Trump: I don't know if Obama was born in US

[Leinad]

I don't care if Obama was born on the moon. His mother was a citizen at the time of his birth, so he is, too, even if those very official-looking documents were a clever forgery. Even if he wasn't, it doesn't really matter as much as his policies and actions. The whole birther argument is a diversion (even by political media standards, where most stories are diversions and sensationalism), for both Obama and Cruz.

Trump has absolutely zero chance. He's doing well in some polls, yes, but he's hit his ceiling. The majority of people, even in the Republican party, wouldn't vote for him. It's just disaffected people who want a non-politician and hate Mexicans. Also, he's not socially conservative, so the anti-establishment voters who want a socially conservative candidate will go to someone like Cruz after the Donald's announcement bump fizzles out.

But I agree it would be very fun to see him in the debates.

Trump needs to somehow be trumped.  He could singlehandedly give Hillary Clinton the keys to the White House if he doesn't shut up.  The Republicans don't need any help at sabotaging their own campaigns.  That, and there's talk of him considering running as an Indy in the general if he doesn't win the GOP nomination.

If he runs as an independent, I agree, that would be a big help for Hillary. But I don't see how his primary run makes the Republicans look bad. If they consistently oppose his more extreme views, he'll actually make them look saner and more mainstream to moderate independent swing-voters.

Donald Trump's out calling Mexican's "rapists." Ted Cruz doesn't look as crazy as he did to some before.

And here's the latest round of Trump attacks on his competitors for the nomination:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-leads-2016-republican-presidential-candidates-new-poll-finds/

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I love how Trump is running. He's always good for some headlines and narrative that no other candidate would produce.

[Leinad]

LOL this guy.
And the fact that this guy is in the lead in the recent polls is really depressing.

I think people need to consider WHY Trump is in the lead.  It's the same reason why Bernie Sanders is posing a real threat to Hillary Clinton.

http://buchanan.org/blog/trump-and-the-gop-border-war-16224

Pat Buchanan is right on this.  Trump, and his unlikely soul-mate, Bernie Sanders, are the two candidates in the race who, each in their way, are posing challenges to the Political Class that has produced two Bushes and is trying for a third Bush or a second Clinton in a 24 year period.  This is unprecedented; one family raised to the level of a dynasty and another family raised up as a foil, each to embody one of the two parties. 

Trump and Sanders represent a rebellion of people, left, right, and center, who note that the will of the people is rarely manifested by the actions of government.  The will of the people is to build a border fence; it's still not there.  The will of the people is to control the amount of corporate interest in the political process; we now have CITIZENS UNITED.  The will of the people is for our nation to stay out of foreign involvements that don't constitute a threat to our REAL national security; we've had Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  The people want manufacturing jobs in America; we have NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT, and TPP.  Some of this is simplistic, but the Beltway Political class has, time and again, frustrated popular legislation and initiatives because it's against THEIR interests, and the interests of their corporate sponsors. 

We may, in the end, have Jeb v. Hillary.  That will be a disheartening election for me in that both of them are greed-tested, corporate-approved, and I'll have to choose between the lesser of two evils and not enjoy either choice.  Trump and Sanders are offering real choices.  It's why they have people's attention.

You've got it spot-on, although I'll add that Trump isn't the only "alternative" to Jeb. Rand Paul is my choice for an alternative, but Ted Cruz is one who I think can get the broad spectrum of conservatives better than Rand or Trump. Mike Huckabee is also an alternative for social conservatives, John Kasich is an alternative for moderates, and I suppose Ben Carson, and I suppose Carly Fiorina, are alternatives for people who don't want Trump but still want a non-politician.

Also, no one has to choose between the lesser of two evils. The Libertarian Party, Green Party, Constitution Party, Socialist Party, and Reform Party are all options, not to mention any other third party or independent bids. I'll probably be voting for the Libertarian nominee unless Rand gets the nomination. Nothing in this is mandatory.