The Apprentice version of the Republican Debate

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Forums > All Posts > The Apprentice version of the Republican Debate

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12-03-2011, 10:01 AM

Schmidt
Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1058

Newsmax and ION TV are bringing you an Apprentice version of the Republican debate in Des Moines, Iowa on December 27th with Donald Trump as the moderator. From Newsmax:

"Newsmax Media and ION Television, one of the nation’s largest broadcast networks, will collaborate to host a Republican presidential debate on Tuesday, Dec. 27, moderated by businessman Donald J. Trump."

I wonder who will get the "You're Fired" at the end of the show.

Newsmax, of course, is what Sarah Palin said she watches when asked by Sean Hannity. ION TV is where you can find reruns of programs that aired a few years ago on the networks including Criminal Minds, Psyche and the Ghost Whisperer. I suppose then that this debate fits right in with that line-up.

12-05-2011, 08:43 AM

that guy in Arizona
Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 158

Schmidt:

As you probably know, Newsmax is the organization that produces all those DISTORTED opinion polls on the internet.

I was appalled by the slanted poll that they ran about Obams's re-election, so I actually MAILED a letter to the organization, which you can read below:

I've seen your survey regarding the re-election of Barack Obama, as well as your surveys regarding the electability of the various Republican candidates.

The Obama survey, in particular, bothers me because of its obvious distortions. For starters, I've long considered America's talk show hosts to be the LEAST credible source of information, so releasing information to them has no value to an educated voter. If your results were printed by the New York Times, I'd pay more attention to them.

I'd like to address each item on your survey list in the order that they appeared:

1) I'm absolutely opposed to the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The fact that there were some recent changes in the act with respect to long term care coverage simply underscores the fact that the designers of the legislation are willing to make changes, as necessary, to make the law more applicable. My specific reasons for supporting the law can be found at the link below:

http://tohell-andback.blogspot.com/2010/04/who-framed-roger-rabbit.html

2) There are absolutely NO CHANGES in the traditional Medicare benefits as a result of the Health Care Act of 2010. As the Reuters article below explains, the vast majority of the spending cuts are in the area of Medicare Advantage, which effects PRIVATE firms, such as Humana and United Health Care .

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/03/22/us-usa-healthcare-medicare-idUSTRE62J1FS20100322

3) The Obama administration doesn't have a formal plan to give amnesty to illegal immigrants, but the snopes.com article below explains the PROPOSAL by congress in more detail:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/dreamact.asp

Rick Perry, one of the many Republican candidates, has actually advocated providing some educational assistance to at least some of the illegal aliens ... Imposing severe restrictions on illegal immigrants does nothing but guarantee a permanent sub-standard class of resident. Providing some assistance, as outlined in the snopes article, means that our country can actually BENEFIT from the illegal immigrants, rather than be penalized by them.. For the same reason, we also need to significantly INCREASE the number of H-1B visas precisely because talented legal immigrants are the primary reason that our country has prospered as much as it has over the years. Although I'm of the opinion that very few Republican candidates have a credible plan with dealing with immigrants, I'll go out on a limb and say that putting up an electric fence on the border (as proposed by Herman Cain) is the height of stupidity.

The link below provides a far better solution:

http://tohell-andback.blogspot.com/2010/04/good-fences-make-good-neighbors.html

4) My vote here is "none of the above". Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum listed our TRUE priorities in their latest book, "That used to be us". Io quote just one sentence in the book, " anyone who says that we can restore order to our nation's finances today without raising taxes is not being serious". The best way to improve our nation's security is by becoming much more energy efficient. Since we consume 25% of the world's petroleum, and have 2% of the world's oil reserves, I'm opposed to any expansion of our domestic oil production. “Drill, baby, drill" (see link below) is another example of a really BAD idea:

http://tohell-andback.blogspot.com/2010/07/drill-baby-drill.html

Cutting spending MIGHT be OK, as long as we see a significant INCREASE in research and development. Paying down the national debt has some merit, but it's important to recognize that the Clinton administration was the last administration to see a budget surplus, and we were on track to ELIMINATE the national debt.. The administration of George W. Bush instituted a number of policies (such as starting two wars and CUTTING taxes) that caused our current mess, and it will take a while to reverse those mistakes. Reducing revenue, in ANY form, is the WRONG WAY TO GO..

5) Yes . Barack Obama is, without question, the individual who is most qualified to lead this country from 2012 to 2016

6) Obama-Biden

As you might expect, I didn't receive a response to my letter.

As far as who wins The Donald's upcoming event, I'm of the opinion that it really doesn't matter. If you've seen clips of the 20011 White House Correspondent's Dinner (see below) I think you'll agree that Barack Obama should be handle whichever caricature of a candidate the Republicans finally select. It was nearly IMMEDIATELY after the correspondent's dinner that Donald Trump dropped out of the race:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9mzlhvC-8E

Although it's worthwhile to watch all 18 minutes, the part related to Trump is about 11 minutes into the clip, and the "birth video" near the beginning is also pretty funny.

