As one might expect, "Crony Capitalism" remains the centerpiece of Trump's approach and prime reason for his subsequent successes! During the debate he all but acknowledged as much.

His symbiotic reliance on the intervention of government on his behalf highlights why he may be running as a Republican now however, he can't hide from his long held "Crony Capitalist" leanings....I suspect we can expect the same old, same old from a Trump presidency...

kh, I swept as many 'crickets' off this post as I could, but there's still a lot of them.... You have to remember that it's not popular on a day called "hump" to mess with Trump. You're just being mean by pointing out facts while his fans are still trying to get their heads around his PP remarks. Next time, consider your Trump truth-telling on a Friday...no...that won't work 'cause the media puts out the trash on that day. Oh well, I hope someone reads it. ;) +1

I so badly wanted to believe that the new Trump was for real. I wanted to be able to enjoy all the crap he is stirring without worrying about the final outcome. Of course I couldn't bring myself to do that without proof. Well, I watched his interview with Hannity and I got my proof, but it sure wasn't what I wanted. What I got was proof that the CRONY Trump is here to stay and he would rule with an iron fist that would make Obeyme (yes, I borrowed that) envious.

This man stood there during the debate and defined cronyism and then proceeded to inform us how he used it (took advantage of the laws) to his advantage. He gave me the impression that he, somehow, intended to change that but there was never a word about how he would put a stop to it. Or even slow it down.

Even with Hannity handing the interview to him he could not give a straight answer to any question, but reading between the lines you can tell he is the same old Trump. He has no intention of ending the cronyism, he will merely use it to make himself look good. His "tough" foreign policy is not a foreign policy at all. He will apply it on both sides of our borders and if you can't hang with him you are weak and not to be worried about. Some of his policies may work out well for some but he cares nothing for individual rights and will think nothing about trampling them at any point in order to make this country "great again".

"Hope and change" has a new face, but still no substance.

I was talking to an attorney one day and he said he considered the Kelo Decision as the day America died. He said their was a day when men would be loading their muskets if this type of property theft was attempted. I doubt Trump will get the nomination but the combined support for him, Socialist Sanders, Comrade Clinton and Bush the wuss makes me wonder if the country can turn things around.

from a 2004 Stossel article:http://reason.com/archives/2004/03/01...

Well, shame on him. To tell the truth, this is infor-
mation that I didn't know about him. But I am not
extremely surprised. I had already realized that he
was not very much a man of principle. We need a
Constitutional Amenment abolishing eminent do-
main nationwide. The Constitution had once said the anyone "held to service or labor" in one
state, "escaping into another" would not thereby
become free; also that,in Censuses, a black
slave counted as 3/5 of a man. The Thirteenth
and Fourteenth Amendments were necessary
to get rid of these problems.(And the Fifteenth
helped to get rid of some abuses, too, although
it was a long time before it became fully effec-
tive). Well, we need an Amendment that private
property shall not be taken for public use without
the consent of the owner. Period. And that if the
owner does not accept it, no amount of "com-
pensation" will be "just" in the eyes of the law.
---As to Trump, I have never been especially
keen on him.

Trump openly says he uses the laws to get whatever he can. He is exposing the crony capitalist system we have and which everyone uses quietly in the back rooms. Maybe the laws will be changed as a result of his openness.

Much as I like Trump on illegal immigration, I don't see him deferring to the constitution if it gets in the way of "what works." According to him, of course.

As I've said before, I'm not The Donald's biggest cheer leader. That said, in all fairness he didn't make the rules; he just used the existing rules to his advantage. It's reminiscent of Mitt's run when everyone from Obama on down lambasted him because he made X dollars, and only paid Y in taxes. You'd think that someone in the media somewhere would have said to those in power, "Wait a second...he didn't write the tax laws, YOU did. He's doing nothing more than obeying them.".

I think many adults know Trump's business reputation, but what's disheartening is that in the political environment we've lived with since at least LBJ, a business crook is more trusted than the political class, and people would more easily accept that than trust a politician.

And worst of all is the numbers of supposed Objectivist interested members on this site that are showing such a high degree of interest in what is going on in this current political theatre of the absurd. Do these members actually believe that who gets elected will moderate in any substantial way towards freedom and liberty.

First, I'm not entirely for anyone at this time, its too early. I am also not posting to excuse or apologize for anything Trump as done in his past. Its his life, he did everything in the open, and its his consequence or benefit when the time comes.

I think that most people are measuring Trump by the same standard as other politicians, this is a mistake. Trump is a businessman. He buys and sells properties with a frequency and regularity that is dizzying (he owned a hotel near my home for several months before he sold it to Radison). Is it any real surprise that land acquisition would factor into his routine? Is it any surprise that ANY town or city would favor an upscale hotel or casino- offering jobs and tax dollars) over a lower wage community?

Why would anyone in his position not use the laws to ensure that his projects and deals are as fruitful as they can be? As long as it was entirely legal, in his context as a business tycoon, I can't say much about it. The only thing this shows is that Trump knows how to work the laws to his advantage. All this means is that he's shrewed and not a nice guy - aka not a false faced politician. Remember - Edison, the Wright Brothers, Sam Colt..all individuals who used the laws to strengthen their grip on their industry.

As Joe Arapio says regularly, "If you don't like the law change it. When the law of the land is changed I'll stop my raids."
(that was until they tangled him up in so many court cases he can't sneeze without examination).

Yes. The Donald has done this. I've known him for this for years. I wondered when we'd start hearing it mentioned...

Thank You for digging this out and posting it, K -- this man is a
schemer and gang leader who apparently loves using government
force to get rich. . this reminds me of the Egyptians using slaves
to build pyramids. . the only difference is a nod to laws -- which are
being evaded, in many cases, for illicit gain. -- j
.

Dark thought: at this point can anything but a benevolent dictator (a la Trump) extricate America from the depths to which it has sunk? With our crushing debt, I can't help but wonder if our broken system is inadequate to accomplish what must be done, before we become Greece on steroids.

Thank you for posting this information...It had slipped my mind. I know the Donald to be unethical from his early 'junk bond' days, many should remember the Credit Union collapse; thank you Donald!

If Trump were to repudiate the practice and promise to reform the system to take away the ability, he might be worth supporting. Heck, I'd vote for Bernie Sanders if I thought he would do that.

I've struggle with this for most of my life. If you don't want a certain group of people to have an edge, then stop writing the rules and laws that give them that edge. If you wish for everyone to pay their "fair share" in taxes, stop writing the loopholes into the tax code. If you wish for the people we elect to work for those people, stop allowing for, with rules and laws the donations that buy the favors of those that can afford to pay for the favors.

How can anyone living in New York and wanting do anything significant done without using "the system". Besides the mafia or political crony's, the only way possible is Trumps way.
He played the only way he had, NYC is a lot better off for it!

Can the democrats support a liar and cheat etc., very possibly so why can't they the repubs support "t" if that is who the delegates choose? look as hard as you can and you will find that not a one of the candidates is qualified today. the whole deal is a popularity contest any way. all we can hope for is that the winner just leaves us alone.

+1, kh