# Donald Trump and the runup to the 2024 election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 3, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196 "2024-08-03T16:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 35
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/681 "2024-10-24T03:55:51Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I don’t think it’ll move the needle much Same here. This is the party that wants to force 12-year old rape victims to carry their pregnancies to term. They would have no problem turning this situation around and asking why the filthy little [redacted] made the nice man do that to her. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/682 "2024-10-24T04:19:47Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > They don’t care about the ones that have occurred with women so I doubt the news @Smapti just posted about him groping yet another woman matters an iota. On which note, Erick “I piss myself with fear when I see brown people at the airport” Erickson says she must be lying because Trump only rapes blondes. > Mr. Erickson, do you recognize the hair color of the woman in this photograph? [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GanYup0WMAA6OLu?format=jpg&name=medium) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GanYup0WMAA6OLu?format=jpg&name=medium) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/683 "2024-10-24T06:59:55Z")
He was elected in part as a reaction to the very thought of a woman becoming President, as a collective slap in the faces of American women to tell them that they are regarded as less than human. A Republican being caught committing sexual assault can expect support and admiration, not condemnation; they are “punishing women as they deserve”, treating them as sex toys and punching bags. It’s the same principle as banning abortion; if a woman dies because of that, good, she’s a woman so _by definition_ she was evil and deserved a slow death and an eternity in hell. If she wasn’t a bad person, then she wouldn’t be a woman. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/684 "2024-10-24T11:04:22Z")
Excellently said. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/685 "2024-10-24T12:32:24Z")
I think indisputable evidence of assaulting an underage girl would not disturb the hardcore MAGA tribe, as noted. But I do think there’s some cohort, not sure of the size, who are right on the edge of voting for Trump. They’re not crazy about him, but will hold their nose and pull the lever. So, I think there’s a non-zero number of voters who would say, fuck it, that’s the straw, etc. Before anyone jumps in, again, the largest bloc of his voters will not give a shit. But something like this could give Harris a swing state she would not otherwise have won. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/686 "2024-10-24T13:35:22Z")
As much as I would love it to happen, I strongly, strongly doubt there is going to be some (new) bombshell, _credible_ report of sexual assault on an underage girl by Trump. The other side is already floating egregiously fake pedophile claims about Tim Walz - people are throwing around all kinds of crazy shit at this point. So I will be viewing any kind of rumors of this sort for any candidate with a huge grain of salt. Not because Trump deserves any kind of benefit of the doubt, but just because the disinformation campaigns are raging as we enter the final stretch. ---
**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 24, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/687 "2024-10-24T13:48:59Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > But I do think there’s some cohort, not sure of the size, who are right on the edge of voting for Trump. They’re not crazy about him, but will hold their nose and pull the lever. I completely agree that there is that cohort. Unfortunately they have baked in that he is personally a despicable excuse for a human being. They have willingly ignored his past sexual assault history, his criminality, everything else they despise about him personally, because of … reasons. Judges he appoints, resentments to some group of others, fears of societal change, just the R, whatever. This does not work like another straw; the other straws instead create a bulwark, impossible to admit those were bad choices now. They might consider staying home out for other reasons, but more of his personal badness just rubs their having justified ignoring it in the past in their faces. Would backfire I think. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/688 "2024-10-24T14:10:30Z")
People need to stop expecting anything to “move the needle”. If the needle moved and showed Kamala with a solid lead and easy win you would not believe it any way. Polls are set to “close election with Kamala maybe slightly ahead” and they are not going to change no matter what. That doesn’t mean negative stories won’t affect things or that it really is that close of an election. Just stop expecting anything to be reflected in the polls. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/689 "2024-10-24T14:17:57Z")
i have no idea what happens at trump rallies… apparently this did… [Tucker Carlson Goes on Disturbing Rally Rant About ‘Dad’ Trump Spanking a ‘Bad Little Girl’](https://www.thedailybeast.com/tucker-carlson-goes-on-disturbing-rant-about-dad-trump-spanking-bad-little-girl-at-georgia-rally/) Carlson, in his winding and idiosyncratic tangent, posited America as a misbehaving child and Trump the patriarchal savior needed to spank her. “When Dad gets home, you know what he says?” Tucker asked. “‘You’ve been a bad girl. You’ve been a bad little girl and you’re getting a vigorous spanking.” Carlson noted this spanking, in the words of the imagined progenitor administering it, would “‘hurt me more than it hurts you. I’m not going to lie. It’s going to hurt you a lot more than it hurts me.’” When Trump came on stage later in the event, the faithful MAGA flock shouted “Daddy’s home” and “Daddy Don.” there are no words. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/690 "2024-10-24T15:15:53Z")
