More big-name Republicans abandon Trump; he just shrugs

[rooster59]

More big-name Republicans abandon Trump; he just shrugs

ERICA WERNER, Associated Press
STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press


WASHINGTON (AP) — Big-name GOP leaders piled on Friday against Donald Trump in an extraordinary show of Republican-vs.-Republican discontent over his winning the party's presidential nomination. Trump just shrugged it off, declaring they didn't really matter when compared to all the voters who turned out to vote for him in this year's primary elections.

Trump grudgingly agreed to meet next week with Paul Ryan, the Republican House speaker whose statement a day earlier — he said he was not ready to embrace Trump's nomination — set off the intraparty fireworks. Trump said he had "no idea" if they would patch things up and it wasn't all that important anyway.

"The thing that matters most are the millions of people that have come out to vote for me and give me a landslide victory in almost every state," Trump said moments after Ryan, the nation's highest-ranking Republican officeholder, announced their planned meeting.

Later in the day, two of Trump's vanquished GOP rivals, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, said they would not vote for him in November. That was a startling rejection by party leaders.

Trump said of Ryan's stance: "I figured, routinely, he would be behind me. The other day, he pulled a big surprise."

He said he was not surprised about Bush's stance and was tersely dismissive of Graham.

Of Bush, he said, "I will not say he's low-energy," reprising a jibe he used frequently during the primary campaign. He mocked Graham's poor primary showing, saying, "Like the voters who rejected him, so will I!"

Ryan said his meeting with Trump would occur next Thursday and that Trump also would meet with other House GOP leaders. Discussions will center on "the kind of Republican principles and ideas that can win the support of the American people this November," Ryan said.

The unlikely back-and-forth came a day after Ryan injected new uncertainty into the turbulent presidential contest by refusing, for now, to endorse Trump. Aides said that, far from seeking to helm an anti-Trump movement, Ryan hopes to exert a positive influence for the general election campaign after a nominating contest that has alienated women, minorities and other voter groups.

Yet Trump's reaction Friday made it unclear what impact Ryan could have.

"With millions of people coming into the party, obviously I'm saying the right thing," Trump said on Fox News Channel. "I mean, he talks about unity, but what is this?"

Democrats are generally steering clear of the Republican infighting, letting the party's leaders tear at each other.

However, President Barack Obama did say when questioned about it at the White House: "This is not entertainment. This is not a reality show," and candidates need to show they have the qualities to lead the world's strongest nation.

As the reality of the GOP divisions sank in Friday, some Republicans were not shy about expressing their displeasure with Ryan. The telegenic Wisconsin Republican served as his party's vice presidential nominee in 2012, was drafted to the high-profile role of House speaker last fall and is seen as having designs on the 2020 presidential nomination himself.

"Yesterday's statement emboldens others to be equally publicly difficult. And that runs the risk of creating a Goldwater kind of moment where the party really does split," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told The Associated Press, referring to the 1964 Republican presidential nominee whose candidacy divided the GOP and was followed by a big Democratic victory.

"I don't necessarily know that that's his role, to be a sticking point for the Republican nominee," said Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, one of a growing number of Trump supporters in the House. Added Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania: "The voters of our party have spoken loud and clear, and it's their voice that matters."

Trump has criticized Ryan in the past and renewed his attacks Friday by arguing that Ryan and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, "lost a race that should have been won" in 2012. Trump and Ryan also have disagreements on policy, from immigration to Social Security to trade.

In his latest surprising breach of orthodoxy on Friday Trump questioned whether the U.S. government would make good on its commitment to fully honor Treasury notes, suggesting he might try to get a better deal.

It all comes at a moment when Trump needs to be reaching out to the women, minorities and others who will be crucial for him to triumph in November over Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee. Trump made what he appeared to believe was an overture in that direction Thursday by tweeting a photo of himself eating a taco bowl in celebration of Cinco de Mayo and declaring his love for Hispanics.

The gesture landed with a thud, and many Latino leaders reacted negatively, although Trump insisted Friday that "People loved it."

Ryan himself said in his initial comments on CNN that he hopes to be able to come around to supporting Trump. He's just not there yet.

"You have to unify all wings of the Republican Party in a conservative movement," he said. "And we've got a ways to go from here to there."

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-05-07

[BKKSnowBird]

Trump doesn't care. His plan to get his friend Hillary elected is working perfectly!

I really can't believe so many people have fallen for this con.

[canuckamuck]

I am not really very excited about Trump and his big mouth, but I am very happy to see the big middle finger his campaign is giving to the totally busted two party system.

