Trump Thread

[Rose71]

Accross the Pond, here in England, Trump is regarded as a figure or ridicule by most people. His name doesn’t help, as (I’m sure most of you know) to ‘trump’ in English slang, means to break wind! (and thereby run the risk of blowing off his toupee)

He is seen as a dangerous man who will do whatever he can to win votes, by preying on people’s fears and fatigue with the over-zealous PC movement and hunger for something that finally sends a big 2-fingered salute to the hand-wringing liberals. We’re worried that if he can find enough Jerry Springer audience-types to vote for him, he’ll do quite well.

I think most people in the UK are hoping that common sense will win the day and he will receive a vote of ‘no thanks’ - but lessons will be learned about what drives people to even consider voting for a man like him in the first place, because he has certainly hit a vein of desperation and he’s mining it for all he’s worth.

 

[queenofheartscv]

I am lost on this one…

I am certain that you have encounter the “Jerk” for a boss. However, as much distain as you may have had for his personality - he got the job done. Trump has had the luxury of cashing-in on this type of personality. America has watched his show for years. He demonstrated the benefits of displaying a sharp focus and a callousness towards all those that fail him within his path.

Now you juxtapose him in an arena with career politicians that already carry the reputation of accomplishing little for their constituency. I can see how he is winning. My frustration with both parties is that we (as voters) have argued the same points that we had argued during the last election cycle (and the election cycles before that…). As long as our candidate states what we want to hear, we are appeased until the next election were we begin the process all over again.

Trump is a representation of the many things wrong with the our system. To his credit he has the brand and that is something other candidates will spend millions in attempting to acquire. Remember, Thump is a Warton graduate, therefore he is an educated man. However, the current President also an educated man - Harvard graduate. The reality is that “Smarts” is not what we are lacking in this country. I value wisdom & discernment and the unselfishness to consider the greater good…kinda of oxymoron for a career in politics.

Or Trump could give the appearance of being a jerk but turn out to be a great boss.

washingtonpost.com/politics/donald-trump-a-champion-of-women-his-female-employees-think-so/2015/11/23/7eafac80-88da-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html

Donald Trump, a champion of women? His female employees think so.

While some say he could be boorish, his companies nurtured and pro*moted women in an otherwise male-dominated industry. Several women said they appreciated how Trump granted them entry to a new playing field.

“From the standpoint of being a woman, I just thought he was phenomenal,” said Sunshine, 74. “So supportive and encouraging. . . . He gave me the ropes, and I could either hang myself or prove myself.”

And he used to tell her and others that “men are better than women, but a good woman is better than 10 good men.”

Today, according to Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, there are more women than men holding executive positions in the Trump Organization, heading such departments as human resources, golf and hotel management, and global licensing, even though women make up just 43 percent of the overall workforce. Women who are in similar positions as men, Cohen said, “are compensated at equal and in many cases higher pay rates.”

 

[SuperLuigi]

I don’t think there can be any doubt that the GOP is in jeopardy, and not just wrt losing a Senate majority.

Who’s putting it in jeopardy depends, I think, on whom you ask: surely those who support Trump would say that those who are campaigning for Cruz are the ones putting the GOP in jeopardy.

The biggest difference between the GOP and the Democrats is that there are large swaths of the GOP base as well as libertarians who are more concerned about sending a message than winning an election. Democrats will do whatever it takes to win, even to the point of throwing their principles under the bus. The only reason President Obama went along with so-called gay “marriage” was because rich gay rights activist donors were holding out. He did a complete 180 and so did the Clintons.

Historically, Democrats have blown with the wind on major issues from slavery to abortion to so-called gay “marriage”. When they didn’t and insisted on sticking it out in Vietnam, they lost BIG.

While many Democrats and liberals are laughing in their sleeves at the GOP, the reality is that they aren’t selling their brand very well at all either.

So liberal success is based primarily on GOP division, not on the merits of their message.

