0.
Not one original thought behind her coronation.
Clinton does not represent democracy but a nepotistic aristocracy.
Not one original thought behind her coronation.
Clinton does not represent democracy but a nepotistic aristocracy.
2
True, but dependant upon the good sense of a majority of voting Americans. Not a given (see Bush election 2004).
2
So wouldn't it be oh so interesting if the GOP Establishment fails in its efforts to stop a Trump nomination and then Romney (of all people) runs as a Third Party candidate?
He never took the pledge and the GOP Elites appear to prefer a Democrat in the White House rather than Trump. That possibility would seem to be the only alternative left for the Establishment and they would accomplish what they set out to do...........Prevent Trump from hijacking the Party and the White House at all costs.
What goes around could come back around.
He never took the pledge and the GOP Elites appear to prefer a Democrat in the White House rather than Trump. That possibility would seem to be the only alternative left for the Establishment and they would accomplish what they set out to do...........Prevent Trump from hijacking the Party and the White House at all costs.
What goes around could come back around.
6
Romney is out for Romney. Once he found that Jeb! was out he wanted to throw his hat in the ring. He is hoping for a dead heat at the convention so he can be the nominee. Knowing the media would cover a rift in the party and put him on television. It worked. He may even get one more new cycle before it is over with the Today show interview on Friday morning. Day old bread, nobody wants it.
46
I just hope Trump thanks Romney for gaining him more voters. Poor Mitt Romney a man who got rich performing "Leveraged Buyouts" one of the most useless forms of financial engineering there is. The media in 2012 never took Romney to task on what an awful thing a leveraged buyout is. Mitt Romney is exhibit A of our broken economy.
444
Mitt Romney did everything that caused our country's problems which Trump is telling his audiences. Romney and folks like him have gotten rich and more rich because they have benefitted from all the runaway globalism that has taken away wealth, dignity from American workers. And then Romney has the cheek to lash out at the 47% "who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it -- that that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
5
My irony meter exploded. Whatever happened to Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment: Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican?
Normally this much dysfunction in the Republican party would fill me with Schaudenfraude, but this is just too scary to be amusing.
Normally this much dysfunction in the Republican party would fill me with Schaudenfraude, but this is just too scary to be amusing.
45
Hard to believe that a mere 10 years ago Karl Rove was still plotting a permanent GOP ruling majority.
4
As someone once observed, a smart person knows Frankenstein was not the monster, a wise person knows Frankenstein WAS the monster.
42
The bats are out of the belfry, during day and night. No sleep for the GOPers now. Their reign of terror is now directed on themselves. Their ship is listing badly to the right and the fighting they are about to start will sink their Titanic There has not been anything nearly as destructive in the history of party politics in America. Their dastardly deeds are wrecking their house. There's no place they can hide and no one to blame but their own Party's shenanigan's. I believe Lincoln is pleased with their impending dissolution. They are their own evil doers. They have undone themselves. The Red Sea is about to inundate them.
35
And as their ship slips slowly from this world and human sight, they will undoubtedly curse to the skies, "This is all Obama's fault!"
Clueless to the bitter end.
Clueless to the bitter end.
3
I just want to thank the Republican Party for a job.....done.
19
More evidence that Romney is hopelessly out of touch if he believes Trump's supporters care what he thinks.
And why the special hatred for Trump alone? Cruz is arguably just as (if not more) frightening, and Rubio has proven to be embarrassingly undignified.
And why the special hatred for Trump alone? Cruz is arguably just as (if not more) frightening, and Rubio has proven to be embarrassingly undignified.
1120
My guess why the hatred for Trump is singled out is that he can't be manipulated monetarily by the GOP gang unlike Cruz and Ruby.
7
The hatred for Trump is because he failed to dog whistle, so let the cat out of the bag - if I may mix my metaphors.
Why the special hatred? Because Trump will not play nice with corporate America and Wall Street, Cruz and Rubio will. Cruz and Rubio will not just play nice, they will gleefully embrace the dark side.
5
I'd rather have Donald Trump insult me as a woman than have Mitt Romney buy my workplace, fire everybody, close it and sell it for scrap, then hide his profit in a bank account in the Caymans.
661
I'd rather not have either, fast&furious. Disgusting.
8
Yes. But, he didn't break any laws! (Romney)
Ah, the table is tilted for the wealthy. You are never going to see an employee at Walmart cut their taxes in half by parking their money in a Caribbean island.
It's all perfectly legal because the wealthy have made it so. Paying off the lawmakers to write laws that help them, and no one else.
Ah, the table is tilted for the wealthy. You are never going to see an employee at Walmart cut their taxes in half by parking their money in a Caribbean island.
