Wisconsin Republicans and crossover voters have a grand opportunity to derail Donald’s Trump’s mad lurch toward the GOP nomination for president of the United States.
As voters go to the polls for Wisconsin’s open primary April 5, there are now 48 rock solid reasons (not opinions) to vote a loud “NO” on Trump by supporting one of his two opponents, John Kasich or Ted Cruz. Those reasons, gathered over the last two months from many sources, are available on my web site: Johntorinus.com. I am listing below the most recent reasons added to the list, some from Trump’s own mouth.
Trump has won 739 delegates as absentee balloting gets under way, still a good way away from the 1237 he needs for a majority at the June 18-21 GOP convention in Cleveland. Ted Cruz has won 465 delegates, Marco Rubio 166 and Kasich 143, or 771 together.
So, the pro-Trump total and the anti-Trump total are in the same ballpark, suggesting that it is indeed possible to keep the reality show star from a majority.
There are 944 Republican delegates left to be decided, including Wisconsin’s 42. Trump needs to win 53% of those to get to a majority.
Trump argues otherwise, but a plurality doesn’t cut it. The nomination requires a majority of the 2472 GOP delegates.
Further, as Carl Rove points out, it is entirely within precedent for nominations to go to an open convention for a final decision. That has happened or has come close to happening many times in Republican and Democratic party history.
Because Trump is clear and present danger to the well being of the United States and the world, this is an outright request for independents and Democrats to vote on the Republican side of the ballot for either Kasich or Cruz. That would help mightily to reduce the percentage of Wisconsin’s 42 GOP delegates that Trump could win.
Crossing over should be an easy decision for Democrats, because Hillary Clinton appears a lock for the Democratic nomination, with or without their Wisconsin votes. Hillary’s lead should also induce independents to get into the Republican fray where their vote will make a difference instead of going to the Democratic side of the ballot.
At this point, it’s all about stopping Trump so the Republican delegates can make the final selection at their convention.
As additional fodder for decisions April 5 for Republicans, independents and Democrats, here are more reasons to vote against Trump that I have not included before:
• For a builder, Trump has trouble with math. His first estimate for building 1000 miles of “beautiful wall” between the U.S. and Mexico was $4 billion. He later estimated $6-7 billion. The then he took it up to $8 billion. Then he estimated $10 billion. His latest estimate is $12 billion. John Oliver, the TV pundit, found expert construction sources that put the probable cost at about $25 billion, not counting operating costs to maintain the wall. Usually, it’s Democrats who can’t do math. Trump can’t either, which may explain his five bankruptcies.
• After New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie endorsed him, Trump trashed him publicly for spending too much time in New Hampshire before the primary there. So much for loyalty and gratitude.
• To his enemies list, he has added “disgusting reporters.” Those same news people have made his campaign, giving him far more ink and airtime, both positive and negative, than all the other candidates combined.
• At 69, he looks over-weight and out of shape. Could he stand the rigors of the presidency?
• Three Politico reporters fact-checked 4.6 hours of Trump speeches and press conferences and found more than five dozen untrue statements — one every five minutes. They rated the five remaining candidates for the percentage of time they made statements that were true, mostly, true, half true, mostly false, false and Pants on Fire false. Clinton and Sanders rate 51% on true or mostly true, Kasich 50%, Cruz 22% and Trump 9%. Trump rated 42% false and 19% Pants on Fire false for a total of 61%. Like many narcissists, he says whatever he needs to say, true of untrue, to make his point and get what he wants.
• The ultimate outsider, Trump would have a hard time getting anything done in Congress if elected president. He may snag a few Democrats for some of his initiatives, but will not be able to bring along many Republicans he trashed on the way to the Oval Office. They will not forget.
• With disapproval ratings of nearly 70% of the overall electorate, he will a hard time being elected president, which should give pause to GOP primary voters.
• He brags about being rich, as if that were a measure of a human being. Some rich people are saints; some are jerks. My heroes are great humanitarians, such as Mother Theresa, Lincoln, Martin Luther King and Gandhi, and great innovators, such as Franklin, Edison, Gates and Salk. Some ended up rich; some didn’t.
• He blurted out in a debate that he would condone torture of terrorist suspects and the killing of their family members, both violations of international law. He backed off, but his final position is unclear.
• He has not listened to the business community that says it cannot function without immigrant labor.
• At his rallies, he excuses violence toward protestors as displays of patriotism. He doesn’t walk away from dumb fights; he picks them.
• His threats toward and treatment of Cruz’ wife are incredibly boorish, as if he didn’t have enough trouble already with female voters.
Trump will still be in the game after April 5, whatever the outcome in Wisconsin. So, this iterative gathering of reasons to vote against Trump will stay open. Respond on my web site or e-mail me at jbt01@serigraph.com.