[ezzra]

Those people cutting their noses to spite their faces, the more discontent among the GOP the more chances

Obama ( Clinton ) will be elected for a third term......

Edited May 7, 2016 by ezzra

[keemapoot]

Amazing that the guy continues to thumb his nose at traditional conservatives. It is a huge gamble, that if it pays off, will redefine politics in America. If it doesn't pay off, he will be humiliated like no other candidate in history. He may have to run off to Thailand to hide.

[rijit]

Hinting at 'defaulting' on treasury notes ain't a particularly bright idea IMO. Bet the treasury dept absolutely adored that,,,

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[keemapoot]

Hinting at 'defaulting' on treasury notes ain't a particularly bright idea IMO. Bet the treasury dept absolutely adored that,,,

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yeah, an amazing proposal to essentially plunge the USA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Screw the creditors out of a large percentage, reorganize and survive. He thinks of a country and the world as a business, and that shows the lack of depth of his experience. He is so out of his depth it is pathetic...But, if it works...

[SgtRock]

More big-name Republicans abandon Trump; he just shrugs

"The thing that matters most are the millions of people that have come out to vote for me and give me a landslide victory in almost every state," Trump said moments after Ryan, the nation's highest-ranking Republican officeholder, announced their planned meeting.

Right there is the reason that most Politicians, not just in the US are fast becoming as welcome as a dose of the clap.

Party over people every time.

For that reason and that reason alone.

Go Trump. Rip them apart.

[Prbkk]

I wouldn't be too quick to write him off: he has resonated with a significant part of the population. He is clever, or cunning, enough to plot a campaign to appeal to disaffected Democrats. Hilary shouldn't be celebrating his likely nomination. He might be a 40/60 shot now but that will narrow.

Those with long memories will remember UK 1974: govt ahead in the polls, dreadful weather, conservatives didn't bother to voting assuming victory= Harold Wilson and Labour wins.

Plenty more twists and turns ahead

And no, I wouldn't vote for him in a million years.

[BKKSnowBird]

Simple math. The majority of women, blacks, hispanics, and Muslims will not vote Trump.

77% of women have an unfavorable opinion of Trump.

Edited May 7, 2016 by BKKSnowBird

[IMA_FARANG]

I am not really very excited about Trump and his big mouth, but I am very happy to see the big middle finger his campaign is giving to the totally busted two party system.

---------------------------------

You are probably to young to remember or know about the 1968 rots at the Democratic National Convention against the war in Vietnam......but I ihink the rots this yrar in Cleveland against at the RNC convention will be bigger and more violent.

[keemapoot]

I am not really very excited about Trump and his big mouth, but I am very happy to see the big middle finger his campaign is giving to the totally busted two party system.

---------------------------------

You are probably to young to remember or know about the 1968 rots at the Democratic National Convention against the war in Vietnam......but I ihink the rots this yrar in Cleveland against at the RNC convention will be bigger and more violent.

I don't think so, unless the GOP tries to take the nomination away from Trump, which is now unlikely. The anger lies in Trump supporters who have riot potential. The establishment Republicans are not the rioting types. They usually work in more subtle ways.

**edit - unless you're thinking of anti-Trump riots from non-Republicans, yeah that is possible.

Edited May 7, 2016 by keemapoot

[roquefort]

Hinting at 'defaulting' on treasury notes ain't a particularly bright idea IMO. Bet the treasury dept absolutely adored that,,,

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yeah, an amazing proposal to essentially plunge the USA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Screw the creditors out of a large percentage, reorganize and survive. He thinks of a country and the world as a business, and that shows the lack of depth of his experience. He is so out of his depth it is pathetic...But, if it works...

What experience do you think Obama had before becoming President? Or Cameron, or Merkel or Hollande? All these people spend their entire lives inside the political bubble. Their experience of the real world is close to zero.

Whatever one thinks of Trump's views, running a successful business makes him more qualified than an academic who was editor of the Harvard Law Review.

[keemapoot]

Hinting at 'defaulting' on treasury notes ain't a particularly bright idea IMO. Bet the treasury dept absolutely adored that,,,

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yeah, an amazing proposal to essentially plunge the USA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Screw the creditors out of a large percentage, reorganize and survive. He thinks of a country and the world as a business, and that shows the lack of depth of his experience. He is so out of his depth it is pathetic...But, if it works...

What experience do you think Obama had before becoming President? Or Cameron, or Merkel or Hollande? All these people spend their entire lives inside the political bubble. Their experience of the real world is close to zero.

