Is Trump the new Ross Perot?

2015-08-07T22:34:11-04:00

Ross Perot had an effect on the POTUS election. Will Trump jump to Independent and have the same effect as Perot in the general election? Will his run tilt the election in someone's favor? Is he the new Ross Perot?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 10:39 PM

2015-08-07T22:39:06-04:00

Not in his mind! He is the only one during the debate,who would not commit to supporting the other Republican candidates if he were not chosen to represent the Grand Old Party.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 7 at 2015 10:47 PM

2015-08-07T22:47:52-04:00

CPT William Beaver, Please; since you are in the business, do not guide "The Donald" into becoming another Ross Perot!

You could also ask for more negative spin on Hillary Clinton!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 8 at 2015 12:16 AM

2015-08-08T00:16:24-04:00

Trump is Perot on steroids and without the filter

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 8 at 2015 1:27 AM

2015-08-08T01:27:38-04:00

Very Likely could be a Spoiler like Ralph Nader, Ross Perot or Teddy Roosevelt

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 8 at 2015 2:07 AM

2015-08-08T02:07:59-04:00

Yes. I believe he is more intentional in this than was Perot.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 8 at 2015 3:02 AM

2015-08-08T03:02:06-04:00

I had the same thought! I seriously believe Trump will run as an Independent if he doesn't get the nomination and that will definitely tip the scale in favor of the Democrat. If the Republican vote is split between their guy and Trump, logically the Democrat will benefit from that.

I don't care how many votes Trump would get as an Independent, the Electoral College will not vote in an Independent (but that's a story for another day).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2015 3:43 AM

2015-08-08T03:43:56-04:00

No, he is nothing like Ross Perot really.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Aug 8 at 2015 3:47 AM

2015-08-08T03:47:40-04:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver - Captain; Shouldn't we be asking "Is Trump the new Fillmore or Roosevelt (T)?"?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-08-08T10:29:41-04:00

Not until he breaks out the Pie Charts

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Aug 8 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-08-08T12:31:53-04:00

[For purposes of this post, I am going to set aside the excellent discussion of the Electoral College and how it should function - I am a fan of both the EC, properly understood, and repealing the 17th Amendment. However, I am going to address the political landscape "as found."]

If he runs as an independent and that has an effect on the general election....Good. Candidates are supposed to run on their positions. Citizens are supposed to vote for those whose positions they believe align most closely with their own. If a politician or political party can't win because they can't get a plurality of the votes....Good.

In the scenario presented, if Republicans can't win because not enough of their base likes their selected candidate, awesome.

We know the Democrats won't like the Republican choice. Whomever the Republicans select will, before the announcement is complete, be "the worst candidate EVAR!!!!" according to every Democrat pundit. If the Republican candidate cannot take enough of their base and the independent voters, then they SHOULD NOT BE ELECTED.

IF Trump is a better candidate, in the minds of a large percentage of voters, that is important feedback for the political class and SHOULD inform both party politics and actual policy.

Yes, if he takes votes that would have, in resignation, been given to the R nominee, that will cheese the R party faithful. Oh well. The goal is not to elect an R or a D and any cost, and with a clothespin on your nose. The goal is to elect people whom the citizens respect as leaders and who reflect the goals and aspirations of the people. It is worth noting that the founders routinely decried the possibility of "faction" (political parties), though it only took them about 18 seconds to form them....

(all of the above applies equally if Sanders runs and an independent, or goes whole hog and runs as a Socialist.)

In closing, two thoughts:
1. Wouldn't it be cool to vote FOR someone, instead of holding your nose and voting against the "worse guy?"
2. Southpark called this one.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Aug 8 at 2015 4:23 PM

2015-08-08T16:23:02-04:00

Oh My GOSH! I certainly HOPE NOT! Perot is the reason a Republican didn't win...he really screwed things up....and if you are referring to his money and power that comes along with the money...then yes, Trump is like Perot.

Response by SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA made Aug 8 at 2015 5:04 PM

2015-08-08T17:04:20-04:00

It has to be a sink or swim with Trump. If he falls flat, he will know it. Based on what I am getting so far, Trump is not a Ross Perot, at least, not yet.

If Trump pulls greater than 40% of the electorate, the RNC needs to be extremely concerned that if they still put Jeb Bush in as the front-runner, Trump will blow the GOP out of the water. From a website called DC Whispers, major GOP donors are pushing on the other nine in the debate, plus the moderators to attack Trump. Attacking Trump only furthers his support among the people.

Trump has the cajones to tell it like it is and the people are appreciating what he says, because they know themselves, they cannot say it for fear of persecution.

This next series of debates will identify who will drop, or begin to consider that option, but I do not think that Trump will consider that option. There is a photoshopped picture of Trump at the Presidents' desk and Chris Matthews stated, Trump looks more presidential than Obama. Coming from a liberal of his stature, that is a complement.

Trump MUST sink or swim on his own. If he sinks, there will not be an independent run. He will settle back and do what he normally does.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 8 at 2015 5:19 PM

2015-08-08T17:19:08-04:00

Absolutely, there is a great potential for Trump to be the next Ross Perot. In fact, if I were a Democratic strategist, I would invent a Donald Trump to bleed off a significant portion of the GOP vote to help insure my candidate a win just as Perot helped Clinton.

Response by MSgt Juan Lopez made Jun 12 at 2024 4:23 PM

2024-06-12T16:23:28-04:00

That is exactly my opinion too