# Trump could be a benefit to Republicans **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 13, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083 "2015-07-13T20:37:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/41 "2015-07-21T16:01:00Z")
Trump is being a benefit to the GOP already. He’s made the clown car full of candidates look more interesting already, and he’s revealing that the good old boys in the party aren’t what the base is looking for. Overall he’s even more of a benefit to the Democrats though. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/42 "2015-07-22T00:11:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Is Trump being paid to put on his performance, so as to make the other candidates look sane? (Just asking questions!) " _That_, Detective, is the right question. Program terminated." - I, Robot (2004) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/43 "2015-07-22T17:04:50Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > I don’t understand why the Republican Party won’t reign in these imbeciles. It becomes clearer when you realize that the operative word isn’t “won’t”. It’s _can’t_. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/44 "2015-07-22T17:06:43Z")
And it becomes clearer still when you replace “won’t reign in” with “_is_”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/45 "2015-07-22T17:50:18Z")
Er, “rein”. Meanwhile, The Jebster is echoing Trump’s denunciation of McCain’s heroism by repeating [his own support of the Swiftboater attacks on Kerry’s.](http://www.salon.com/2015/07/22/jeb_bush_slurs_war_hero_john_kerry_will_the_gop_call_him_out_like_donald_trump/) Um, no, friend, that’s _not_ the lesson to draw from Trump. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/46 "2015-08-08T03:58:25Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Eh, putting aside on whether the GOP would benefit from higher or lower ratings\*, I seriously doubt Trump will do much for the ratings (and “double or triple” as the OP suggests, is nuts). Thursday’s prime-time GOP candidates’ forum on Fox News Channel reached a stunning 24 million viewers, by far the largest audience ever for any cable news event. The closest was the 1992 “Larry King Live” debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot on CNN, which was seen by 16.8 million people, the Nielsen company said. The highest rated GOP debate of the 2012 election had 7.6 million viewers. So, that’s 3.15 times the pervious viewership. So, suck it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/47 "2015-08-08T05:35:17Z")
The fact that a circus draws a huge crowd doesn’t mean most of that crowd wants the circus to be President. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/48 "2015-08-08T05:37:00Z")
It certainly doesn’t mean that the circus would be good for the town, either, no matter how much the circus whined because a woman asked him a mean question. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/49 "2015-08-08T05:39:56Z")
Trump is doing Republicans good, actually. All the others look good by comparison. And a record debate audience got to see our best speakers deliver the conservative message. I have yet to hear a single non-liberal say that it was scary, or crazy, or stupid. The Republicans gained big last night and I look forward to the next set of trial heat polls. The best part is that they answered questions directly for the most part. Clinton, next October(!) will dodge, duck and equivocate. There won’t be an ounce of authenticity to her. The contrast will be quite noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/50 "2015-08-08T09:57:25Z")
I wonder if Trump is really positioning himself for the VP slot? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/51 "2015-08-08T12:47:53Z")
Trump the #2? I think he’d sooner set himself on fire. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/52 "2015-08-08T12:51:40Z")
From your lips to the Ears… ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/53 "2015-08-08T14:54:03Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Trump is doing Republicans good, actually. All the others look good by comparison. And a record debate audience got to see our best speakers deliver the conservative message. > > I have yet to hear a single non-liberal say that it was scary, or crazy, or stupid. The Republicans gained big last night and I look forward to the next set of trial heat polls. I rememberer that even Obama recommended Democrats to keep an eye on the train wreck. AFAIK very few democrats think is scary as the train wreck is a Republican doing that has Trump as the front runner. This is considered to be the best news Democrats can get. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/54 "2015-08-08T20:40:11Z")
I doubt Trump would be interested in VP. And, I kinda doubt he will run as a 3rd party. But I do think he will carry on to the convention and try to influence the platform. But, if other Repulican groups, like Redstate, also decide to disinvite him to events, they might create an enemy they don’t want. I was impressed that so many of the candidates were able to distiquish themselves without attacking Trump or really agreeing with him. The party should try to take that tack as well. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/55 "2015-08-19T21:04:38Z")
[quote=“msmith537, post:40, topic:725083”] Interestingly, here’s a clip of Trump on Letterman back in the 80s where he actually seems like a normal non-crazy rich businessman. In fact he’s even actually quite modest about his wealth: [/QUOTE] Another clip of Trump as a normal non-crazy rich businessman: [Trump reviews Citizen Kane](http://www.vox.com/2015/8/19/9174801/donald-trump-citizen-kane). He’s no Pauline Kale, but he did provide a serviceable 3 min interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/56 "2015-09-18T04:02:13Z")
Highest CNN ratings ever! [http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/17/media/cnn-republican-debate-ratings/](http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/17/media/cnn-republican-debate-ratings/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/57 "2015-09-18T04:32:07Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > I doubt Trump would be interested in VP. > > And, I kinda doubt he will run as a 3rd party. But I do think he will carry on to the convention and try to influence the platform. Try to influence the platform?! That would assume he has an actual political agenda independent of his personal ambitions. What do you base **that** on?! ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/58 "2015-09-18T04:56:52Z")
Jezus! Only God and Trump know what his agenda might be, just sit down grab a beer and watch! ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/59 "2015-09-18T13:43:03Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I have yet to hear a single non-liberal say that it was scary, or crazy, or stupid. The Republicans gained big last night and I look forward to the next set of trial heat polls. If we’re just trading anecdotes, I had a phone call with my father last night, a staunch Republican (more moderate than hard-right, but definitely a non-liberal). He found the entire debate rather terrifying, saying that only Rubio and Fiorina seemed both sane and likable. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083/60 "2015-09-18T14:15:43Z")
That is precisely the kind of voter the Democrats need to convert (or at least get votes from) for the near future. It does pay to try to appeal to them, not focus on existing believers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-could-be-a-benefit-to-republicans/725083.md?page=4)