Trump Says He's Been 'Childish,' Raises Possibility of Dropping Out

[IDemo]

Source: ABC News

With summer over, so might be the "Summer of Trump" -- and now the man himself appears to be accepting it might not be a kind Fall.

“This is going to be an ebb and flow, how can I continue to lead by such wide margins?,” Donald Trump told NBC’s “Today Show” this morning.

The GOP front-runner's once dominate lead in the polls has been shifting. A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll this week shows the real estate mogul now in a virtual tie with retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, polling at 21 percent to Carson’s 20.

“I’m a practical person,” Trump said. "If I see things aren’t going well, like for instance there are people right now in the Republican party who are not doing well I don’t think it’s going to change for many of them, at some point you have to get out. Right now, I’m leading every poll I get the biggest crowds by far. I had 20,000 in Dallas I had 35,000 people in Mobile, Alabama, you know so far it’s looking good…So I will go and if for some reason I think it’s not going to work, I’ll go back to my business.”

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/chastened-trump-candidate-childish-raises-possibility-dropping/story?id=34124354

[nichomachus]

1. At least he's not going to

"spend more time with his family"

[6chars]

5. best that he not spend too much time with his daughter

(The one who he said is so good looking that she weren't his daughter, he would be tempted. Ew.)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

41. Ick

The idea of trump and anyone is hideous.

[No Vested Interest]

45. Is that the daughter that just announced that she is pregnant?

Ivanka? Does he have only one daughter?
I know there are several sons, by several wives.

[6chars]

52. One and the same

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-ivanka-rolling-stone

It makes sense he would be attracted to her. She is a mix of Ivana whom he found attractive a couple of wives ago and himself who he still finds attractive.

[No Vested Interest]

55. Good point. nt

[TwilightGardener]

2. Time for a new act--thoughtful introspection.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. Going to base his decision to drop out on 41% of the primary vote?

Unless he drops precipitously, I don't see why he doesn't at least stay in until 5 or more of the no-hopers drop out, to see where their voters go.

[MosheFeingold]

67. His internal negatives are too high

I've been through a lot of elections, and, at this point (where no one has even a strong plurality), you don't care as much about your positive numbers, so much as your negative and "second choice" numbers.

He's pretty much peaked in terms of positive and second choice, and his negatives are huge.

Looking deeper into the polling numbers, there are a few viable (internally within the Republican Primary) candidates:

Carson
Cruz
Bush
Rubio

Carson doesn't have the organization or the money. Rubio doesn't have the money.

Cruz is the favorite, by far, of the wingnut base, and has both money and organization.

Bush has the elite vote and the money and the family organization, but is hated by the wingnut base.

It will come down to Cruz vs. Bush. It's very similar to Reagan vs. Bush, actually, in dynamics, except Cruz would make Rubio his VP and Bush would make some token (yes, token, that's how it works) female his VP.

This is from 60+ years of working on campaigns. I will bet anyone 1,000,000 internet points.

[Springslips]

71. I'd kill to see those numbers.

But I think you are wrong. Without seeing those # ( I am assuming you are privvy to private polls) and going with gut, I think Cruz numbers will drop--he has very little charisma. I think the wingnut canidate will rotate as it did in 2012. I also think the elites will drop Bush soon and go with Kasich; The Bush brand is as bad as it can be and his numbers are dropping already. The elites have to be nervous of these two things.

So I'll take your bet: it won't be Cruz versus Bush.

[MosheFeingold]

72. Counting my 1,000,000 internets now, baby ;-) n/t

[madaboutharry]

4. He never thought he would get in this deep.

I think he entered this race with same level of committment as he had in the other presidential races he entered. I doubt in his wildest dreams did he think he would experience "The Summer of Trump."

He is looking for a way out. He doesn't want to be president. He knows he doesn't have what it takes. These comments are the planting of the seeds for an exit.

[elleng]

9. I agree.

[Backwoodsrider]

10. as soon as the fun is gone so is Trump

I agree Trump was as surprised as anyone when he took off but ut was just a flash in the pan. Then what are the crazyheads going to do, who are they going to put their FAITH in after Trump leaves??

[leftyladyfrommo]

14. I agree, too.

He doesn't really want to be president. It was just fun for a while.

[cyberswede]

16. Yep. nt

[DetlefK]

18. Running for President is what rich, bored people do.

Just look at Romney or Jeb. No fire, no vision. They are running for President because they want it as a collector's item.

