# Did we actually dodge a bullet in 2016? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 1, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003 "2020-08-01T18:36:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/21 "2020-08-02T03:56:32Z")
Did you watch eight years of Obama? Those people didn’t blindly follow his orders, why would they do so for Hillary? ETA: And Trump would still be telling them not to wear masks. Much more so than now (he actually does tell them to wear them some of the time). ---
**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:** [August 2, 2020, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/22 "2020-08-02T03:58:20Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Did you watch eight years of Obama? Those people didn’t blindly follow his orders, why would they do so for Hillary? For the reason I just said. Twice. I don’t really see a reason for me to say it a third time. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/23 "2020-08-02T03:59:16Z")
I don’t see any intelligible reason stated. And I doubt there is anyone on this board, or in the universe for that matter, who agrees with you. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/24 "2020-08-02T04:19:10Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > And I doubt there is anyone on this board, or in the universe for that matter, who agrees with you. Speak for yourself. Especially never never never speak for me. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/25 "2020-08-02T04:21:31Z")
I didn’t speak for you, or anyone. I said “I doubt”. So you are on record as believing the MAGA crowd would have done what President Hillary Clinton told them to? For real? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/26 "2020-08-02T04:25:33Z")
**Nemo** , no disrespect, but that is some of the strangest logic I’ve ever heard. Trump voters are sheep, yes, but only for their “shepherd” (Trump, or, at least, the GOP.) You think they would dutifully and blindly obey the orders of the woman they consider utterly wretched and corrupt? If they did, they wouldn’t be Trump voters. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/27 "2020-08-02T04:26:16Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > So you are on record as believing the MAGA crowd would have done what President Hillary Clinton told them to? For real? Nope, not saying that. Just saying don’t ever presume to speak for me. Ever. And “I said “I doubt”” is a hedge, a refuge for scoundrels in case you’re called on it. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/28 "2020-08-02T04:30:40Z")
It’s nothing of the sort. It’s an accurate explication of my assessment of reality. To recap: I expressed doubt about something, your actual opinion is in no way a refutation of that doubt, but you chafed at my having supposedly spoken for you when I did no such thing. Got it. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/29 "2020-08-02T05:02:27Z")
I totally agree with him. Look, in **NO OTHER NATION** has wearing masks become a politcal issue. Sure, there’d always be ignoramuses and assholes, but largely it wouldnt be a political issue. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/30 "2020-08-02T05:07:56Z")
I live in Minnesota, and the number of “ignoramuses and assholes” going absolutely apeshit over Governor Walz’s mask order is off the charts. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/31 "2020-08-02T05:08:39Z")
If HRC was president, they wouldn’t wear masks because she told them to, they would wear them because medical experts (and common sense) told them to. Nobody of any significance would be telling them not to and adherence or disregard for basic public health policy wouldn’t be a political statement. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/32 "2020-08-02T05:10:37Z")
Because the President told them to, because right wing radio (goaded by trump) is telling them that masks are either useless or dangerous or both. Every nation has ignoramuses and assholes”- ONLY in the USA is it a political issue. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/33 "2020-08-02T05:10:52Z")
You really don’t think there’d be conspiracy videos floating around, or celebrities saying it’s a hoax? There wouldn’t be people who simply don’t like masks, especially in the heat, who would jump on any excuse not to wear them? I vehemently disagree. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/34 "2020-08-02T05:11:25Z")
Right, sure she’d lead by example, but her Surgeon general and her Pandemic Team would be telling people to. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/35 "2020-08-02T05:12:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > right wing radio (goaded by trump) is telling them that masks are either useless or dangerous or both You’re getting the direction of causality reversed here. Trump has never outright said this. He has always been lukewarm and inconsistent about masks, including recommending their wearing several times, mainly because he knew that right wing radio/social media/YouTube was really against masks and he didn’t want to push back against them too hard. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/36 "2020-08-02T05:14:26Z")
None of those people would be sitting in the White House or get the kind of attention Trump gets as president/cult leader. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/37 "2020-08-02T08:10:11Z")
I don’t accept as a given that Hillary Clinton would support mask wearing if it was an unpopular issue. This is an election year. She wouldn’t have done all the stupid things that Trump did but she would be no different than him in making re-election her highest priority. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/38 "2020-08-02T11:16:58Z")
Hey, **@Velocity** , are you voting for Democrats now? If not, why do you think other Republicans will be? ---
**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:** [August 2, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/39 "2020-08-02T15:24:02Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > **Nemo** , no disrespect, but that is some of the strangest logic I’ve ever heard. Trump voters are sheep, yes, but only for their “shepherd” (Trump, or, at least, the GOP.) You think they would dutifully and blindly obey the orders of the woman they consider utterly wretched and corrupt? You’re missing the point. They wouldn’t be wearing masks because Hillary Clinton was telling them to. They would be wearing masks because there wouldn’t be anybody telling them they should refuse to wear masks. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003/40 "2020-08-02T15:44:38Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > You really don’t think there’d be conspiracy videos floating around, or celebrities saying it’s a hoax? There wouldn’t be people who simply don’t like masks, especially in the heat, who would jump on any excuse not to wear them? I vehemently disagree. Even Moscow McConnell appeared with a mask letting others know this issue should be above politics. Sure, there would had been yahoos in the right screaming against masks, but they would be less important. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-we-actually-dodge-a-bullet-in-2016/917003.md?page=3)