12-06-2011, 05:56 PM

Zach F
Denton, TX
Posts: 944

There is no way this debate is going to non-biased. Trump has already announced that he is looking for a candidate to endorse, and that he already leaning in one direction anyway. Trump is an out-spoken man and I feel this debate is going to be him belittled candidates he doesn't like and making the others look like heroes.

12-06-2011, 06:34 PM

Schmidt
Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1058

Thanks Arizona for sharing your letter. They are all good points and cut to the core of many of the issues we are facing today. It's not surprising that you didn't get a response from Newsmax.

And Zach, yes it will be a heavily biased joke of a debate. All they are doing is feeding Trump's super sized ego. He will not be able to restrain himself from grand standing and browbeating any candidate he chooses. He glories in the limelight, and those that worship his brand of showmanship are some of the most misinformed voters in America.

It's all entertainment and Jon Huntsman and and Ron Paul are right to boycott it. This is not a debate worthy of the selection of a candidate for the highest office in our country.

12-06-2011, 10:23 PM

Zach F
Denton, TX
Posts: 944

Donald Trump is a guy who is notorious for always having to get in the last word. You can't have a guy like that as a debate moderator. He is an opinionated loudmouth. Great for ratings terrible for being impartial.

12-07-2011, 08:49 AM

Schmidt
Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1058

You hit the nail on the head Zach..."great for ratings." People will watch ION TV for maybe the first time in their lives and also maybe look at the Newsmax website.

Of course all of these Republican debates have more entertainment value than substance, but this one has hit a sore point with some Republicans. The New York Times has quoted several prominent Republicans critical of the debate:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/republicans-critical-of-trump-deb...

Karl Rove: “What the heck are the Republican candidates doing showing up at a debate with a guy who says ‘I may run for president next year as an independent...I think the Republican National chairman ought to step in and say we strongly discourage every candidate from appearing.”

Ari Fleischer: Mr. Trump’s debate is “an invitation to a circus...Donald Trump risks making a carnival out of a serious presidential campaign. “I think this is an opportunity for a candidate to stand up. I don’t understand the fear of Donald Trump, politically. He doesn’t have a constituency or a following.”

Mark McKinnon (strategist who worked Bush): The proposed debate is “not good for the candidates. It’s not good for the party. It’s only good for Donald Trump"....media organizations have “wrested complete control over how and when the primary debates are conducted. And this Trump debate is proof the inmates have taken over the asylum.”

I like this latter McKinnon's view the best.

12-07-2011, 09:57 AM

that guy in Arizona
Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 158

the Divine Miss "M" ...

Although most people think of Bette Midler when they hear the phrase "the divine Miss "M", the woman who REALLY personifies that role is Dame Judi Dench, who has played the role of "M' in six (soon to be seven) James Bond films.

As some of the people in this country prepare to watch the Trump-sponsored debate in
Des Moines two days after Christmas (I won't be one of them), it's worthwhile to get
Judi Dench's take on the debate:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvZex3Qf7QQ&feature=related

Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, though, I have to admit that the idea of
pairing Judi Dench and the Republican debate wasn't my idea. It was George McGovern's:
opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/the-wisdom-of-george-mcgovern/

12-07-2011, 05:38 PM

Schmidt
Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1058

Arizona,

Good article on George McGovern. We could use more of his kind in Washington...his wisdom and experience...his compassion. The McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Nutrition Act, currently reaching 23 million children a day in the world’s poorest regions, is one of his signature accomplishments that he shares with Bob Dole, a Republican, and reflects some of the past values of Republicans that have since gone missing.

The Republicans could never find or accept another "Bob Dole" in their quest to unseat Obama. Instead they send in the clowns. Good rendition of that song.

12-08-2011, 09:05 AM

that guy in Arizona
Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 158

given the current makeup of our Congress, the chances of the Republicans and Democrats actually working together for the good of the country are very slim ..

Loretta Sanchez's comments on the December 8 post of my friend Dwana's website pretty much confirm what we already knew ....

houseonahillorg.blogspot.com/

it's also telling that Newt's own sister is actively working to re-elect President Obama:

www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-gingrichtre7b70b4-20111207,0,6539803.story

12-15-2011, 04:34 AM

Zach F
Denton, TX
Posts: 944

Well, with all but two candidates declining the invite to the debate, Trump will no longer be moderating the Debate. The reason Trump gave was that the he was informed that it would appear as a conflict of interest since Trump would may be running as an independent in the near future.

I like how Trump always has a candid "whatever" attitude whenever he is proven to be in the wrong. It cracks me up every time.

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