Wish all the veterans and current-duty military personnel who support Trump would pay attention: > **[Analysis: Military leaders who served under Trump sound the alarm about him...](https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/19/politics/military-leaders-sound-the-alarm-trump/index.html)** > > Former President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US military should be used to deal with “the enemy from within” on Election Day has reignited concerns about what he might ask US forces to do if he wins a second term as commander in... ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/691 "2024-10-24T15:18:45Z")
Many probably are. But also “I never imagined the leopard would eat _my_ face” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/692 "2024-10-24T15:24:28Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I completely agree that there is that cohort. Unfortunately they have baked in that he is personally a despicable excuse for a human being. They have willingly ignored his past sexual assault history, his criminality, everything else they despise about him personally, because of … reasons. Well, you may be right, but I think part of the strategy for resolving their cognitive dissonance is to dismiss any and all reported evidence as made up or exaggerated. If there were _video_ evidence, for example, of Trump groping some poor, sobbing young girl pleading, “Please leave me alone!” I think there’s a slice of the voting population for whom that’s a bridge too far. Seeing something is powerful, even when one had little doubt prior to witnessing the vile act. And, of course, if my grandmother had balls she’d be my grandfather. ---
**Author:** ![InfraBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infrablue/32/6366_2.png) [@InfraBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InfraBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/693 "2024-10-24T15:27:43Z")
Just recently, John Kelly, one of Donald Trump’s former chiefs of staff mentioned in the CNN article, came out in an interview with the New Your Time voicing his concerns about Trump’s lack of fitness and character to be president of the US because of his autocratic and fascistic predilections, and urging voters to not vote on issues but instead vote on Trump’s lack of fitness and character to be president. The upcoming election portends to be a very tight contest with many voters exhibiting a blasé disposition these tendencies of Trump’s. It reminds me of the blasé attitude of many Germans when the Nazis came to power, who did not necessarily subscribe to their racism and destruction of national institutions but were indifferent to 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:** [October 24, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/694 "2024-10-24T15:29:30Z")
Or thought the Nazis could be controlled, or that they’d personally benefit in some way from the party’s rule. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/695 "2024-10-24T17:21:45Z")
I’ve given this too much thought, but concluded that the only thing I believe would shift enough votes would be for him to come out publicly as transitioning to female, constantly repeat that, and consistently appear in drag. Or maybe appear in gay porn, and publicly acknowledge his participation. That’s about what it would take, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/696 "2024-10-24T17:25:03Z")
Every time I see him he looks exhausted. He has no energy and doesn’t seem to have any enthusiasm but he is still improving in the polls. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/697 "2024-10-24T18:38:16Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’ve given this too much thought, but concluded that the only thing I believe would shift enough votes would be for him to come out publicly as transitioning to female, constantly repeat that, and consistently appear in drag. He’s been appearing in drag for a long, long time now. If this happened, I’d expect his fans to start wearing shirts reading, “Real men dress like women.” ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/698 "2024-10-24T18:40:24Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Wish all the veterans and current-duty military personnel who support Trump would pay attention: I expect that a significant fraction of the military personnel are looking forward to dealing with the “enemy within”. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/699 "2024-10-24T20:24:15Z")
> **[Fox News edited Trump’s rambling answers and false claims in barbershop...](https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/24/media/fox-news-edit-trump-barbershop-interview/index.html)** > > The Fox News Channel’s recent segment about Donald Trump’s “surprise” visit to a barbershop in the Bronx resembled a campaign ad for the former president’s reelection. Greatest scandal of all time! Election interference! Broadcast license! SAD! ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196/700 "2024-10-24T21:25:34Z")
At that same appearance, he apparently floated the idea of [eliminating the income tax and replacing it with tariffs](https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-entertains-completely-eliminating-federal-income-tax-when-asked-during-fox-news-barbershop-sit-down-there-is-a-way/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-election/1005196.md?page=36)