Whatever one thinks of Trump's views, running a successful business makes him more qualified than an academic who was editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Your point is well taken, as I am a businessman myself. Good businessmen get things done, get to the point, and create transformative change to improve their companies. The problem with Trump is that he thinks these same things can work in governance, and perhaps some of them can. He is just too inexperienced and unsophisticated in the governance part, not to mention wrong temperance. Balancing a global superpower requires consensus building, and collaboration, and this guy has yet to prove he can do that.

[oxo1947]

Trump doesn't care. His plan to get his friend Hillary elected is working perfectly!

I really can't believe so many people have fallen for this con.

Yer its really amazing that your the only one that is awake to this whole plot BKKSnowBird,........................

Next thing there be telling us they've put a man on the moon.

[roquefort]

Hinting at 'defaulting' on treasury notes ain't a particularly bright idea IMO. Bet the treasury dept absolutely adored that,,,

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yeah, an amazing proposal to essentially plunge the USA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Screw the creditors out of a large percentage, reorganize and survive. He thinks of a country and the world as a business, and that shows the lack of depth of his experience. He is so out of his depth it is pathetic...But, if it works...

What experience do you think Obama had before becoming President? Or Cameron, or Merkel or Hollande? All these people spend their entire lives inside the political bubble. Their experience of the real world is close to zero.

Whatever one thinks of Trump's views, running a successful business makes him more qualified than an academic who was editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Your point is well taken, as I am a businessman myself. Good businessmen get things done, get to the point, and create transformative change to improve their companies. The problem with Trump is that he thinks these same things can work in governance, and perhaps some of them can. He is just too inexperienced and unsophisticated in the governance part, not to mention wrong temperance. Balancing a global superpower requires consensus building, and collaboration, and this guy has yet to prove he can do that.

Voting for Trump has huge risks attached for sure. But if he surrounds himself with good advisors (which is something else a successful businessman knows how to do) there's a chance he could be the best thing to happen to the USA for over 50 years. Either that or he'll be a total disaster, there'll be no middle way.

But ask yourself this question - could he be any worse than Dubya?

[ttthailand]

A huge part of the president's job is diplomacy, dealing with heads of state and Appointing ambassadors and judges. Also being the Commander in Chief of the most powerful military in the world. What the hell does trump know about any of these things ? Nothing ! Can you picture him starting to call world leaders ugly and fat when they disagree with him ? Or, he decides not to attend a United Nations meeting just because he didn't like someone who questioned him on something. He doesn't even know the names of countries , their leaders nor is educated about world history.

Running the American Economy is only a small part which he really has very little control over. In addition, do you really think any senator or representative is going to support his ideas ? He does not have the power to just stop trade deals or build walls without the support of others. The president is not a King ! He can not just do as he pleases.

I can see a third party coming.... Ryan will run and no one will get enough electoral votes and the Republican Senate and House will select the President and VP. We will see for the second time in history a Republican President and a Democratic VP, Ryan and Clinton. Hahaha.... Could happen

Edited May 7, 2016 by ttthailand

[elgordo38]

Those people cutting their noses to spite their faces, the more discontent among the GOP the more chances

Obama ( Clinton ) will be elected for a third term......

Its call divide and conquer

[elgordo38]

Hinting at 'defaulting' on treasury notes ain't a particularly bright idea IMO. Bet the treasury dept absolutely adored that,,,

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Not to worry over defaulting on treasury notes they will become worthless over time all on their own. If our personal finances were in the same shape as American finances are we would all be in jail. Edited May 7, 2016 by elgordo38

[elgordo38]

I wouldn't be too quick to write him off: he has resonated with a significant part of the population. He is clever, or cunning, enough to plot a campaign to appeal to disaffected Democrats. Hilary shouldn't be celebrating his likely nomination. He might be a 40/60 shot now but that will narrow.

Those with long memories will remember UK 1974: govt ahead in the polls, dreadful weather, conservatives didn't bother to voting assuming victory= Harold Wilson and Labour wins.

Plenty more twists and turns ahead

And no, I wouldn't vote for him in a million years.

Yes he is a bit like a rogue elephant here in Thailand.

[Scott]

An inflammatory, off-topic post has been removed.

[mgjackson69]

Republicans not acknowledging the presumptive nominee should tell the voters all they need to know about the current state of US party politics.

The entrenched Republicans would rather give de facto support to "the enemy" (the Democratic nominee) than to follow the wishes of their constituency.

It is also very telling that the Republican establishment is more concerned with "stopping Trump" than with asking themselves "how did this guy gain so much support from the people who elected us".