I guess, it also factors that Trump realized that Congress and Supreme Court won't automatically dance to his tune. What's the point of being the boss if you can't boss others around?

"And to make it worse: My word is not good enough for those fuckers! They demand real numbers and plans!!! And we will concentrate those 11 million people in camps in a humane way!!!!! And don't you dare to doubt me that I will pull the greatest all-nighter of all times and be ready just in time for my first day in office!!!!!!!"

[daleanime]

26. +1

[wordpix]

28. reports are that he led a very private life before - chauffeurs, private jets, private elevators

He didn't have to see one person he did not want to see.

Politics is a different ball game, huh, Trump?

[Runningdawg]

36. Yeah I had a conservative friend

who told me Trump would be GREAT at getting things done. People LOVE him, otherwise he wouldn't be able to close all the deals he has over the decades. I told her HE didn't close the deals - he knows people, who knows people, really good people, who can do that - so he doesn't have to. She just laughed. Lets see if she is laughing a year from now.

[wordpix]

39. haha tell her people love him so much they dumped their contracts with him

The Apprentice shows et al have dumped Trump.

[WestSeattle2]

42. Totally agree. His narcissism has been fed, now it's time to move

on to the next promotional opportunity. Personally, I think he just wanted to let everyone know that he's "worth $10 billion dollars", and a presidential election document lends a degree of legitimacy to the claim, even though the $10B figure is widely disputed. He's a tool.

[louis-t]

53. Articles I've read say it's closer to $3 bil

but he over states the value of his "brand".

[CincyDem]

6. All part of the plan...

...with all the media focus on Trump and his wild-assed approaches, he has obscured coverage of all the other conversations going on between the likely candidates and their base. The nominee won't have an primary positions to defend because nobody outside their base will know about them.

Trump has always been an exercise in privatizing the primaries - pushing them into the back room and out of the limelight.

His business will be rewarded for his performance...just like any actor would be paid at the end of the show's run.

[maddogesq]

19. My Sentimernts Exactly.

Pardon my donning of a tin foil hat, but I have suspected Trump is always looking for a money-making scheme, and the neocons have deep pockets. You can cry about the Teatards all you want, but the money men connected with the BFEE still run the show.

Donald the Clown runs decoy while back room deals are made to boost Jebby.

My prediction:

It will be a Jeb/Carson ticket.

Stay tuned, because I am usually better than 80 percent on these predictions.

[WestSeattle2]

43. I think Jeb/Kasich - Carson doesn't put any state into play.

[moonscape]

49. Mine is Rubio/someone (but I like yours better for us) n/t

[sofa king]

7. The Narcissist's "moment of clarity."

That's the wonderful justice of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. As long as the subject believes his own bullshit about himself, he has little to no empathy for others, is limited only by what he thinks he can get away with, and can behave as ruthlessly as a sociopath.

But inevitably, the Narcissist has brutally self-aware moments where he realizes that he is a fraud, that everything he has done has left a trail of disaster behind him, and the walls close in, and that's when he spends half a month "vacationing" at Camp David while his sycophants fluff him back up, if you're W Bush.

That's why W still can't look himself in the face except through a shitty painting of his eyes in a mirror in the shower, and now that he's universally acknowledged as one of the worst leaders ever, the furies will never cease tearing at his soul, for the rest of his miserable life.

Trump won't remain realistic and depressed for long before he realizes that if he can only just believe his own crap, there is no limit to the damage he can cause, and he will be off to the races again.

Edit: The theory permits predictions, so I'll make one: Something is coming out that's gonna hurt him fairly bad, and he will retreat into his tent like a spurned Alexander the Great for seven to ten days. Then, he's gonna blow up in the exact same way he did before, renounce everything he said between now and the first week of October, and try to claw his way back into it by being even more of a douche.

Second edit: The important thing to know about NPD is that once the narcissist reaches a level of publicity and adulation where The Don is right now, he will inevitably demand MORE of it. There's no plan here; this is just a predictable cycle of the personality disorder.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/basics/definition/con-20025568

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

[Skittles]

56. interesting assessment

what I cannot understand is how these glaring narcissists so easily fool so many people - are they truly that stupid, naive or WHAT?

[sofa king]

62. I think it's the confidence they show.

When they believe their own bullshit they really believe it, and they need others to believe it too, so they're very convincing to people who work by judgment and belief rather than factual analysis.

