# Clinton v Trump - The Stretch Run Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 30, 2016, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277 "2016-09-30T11:21:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 165
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3284 "2016-10-22T19:56:45Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > This is absolutely wrong. The Republican establishment is grudgingly supporting Trump because the Republican base is firmly behind him. Ryan is utterly fucked, even his mild condemnation without endorsement withdrawal has totally fucked him. After Trump loses and he lays the blame on those who “betrayed” him his political career is over. Trump would have all the power if he got elected, not congress. Your understanding of the Constitution seems to be on the same level as Trump’s Ryan does not have to care what his national ratings are. Yeah, Trumps yahoos will hate him. But as we are seeing, if you care about actually winning national elections the yahoos aren’t going to do it for you. When Trump crashes and burns standing by him while he works at destroying the Republican party is not going to look so smart. Romney and the Bushes are going to come out of this smelling a lot sweeter than Ryan and Senator Turtle. The report after 2012 about the GOP needing to expand its base is still correct. But Ryan and McConnell can hardly pretend they are fully behind it after their shameful performance this year. If Trump had a network of politicians who owed him favors, or even a political power base, he might be able to do damage. But come November he will be seen as a loser who lied to his base like the rest of the Republicans did. And the country will be growing even further away from the racist scum who support him. Trump will be as much of a joke as Sarah Palin in not too long. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3285 "2016-10-22T20:25:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Trump will be as much of a joke as Sarah Palin in not too long. How long did it take Palin to become a joke _to conservatives_? Her named remained on a big sign on GOP headquarters in a nearby city for a least a couple years after her failed VP bid. Though I guess it could have been abandoned - first time I remember not seeing the name, the building had a new business sign out front. Anyway, I strongly agree with **DigitalC** that the Republican establishment is currently supporting Trump because that’s what the base wants, and they are afraid to alienate their base. Might not have always been the case. Maybe at one point they thought they could manipulate/handle a victorious Trump; I don’t know. But definitely since the AH tape came out, it’s been about placating the base. As was mentioned, just look at the backtracking on unendorsing and disavowing Trump once the naysayers poll numbers dropped among Republicans while Trump’s stayed higher than theirs. And they know he isn’t going to win now. But disloyalty will not be rewarded with their base (who Trump is polling higher with) and they have to worry about being primaried out. Whereas backing Trump is a safer bet - if the voter still likes Trump, then it’s a win, and if the voter doesn’t like Trump anymore, it can be written off as party loyalty, rather than actually supporting him. It’s all about the base, in that context. For the general elections - the uninvolved voters probably won’t remember who backed Trump or not, and they are more likely to only vote in Presidential elections anyway. The die-hard democrats were unlikely to be won over anyway. And “I had to back my party’s candidate” will placate some of the others. Don’t know what the long-term consequences will be for backers or denoumcers. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3286 "2016-10-22T20:32:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Trump’s 28-Point Policy Plan](http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=125980126) is a real howler. It starts off with the ridiculous premise that he can get all this done in the first 100 days. \ Howler plans are something these populist parties have in common. Our Dutch Trumpian xenophobic party, the PVV, gave out their policy plan for the election. Usually, as with all other nine Dutch political parties, policy plans are serious, 20-100 page booklets. And those plans have been vetted by our national bureau for Policy Accounting. The PVV issued _one single page._ One page. That was their policy plan. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3287 "2016-10-22T20:40:44Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > ;I am not getting squat from either, though I took a Pub ballot one primary to vote against someone. > > We need a Dupage Dope. It can be you, me, and **Dinsdale**. And if you are in his district, vote for Steve Swanson for state rep. His wife will thank you because he’s been at loose ends since he retired as my pastor and there are only so many protests at McDonalds HQ to get arrested at. > > ETA: Wife hated everything Henry Hyde was about, but she kept voting for him because he brought home the pork. You can take the girl out of Chicago, but… I don’t think I’m in Swanson’s district, but I’ll check. I was talking to another volunteer at the Dupage Democratic office Thursday who disagreed with everything Hyde stood for, but knew the guy personally and loved him. ---
