# Are you happy that Trump is President? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 24, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028 "2018-11-24T21:25:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/101 "2018-11-27T17:55:42Z")
Not in any fucking way. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I think one of Trump’s biggest legacies over the long run is that he sped up the rise of China on the global stage. China is stepping in to fill the leadership vacuum vacated by the US. I’m sure that’ll have both good and bad to it. That, and he created conditions that support the rise in power of the Russians and Putin. > [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Trump has set US foreign policy back decades, if not longer. He has angered and alienated our traditional and long-standing allies. Will those relationships be rrpairable? The ironic thing is that one of the complaints by my conservative friend against Obama was he was offending our traditional allies and making nice to other country’s leaders, like bowing in respect to someone. But now that Trump is alienating every one of our allies and pandering to Putin and making nice with dictators, I hear crickets. > [@Magiver](#): > > Since it appears you’re throwing the Russian card lets look at current events. [Trump lobbied Germany to upgrade their ports](https://thehill.com/policy/international/412551-merkel-concedes-to-trump-on-opening-germany-to-us-gas-imports-report) to receive US natural gas to avoid becoming dependent on Russia. From that article: “A German government spokesman told the Journal that the move was made because of Germany’s economic interests, not U.S. pressure.” > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Most of these people complain about how politicians are dishonest. So they know politicians lie. How on Earth did anyone decide that Donald Trump of all people is the exception? Who would listen to Donald Trump for two minutes and think that he’s the only honest man in politics? What kind of stupidity does that take? No, they accept he’s a liar, but he’s _our_ liar. What I can’t get is that anyone would think Donald Trump would stand up for the little guy and working class against the wealthy and the corporations. > [@BigT](#): > > Especially that last “joke” which crossed the Poe line to make it seem like he was making fun of Trump supporters. I mean, embracing a ridiculous, transphobic and racist conspiracy theory about Michelle Obama being a man? Ugh. The statement read weird the way it was said, but I think he just meant a jab at Bill Clinton. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Nothing does. “Illegal” is an adjective and has no plural form. Therefore the phrase “Invasion by Illegals” has no valid meaning, and is gibberish. Nouning is a thing. Accept it and address the issue, not debate oddities of English language. The term “illegals” was used as shorthand for “illegal aliens”, which has a noun and a plural form. What’s more substantive is that they aren’t illegal aliens yet, though by rushing to force across the border, they would have become so. A more appropriate description would be desperate people stuck in a tough situation trying to jumpstart an overloaded processing system for application for political asylum. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/102 "2018-11-27T18:05:12Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > The statement read weird the way it was said, but I think he just meant a jab at Bill Clinton. Just saw the ATMB thread on this topic, so I’m sorry I mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/103 "2018-11-27T21:33:24Z")
No. Trump is a corrupt, narcissistic bully with authoritarian instincts and no interest in actually governing, cozying up to despots abroad and insulting longtime allies while he ignores the evidence of global climate change and bashes immigrants. ---
**Author:** ![sambucus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@sambucus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sambucus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/104 "2018-11-28T00:18:29Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …I don’t understand these reactions at all. > > Millions of people voted for and support Trump. Millions of people have benefited from Trump’s “policies”. How is any of this a surprise? What is it do you think Trump supporters were actually thinking? (And no, I’m not happy Trump is President at all) What you are missing, I think, is that for any of this to make sense, there has too be a mutually agreed-upon set of facts. This does not exist. Trump says “Bob Mueller is a rogue whatever”, his minions respond YES he is a Hillary-loving Democrat Trump says “I had the biggest inauguration crowd in history!”, they respond “Yes, your mighty orangeness” The fact is the guy lies pretty much every time he opens his mouth. And his followers believe everything he says. We are witnessing the death of critical thinking in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/105 "2018-11-28T00:48:32Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Why do people think this will happen? The actual history of this country disproves it. > > People age into their