The opening sections of today’s Morning Jolt offer a quick look at how dramatically people’s views can change in a five-year span . . . or sometimes just five minutes.
Trump in 2011: Participating in Debates Takes Courage!
Donald Trump is sitting out of Thursday night’s debate? Fine.
Back in 2011, Trump planned to moderate a GOP debate in Iowa; only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum agreed to participate. In an interview with Megyn Kelly — pause for irony — Trump said, “We’re not seeing a lot of courage here, are we? Not lots of courage, these Republicans. They’re supposed to be brave.” He went on to add, “Say what you want about Newt, Newt heard about the debate, ‘I want to do it.’ So there’s a certain courage or confidence or something.”
A joking exchange with Kelly later:
KELLY: “Do you really think you’re a better moderator than I am?”
TRUMP: “No. I could never beat you. That wouldn’t even be close. That would be no contest. You’ve done a great job. I mean it.”
Death of the Tea Party, Part Two
April 11, 2011:
“The Tea Party brings a dollop of honesty and grown-up leadership to Washington,” said Katrina Pierson, [Tea Party Review] magazine’s director of grassroots development. “That’s not something the Harry Reids, Nancy Pelosis, and Barack Obamas understand or know how to deal with.”
TRUMP: Well, I think that I’m going to be able to get along with Pelosi. I think I’m going to be able to — I’ve always had a good relationship with Nancy Pelosi. I’ve never had a problem. Reid will be gone. I always had a decent relationship with Reid, although lately, obviously, I haven’t been dealing with him so he’ll actually use my name as the ultimate — you know, as the ultimate of the billionaires in terms of, you know, people you don’t want.
But I always had a great relationship with Harry Reid. And frankly, if I weren’t running for office I would be able to deal with her or Reid or anybody. But I think I’d be able to get along very well with Nancy Pelosi and just about everybody.
Hey, look, I think I’ll be able to get along well with Chuck Schumer. I was always very good with Schumer. I was close to Schumer in many ways. It’s important that you get along. It’s wonderful to say you’re a maverick and you’re going to stand up and close up the country and all of the things, but you have to get somebody to go along with you.