Alexander Suggests Trump May Not Be Nominee

[DonViejo]

Source: Political Wire

June 15, 2016 By Taegan Goddard

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) suggested to the AP that Donald Trump might not end up as the Republican party’s nominee after all.

Said Alexander: “We do not have a nominee until after the convention.”

Reminded that Trump is the presumptive GOP nominee, Alexander retorted, “That’s what you say.”

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Read more: https://politicalwire.com/2016/06/15/alexander-suggests-trump-may-not-end-up-nominee/

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. It will be interesting to see how that goes over with Trump's supporters.

They are not noted for being the easy going laid back type of voter.

[Bucky]

58. One way Trump isn't fascistic is his explicitly *democratic* appeals. (small d)

Denying the nomination to the guy who earned the nomination by a whopping margin would tear the party apart.
I think most Repubs are willing to write off this one election and shift focus to the Senate. Self preservation is a strong instinct.

[C_U_L8R]

2. The GOP would be better off...

...without any nominee at all.
Just stating the obvious.

[Roy Rolling]

7. Good point

They should just forfeit and move on to the 2020 race.

[pandr32]

12. They could actually study their own 2012 "autopsy report"

...for a while until they finally understood it. Then they could start over.

[padfun]

3. This is very telling and not good news for Dems.

I truly believe that if Trump is the nominee, the Dems take back the House as well as the Senate (which they should win back anyways.) But if they put someone more to the Repugs liking, then more will go out and vote and Dems don't take back the house. This is only my speculations.

[padfun]

4. My Speculations

are IF Trump doesn't run as third party. And I cant really judge what those Trump supporters would do.

So really, this could get quite interesting if they don't have him as their nominee.

[PJMcK]

10. A third party run would be extremely difficult

In order to run competitively as a third-party candidate, Donald Trump would need a massive and effective national campaign staff. Currently, he doesn't have that and from various reports, his financial war chest is way too slim. He's cash poor. He would have to have a seasoned team in place yet he doesn't have that even for his current campaign.

Additionally, I believe that he'd have to arrange to be on the ballot in all 50 states where each state has their own rules and laws governing their elections. Mr. Trump has yet to demonstrate that he has the organizational skills to run such an operation.

[seabeckind]

18. Why do you assume Trump wants to be president?

Every argument I see is based on conventional wisdom.

What if there's nothing conventional about it?

[PJMcK]

27. Actually, I'm not sure he does

My post was in response to padfun's speculation about a third party run.

For decades, Donald Trump has always made his priorities clear: he wants to win and he wants to take your money. Perhaps there's some validity to the idea that Mr. Trump is only using this campaign to build his brand so he can invent new scams later.

My personal opinion is that he's insane. He has no clue as to what he's doing. He's so used to living his life publicly through various media that running for president is, in his warped mind, the most logical thing to do. His whole life has been as series of wacky rip-offs that he has navigated by the seat of his pants. I doubt that he's thought through his long-game plan. But he could do anything and that's where I agree with you, seabeckind, that there is nothing conventional about Donald Trump's campaign.

[seabeckind]

35. the 3rd party run idea

. as if we have to do it this way cause we've always done it this way.

They just can't seem to wrap their head around a true 3 way contest. Not 3 parties. One of the parties with 2 candidates.

A new paradigm. A gop that decides to let Trump do whatever he wants but when we get down to election time there'll be a guy on the ballot who has an R after his name.... and it ain't Trump. And all of the gop campaigning is for that guy (or girl).

Imagine what would happen if we get down to the electoral college and no one person of the 3 got 270.

[PJMcK]

40. Interesting proposition

If no candidate gets 270 electoral votes, does the election fall to the House of Representatives? If so, I guess we know the next president would be a Republican.

The problem with your paradigm, I think, has to do with the different legal mechanisms each state has in order to get on their ballots. I'm afraid I don't know enough of the details except to say that it's very complex and would require a lot of legal wrangling.

[whatthehey]

43. But thst situation essentially guarantees Dems way more than 270

They're at 240 or so regardless. Split the RWNJ vote between Trump bigots and Chamber of Commerce bathtubbers and any state within 10 pts of being a swing state goes blue. To get any EVs you have to win a state contest. Run both Trump and, say, Romney and Clinton wins everything barring Dixie and the Aryan West like UT and ID

[w4rma]

60. The House of Representatives selects the next President if noone wins a majority.

A plurality isn't enough to win the Presidency.