parents. Left leaning you people become scared old people. You know the saying, “A Republican is a Democrat that has been mugged”? As you get older, there’s more chances for any one person to get mugged. > > People get comfortable in their lives and their possessions, and worry about their children, so they begin to fear anything that can harm either one. Sure as the sun rises, today’s millennials will become tomorrow’s Conservatives. > > That [Progressive ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyDYovg51UE) speaks the truth. What proof do you have to support your claim? Part of the reason the elderly are more conservative is that poor people and non-whites don’t live as long. So people aren’t more conservative with age, but demographics that lean left die younger. > **[Seniors Are More Conservative Because the Poor Die Off](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/05/poor-people-often-dont-survive-to-become-seniors-who-vote.html)** > > Sometimes older voters aren’t just naturally more conservative. It’s just that wealthier and whiter people tend to live longer and healthier lives. Another potential factor is that older people are less educated (and more white) and both these demographics make you more conservative. Do you have evidence that individuals who are liberal in their youth become conservative in old age? Non-whites who are elderly are just as democratic as young non-whites. Whites who are elderly are more right leaning, and the greatest generation were more left leaning than their kids. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/106 "2018-11-28T02:24:54Z")
> [@sambucus](#): > > What you are missing, I think, is that for any of this to make sense, there has too be a mutually agreed-upon set of facts. This does not exist. …nope. Not missing anything. > [@](#): > > Trump says “Bob Mueller is a rogue whatever”, his minions respond YES he is a Hillary-loving Democrat > > Trump says “I had the biggest inauguration crowd in history!”, they respond “Yes, your mighty orangeness” > The fact is the guy lies pretty much every time he opens his mouth. And his followers believe everything he says. Nope. I haven’t missed this at all. > [@](#): > > We are witnessing the death of critical thinking in the US. Yep. This has nothing at all to do with anything I said. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/107 "2018-11-28T02:29:27Z")
Another very significant aspect of older people being more conservative is that they simply hold onto their beliefs while the general zeitgeist becomes more liberal. Pre-Trump, this was actually shown to be the most common reason. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes on this board. I see people with what would have been cutting edge liberal/progressive beliefs back in the day that poo-poo modern leftist concepts. A big one is political correctness: there are a lot of otherwise leftist people here who say that “political correctness has gone too far,” or complain about “safe spaces.” I see people that get it right on racism and sexism that are homophobic and/or transphobic. I still see a huge fight with ableism. Sure, those people aren’t what I would consider “conservative,” but, if they can shift, what about the people who were less liberal than them? It seems like the whole thing would be shifted. I mean, what was just conservative back in the 1950s would be basically alt-right today, since open sexism and racism were allowed. Being pro-segregation was a conservative belief. Now that’s considered far right. We’ve clearly shifted. ---
**Author:** ![sambucus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@sambucus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sambucus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/108 "2018-11-28T10:56:49Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …nope. Not missing anything. > > Nope. I haven’t missed this at all. > > Yep. This has nothing at all to do with anything I said. I think it does. Your original question was “What is it you think Trump supporters were thinking” I have a close relative (that I am no longer on speaking terms with), who is a passionate Trump supporter. He is devoutly religious, is convinced that the Clintons are running a child-sex ring and using to blackmail people in a position of power, and the the WTC was intentionally destroyed by the US government. There is no mutually agreed upon set of facts here, and to your original question as to what they were thinking, at least in this case, they weren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/109 "2018-11-28T11:04:37Z")
> [@sambucus](#): > > I think it does. …nope. > [@](#): > > Your original question was “What is it you think Trump supporters were thinking” Yep. > [@](#): > > I have a close relative (that I am no longer on speaking terms with), who is a passionate Trump supporter. He is devoutly religious, is convinced that the Clintons are running a child-sex ring and using to blackmail people in a position of power, and the the WTC was intentionally destroyed by the US government. Thats nice. > [@](#): > > There is no mutually agreed upon set of facts here, and to your original question as to what they were thinking, at least in this case, they weren’t. I never claimed there was a “mutually agreed upon set of facts here.” A Trump supporter let people in this thread know why he chose to support Trump and people were all shocked and surprised both with the list that he provided and that he chose to share it here in this thread. That you have a close relative that has different reasons for supporting Trump than those given in this thread has absolutely nothing to do with anything that I have said. ---