In other words, narcissists are very appealing to other people who can't think, because they do such a good job of pretending that they have it all figured out.

[Geronimoe]

8. Liar

The amount of people attending his events are a lie. Only about 4K to 5K attended each event in Dallas and Alabama.

[MissKat]

11. Someone needs a nap

He reminds me of my five year old grandson who just can't stand it when he's so very, very tired that he needs a nap and he starts spinning stories to fight off any attempt to get him to lay down. Donald is a man/boy who wants to be King of Candy Land where everyone loves him and he's always right. I think Donald is getting bored. It was bound to happen. He is so immature...and yet, there are people who think he's just what this country needs. (Shudder.)

[renate]

63. I was going to say "welcome to DU," but I see you've been here a while....

So I'll just say "You should post more often, because that was funny."

[annabanana]

64. Purrfect, MissKat!

He is a small boy who has never been told "no". You nailed it.

[still_one]

12. What a misleading headline. He did not say he is dropping out. LBN, Trump expels some gas.....

[niyad]

13. no, comb-over boy, you have not "been childish"--you have been hateful, ugly, ignorant, spiteful

and disgusting almost beyond words. children are not megalomaniacs, they are generally not narcissists, and they are generally not woman-hating jerks. so, quit insulting the children, you worthless pos, and retire to the obscurity you so richly merit.

[FrodosPet]

17. "children are not megalomaniacs, they are generally not narcissists"?

SOME children, MANY children, are not megalomaniacs. They are generally not narcissists.

Others most definitely ARE megalomaniacs. And their parents support and encourage it.

[Kelvin Mace]

15. So, as I suspected

it has all been a scam from Day 1.

[BuelahWitch]

35. Yep, sounds like it. n/t

[world wide wally]

20. EVERYTHING Trump does is to stroke his ego

What he probably wants from this statement is for people to beg him to stay in and save the world

[hibbing]

21. Bush opening

The equally as stupid son is biding his time and waiting for his chance. He already is upping the racism with the "free stuff" garbage, he pandered to the oil industry the other day, now he needs to add a pinch of religious bigotry and he will slowly climb in the polls. Just my two cents.

Peace

[daleanime]

29. Bu$hie's chances are dewindling....

if he doesn't make a move soon he won't have any left.

[Botany]

22. I have always thought that Trump was perfomance art and that he would get out

[GusBob]

23. That sound you hear is Scotty Walker slamming doors

his wife running covering her ears from the profanity

[patsimp]

24. Fxck - i knew he would get bored and eventually drop it.

What a wimp.

[alcibiades_mystery]

25. Dear Gawd did Dick Cheney invite him hunting?

[Gothmog]

27. Trump is not likely to be the nominee

Trump will bail when he slips too much in the polls. Trump's ego will not allow him to be a loser

[L. Coyote]

30. In other words, if I see the enterprise is losing money and not going to make me richer ...

it will be time to quit spending money pointlessly.

At what point can Trump make back all he has spent and then some?
And at what point does he cross the profitability line and lose money?

[dembotoz]

31. i look for a "sign" that he will percieve that he needs to rededicate himself to the run

it is a soap opera and he is a reality tv star.....

i expect more drama...scripted bullshit

[DaveT]

32. Two Quick Points About Trump's Ride

First, I have been amused by how many left of center folks have their hair on fire about the possibility of Donald Trump becoming president. I'm not saying it is inconceivable, but I've seen no real reason to lose one's cookies. Had his star kept rising into the autumn, it would have been time to scratch one's chin. But as of now, as Trump's polling numbers are coming back down to earth, the original dismissal of him as a more talented version of Herman Cain seems apt.

Second, I can see the business opportunity for him -- The Trump Network, an ultra red-meat news channel that tells the True story that the wimps at Fox News are afraid to tell. Of course the schedule would be filled out with several versions of The Apprentice. And The Donald would have to host a late night talk show to go up against whoever took the places of Leno and Letterman. Don't forget the afternoon -- I am not being sarcastic when I say I would get off to seeing Donald Trump hosting The Family Feud.

Yeah, the Trump Network -- All The Donald, All The Time.


Satire or Reality? You know you are at an historic turning point when they merge.