[olddad56]

48. I think he wants to be God, but would possibly settle for being the Pope. Or the next Hitler.

[No Vested Interest]

11. I question that Trump has the money (or would spend what is minimally necessary)

to run a third party candidacy.

He's having plenty of trouble even now getting the Deep Pockets to contribute to his campaign.

Most of the Deep Pockets are smarter and more knowledgeable than he is about what it takes to be viable nationally in a political campaign.

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. I don't disagree ...

Democrats win the White House because trump goes third party (his ego will allow him to do nothing else); but, we don't know that the trump supporters will vote down ticket.

[Renew Deal]

14. I think he will check out.

No third party run.

[1StrongBlackMan]

23. I don't know about that ...

trump doesn't handle rejection or publicized failure well. I fully expect him to (finish the job) of burning down the republican house ... just out of spite.

[moonscape]

50. He also hates to spend $$, valuing it above all else, and

he wouldn't want to lose twice. He could preserve cash, while doing one of his favorite things: ranting about himself, how he would have won but <launch assorted conspiracy theories>, and not have to work as hard.

[swhisper1]

31. agree, he wants out

[whatthehey]

45. Even ifhe gets out the Blackshirts have their Il Duce

You'd see millions of write ins by his cult of personality followers. He's already convinced them the R "establishment" is corrupt, biased against him, and weak. Unless he personally offers an impassioned endorsement of another R candidate (yeah, that'll happen), he, not the party, will get the troglodyte vote.

[seabeckind]

19. Unless nobody gets 270.

Then what?

[1StrongBlackMan]

24. Then it goes to the US House to pick the president and the Senate to pick the VP ...

but I don't see anything the republicans side doing that will stop HRC from getting to 270.

[former9thward]

56. It is far too late for a third party.

Ballot deadlines are coming with every week. Its too late. There will be no third party.

[tonyt53]

6. Not a chance the House will go Dem regardless. The Senate odds are much better

The GOP has no person that was a candidate that can beat Hillary. They have shown themselves to be idiots and zealots. Cruz has shown himself to be nuts, Rubio has shown himself to be woefully ill-prepared, Kasich couldn't win dog catcher in OH with his actions since he was re-elected governor there. Romney? Not a chance. Bush is the only one left standing and he has exposed himself to be possibly the dumbest of the all. All Hillary has to ask the American voter is "How did the other two Bush presidencies go for ya?".

[hibbing]

9. Please clap

[RiverNoord]

21. I agree.

The possibility of a candidate emerging from the Convention who had sound credentials for substantive attacks on Clinton's substantial weaknesses is very, very worrying.

[fleabiscuit]

28. You don't think Trump would just slink away never to be heard from again do you?

The guy would go on an ego rampage against the GOP. The party would be torn into even smaller bits than it is now. Dem's would romp.

[arcane1]

41. In other words, the presumed Dem nominee can only win against a buffoon like Trump.

What a sad condition the party is in, if that's the case.

[skepticscott]

47. More to which Repugs liking?

Trump wiped the floor with everyone else the GOP trotted out there. The vast majority of the Neanderthals who aren't ashamed to call themselves Republicans want Trump.

[yurbud]

55. Trump IS more to GOP voters liking. a candidate palatable to swing voters

Won't drive their base to the polls.

[hibbing]

8. Oh, he'll be your nominee alright

I have given up on thinking his campaign would flame out after about the 100th time he insulted large groups of people, lied, and all of the other things he has done. His poll numbers only went up.

Peace

[onehandle]

13. The crazies you attract have lots and lots and lots of guns.

Deny them their choice of hate monger and my guess is that you will have an armed insurrection on your hands.

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. Alexander may be right.

Trump won't be the nominee.

[DonViejo]

20. I feel sorry for Cleveland...

(my birthplace) if Trump is denied the nomination. I was there a month ago, visiting my 89 year old Dad; the television was full of anti-Trump ads, but also, was the news that area businesses are planning on being closed and some are encouraging their employees to work from home during the convention.

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. My birth place, too ...

I have invited my sister and a couple close friends to spend a week with me in Arizona.

Now, you know how bad I suspect it to be, when I invite Black people to come to Arizona!!!

[DonViejo]

36. I have a sneaky suspicion Cleveland isn't the same town either one of us grew up in...

The last time I lived there (1974), the only thing on Euclid Avenue after 6 p.m. was old newspapers blowing down the street and hookers. Now, there are people walking down the street and traffic at 2 a.m.; it's become quite an impressive City. There's still a ways to go but, I'm quite proud of my hometown.