**Author:** ![sambucus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@sambucus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sambucus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/110 "2018-11-28T12:08:30Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …nope. > > Yep. > Thats nice. > > I never claimed there was a “mutually agreed upon set of facts here.” A Trump supporter let people in this thread know why he chose to support Trump and people were all shocked and surprised both with the list that he provided and that he chose to share it here in this thread. That you have a close relative that has different reasons for supporting Trump than those given in this thread has absolutely nothing to do with anything that I have said. In closing. Similar in that few, if any, of the reasons for support are factual. Adios. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/111 "2018-11-28T15:36:33Z")
No. The USA’s international prestige has plummeted under his administration. Irresponsible funding (thanks largely to a huge tax cut for wealthiest folks) of critical programs conducted by the federal government has led to record deficits. Under his incompetent direction, we are failing to address the most serious issue of our age - climate change. Oh, and I don’t like having to hear about how we need a wall to keep out all the drug dealers and rapists (i.e. Mexicans). And we’re still waiting for Mexico to cut that $25 billion check for its construction. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/112 "2018-11-28T17:00:49Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I am…less so. > > BTW, I’d appreciate it if anyone could explain to me in simple language why random, (apparently) non-Jewish Americans would care in what Israeli city the US Embassy was located. That, finally, an American president follows on the decades old promise of doing it? Not cowing to international pressure? Simply because it’s the right thing to do and it upsets all the anti-Semites hiding behind the veneer of “I’m just anti-Israel”? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/113 "2018-11-28T17:55:08Z")
I am extremely sad that trump is our president. But I’m going to address some random other comments: > [@El\_Kabong](#): > > …BTW, I’d appreciate it if anyone could explain to me in simple language why random, (apparently) non-Jewish Americans would care in what Israeli city the US Embassy was located. Well, I know people who are really upset about it because they think this means the Arabs will have less trust in the US and thus the US will lose negotiating power, and will have less influence towards any potential peace deal. I’m not really sure why either side cares so intently though. And by “sides” I don’t mean Americans, I mean Israelis and Palestinians. > [@MarvinKitFox](#): > > Sorry, if “Invasion by Illegals” does not cover 500 migrants storming and physically attacking a border post, just what does? They “invaded” because the only place they can legally apply for asylum is “metering” access so that they can’t even get in the door to file a claim. And if things stay as they are, some people will wait months before they can FILE A CLAIM. (plus time for the claim to be processed, of course.) [https://www.npr.org/2018/11/27/670807343/fact-check-whats-happening-on-the-u-s-mexico-border](https://www.npr.org/2018/11/27/670807343/fact-check-whats-happening-on-the-u-s-mexico-border) > [@](#): > > However, authorities at legal border crossings have been limiting the number of people who can request asylum. Only 40 to 100 people are allowed each day, Fredrick says. > > “People in the caravan who want to request asylum, they’re looking at months to even be heard first by U.S. authorities, and then for that claim to be processed can take months or even years,” Fredrick tells NPR. I think we could have completely avoided that “invasion” if we had adequate border facilities. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > …I think one of Trump’s biggest legacies over the long run is that he sped up the rise of China on the global stage. China is stepping in to fill the leadership vacuum vacated by the US. I’m sure that’ll have both good and bad to it. Yup. About a decade ago, I visited Vienna, once the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, and of the western world. And I thought about how the Austrians react to being a "has been " nation. (They do it pretty well.) And I wondered how the US will react to that. But at the time, I thought it would take decades for the US to fall to a has-been. Now it looks like that might happen within this administration. I expect we will have both benefits and costs from dropping out of our perch as leader of the world. I guess I’ll find out. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/114 "2018-11-28T19:34:46Z")