It's all perfectly legal because the wealthy have made it so. Paying off the lawmakers to write laws that help them, and no one else.
5
@fast&furious,
Is there a lesser of two evils here? I reject both. You can add Cruz, Rubio and company. They're a collective menace.
3-4-16@2:11 am
Is there a lesser of two evils here? I reject both. You can add Cruz, Rubio and company. They're a collective menace.
3-4-16@2:11 am
2
In the immortal words of Francis X. Zappa, "Do you love it, do you hate it? There it is the way you made it. WOW!"
20
Republicans are like cannibals, they eat their fellow Republicans. I just hope the Democrats are smart enough to not interfere until the banquet is over.
66
"Dr. Lecter? Dr. Lecter?"
3
What I heard Romney say is "if Trump is nominated, I'm voting for Hillary". This is the logical position that many thinking republicans will take. While publicly they can't admit that the Obama administration has been largely successful, in the privacy of the voting both they will vote for more of the same rather than the dangerous unknown that the Donald represents. Hillary in office at last provides a reason for the GOP to continue to exist. Trump in office means that the GOP as we knew it is gone.
395
To Romney, Hillary is a better Republican than Trump.
5
Make that "I'm voting for Bernie" will be closer to the truth come the 6th of November! And a multitude of angry while males will - at least - see that the insurgent from the left has much more to offer to them. Even if, at first, it's all blood, toil, sweat and tears!
2
Let's hope the opposite is not true, i.e. that they will publicly say they won't vote for Trump and then do so in the voting booth.
Very true. The GOP mainstream played with fire. And now not only are they getting burned, it threatens to burn down the house we live in.
A lesson to everyone, on *all* sides: Once you whip up anger and resentment (even when it may be justified), you risk unleashing dark, powerful, irrational forces. Do not delude yourself you can 'control' them. And Trump, in time, may find he is not directing events but borne along by them.
I don't see anything good in the road up ahead ....
A lesson to everyone, on *all* sides: Once you whip up anger and resentment (even when it may be justified), you risk unleashing dark, powerful, irrational forces. Do not delude yourself you can 'control' them. And Trump, in time, may find he is not directing events but borne along by them.
I don't see anything good in the road up ahead ....
37
The only good so far is the unmasking of the GOP to the masses. Finally! It is a little frightening to see these forces unleashed yet thrilling at the same time.
4
What is totally amazing is the lack of self-awareness that Republicans have been plowing the fertile ground for a candidate like Trump. Now they want to totally disavow him. The moderate Governor from Mass had to morph into a right wing conservative to appeal to the base that is so hung ho for Trump today. This whole sad show is loaded with irony.
69
This from the man who famously described half of all Americans as "takers." Up until now, I've used a photo of a fire hydrant engulfed in flames to explain the concept of irony to my students. Now I can use the video of Mitt's speech.
71
Everybody thought Mitt Romney's 47% adage was fine and dandy. But now for some reason, the same party finds Donald Trump's statements bullying and phony and that he's a fraud.
Does Mitt Romney really think our memories are that poor? That we've forgotten his 47% speech that he thought was so clever? His anti Trump speech today isn't that clever either.
Does Mitt Romney really think our memories are that poor? That we've forgotten his 47% speech that he thought was so clever? His anti Trump speech today isn't that clever either.
56
Mitt's memory is slipping. While bashing the Democrats and the Clintons specifically for taking money after leaving office, he conveniently forgot that they were shown the way by Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush. And he completely forgot his US History 2000 to 2008; he must have been in some type of suspended animation. Also, he forgot that George W. Bush has been out peddling himself, making money off the office of the Presidency. (And I believe Mitt has actually been peddling himself, making money off the fact that he is a Republican Conservative, former Republican Governor of Massachusetts and former nominee to be President of the US.)
9
Very negative tone here.
Why not just thank Mitt Romney for showing some back bone?
Why not just thank Mitt Romney for showing some back bone?
5
Why not? Because he only cares that his GOP, the part-party of billionaire exploiters, might lose due to Trump. There's no backbone there, only fear.
24
Are you kidding? Romney and the whole GOP party leadership finally see the barbarians are at the gate and yet they still don't get it! Backbone would have been standing up and offering a profound apology to the American people (Trump's base) for stealing all the wealth and hope for the future from under their noses, while they shamelessly fanned the flames of bigotry, racism, sexism, xenophobia, birtherism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Obama-hating, gridlock-government—god, the list is almost endless. All they do now is insult Trump's supporters.
20
Why not just thank Donald Trump for destroying the Republican party? Now if we could just do the same for the Democratic party...
Exactly said, editorial board.
Trump is actually the PERFECT candidate for the Republican party, the one they have been grooming their base for for years.
