As reported earlier, over the weekend Weekly Standard editor and prominent neocon, Bill Kristol, one of Trump's most vocal detractors, announced that he would challenge Trump's presidential candidacy by unveiling an independent candidate, "asn impressive one, with a strong team and a real chance." This led to another heated exchange between Trump and Kristol, with Trump calling the conservative voice a "loser" and a "dummy"
If dummy Bill Kristol actually does get a spoiler to run as an Independent, say good bye to the Supreme Court!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2016
This is turn led to another response by Kristol who said on Twitter that "I gather Donald Trump said I'm a loser", adding that "I've won some and I've lost some, but one thing I've always tried not to be is a roaring jackass."
I gather Donald Trump said I'm a loser. I've won some and I've lost some, but one thing I've always tried not to be is a roaring jackass.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) May 31, 2016
The feud between the Trump and Kristol aside, the political world has been engaged in a fevered guessing game over whom that person might be.
Shortly after Kristol's Sunday tweet, he left for Israel and has been avoiding the press, speaking only through a series of tweets taunting Trump for responding to Kristol’s Sunday tweet. Speculation had centered on 2012 Republican nominee Romney, freshman Nebraska senator Ben Sasse, and other current and former state and federal office-holders.
The answer was revealed by Bloomberg late this afternoon, which reported that according to two Republicans intimately familiar with Bill Kristol’s efforts to recruit an independent presidential candidate to challenge Donald Trump that the person Kristol has in mind is David French - whose name the editor of the Weekly Standard floated in the current issue of the magazine.
Who is David French? Bloomberg has the details?
French is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the website of National Review, where French is a staff writer, he is a constitutional lawyer, a recipient of the Bronze Star, and an author of several books who lives in Columbia, Tenn., with his wife Nancy and three children.
Reached in Israel late Tuesday afternoon, Kristol declined to comment on his efforts to induce French to run. The two Republicans confirmed that French is open to launching a bid, but that he has not made a final decision. One of the Republicans added that French has not lined up a vice-presidential running mate or significant financial support. However, according to this person, some conservative donors look favorably on the prospect of French entering the fray.
In Kristol’s piece in the Standard’s June 6 issue, he argued that “the fact of Trump's and Clinton's unfitness for the Oval Office has become so self-evident that it's no longer clear one needs a famous figure to provide an alternative.” Bloomberg adds that after mentioning Mitt Romney and other possibilities such as Judd Gregg and Mel Martinez, Kristol invoked French’s name and résumé, writing, "To say that he would be a better and a more responsible president than Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is to state a truth that would become self-evident as more Americans got to know him."
Bloomberg concludes that according to one person deeply involved in the efforts to recruit an independent challenger, the search has focused on individuals who have one or more of the following three traits seen as vital for credibly launching such a bid: fame, vast wealth, and elective experience.
We fail to see precisely which of the three traits French possesses. And now we await the imminent response from Trump.
Kristol is the "Roraing Jackass". IMHO, this pick of his does not sound like a winner. I hope Kristol loses a pile of money.
#1: GrandIsland To: Stoner (#0)
Who?
lol
GrandIsland posted on 2016-06-01 08:01:35 Reply Private Reply
#2: Roscoe To: GrandIsland (#1)
Roscoe posted on 2016-06-01 08:15:35 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: Stoner (#0)
Locally, we have people running for City Council with better credentials.
misterwhite posted on 2016-06-01 08:47:04 Reply Private Reply
#4: misterwhite To: Stoner (#0)
Yeah. I bet he saw a lot of action as Squadron Judge Advocate. I wonder what the Bronze Star was for -- valor in the courtroom?
misterwhite posted on 2016-06-01 08:54:18 Reply Private Reply
#5: Roscoe To: misterwhite (#4)
It was a "naked" Bronze Star, without the V for Valor. One of those "Meritorious Service" awards for officers that are given almost automatically nowadays.
Roscoe posted on 2016-06-01 09:07:34 Reply Private Reply
#6: misterwhite To: Roscoe (#5)
I get it. Like the "participation trophy" they give to little kids.
misterwhite posted on 2016-06-01 09:12:01 Reply Private Reply
#7: Stoner To: misterwhite (#6)
Exactly !
Stoner posted on 2016-06-01 09:23:22 Reply Private Reply
#8: BobCeleste To: Stoner (#0)
I guess the NeoCons figure if they say it enough it will be true.
They are wrong, I and millions of others, are still waiting to be told what makes Donald unfit for command.
They have bush, romney and satan on their side, we have the tens of millions of plain ole USA citizens that want our country back.
BobCeleste posted on 2016-06-01 10:57:27 Reply Private Reply
#9: redleghunter To: Stoner, GarySpFc, CZ82, Vicomte13 (#0)
Might as well run Megan Kelly instead. At least people know who she is.
There is nothing special about this guy. He is a Harvard grad, a lawyer and a confirmed neo-con beltway bandit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_A._French
OIF experience? That's interesting. I know all the OIF important 'players' and French ain't one of them. Petreus? Odierno? Austin? Yeah that means something with regards to 'experience' in Iraqi Freedom from the beginning to end. Touting 'a' Bronze star? Get in line Mr. French and let me know when you have four or five. That means little as for military folks we want to see the 'piping' on your sleeve showing the months you served over there to be considered 'experienced' or an 'expert.'
Looks like French is a Reserve JAG type.
I'm sure Mr. French is a good husband and father and served our nation well on one deployment as a JAG. Please don't tell us he is qualified to run for President based on that on deployment.
Just another beltway boy towing the line.
redleghunter posted on 2016-06-01 11:38:03 Reply Private Reply
#10: redleghunter To: misterwhite (#4)
A Bronze Star can be awarded for valor, service or achievement. Since it is not mentioned it was for valor, I assume it was for service.
The BSM is the combat zone equivalent to the Meritorious Achievement Award (MSM) but of course is higher in precedence when wearing your medals or ribbons.
redleghunter posted on 2016-06-01 11:44:13 Reply Private Reply
#11: Willie Green To: Stoner (#0)
He's the heavy-set bearded butler on Family Affair:
Willie Green posted on 2016-06-01 12:14:36 Reply Private Reply
#12: Stoner To: Willie Green (#11)
Stoner posted on 2016-06-01 12:25:59 Reply Private Reply
#13: jeremiad To: Roscoe (#2)
jeremiad posted on 2016-06-01 14:28:03 Reply Private Reply
#14: nolu chan To: Stoner (#0)
nolu chan posted on 2016-06-01 14:30:17 Reply Private Reply
#15: nolu chan To: jeremiad, Roscoe (#13)
And they can get that Libertarian striptease guy to run with French and add to the entertainment.
nolu chan posted on 2016-06-01 14:31:42 Reply Private Reply
#16: Stoner To: jeremiad (#13)
And a one way ticket to Antarctica.
Stoner posted on 2016-06-01 14:38:23 Reply Private Reply
#17: nativist nationalist To: Stoner (#0)
Perhaps he's done some Kristol Math?
nativist nationalist posted on 2016-06-01 15:10:52 Reply Private Reply
#18: Roscoe To: nativist nationalist (#17)
May I steal that, please?
Roscoe posted on 2016-06-01 17:28:15 Reply Private Reply
#19: ConservingFreedom To: Stoner (#0)
FUDF.
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-06-01 18:19:51 Reply Private Reply
#20: CZ82 To: redleghunter (#9)
Obozo was qualified just because he is a Leftard.
CZ82 posted on 2016-06-08 20:05:57 Reply Private Reply