It seems like they are relying on the current GOP frontrunner to collapse the party instead of telling people how great it is to drive businesses abroad with high taxes, impose unnecessary environmental rules, yet completely fail in federal oversight of the Flint water situation, force Christian businesses to bake a cake, chip away at the Second Amendment, put man-made “climate change” ahead of jobs for blue collar workers, and dump school choice for fear that kids might actually learn to think on their own and avoid left-wing propaganda.

 

[Abynissa]

Donald Trump reveals foreign policy team in meeting with The Washington Post

…“I do think it’s a different world today, and I don’t think we should be nation-building anymore,” Trump said. “I think it’s proven not to work, and we have a different country than we did then. We have $19 trillion in debt. We’re sitting, probably, on a bubble. And it’s a bubble that if it breaks, it’s going to be very nasty. I just think we have to rebuild our country.”…

…“China has got unbelievable ambitions,” Trump said. “China feels very invincible. We have rebuilt China. They have drained so much money out of our country that they’ve rebuilt China. Without us, you wouldn’t see the airports and the roadways and the bridges. The George Washington Bridge [in New York], that’s like a trinket compared to the bridges that they build in China. We don’t build anymore. We had our day.”…

 

[SuperLuigi]

I’m middle class, and life has improved for me under Obama.

I wish I had an euro every time an American said “it worked great for and family, so it must be good and will work for others”.

I’m sure it has in the academic and the government sector. In the private sector, it has been very damaging.

And those of us who work in the public sector can only sustain our employment as long as there is good enough tax revenue or donations.

Obama’s policies have ensured neither of those would succeed indefinitely.

 

[meltzerboy]

When did she change? Presumably she supported the high-altitude bombing in Serbia. She supported the Islamic takeover in Libya and Egypt. She supported the doubtful rebels in Syria, and supported the Iraq War. How many wars does she need to favor before people think of her as a hawk?

Dems who purport to disfavor foreign military adventures should be running from her. But they aren’t.

I agree Hillary is a hawk; there is no doubt in my mind about that. I do not support her candidacy. However, she is very likely to become the Democratic nominee. So this election cycle, to whom should Democrats run: Trump or Cruz?

 

[FollowChrist34]

The biggest difference between the GOP and the Democrats is that there are large swaths of the GOP base as well as libertarians who are more concerned about sending a message than winning an election. Democrats will do whatever it takes to win, even to the point of throwing their principles under the bus. The only reason President Obama went along with so-called gay “marriage” was because rich gay rights activist donors were holding out. He did a complete 180 and so did the Clintons.

Historically, Democrats have blown with the wind on major issues from slavery to abortion to so-called gay “marriage”. When they didn’t and insisted on sticking it out in Vietnam, they lost BIG.

While many Democrats and liberals are laughing in their sleeves at the GOP, the reality is that they aren’t selling their brand very well at all either.

So liberal success is based primarily on GOP division, not on the merits of their message.

It seems like they are relying on the current GOP frontrunner to collapse the party instead of telling people how great it is to drive businesses abroad with high taxes, impose unnecessary environmental rules, yet completely fail in federal oversight of the Flint water situation, force Christian businesses to bake a cake, chip away at the Second Amendment, put man-made “climate change” ahead of jobs for blue collar workers, and dump school choice for fear that kids might actually learn to think on their own and avoid left-wing propaganda.

I agree the Dems have an uphill battle; it is always very difficult for a third term party to win an election, after the disastrous Obama administration, especially on immigration, foreign policy and social issues. I put those issues as negatives ahead of the economy by quite a bit.

I think the GOP could have waltzed into the White House behind Rubio or Kasich as nominee. Possibly even made it with Cruz. (I question if that is possible now due to the divisions in the GOP, Trump v GOP, conservatives v moderates; wounds are all open now.)

Trump changes the dynamics in a wide variety of ways. But I think the Dems are very alert, on the watch. They countered Trump’s anti-Hillary ad the same day - very effectively counterpunched, killed it. And they are already pivoting the Dem message in preparation. So often people just assume a party IS the frontrunner, the candidate. There is a huge well-oiled, well-funded, experienced machine behind Hillary. And they are serious and scared of Trump.