[Oneironaut]

33. Click bait headline by ABC. He said neither of those two things.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump isn't going anywhere. He said that he would drop out if he wasn't doing well.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

34. Hello Folks the Donald Here

So, I will go and if for some reason I think it's not going to work,I'll go back to my business. I'm a practical person !

Now folks in practical realization I can tell you straight up what it all comes down to. It is very simple really ,all you have to do is think about it. It all comes down to money. Great money actually.

I never expected to step out in the open air then take one great diffident swing for the hole in one. I believe all the clowns call that a slam dunk.Those beggars are begging in high gear now and that translates to wheeling and dealing ,essentially,selling out. And that is all about the return on the investment.

As you know, without those wheels ,there can be no deals.
That is the stop short of my candidacy. And there it is all about my money.Back behind it all is the business of my business with a very limited share profit. Over and above it all,that's what it comes down to. It comes down to limitations.
I know you can lie like a rug, you can lie like a dirty dog ,you can lie in wait but you cannot make those lies become truth. And at the same time it becomes impossible to tell the truth about those lies the same as it is impossible to live those lies.

And as you know those lies grow teeth and come back to bite !
And from that there is no running ! Yes and another one bites the bummer ! Ouch !

[Bernardo de La Paz]

37. Biggest rule of show business: leave your crowd wanting more. nt

[oberliner]

38. He'll been gone from the race in a month or two

Maybe sooner. He's getting bored of it. Utility may have been maximized.

[wordpix]

40. I also think he doesn't like to meet the masses

Before he ran for pres, he did not see anyone unless he agreed to see that person.

[Fearless]

44. He's already made his money now he wants to cut and run.

Or maybe he got bored. Or perhaps he didn't want to actually be challenged. Or maybe someone from the Republican party has threatened him and he's listening.

Either way, good riddance, better sooner than later.

[spooky3]

46. He seemed tired and subdued on Colbert's show.

I thought maybe someone coached him not to provoke Colbert. But now I wonder if he's just physically exhausted and that it isn't fun for him anymore.

[TexasBushwhacker]

47. He was totally unprepared on 60 Minutes as well

Scott Pelley was polite, but firm. If Trump tried to wiggle away from a question (most of the questions would start with "how&quot Scott would come right back at him.

BTW, the interview is online now for those who missed it.

[spooky3]

57. In his business he could order some underling to take care of whatever.

It's a new experience for him to have to do the difficult work himself.

[TexasBushwhacker]

59. I think half of his answers were "Management!" n/t

[MisterP]

61. "don't you think he looks tired?"

[AtomicKitten]

48. Trump was always destined to hit the wall. He has zero substance but lots of hype.

[notadmblnd]

50. I wonder what the BFEE threatened him with?

[Snap the Turtle]

51. I got another reason for his dropout or his planned one...

FEC deadline...

[Sunlei]

54. Trump had real estate deals with Gaddafi back in the same time Bushgang courted him like a King.

Trump better start to play hardball with Bushson and the others or he may as well become another Republican Quitter. Go back to his cupcake baking TV show.

[workinclasszero]

58. Maybe he has another TV show lined up?

Time to strike the tent, shut down the circus and call it a day?

[demwing]

66. Yeah..."Celebrity Vice-President"

Contestants are all out of work actors. Trump can have them compete in negotiations with China over a trade deal, and for the losers, he can deliver the trademark line "You're impeached!"

[workinclasszero]

68. hahaha

Thats where Chump belongs..as far away from the Whitehouse as possible!

[wildbilln864]

60. NOOOOOOOO!

Nooooo! It's too soon! Wait 9 months or so then drop out. Damn!

[librechik]

65. I knew it! That has long been my guess with La Donald

he doesn't have the nads to really do anything once the criticism starts flying. He'll throw a tantrum and drop out at some point. Mark this date that we predicted it!

[Orsino]

69. Huh. So it has begun.

People are starting to boo, or even worse to question him on specifics. Yep. Baby is getting bored with his toy.

[Myrina]

70. Just about the same time as Romney says Trump won't be Nom ...

.... makes one wonder what's going on in the Dirty Deals Department of the GOP.

[vinny9698]

73. Trump is just catching his second wind. No Deal as the Howie Mandel says.

Trump is in it for the long haul. He is just catching his second wind. All the way to the convention with a number of delegates in his pocket ready to "deal or no deal."

[Arugula Latte]

74. Translation: "WTF? You people really were stupid enough to buy into this sham?"