This is the chickens, all growed up, coming emphatically home to roost.
Trump is actually the PERFECT candidate for the Republican party, the one they have been grooming their base for for years.
This is the chickens, all growed up, coming emphatically home to roost.
120
Romney and all those who suddenly have opened their mouths to denigrate DJT will accomplish one thing - more animosity towards them, and larger crowds for DJT.
These people are truly tone-deaf.
Go Hillary! show them what a President of the United States sounds like, the command of language, facts and realities around the world. How one behaves, and how one 'plays' in the global playground. You go girl!!!
These people are truly tone-deaf.
Go Hillary! show them what a President of the United States sounds like, the command of language, facts and realities around the world. How one behaves, and how one 'plays' in the global playground. You go girl!!!
101
I am thrilled to see Donald J. Trump expose the rethuglicans for who they really are! He IS them, without the mealy mouthed subterfuge. Also, I think he is not as maniacally hard right as their other offers. If I had to use one word to describe Rafael Eduardo Cruz, it would be SATAN, and I'm not even a christian.
103
I think the GOP is already disintegrating, they just have not realized it yet. The fear and loathing that has been promoted since the Reagan administration has finally caused a permanent split in the party - a small group of governing elites that wish to have power to serve their patrons, and a large group of their electorate that now believes that government is bad and worthless. Good job, enough people have bought the lies such that your party is now kaput, never to be recovered. I expect this three party system, Dems, old GOP, and the new know-nothings to persist for at least the next one or two cycles
43
A system of several parties is obviously the answer to this chaotic situation.
2
Trump won't genuflect to the party establishment and he won't use their dog whistle. They hate his insubordination, not his thinking. Mitt is no less despicable than Trump, just more pretentious. As are Rubio and Cruz. The Republicans are unmasked.
928
So true. Trump is no less despicable but his instrument of choice is a bull horn, not a dog whistle.
5
Of course the fact that the GOP has gone off the rails to a terrifying degree has been obvious since at least the Iraq invasion. What Mr Drumpf has shattered is the pretense that this can all be contained and normalized within the "both siderist" convention the major media and beltway pundits have been so dedicated to upholding, lo these many years. One of the many ways in which the Drumpf campaign is serving the public good is by shattering that long-untenable pretense, as witness the present editorial. "Unmasked" in that sense, yes indeed.
4
You forget the part about his using the GOP's racist dog-whistle by not repudiating the KKK's endorsement until AFTER the primaries in the South were over. That move jerked away the mask to the "Southern strategy", much to the GOP elite's embarrassment.
2
“Frankly, I think we have good reason to believe that there’s a bombshell in Donald Trump’s taxes,” Mr. Romney said in an interview with Fox News.
Asked what he meant, Mr. Romney shared some theories: “Either he’s not anywhere near as wealthy as he says he is, or he hasn’t been paying the kind of taxes we would expect him to pay, or perhaps he hasn’t been giving money to the vets or to the disabled like he’s been telling us he’s been doing.”
is this whats known as cognitive dissonance in psychiatric circles ?
Asked what he meant, Mr. Romney shared some theories: “Either he’s not anywhere near as wealthy as he says he is, or he hasn’t been paying the kind of taxes we would expect him to pay, or perhaps he hasn’t been giving money to the vets or to the disabled like he’s been telling us he’s been doing.”
is this whats known as cognitive dissonance in psychiatric circles ?
91
This is the very best Editorial Board editorial...............ever. Thank you NY Times
28
This is political farce of the highest order. It's a real life version of the Caucus Race in "Alice in Wonderland", except in this version, no one wins.
23
We all know Mitt Romney. He is no angel and he absolutely has nothing on Donald Trump. He needs to take his ego and go home once and for all. As for Donald Trump, the voters have spoken.
37
I think Trump is as nutty as the next guy does, but when I read "Then came an open letter from 95 Republican national security experts" that really gave me pause. What if Trump isn't so crazy after all? The wealthy pulling the strings on the Republican party can get 100 economists to write a letter anytime they want (remember when galloping inflation was just around the corner after the Fed purchases?) so this just seems like more of the same...
57
Wait. Let me get this straight. The establishment Republicans think that trotting out two big time losers, Mitt Romney and John McCain, is going to stop Donald Trump?
Fasten your seat belts folks.
The party pooh-bahs are about to have their heads handed to them by The Donald -- again.
And may they take down every GOP Senator with them!
Fasten your seat belts folks.
The party pooh-bahs are about to have their heads handed to them by The Donald -- again.
And may they take down every GOP Senator with them!
427
McCain, who gave us Sarah Palin, has a lot of nerve.