 

[queenofheartscv]

I agree the Dems have an uphill battle; it is always very difficult for a third term party to win an election, after the disastrous Obama administration, especially on immigration, foreign policy and social issues. I put those issues as negatives ahead of the economy by quite a bit.

I think the GOP could have waltzed into the White House behind Rubio or Kasich as nominee. Possibly even made it with Cruz. (I question if that is possible now due to the divisions in the GOP, Trump v GOP, conservatives v moderates; wounds are all open now.)

Trump changes the dynamics in a wide variety of ways. But I think the Dems are very alert, on the watch. They countered Trump’s anti-Hillary ad the same day - very effectively counterpunched, killed it. And they are already pivoting the Dem message in preparation. So often people just assume a party IS the frontrunner, the candidate. There is a huge well-oiled, well-funded, well-experienced machine behind Hillary. And they are serious and scared of Trump.

I don’t think Hillary’s counter-ad was that good. Can many people stand her hysterical laughing?

 

[Jeanne_S]

I wish I had an euro every time an American said “it worked great for and family, so it must be good and will work for others”.

I’m sure it has in the academic and the government sector. In the private sector, it has been very damaging.

And those of us who work in the public sector can only sustain our employment as long as there is good enough tax revenue or donations.

Obama’s policies have ensured neither of those would succeed indefinitely.

As Margaret Thatcher said"The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money"

 

[FollowChrist34]

I don’t think Hillary’s counter-ad was that good. Can many people stand her hysterical laughing?

There were both ad hominem. (I actually got a good laugh out of the Dem one; I loved it) This is where the general is going - vicious and personal - back to Trump Rubio small hands territory. I agree it will be nasty on a level we have possibly never seen, or not in a while anyway. I don’t know if that will be effective for Trump in the general against Clinton. I don’t see any pivot or change of strategy in the works - so again, you are correct, I think this is it - to November.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

I don’t think Hillary’s counter-ad was that good. Can many people stand her hysterical laughing?

It doesn’t bother me. People laugh the way they laugh. I had a teacher once who, when she sneezed, would always sneeze six times, and she sounded like Minnie Mouse might, saying “Choo, choo, choo,” etc. in this extremely high voice. Very annoying, but I don’t know anyone who judged her on the basis of her sneeze. Everyone has these annoying habits; they bother some more than most.

I thought HIllary’s ad was okay, not super effective, but not bad, just okay.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

I agree the Dems have an uphill battle; it is always very difficult for a third term party to win an election, after the disastrous Obama administration, especially on immigration, foreign policy and social issues. I put those issues as negatives ahead of the economy by quite a bit.

I think the GOP could have waltzed into the White House behind Rubio or Kasich as nominee. Possibly even made it with Cruz. (I question if that is possible now due to the divisions in the GOP, Trump v GOP, conservatives v moderates; wounds are all open now.)

Trump changes the dynamics in a wide variety of ways. But I think the Dems are very alert, on the watch. They countered Trump’s anti-Hillary ad the same day - very effectively counterpunched, killed it. And they are already pivoting the Dem message in preparation. So often people just assume a party IS the frontrunner, the candidate. There is a huge well-oiled, well-funded, experienced machine behind Hillary. And they are serious and scared of Trump.

It is almost always very uphill for a party trying to win a third term, but this time, I think the dearth of Republican candidates has made it a lot easier. Cruz is so extreme, and for many people, he’s not likable; Kasich is too establishment and not a name brand; Trump is well, Trump, too much baggage, no political experience, and too unstable.

 

[FollowChrist34]

It doesn’t bother me. People laugh the way they laugh. I had a teacher once who, when she sneezed, would always sneeze six times, and she sounded like Minnie Mouse might, saying “Choo, choo, choo,” etc. in this extremely high voice. Very annoying, but I don’t know anyone who judged her on the basis of her sneeze. Everyone has these annoying habits; they bother some more than most.

I thought HIllary’s ad was okay, not super effective, but not bad, just okay.

I loved the part about talking to myself and having a good brain. The best thing so far - nasty stuff - was the SNL skit, the KKK one, right, the voters coming on one by one, Trump reflects my values, ironing the white sheet.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

I wish I had an euro every time an American said “it worked great for and family, so it must be good and will work for others”.

