Tag: Republican presidential primaries

Donald Trump Bandwagon Gains Momentum

The Donald Trump bandwagon keeps gaining momentum while those who consider themselves Republican Party traditionalists keep wringing their hands.

Maybe the best part is Ted Cruz, the original outsider in this race until Trump stole his thunder, is now trying to get party officials to coalesce behind his campaign in a ‘Stop Trump’ movement.

But stopping Trump is going to be very hard. Statistics out today predict Trump has to win 54% of the remaining delegates to secure the nomination, Cruz needs 69% and John Kasich can win 100% of the remaining delegates and still not have enough for a first ballot nomination.

Trump could get the needed 54% although Republican Party regulars, or those who think they are, will do everything they can to stop him short. Cruz can’t get the needed 69%. Forget Kasich unless the convention becomes open and probably even then.

Look at the big states left to vote – New York, California, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Indiana, not very fertile Cruz country.

And if Trump arrives at the Republican Convention in Cleveland with 1100 or more pledged delegates for the first ballot (I would call that scenario a virtual lock at this point) and the party denies him the nomination, look out.

For the Republican Party to deny Trump the nomination after millions of voters turned out for him in the primaries, more than for any other candidate by far, would demonstrate just how little regard the party has for the American public.

When Trump announced in June, I was of the opinion he would be fun to watch for a little while, then he would fade away.

Boy, was I wrong!

What I failed to understand is just how much the American public is fed up with the Republican and Democratic parties and government in general.

Continue Reading →

Important Week for Political Junkies

One of the most important weeks of the year for political junkies in the area is upon us.

On Tuesday, they should get a reasonable idea of how long the Republican Party can hold off the nomination of Donald Trump for president with another round of ‘Super Tuesday’ primaries in five important states.

For locals, however, Wednesday is even more important as filing opens at noon for a number of local offices and all seats in the SC General Assembly.

And the dynamics involved in this year’s political races make them even more interesting for those who follow politics.

Five countywide statutory offices are up for election – Auditor, Clerk of Court, Coroner, Sheriff and Treasurer. Normally these races bring little excitement, but this year two will be open seats and two more are expected to be contested.

Clerk of Court Melanie Huggins Ward and Treasurer Roddy Dickinson have announced they are retiring leaving their seats up for grabs in the primaries and general election.

Two others, Auditor Lois Eargle and Sheriff Philip Thompson are reported to have opposition this year for the first time in a number of years. Only Coroner Robert Edge appears not to have any opposition as filing opens.

Horry County Council will have five seats, Districts 3,4,6,9 and 10 up for election, as well as a special election to fill the unexpired term of retired member James Frazier in District 7.

To make it more interesting, council member Jody Prince is retiring, leaving his District 10 seat open and council members Jimmy Washington in District 3 and Cam Crawford in District 6 will be running for election for the second time in two years as both were elected to office in special election in 2015.

We are hearing reports of possible contested elections in Districts 3 and 9 at this time with District 10 having a number of possible candidates for the open seat. The District 7 seat is expected to have contests in both party primaries as well as the general election.

Continue Reading →

Donald Trump Bandwagon Keeps Rolling

The Donald Trump bandwagon rolled through Nevada last night on the way to Super Tuesday I with a convincing win in the Republican Party caucuses.

Trump captured 45.9% of the vote, nearly doubling the 23.9% that went to second place Marco Rubio. Ted Cruz again finished in third place with 21.4% while Ben Carson and John Kasich were in the low single digits.

With each victory, Trump demonstrates the strength of his candidacy and further worries the Republican Party establishment.

And the Republican Party establishment has a right to be worried since only 27% of nationwide voters identify themselves as Republicans in 2016 and over 50% of those voters say they are dissatisfied with their party in exit polls.

Marco Rubio appears to be the only so-called Republican establishment candidate left with a chance to beat Trump, but being the choice of the establishment doesn’t appear to be a plus this year.

After real voting began, the quick exit from the race by Jeb Bush, the establishment’s first choice, shows how little voters pay attention to the Republican National Committee and political endorsements.

American voters are disgusted with government, especially the federal government, and Trump is capitalizing on that disgust.

The federal government has demonstrated little fiscal discipline since Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society legislation passed in the mid 1960’s. Our national debt is $19 trillion now. It was less than $1 trillion when Ronald Reagan took office in 1981.

Reagan swept into office in the 1980 election by proclaiming ‘government isn’t the solution to the problem, government is the problem.’ Of course, Reagan promised to reduce the deficit and balance the budget, neither of which he did.

Reagan swept into office in the 1980 election by proclaiming ‘government isn’t the solution to the problem, government is the problem.’ Of course, Reagan promised to reduce the deficit and balance the budget, neither of which he did.

Continue Reading →

Donald Trump – Fun for a While

Donald Trump finally took the plunge.

“The Donald”, as former wife Ivana dubbed him, is officially a presidential candidate.

His candidacy is a first in American politics – a super-rich populist who, virtually all on his own, will “Make America Great Again.”
And it should be fun while it lasts.

During his rambling, nearly 47 minute campaign announcement, Donald Trump told us he wasn’t bragging because he didn’t have to brag. Then, he went on to make 257 self-references.

”I’m really rich.”

“I’m proud of my net worth. I’ve done an amazing job.”

“I have the best golf courses in the world.”

“I have the greatest assets.”

“I beat China all the time, all the time.”

Continue Reading →