18
This Republican "strategy" is the dumbest thing ever. Trump is the leading choice of the primary voters, like it or not. The GOP will do nothing but anger the voters by declaring war on their choice or running a separate candidate on an independent slate should Trump be the nominee. I am no fan of Trump but under the American voting system, the party rallies around the people's choice, other actions are carried out at great risk to the party.
190
I am most definitely no supporter of Donald Trump. However, I can't help but note that the GOP is shaping up to be awash in irony (as well as a number of other things): After their party's Senators have declared forcefully that they must sabotage the judicial nomination process in order for wait for the Presidential election, so that the people can have their say, the GOP is now poised to undermine the people's say in whom to elect for the Presidency.
7
That's true. But the Republicans attacking Romney don't think he's a Republican, so if he wins, they lose.
1
Lynn in DC, theoretically, you're right. But sometimes the people are wrong. History shows us that democracies have produced horrible leaders, some in the not so distant past.
Then, when the dust settles, survivors and historians wonder, couldn't something have been done to stop this madness?
Then, when the dust settles, survivors and historians wonder, couldn't something have been done to stop this madness?
3
_Tone deaf_ doesn't even begin to talk about this not very helpful move by Mitt Romney, who--according to Trump--would have been "on his knees" for Trump's endorsement in 2012.
29
There's a part of me -- a large part -- that believes the attacks on Mr. Trump are less about him and his views, than about the GOP fear of losing, and perhaps losing big, in November.
52
A very large part. Approximately 100.00000%, as Mr. Spock would say.
22
As this editorial indicates, Republican leadership (if you can call it that) has hit such lows that its criticisms of Trump are more applicable to the "leadership" itself.
32
At last the end of False Equivalence. Republicans are not equally at fault with the Democrats, Republicans are entirely at fault. when FOX took up the "Fair and Balanced" moniker it rang false. "The liberal media" is just propaganda. The lies are exposed. "Cutting taxes", "job creators", "free market", "enhanced interrogation", "trickle down economics" are all lies. They are un-American, just as saying that “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” is un-American, and anti-democracy. "tyranny in the defense of liberty is no vice" is a lie, is anti democratic, is an excuse to surrender our country to dictatorship.
11
I think this article can be summed up as follows:
"Hello, Kettle? It's Pot. You're black."
"Hello, Kettle? It's Pot. You're black."
70
The pot calling the kettle black - nothing written by the funniest hollywood writers could come up with anything this comedic and/or absurd. The pathetic part is that so many millions believe these cretins should be elected officials.
105
Who left Mitt Romney in charge as spokesperson for the Republican party? It is infuriating to think any establishment party is so desperate to control the people that it would damage/influence anyone. It is America and anyone can vote for whoever they choose. It is truly un American.
22
Oh, I'm sure some of the establishment crowd dug him out and roped him into it. If DT did in fact shoot someone in the street, these pathetic souls still wouldn't be able to bring themselves to vote for HRC. I bet they secretly wish she were their candidate.
2
"Then came an open letter from 95 Republican national security experts, who declared themselves “united in our opposition to a Donald Trump presidency.”"
Look closer at that list of 95 names. They are the most horrible examples of the excesses of the Bush Admin. They include many who belong in jail for their own foreign policy actions.
This is a rebellion, but of what? Of criminals. Of those who themselves led us into the darkest places. They want us to go back and stay there.
I don't like Romney, but this is a list of those I'd jail for what they already did. Those are his self-declared enemies.
Look closer at that list of 95 names. They are the most horrible examples of the excesses of the Bush Admin. They include many who belong in jail for their own foreign policy actions.
This is a rebellion, but of what? Of criminals. Of those who themselves led us into the darkest places. They want us to go back and stay there.
I don't like Romney, but this is a list of those I'd jail for what they already did. Those are his self-declared enemies.
585
I would love to see Trump round up Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Woo, and the banksters who started the criminal wars and ripped US off in the Great Recession. The impunity they enjoy is a disgrace to US and our legal system--they deserve to spend decades in Guantanamo.
2
You'd jail (or at least try) them and so would I. But not our current President - or probably the next one. Another one of the sorrows of Obama I guess.
1
Why aren't Bush-Cheney being summoned to the War Crimes Tribunal yet? Why are they still out of jail. Will they be summoned posthumously? By our grandchildren?
3
"the darkest elements of the party’s base, which many of them have embraced or exploited"
Many of them? You'd be hard pressed to name one who hasn't.
In this moment when they break and confess, drive it home. Don't make excuses for any of them.
Many of them? You'd be hard pressed to name one who hasn't.
In this moment when they break and confess, drive it home. Don't make excuses for any of them.
246
The possibility of both Willard Mitt and Jeb! withdrawing from the race within days, or weeks, of each other would have been the most delicious of spectacles.