**Author:** ![soonerblue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soonerblue/32/3302_2.png) [@soonerblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soonerblue)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3288 "2016-10-22T21:30:30Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Your cranky aunt is a perceptive lady. However, feeling sorry for someone is never a good reason to elect someone to the most powerful position in the free world. … > > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk When I asked auntie about all the women who came forth with accusations of unwanted kissing and groping, she said it was probably all a big misunderstanding … that he thinks he’s God’s gift to women, and if they even look at him he thinks it’s a come-on and they want to have an affair with him. She always tries to see the good in people, thank goodness she’s a lifelong Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3289 "2016-10-22T21:34:00Z")
Hey his current plan is better than his old version … “Make America great again. Trust me.” ---
**Author:** ![soonerblue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soonerblue/32/3302_2.png) [@soonerblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soonerblue)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3290 "2016-10-22T21:38:33Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Michael Steele, former RNC chair, won’t be voting for Trump. Neither will four other former RNC chairs. > > [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michael-steele-no-support-trump-230138](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michael-steele-no-support-trump-230138) I like Michael Steele. He tickled me that time the “Morning Joe” crew were teasing him about Trump being the GOP nominee … he said, “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3291 "2016-10-22T21:48:01Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > If he was “damn near puking”, imaging the guy who has his old job. Reince Priebus is probably curled up in a fetal position sobbing uncontrollably by now. John Boehner, on the other hand, has a smile on his face 24/7. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3292 "2016-10-22T22:59:28Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Trump’s 28-Point Policy Plan](http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=125980126) is a real howler. It starts off with the ridiculous premise that he can get all this done in the first 100 days. I especially like “Cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama”, “Direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately” and “Propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress”(good luck getting THAT one out of committee, Trumpy!). Agreed Czarcasm. The following was particularly juvenile. “Require for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3293 "2016-10-22T23:02:00Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Agreed Czarcasm. The following was particularly juvenile. > > “Require for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated.” How the _hell_ could that possibly work? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3294 "2016-10-22T23:10:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How the _hell_ could that possibly work? Exactly… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3295 "2016-10-22T23:12:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How the _hell_ could that possibly work? By creating a new Federal regulation which has, within itself, the text of the two it replaces, plus the text of the new regulation they wanted to pass anyway. Which gives a really nifty tool for political brinkmanship: “That regulation you need to do this function? Give me this new language, or I won’t support it.” It’s the kind of shit people come up with when they honestly believe that an inactive government is a good thing, and that any government action is definitionally bad and freedom-limiting. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3296 "2016-10-22T23:14:28Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > How long did it take Palin to become a joke _to conservatives_? Her named remained on a big sign on GOP headquarters in a nearby city for a least a couple years after her failed VP bid. Though I guess it could have been abandoned - first time I remember not seeing the name, the building had a new business sign out front. About a year or year and a half. I think when Fox dropped her is a good marker. > [@](#): > > Anyway, I strongly agree with **DigitalC** that the Republican establishment is currently supporting Trump because that’s what the base wants, and they are afraid to alienate their base. Might not have always been the case. Maybe at one point they thought they could manipulate/handle a victorious Trump; I don’t know. But definitely since the AH tape came out, it’s been about placating the base. As was mentioned, just look at the backtracking on unendorsing and disavowing Trump once the naysayers poll numbers dropped among Republicans while Trump’s stayed higher than theirs. And they know he isn’t going to win now. But disloyalty will not be rewarded with their base (who Trump is polling higher with) and they have to worry about being primaried out. Whereas backing Trump is a safer bet - if the voter still likes Trump, then it’s a win, and if the voter doesn’t like Trump anymore, it can be written off as party loyalty, rather than actually supporting him. It’s all about the base, in that context. Republican congressmen in very red districts definitely support him because of the base - and they might also be dumb enough to buy into his crap. But Ayotte should have dumped him ages ago, and she is down 8 points now. But nationally the base is aging and dying, and pandering to them is a guarantee of long term doom. Look how well playing to the base is doing for Trump. > [@](#): > > For the general elections - the uninvolved voters probably won’t remember who backed Trump or not, and they are more likely to only vote in Presidential elections anyway. The die-hard democrats were unlikely to be won over anyway. And “I had to back my party’s candidate” will placate some of the others. I’m sure their opponents will remind the voters. It would be a lot easier to get independent votes in moderate districts with a bit of bravery than by saying that they couldn’t offend the bigots, now could they? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3297 "2016-10-22T23:20:23Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > By creating a new Federal regulation which has, within itself, the text of the two it replaces, plus the text of the new regulation they wanted to pass anyway. > > Which gives a really nifty tool for political brinkmanship: “That regulation you need to do this function? Give me this new language, or I won’t support it.” > > It’s the kind of shit people come up with when they honestly believe that an inactive government is a good thing, and that any government action is definitionally bad and freedom-limiting. I’ve started a new thread on this one proposal [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=808242) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3298 "2016-10-22T23:28:54Z")
[WikiLeaks reveals their true agenda.](http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/46505_Bizarre_Tweets_From_Wikileaks_Reveal_Their_True_Agenda) ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3299 "2016-10-22T23:32:20Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [WikiLeaks reveals their true agenda.](http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/46505_Bizarre_Tweets_From_Wikileaks_Reveal_Their_True_Agenda) I used to have a certain amount of respect for them, but it’s good to know where their loyalties lie. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3300 "2016-10-22T23:33:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Trump’s 28-Point Policy Plan](http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=125980126) is a real howler. It starts off with the ridiculous premise that he can get all this done in the first 100 days. I especially like “Cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama”, “Direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately” and “Propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress”(good luck getting THAT one out of committee, Trumpy!). There are also some less-publicized bits, like “stop contributing to the UN on anything related to climate change” (not sure exactly how you do that), which hits two favorite wingnut talking points: stop supporting the UN, and climate change is a hoax. Oh, and of course the unstated implication that both are conspiracies to create a World Government™ and ultimately abolish the United States. The Stupid. It burns. Clearly his handlers tried to get him into “serious mode” and touch on the requisite talking points, but fortunately Trump can only be Trump, and he took the opportunity to preface his remarks with the inspirational thoughts – worthy of Lincoln himself – that the press all hate him and are very unfair and must be silenced, and that all the women who confirmed that he assaulted them exactly the way he bragged about must all be sued, because they screwed up his campaign. I am quite literally sickened by two things: the sound of his voice, and the thought that anyone in possession of a working brain could possibly cast a vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3301 "2016-10-22T23:56:05Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Trump, in Gettysburg PA today [The new $5 bill image.](http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/1213595/Abraham/) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3302 "2016-10-22T23:56:09Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [WikiLeaks reveals their true agenda.](http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/46505_Bizarre_Tweets_From_Wikileaks_Reveal_Their_True_Agenda) Incidentally, [yet another woman just came forward](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3863174/Trump-offered-10k-spend-night-says-porn-star-Adult-actress-claims-Donald-propositioned-inviting-two-women-penthouse-suite.html) to explain how a recently-married Trump kissed her without permission and “repeatedly asked her to spend the night with him and offered her $10,000 to do so despite her rejections.” I mention this because, hey, can you imagine what the guys at WikiLeaks must’ve been thinking way back on the morning of October 1st? _“Ha! We have so much dirt on Hillary, this election will hinge on everything we release, whenever – wait, what? But that’s front-page news! Gah. Okay. Well, we’re ready to hit back with – sonofabitch, they have that on tape too? Dammit, our anti-Hillary stuff would be the biggest headlines in the country, if only all this anti-Trump stuff would stop – wait, how many accusers is it up to now? Man, last I checked, it was half that!”_ ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277/3303 "2016-10-23T00:26:32Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > [The new $5 bill image.](http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/1213595/Abraham/) My, what _BIG_ hands Abraham Lincoln has! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277.md?page=164) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinton-v-trump-the-stretch-run-thread/767277.md?page=166)