Saw some ads for house rentals in Lakewood and Bratenahl during the convention: $15k to $20k

[1StrongBlackMan]

44. LOL ... The newspapers were on Euclid ... The hookers were a block south, on Prospect! ...

Yes ... Cleveland has changed ... a lot, some for the better, some not so much.

I spent a month there in November and went back for 10 days in January. I got to see a lot of the City. The Casino changed the entire character of Public Square.

I was talking to some friends from Arizona and California that had visited Cleveland. They loved it! I told them that the only people that don't like Cleveland are Clevelanders that have never lived anywhere else ... and that's a surprisingly high percentage of the population. Just about all of my friends still live within a 5 mile radius from their birth home.

[DonViejo]

46. Well then, the hookers must have been walking through...

the old Euclid Arcade, via the Euclid Ave entrance, on their way to Prospect Ave when I saw them!

[1StrongBlackMan]

49. LOL ...

Before I left Cleveland in 1996, I worked on the corner of 9th and Superior. I did Happy Hour, every evening ... so I didn't have to get caught up in the great escape! Rush hour was everyone get in your car, pull into the street and park!

[Fuddnik]

39. I left there for Florida 14 years ago.

I had to check the calendar. My wife is headed up there for her 50th HS reunion, and I wanted to make sure it was safe. I should invite a few friends down for the week, though. Would be fun.

[northoftheborder]

16. There might be under the radar plotting going on that...

will be put into effect at the convention.... That secret meeting over last weekend with Romney and other "never Trump" people has not been reported on that I have seen.....

If Trump is not the nominee---- all hell will break out..... very entertaining prospects...

BUT I hope he is ---- easier to beat all around.......

[Cosmocat]

61. The convention.would.be.a.war zone

They MIGHT find.a less disastrous nominee, but the party would be a.dumpster.fire.

[bigworld]

17. "something" will happen to Trump after the convention

and the RNC will replace him with Romney. Watch.

[DonViejo]

22. There are other possibilities....

Carnival Cruz for one and John Kasich the other; neither of them have endorsed Trump.

[emulatorloo]

29. I don't know how they could justify Kasich to their base.

He only won a single primary.

Cruz maybe, but he is just as egregious as Trump to mainstream GE voters.

[DonViejo]

38. I don't know how they could justify it either but,....

they're running around saying "Trump's a freaking lunatic and a racist but, I still endorse him." So, anything is possible. Moron quotient runs high in the GOP leadership.

[harun]

62. My money's on Paul Ryan as the replacement.

The good ole bait n switch.

[cbdo2007]

64. That's what I've been thinking for months. Trump will never make it on the ballot...

the only person with the name recognition and the ability to compete with Hillary is Romney.

[Zorro]

25. They should draft Bernie

Now that would make the election interesting!

[laserhaas]

34. Ha Ha - this is diabologically - brilliant

[winetourdriver]

30. oh oh

I am sensing butt hurt in rethug land?

[pangaia]

32. PANGAIA said weeks ago that he would be the nominee.

But nobody listened.

[laserhaas]

33. One would think they have a moral terpitude clause

or some such other - that gives a way out - if so needed.

[Sunlei]

37. all those 16? "suspended" campaigns can come back anytime. my $s on whoever koch 'backs',

Koch backs, one of those republicans who have not released their delegates.

[TomCADem]

42. Lamar Has Long Had Bad. Poor With Trump

It is hard to read too much into his comments, since their bad blood predates the election.

[Jesus Malverde]

51. The elephant in the room

The Democrats don't pick their nominee until the convention either. No matter what AP or others want to pretend.

[sarcasmo]

52. kick

[dicksmc3]

53. What!!!

If Trumpie doesn't get the nod to be repuke Pres candidate, I see all HELL BREAKING LOOSE at their convention next Month in Cleveland!! These FOOLS that support Money Hair are just as nuts as he is!! The Repubs better not get too anxious with booting Trump. Or else they'll see the results of their ignorance by letting him carry on while everyone, especially Fox, really ate his shit up!!

[yurbud]

54. GOP should just quietly withdraw & hope people forget this election by 2020

[L. Coyote]

57. Well, just think how much money they can save without a nominee. Money talks

and everyone hates when it walks and nothing comes back. Might as well concede now and save the money to try and save the House. The Senate is already lost too, so save that money too.

My advice to the Rs, just give up and try to save the House or Hillary will take your guns, all the ones Obama didn't take.

[yardwork]

59. Good luck with that.

[LoverOfLiberty]

63. When Sanders supporters say this about the Democratic primary

it is usually disregarded as wishful thinking.