# Donald Trump's 2016 General Election Campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 4, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901 "2016-05-04T02:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/181 "2016-05-07T13:16:02Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > Sure. > Video is on Trump’s and Peter Schiff’s views on USA’s public debt situation, debt restructuring and on direct and indirect taxes. Everyone should watch. Summarize those views. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/182 "2016-05-07T13:22:39Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Why? Because one would like to hear the truth not the lies peddled by the Govt. and the central bank. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Summarize those views. I will if I find the time. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/183 "2016-05-07T14:09:13Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > Because one would like to hear the truth not the lies peddled by the Govt. and the central bank. > > I will if I find the time. Well, I would say right off the bat that you are assuming facts not in evidence: a) that Schiff is telling ‘the truth’, whatever that is, and b) the ‘Govt.’ is not. While waiting for you to make some minimal effort to explain yourself, I went ahead and looked up the Wiki page on Mr. Schiff. According to the information there, Mr. Schiff has, for more than 15 years, been predicting a collapse of the US dollar followed by hyperinflation; he has likewise been for several years predicting a massive increase in gold prices that has also not come to pass. Also, as someone mentioned, he seems to believe in a flat tax, something I know a little about and have to reject as utterly wrongheaded, as do, apparently, most real economists. So, maybe that will help you when you finally get round to making an argument of some kind: given that so far Mr. Schiff seems to be generally wrong regarding his financial prognostications, what, specifically do you believe he is telling ‘the truth’ about? ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/184 "2016-05-07T14:21:26Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Well, I would say right off the bat that you are assuming facts not in evidence: a) that Schiff is telling ‘the truth’, whatever that is, and b) the ‘Govt.’ is not. > > While waiting for you to make some minimal effort to explain yourself, I went ahead and looked up the Wiki page on Mr. Schiff. According to the information there, Mr. Schiff has, for more than 15 years, been predicting a collapse of the US dollar followed by hyperinflation; he has likewise been for several years predicting a massive increase in gold prices that has also not come to pass. Also, as someone mentioned, he seems to believe in a flat tax, something I know a little about and have to reject as utterly wrongheaded, as do, apparently, most real economists. > > So, maybe that will help you when you finally get round to making an argument of some kind: given that so far Mr. Schiff seems to be generally wrong regarding his financial prognostications, what, specifically do you believe he is telling ‘the truth’ about? People (americans, non-americans, govts. around the world) have believed in the lies of economic recovery and economic strength till now. Public Debt is growing at 10 times faster rate than the GDP and is over 100% of GDP now. People will slowly realise the situation that the ‘economy’ is nothing but a debt bubble. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/185 "2016-05-07T14:31:40Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I think there is a feeling among a segment of the population that women who show a lot of skin are sluts. I think it’s more that women who marry complete pieces of shit that just happen to be ridiculously rich are sluts. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/186 "2016-05-07T14:37:04Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > People (americans, non-americans, govts. around the world) have believed in the lies of economic recovery and economic strength till now. Public Debt is growing at 10 times faster rate than the GDP and is over 100% of GDP now. People will slowly realise the situation that the ‘economy’ is nothing but a debt bubble. According to [the chart at the top of this Wioki page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_of_the_United_States), US public debt currently is around 80% of GDP. I don’t know what the current debt vs. GDP growth rate is, but ‘ten times’ seems incorrect. Cite for your claims? Also, since the actual topic is Mr. Trump’s General Election campaign, what does Mr. Trump propose to do about this, and why do you think it will work? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/187 "2016-05-07T14:40:00Z")
It’ll be great! So great, you won’t believe it. I don’t, and it hasn’t even happened yet! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/188 "2016-05-07T14:41:37Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > According to [this chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_of_the_United_States), US public debt is around 80% of GDP. I don’t know what the debt growth rate vs. GDP is. Cite for your claims? > > Also, since the actual topic is Mr. Trump’s General Election campaign, what does Mr. Trump propose to do about this, and why do you think it will work? [Donald Trump’s Idea to Cut National Debt: Get Creditors to Accept Less](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/07/us/politics/donald-trumps-idea-to-cut-national-debt-get-creditors-to-accept-less.html) > [@](#): > > After assuring Americans he is not running for president “to make things unstable for the country,” the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump, **suggested that he might reduce the national debt by persuading creditors to accept something less than full payment.** > > Asked on Thursday whether the United States needed to pay its debts in full, or whether he could negotiate a partial repayment, Mr. Trump told the cable network CNBC, **“I would borrow, knowing that if the economy crashed, you could make a deal.”** > > He added, “And if the economy was good, it was good. So, therefore, you can’t lose.” Well, I know I’ll [del]sleep well at[/del] be awake all night. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/189 "2016-05-07T14:47:43Z")
In an interview the other day, Trump [suggested](http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/05/07/us/politics/donald-trumps-idea-to-cut-national-debt-get-creditors-to-accept-less.html?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F)that the U.S. debt could be negotiated down, which I am pretty sure would destroy the world economy. I don’t even know what to do with that. Who does he think owns most U.S. debt? Because it’s mostly voters and the retirement funds of voters. Provided voters can be made to understand that, it seems like a poor strategy. Not to mention the whole destroying our credit rating and interest rates for everything skyrocketing and monetary policy collapsing and . . . . I mean, Jesus, just the idea that he might get elected with that sort of plan is potentially dangerous all by itself–markets react to what might happen. I am less sanguine that voters can be made to understand all that. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/190 "2016-05-07T15:36:54Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > According to [the chart at the top of this Wioki page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_of_the_United_States), US public debt currently is around 80% of GDP. I don’t know what the current debt vs. GDP growth rate is, but ‘ten times’ seems incorrect. Cite for your claims? > > Also, since the actual topic is Mr. Trump’s General Election campaign, what does Mr. Trump propose to do about this, and why do you think it will work? 76% is held by public , rest is intragovernmental holdings (primarily composed of the Medicare Trust Fund, the Social Security Trust Fund, and Federal Financing Bank securities.) From you link: > [@](#): > > On April 29, 2016, debt held by the public was $13.8 trillion or about 76% of the previous 12 months of GDP. Intragovernmental holdings stood at $5.3 trillion, **giving a combined total gross national debt of $19.1 trillion or about 106% of the previous 12 months of GDP.** $6.2 trillion or approximately 45% of the debt held by the public was owned by foreign investors, the largest of which were the People’s Republic of China and Japan at about $1.25 trillion for China and $1.15 trillion for Japan as of Feburary 2016 I am wrong about 10 times. It is ~4.9 times from 2007 till today: [2007 GDP](http://useconomy.about.com/od/GDP-by-Year/a/US-GDP-History.htm) = 14.5 trillion, 2015 GDP=17.9 tn, Growth = 23% [2007 Public Debt](https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm) = 9 trillion, Present Debt = 19.1 trillion, Growth = 112% 23 multiplied by 4.86 = 112. So public debt has grown at 4.86 times faster rate than GDP. However, if they stop growing debt to GDP ratio, economy will fall into recession meaning that GDP will go down. Its a bubble I have talked many times about how Trump represents hope for a disruptive change. Devaluation of dollar etc. Look up my earlier posts. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/191 "2016-05-07T15:42:10Z")
I’m not watching your video and I’m not looking up your previous posts. I think I’ve seen enough. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/192 "2016-05-07T16:00:06Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > [2007 GDP](http://useconomy.about.com/od/GDP-by-Year/a/US-GDP-History.htm) = 14.5 trillion, 2015 GDP=17.9 tn, Growth = 23% > > [2007 Public Debt](https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm) = 9 trillion, Present Debt = 19.1 trillion, Growth = 112% Calculating CAGR (compounded annual rate of growth): Debt grew at 9.86% CAGR for 8 yrs from 2007 to 2015. GDP grew at 2.66% CAGR for 8 yrs from 2007 to 2015. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/193 "2016-05-07T16:10:39Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > In an interview the other day, Trump [suggested](http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/05/07/us/politics/donald-trumps-idea-to-cut-national-debt-get-creditors-to-accept-less.html?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F)that the U.S. debt could be negotiated down, which I am pretty sure would destroy the world economy. I don’t even know what to do with that. Who does he think owns most U.S. debt? Because it’s mostly voters and the retirement funds of voters. Provided voters can be made to understand that, it seems like a poor strategy. > > Not to mention the whole destroying our credit rating and interest rates for everything skyrocketing and monetary policy collapsing and . . . . I mean, Jesus, just the idea that he might get elected with that sort of plan is potentially dangerous all by itself–markets react to what might happen. I am less sanguine that voters can be made to understand all that. And there’s the fact that such a plan is illegal. Unconstitutional even. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/194 "2016-05-07T16:16:25Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > …Trump represents hope for a disruptive change. … Well that much is true. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/195 "2016-05-07T16:58:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Trump ordered to trial in Trump U. case.](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-lawsuit-idUSKCN0XX2CR) [Another article about this.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/president-elect-or-not-trump-is-going-to-trial-003511101.html) Points out that this date is actually a compromise: Plaintiffs wanted the trial earlier, soon after the convention. Trump’s lawyers argued for a later date, around next February. The lawsuits in New York are separate, and those haven’t been scheduled yet. They might happen sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/196 "2016-05-07T17:05:46Z")
The last week has confirmed for me at least that no Trump is not a strategic genius who brilliantly executed one type of campaign to win the primary and will now pivot successfully to another type of campaign to win the general. Not that I ever believed this. Between the childish and unnecessary spats with Ryan, Graham and others, the jaw-dropping suggestion about re-negotiating the federal debt, the cringeworthy taco tweet it’s pretty clear that Trump remains the out-of-control buffoon that he has always been. His brand of buffoonery struck an unexpectedly strong chord with the nativist wing of the Republican primary electorate but this wasn’t some deeply thought out strategy and Trump doesn’t have a clue about how to adjust for the general. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/197 "2016-05-07T17:08:46Z")
You gotta love Trump’s balls. [http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/politics/donald-trump-endorsements-paul-ryan-meeting/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/politics/donald-trump-endorsements-paul-ryan-meeting/index.html) > [@](#): > > Trump predicted that the Clinton campaign would counter by using crude comments he has made about women and sex in interviews with talk radio host Howard Stern against him in attack ads. > > In his defense, Trump said he made his controversial remarks before he knew he would seek the presidency. > > “Don’t forget,” Trump said, “I was never going to run for office.” So, in other words, if he had known he was going to run for President, he wouldn’t have shown himself to be such a sexist asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/198 "2016-05-07T17:11:07Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > I am wrong about 10 times. It is ~4.9 times from 2007 till today: > > [2007 GDP](http://useconomy.about.com/od/GDP-by-Year/a/US-GDP-History.htm) = 14.5 trillion, 2015 GDP=17.9 tn, Growth = 23% > > [2007 Public Debt](https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm) = 9 trillion, Present Debt = 19.1 trillion, Growth = 112% > > 23 multiplied by 4.86 = 112. So public debt has grown at 4.86 times faster rate than GDP. However, if they stop growing debt to GDP ratio, economy will fall into recession meaning that GDP will go down. Its a bubble > > I have talked many times about how Trump represents hope for a disruptive change. Devaluation of dollar etc. Look up my earlier posts. Cherry pick much? 2007, eh? I wonder if any major economic events occurred in 2008 … ? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/199 "2016-05-07T17:13:07Z")
But wait, there’s more… [http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/politics/vicente-fox-donald-trump-tie-tweet/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/politics/vicente-fox-donald-trump-tie-tweet/index.html) [QUOTE=Vicente Fox] “Hey @realDonaldTrump, bringing jobs back to US - does that include your ties & shirts? #MadeInChina.” [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/200 "2016-05-07T17:29:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > But wait, there’s more… > > [http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/politics/vicente-fox-donald-trump-tie-tweet/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/politics/vicente-fox-donald-trump-tie-tweet/index.html) Give the guy a break. He’s trying to bring the Trump line back to the States. [Since 2011.](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-admits-gear-made-china-labels/story?id=13472355) > [@](#): > > Donald Trump, who has repeatedly accused China of stealing manufacturing jobs from the U.S., acknowledged today that an array of Trump-branded clothes, accessories and other products are made in China. > > The real estate and casino mogul, who is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination, **blamed China** for the fact that Trump ties, Trump cufflinks and even Trump teddy bears come with a “Made in China” label. He had _nothing_ to do with it. He was _forced_. _Forced_ I tell you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=11)