[lovelomsak]

The republican's should keep in mind some things come back to bite you. In their attempt to state they do not condone or like Trump,they are opening the door to their parties demise. If he is elected,how will the party look to the masses. More than likely years of building up support will fall to the way side.Their party will be effected for decades. American politics is all about the party.If Trump wins and the party has deserted him,they cut their own throats. If he wins,when he leaves office the republican party can rest assured it will take years to rebuild, and even come close to winning an election.Support him and win over voters from both parties and people who have sat on the fence for years. But up to them it is their party after all.

[nemrut]

Trump is appealing to Americans who feed off fear, anger and hatred along with strong antipathy toward immigrants. The irony is that most of Trump's supporters dont understand that their very way of life and standard of living has been made possible by the people they demonize - non-white immigrants.

It is because of immigrants that the US has become a world power through a strong economy. Unfortunately, facts are often ignored in the US where half the population believes in creationism and that man walked the earth with dinosaurs despite all the evidence indicating otherwise.

[Linzz]

Amazing that the guy continues to thumb his nose at traditional conservatives. It is a huge gamble, that if it pays off, will redefine politics in America. If it doesn't pay off, he will be humiliated like no other candidate in history. He may have to run off to Thailand to hide.

Speak for yourself

[mgjackson69]

Trump is appealing to Americans who feed off fear, anger and hatred along with strong antipathy toward immigrants. The irony is that most of Trump's supporters dont understand that their very way of life and standard of living has been made possible by the people they demonize - non-white immigrants.

It is because of immigrants that the US has become a world power through a strong economy. Unfortunately, facts are often ignored in the US where half the population believes in creationism and that man walked the earth with dinosaurs despite all the evidence indicating otherwise.

Your "facts" of 150 years ago do not match the conditions of today vis a vis the US need for immigrants.

The immigrants of 150 years ago did not go to USA to take advantage of the government handouts, while keeping to their own enclaves and not assimilating.

Ask Paris or London how much the waves of <insert religion> immigrants have helped to make those cities great.

[chilli42]

Amazing that the guy continues to thumb his nose at traditional conservatives. It is a huge gamble, that if it pays off, will redefine politics in America. If it doesn't pay off, he will be humiliated like no other candidate in history. He may have to run off to Thailand to hide.

I don't think it's possible to humiliate the Apricot Demagogue. He has clearly already exceeded his wildest expectations.

[Linzz]

Republicans not acknowledging the presumptive nominee should tell the voters all they need to know about the current state of US party politics.

The entrenched Republicans would rather give de facto support to "the enemy" (the Democratic nominee) than to follow the wishes of their constituency.

It is also very telling that the Republican establishment is more concerned with "stopping Trump" than with asking themselves "how did this guy gain so much support from the people who elected us".

If the Rep establishment don't like Trump because he's a threat and not conservative enough, then why did they accept his candidacy application in the first place?

[mgjackson69]

Republicans not acknowledging the presumptive nominee should tell the voters all they need to know about the current state of US party politics.

The entrenched Republicans would rather give de facto support to "the enemy" (the Democratic nominee) than to follow the wishes of their constituency.

It is also very telling that the Republican establishment is more concerned with "stopping Trump" than with asking themselves "how did this guy gain so much support from the people who elected us".

If the Rep establishment don't like Trump because he's a threat and not conservative enough, then why did they accept his candidacy application in the first place?

You might want to study a bit...there is no "candidacy application".

Putting that aside, I think the Republican leadership/powers that be (and the Democrats as well) did not consider Trump to be a serious presidential candidate...the view was more that here is some rich guy that likes attention, throwing his money around to get in the news.

I am not sure if it is so much that Trump himself resonates with a large number of voters, but the fact that his message does. He is someone from "outside the Beltway", not a Washington insider, and not beholden to campaign contributors.

Should Trump be elected as the next President of the United States, it will be interesting to watch him put his Cabinet together.

[Linzz]

Trump is appealing to Americans who feed off fear, anger and hatred along with strong antipathy toward immigrants. The irony is that most of Trump's supporters dont understand that their very way of life and standard of living has been made possible by the people they demonize - non-white immigrants.

It is because of immigrants that the US has become a world power through a strong economy. Unfortunately, facts are often ignored in the US where half the population believes in creationism and that man walked the earth with dinosaurs despite all the evidence indicating otherwise.

I don't think it's antipathy towards immigrants per se. I think Trumps background is German/Scottish which epitomises immigrants.

Specifically his call is against illegal Mexicans and drug cartels and potential Muslim jihadists entering the country.

How he practicably achieves that is yet to be seen.