# Donald Trump announces presidential run **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 16, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679 "2015-06-16T16:35:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/281 "2015-07-16T00:14:15Z")
We certainly need somebody to make America great again. But despite his intelligence, proven negotiating ability and plethora of accomplishments I’d be surprised if even Donald Trump can pull off such a feat at this late date, where the idea of strong families, hard work in school, success and the trappings thereof are mocked and derided as hallmarks of the privileged class and weakness and victimhood = moral superiority. Once upon a time in my callow youth I thought the idea behind equality was to raise the underprivileged up to the levels enjoyed by the rest of society rather than to drag everyone else down to the level of the underprivileged. But as we’ve seen with Communism and other forms of social engineering designed to achieve equality, the thrust always seems to be to drag everyone down to the same substandard level rather than to lift anyone up. I suppose in a way this makes sense. It is easier after all, and requires no responsibility or effort on the part of anyone to improve their lot. But who knows, maybe Trump can pull off for the country a turnaround similar to what Rudy Guiliani did for Times Square. More people in this country would favor such a turnaround than we’ll ever hear about from the media, and my guess is it’s a large part of the reason Trump is continuing to climb in the polls. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/282 "2015-07-16T01:07:52Z")
Actually, soviet communism did _not_ drag everyone down to the same level. It tried —even with all the killings in the first 40 years — to treat ordinary people fairly, provided they worked hard and paid their taxes and were good religious family members and were patriotic as all get out; and used those taxes to fund the war machine and erect a dizzyingly elevated political class, wealthy and corrupt, the _nomenklatura_ to rule the rest. Just like America. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/283 "2015-07-16T01:37:12Z")
Donald Trump for your pleasure. I don’t need to mention it, just read it for yourself. I’m not making this up. [Donald Trump Butt Plug Now Available For Your Pleasure (NSFW) | HuffPost Weird News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/14/donald-trump-butt-plug_n_7796138.html?utm_hp_ref=donald-trump) ---
**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:** [July 16, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/284 "2015-07-16T01:38:30Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Unless the citizens of your fair land actually _prefer_ him to Hillary in a straight-up one-to-one duke out in the final countdown. “Only please, Brer Fox, please don’t pick Donald Trump!” 🙂 Really, while the match up polls are not much meaningful now, the fact is that if the Donald is the nominee[he is the one Republican in the match ups that does the worst against Hilary Clinton](https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/trump-tops-gop-poll-would-lose-hillary_990891.html), she would be the happiest gal in the land if Trump is the one. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/285 "2015-07-16T02:57:39Z")
Every time I read [quotes of Trump] ([http://www.nationalreview.com/article/420981/donald-trump-third-party-spoiler](http://www.nationalreview.com/article/420981/donald-trump-third-party-spoiler)), I think he sounds like the dialogue from a kid’s first chapter book: > [@](#): > > “I am biased because I have known her for years,” he added. “I live in New York. She lives in New York. I really like her and her husband both a lot. I think she really works hard and I think she does a good job.” > [@](#): > > "Why would she be a good president? I think she would be a terrible president.” _Trump for Kids!_ “What do you think, Donnie? Do you think she would be a good president?” Donnie looked sad. “I think she would not be a good president. I think she would be a very bad president. I would like to be president. I would like to be a good president.” ---
**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:** [July 16, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/286 "2015-07-16T04:57:21Z")
“Donald is running for President. He likes to have lots of people pay attention to him and give him money. See Donald run? Run, Donald, run.” ---
**Author:** ![Itself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/287 "2015-07-16T05:25:22Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > But despite his intelligence, proven negotiating ability and plethora of accomplishments I’d be surprised if even Donald Trump can pull off such a feat at this late date, where the idea of strong families, hard work in school, success and the trappings thereof are mocked and derided as hallmarks of the privileged class and weakness and victimhood = moral superiority. Thank goodness we have a twice-divorced reality-television star, whose father gave him control of his large real estate company, around to teach us about the important of strong families and hard work. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Once upon a time in my callow youth I thought the idea behind equality was to raise the underprivileged up to the levels enjoyed by the rest of society rather than to drag everyone else down to the level of the underprivileged. But as we’ve seen with Communism and other forms of social engineering designed to achieve equality, the thrust always seems to be to drag everyone down to the same substandard level rather than to lift anyone up. I suppose in a way this makes sense. It is easier after all, and requires no responsibility or effort on the part of anyone to improve their lot. Do you actually like Trump, or do you just want to complain about the kids today? I realize the United States is one precarious step away from going communist and electing Jane Fonda as Supreme Secretary of the Glorious People’s Assembly of the Revolutionary Masses, but this seems a bit needlessly reactionary. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/288 "2015-07-17T03:25:18Z")
[The editor at PolitiFact is worrying that their site is going to turn into the Donald Trump Channel.](http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/07/16/trump-is-such-a-liar-that-politifact-is-worried-about-becoming-the-trump-channel/) ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/289 "2015-07-17T10:46:59Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > I like the fact that he is not fake, he says what he feels. And he does not back down. I 2nd that. I much prefer that to smooth talking politicians who constantly lie. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/290 "2015-07-17T11:36:57Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > Donald Trump for your pleasure. I don’t need to mention it, just read it for yourself. I’m not making this up. > > [Donald Trump Butt Plug Now Available For Your Pleasure (NSFW) | HuffPost Weird News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/14/donald-trump-butt-plug_n_7796138.html?utm_hp_ref=donald-trump) No, actually you do need to mention it, because it’s an article about a Donald Trump butt plug and most people won’t be too happy about clicking that at work. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/291 "2015-07-17T14:37:37Z")
According to [Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2015/07/16/fox-news-poll-trust-in-iran-nearly-triples-among-democrats-clinton-nature-is-to/), Trump said “they’re rapists”, not “their rapists”. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/292 "2015-07-17T14:55:52Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > According to [Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2015/07/16/fox-news-poll-trust-in-iran-nearly-triples-among-democrats-clinton-nature-is-to/), Trump said “they’re rapists”, not “their rapists”. I’m pretty sure he meant “They’re rapists” but I’m not convinced he meant “They’re ALL rapists”. It reads equally well as “Some of them are rapists”. Now I need to go bleach my brain for even mildly defending Trump’s idiocy. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/293 "2015-07-17T14:57:56Z")
John McCain [complains](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/john-mccain-donald-trump-immigration-phoenix-120216.html) that Trump “fired up the crazies”. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/294 "2015-07-17T15:44:51Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m pretty sure he meant “They’re rapists” but I’m not convinced he meant “They’re ALL rapists”. It reads equally well as “Some of them are rapists”. I agree that he did not mean to say they’re all rapists. But, rhetorically, if you lead with gosh, Mexico is sending us their human garbage and then list the ways they’re garbage and then tack on a well, some of them are probably okay people, it’s going to read as generalized contempt for the whole lot. And I think Trump was intended to convey that generalized contempt, even if not attempting to convey the specifics of “all are drug dealers and rapists.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/295 "2015-07-17T15:55:23Z")
[“Who’s doing the raping?”](http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/01/politics/donald-trump-immigrants-raping-comments/) We need a Trump comb-over smiley. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/296 "2015-07-17T18:45:51Z")
We have truly gone into a bizzaro land when somebody is arguing that somebody else is being disingenuous by not hearing the difference between “they’re” and “their”. And, try as I may, I can’t figure out how “their rapists” is somehow any different than “they’re rapists.” In both cases, Trump says that Mexico is sending over people who rape. Are these Mexicans rapists (i.e. “they’re rapists”)? Or are they Mexico’s rapists (i.e. “their rapists”). More importantly, how is there any fucking difference between the two?! ---
**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:** [July 17, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/297 "2015-07-17T19:39:52Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [The editor at PolitiFact is worrying that their site is going to turn into the Donald Trump Channel.](http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/07/16/trump-is-such-a-liar-that-politifact-is-worried-about-becoming-the-trump-channel/) [Quote=Nema98] I like the fact that he is not fake, he says what he feels. And he does not back down. [/quote] > [@davida03801](#): > > I 2nd that. I much prefer that to smooth talking politicians who constantly lie. I guess it is preferable to find a straight talking politician that does not back down from his pants on fire lies. > **[PolitiFact | Donald Trump](https://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/)** > > PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others on its Truth-O-Meter. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/298 "2015-07-17T20:39:37Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > John McCain [complains](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/john-mccain-donald-trump-immigration-phoenix-120216.html) that Trump “fired up the crazies”. That’s rich from someone who chose Sarah Palin as a running mate. > [@GIGObuster](#): > > I guess it is preferable to find a straight talking politician that does not back down from his pants on fire lies. > > [PolitiFact | Donald Trump](http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/) I agree that there is something refreshing about someone who says what he means instead of dancing around things or using dog whistles. But you can say your opinion on things plainly without making up ridiculous lies to back your statements. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/299 "2015-07-17T21:11:37Z")
> [@Itself](#): > > … but this seems a bit needlessly reactionary. An **Itself** wins the SDMB “Understatement of the Month” Award. It’s like calling the Great Lakes “a bit wet.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679/300 "2015-07-17T22:11:26Z")
McCain was cancelling events for lack of attendance and chasing crowds until he latched onto Palin. She was the Game Changer. A Trump/Cruz ticket will draw crowds and get press for the Republican message. A JEB!/WALKER ticket will be a real snoozer. Crane [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-announces-presidential-run/722679.md?page=16)