I’m sure it has in the academic and the government sector. In the private sector, it has been very damaging.

And those of us who work in the public sector can only sustain our employment as long as there is good enough tax revenue or donations.

Obama’s policies have ensured neither of those would succeed indefinitely.

I have relatives who work in the private sector, and they say they are better off now, too. The one area in which we agree we are not better off is our insurance premiums. We still get the healthcare we did before, but we pay a lot more for it. My insurance premium has tripled. And I can’t for the life of me understand why the ACA Website STILL does not work! There’s no excuse for that. That is a petty complaint compared with some, but because it’s so petty, there really is no excuse for it. None. Zero. Zip. Nada.

 

[FollowChrist34]

It is almost always very uphill for a party trying to win a third term, but this time, I think the dearth of Republican candidates has made it a lot easier. Cruz is so extreme, and for many people, he’s not likable; Kasich is too establishment and not a name brand; Trump is well, Trump, too much baggage, no political experience, and too unstable.

I would take Cruz or Kasich over Clinton in a heartbeat.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

I agree Hillary is a hawk; there is no doubt in my mind about that. I do not support her candidacy. However, she is very likely to become the Democratic nominee. So this election cycle, to whom should Democrats run: Trump or Cruz?

I know you support Sanders as I still do, but I don’t feel he’s going to win the nomination. Still, stranger things have happened.

Will you then support a Republican? If so, who? I you’d prefer not to say, that’s fine. I understand completely. None of us has to reveal our political leanings.

 

[gracepoole]

I loved the part about talking to myself and having a good brain. The best thing so far - nasty stuff - was the SNL skit, the KKK one, right, the voters coming on one by one, Trump reflects my values, ironing the white sheet.

Yes, that was hilarious. As was the skit from last week in which HRC slowly morphed into Bernie.

I know you support Sanders as I still do, but I don’t feel he’s going to win the nomination. Still, stranger things have happened.

Will you then support a Republican? If so, who? I you’d prefer not to say, that’s fine. I understand completely. None of us has to reveal our political leanings.

I’ll reveal. Big Bernie supporter. But hell will freeze over before I vote for Trump or Cruz. I may go for Jill Stein ultimately.

EDIT: I should note, too, that I’ll probably end up vote swapping so I can vote for Stein while still ensuring a counterpart in another state votes Dem.

 

[meltzerboy]

I know you support Sanders as I still do, but I don’t feel he’s going to win the nomination. Still, stranger things have happened.

Will you then support a Republican? If so, who? I you’d prefer not to say, that’s fine. I understand completely. None of us has to reveal our political leanings.

I will not support Trump or Cruz, if either is the Republican nominee. If Kasich is the nominee, which I highly doubt, I MIGHT vote for him instead of Clinton, but probably in the end will vote for Hillary despite certain misgivings I have about her. I cannot help wondering, however, why there is so little choice among the Democratic candidates. Is it because we OWE Hillary for 2008? Is there NO other good Democratic candidate this election cycle instead of the recycled Hillary? And, with regard to Trump, I understand it is the anger of the people that made him a viable candidate for some; still I can’t help wondering how we got into such a mess?

 

[Joe_5859]

I will not support either Trump or Cruz, if either is the Republican nominee. If Kasich is the nominee, which I highly doubt, I MIGHT vote for him instead of Clinton, but probably in the end will vote for Hillary despite certain misgivings I have about her. I cannot help wondering, however, why there is so little choice among the Democratic candidates. Is it because we OWE Hillary for 2008? Is there NO other good Democratic candidate this election cycle instead of the recycled Hillary? And, with regard to Trump, I understand it is the anger of the people that made him a viable candidate for some; still I can’t help wondering how we got into such a mess?

It has been kind of odd this time around. The Republicans had 16 or 17 candidates and the Democrats effectively had 2.

 

[pnewton]

Ahhh,DT as a businessman has donated to various groups on both sides of the aisle.

So his support for abortion was not love of abortion but love of money.