> [@sambucus](#): > > In closing. Similar in that few, if any, of the reasons for support are factual. Adios. …again, not in dispute, and nothing to do with anything I’ve said. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/115 "2018-11-29T03:33:17Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Cut my taxes. > > Accepted Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. > > Unemployment (including minority unemployment) at historic lows. > > Forging a new relationship with North Korea. > > Two awesome SCOTUS appointments (and countless other federal judicial appointments). > > Stopping the madness on Climate Change hysteria. > > Pulled out of the Trans Pacific Partnership. > > Eliminated the Individual Mandate. > > Enacted Right-to-Try legislation. > > Stock market boom. > > Renegotiation of NAFTA to the USA’s benefit. > > Sending troops to the southern border to combat invasion by illegals. > > Giving America a First Lady who doesn’t have a penis. I am glad you took the question seriously and posted this. I am certain those are all positives for Trump supporters. Most of them are negatives for non-Trump supporters. Though I think we are all happy for the low unemployment numbers. But a list like this shows clearly how limited the opportunities for compromise are. Trump supporters want more of the same. Never Trump supporters want none of this. It looks like we are in for a long period of close decisions and continuing conflict. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/116 "2018-11-29T06:57:20Z")
Thank you for taking my post seriously. I realize that not everyone agrees with them, and that’s cool. But acknowledging our differing goals is the first step on the path to understanding each other. We all shine on! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/117 "2018-11-29T13:08:08Z")
No. Specific politics aside, I believe Trump is too controversial and divisive a figure to be President. And by “divisive” I mean different from the way Barack Obama or Bill Clinton were “divisive” to Republicans and conservatives. Republicans opposed those presidents simply because they were Democrats and they oppose liberal policies. People oppose Donald Trump largely because he’s Donald Trump. And Trump doesn’t give people many reasons to be wrong in doing so. I would discourage anyone from being thankful Trump is president because it “shows how horrible Republicans are”. That is stupid logic. It also gives legitimacy to that “horribleness”. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/118 "2018-11-29T13:19:10Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > … And by “divisive” I mean different from the way Barack Obama or Bill Clinton were “divisive” to Republicans and conservatives. Republicans opposed those presidents simply because they were Democrats and they oppose liberal policies. … I don’t think that is completely accurate. Many opposed Clinton as he was to some degree a sexual predator and he came off as slimy. Despite this he was a good and effective President and the Republicans of the time were willing to compromise for the betterment of the country. That seems to be gone now. Many, far too many, opposed Obama as he was Black. Never discount racism. It is nasty and still more common than we wish or hope. I believe that was a huge portion of the opposition to Obama in fact. The birther crap which was kept public by Trump was silly to the point of comedy if it wasn’t for those willing to publicly at least say they believed it. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/119 "2018-11-29T14:09:47Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > That, finally, an American president follows on the decades old promise of doing it? So what? > [@](#): > > Not cowing to international pressure? Or alternately, ignoring international consensus for obscure reasons. > [@](#): > > Simply because it’s the right thing to do and it upsets all the anti-Semites hiding behind the veneer of “I’m just anti-Israel”? The first part is just, like, your opinion, man; the second, I admit, seems very Trumpian in its implication that policy is something to wield simply to piss off people we don’t like. Sorry, not much elucidation in your post, but then I guess you’re not. **Elucidator** , that is. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028/120 "2018-11-29T19:04:19Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Thank you for taking my post seriously. I realize that not everyone agrees with them, and that’s cool. But acknowledging our differing goals is the first step on the path to understanding each other. We all shine on! Not all opinions are good opinions. Saying you support Trump because he “stopped the madness on Climate Change hysteria” is like saying you support him because he’ll make vaccinations illegal (and this isn’t a hypothetical - Trump has spoken in favor of the anti-vaccination movement). Trump and his supporters should not make scientific policies that ignore what scientists are saying. The fact that they do so is one of the reasons they shouldn’t hold political power. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-that-trump-is-president/825028.md?page=7)