Thread: Welcome to the Donald Trump Primary. Again

Welcome to the Donald Trump Primary. Again.

By Molly Ball
Dec 6 2011, 11:13 AM ET2

The flamboyant reality-show host has some takers for his Republican primary debate -- and some detractors as well

Donald Trump, the reality television star who is equal parts mouth and hairdo, has taken it upon himself to host a Republican primary debate on Dec. 27 in Iowa. And while some of the candidates are horrified and refuse to get anywhere near the event, others are seizing the opportunity to court the man who had a shockingly well-received presidential flirtation of his own earlier this year. A rundown of who's playing in the Trump primary:


* Newt Gingrich: All-in. The newly minted front-runner loves a stage, and he loves The Donald, too. He was the first candidate to accept Trump's invitation to the Dec. 27 debate, agreeing without hesitation. On Monday, Gingrich paid Trump a visit in New York City, after which the two held a joint news conference. Gingrich called Trump a "great showman," "great businessman" and "a genuine American icon in his own right."


Gingrich happens to be a member of Trump's Northern Virginia golf club, though a Gingrich spokesman told USA Today the game is not his forte: "I wouldn't call what Newt does 'golfing.' I would say it is closer to walking with an occasional use of a golf club."


* Rick Santorum: Count him in. Still grinding it out in Iowa in hopes his hard work will pay off by the time of the caucuses, Santorum hasn't had a turn atop the polls thus far. The former Pennsylvania senator can use all the attention he can get, even if it means sharing a stage with someone who doesn't exactly share Santorum's strict family values. Santorum tweeted Monday that he'll attend the Trump event.


* Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman: Above such childishness. Both Paul and Huntsman went out of their way to turn down Trump, issuing public statements slamming the event as a stupid stunt. Paul: "The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate ... is beneath the office of the presidency and flies in the face of that office's history and dignity. ... Mr. Trump's participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere." Huntsman: "I'm not going to kiss [Trump's] ring and I'm not going to kiss any other part of his anatomy. This is exactly what is wrong with politics. It's show business over substance."


Paul and Huntsman have frequently found common cause as GOP renegades this primary season, though one of them has surged to second place in Iowa while the other is struggling to break out of single digits in New Hampshire. But they may be coming from slightly different places where Trump is concerned. Paul has had it in for Trump since the latter slammed him offhandedly at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, whereas Huntsman, whose top strategist once derided the Republican Party as "a bunch of cranks," simply disdains anything he finds insufficiently dignified. Trump, for his part, has declared both Paul and Huntsman "joke candidates."


* Michele Bachmann: Huge fan, but no RSVP. Bachmann has paid her respects to The Donald more elaborately than any other candidate, meeting with him four times. She's also the only candidate for whom he's held a campaign event: In October, Bachmann hosted Trump on a tele-town hall of her supporters. A few days ago, she listed Trump among her potential vice presidential picks. But she hasn't committed to attend Trump's event, saying she's worried he may be biased toward another candidate he plans to endorse.


* Mitt Romney, Rick Perry: Holding back. Both Romney and Perry met with Trump in New York over the course of the campaign season, but representatives of their campaigns said they haven't yet decided whether to attend the Iowa debate. Trump recently said Romney "doesn't get the traction" in the presidential race, but defended him against accusations of flip-flopping: "We all change our minds on things."

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc ... in/249530/

I don't care what any one look like as long as they
can get back Our Country. they say what they are going to do
well when you get in do it . I don't care about mr trump hair do
he very well dress in fact every one look the part . you dress for
the part the President . what they do out of the office
that up to them how they dress . but all i know is Our country
Is in mess & you all know this . all i see is each one is trying to get
back at each other for the wh . & that not the way to do this
you all knock one another to not end . just do the right thing
1 fight for your Country. close the Border down
get all of the illegal immigrnats out
get the only that on welfare . off they can work
not only mexico the other Country also
don't buy any thing from other Country
we have American that can do the same thing

we have car mad in other country why it cheap well get the American to do this
should I go on get your head out of the sand fight
for our Country
our guy's & girls are over sea doing the same thing
& all congress is doing is kicking each other down
Just to get in the wh
& don't say your not
No amnesty
or Dream Act

All this is is Trumps push/stump what ever you want to call it for Ginghrich....I will not watch this debate at all. Hey Trump your fired!!!!

you right kathyet
No amnesty or Dream act