# 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:** 12
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/221 "2016-05-08T19:05:10Z")
Anyway, I see that whatever economic policy you favor, _ **Trump is your man!** _ He’s now on record as saying [ul][li] Taxes are too high,[/li][li] Taxes are too low,[/li][li] Wages are too high,[/li][li] Wages are too low,[/li][li] The federal minimum wage should be increased,[/li][li] The federal minimum wage should be abolished.[/li][/ul] What’s not to love? ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/222 "2016-05-08T19:45:17Z")
This is the most pointless/worthless discussions I have spent my time on. Not saying anything negative about you but the subject is pointless. About 4x is the right figure for ratio of debt growth CAGR and GDP growth CAGR for last 8 years. I said 2% is very optimistic GDP target for next 25 years - 1. Look at the Japan example (0.8% for 2 decades). It is in some ways looking 20 years into the future. 2. GDP grew at 2.66% for last 8 years _only_ when your Debt grew by 9.86% CAGR (from 9 trillion to 19.1) And then you are taking CBO projection as gospel truth. They are looking into future . As you know, debt grew very rapidly since 2007, did they predict that before 2007? Maybe there is another recession in near future, and they pile up debt to get out of that. I am saying 2.4x (when you take 0.8% GDP growth for 25 years) is bad enough and you are saying but its not 4x. In your CBO projections itself (which you think is the ultimate truth for the future), if you take GDP growth slightly below 0.8% (which can easily happen, although 0.8% is a reasonable expectation imo), say at 0.37%, you will get your 4x. Again, its just a pointless discussion since GDP growth is going to be very small. It is the debt that will be growing. All the best. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/223 "2016-05-08T19:58:28Z")
Japan’s Debt to GDP was about 60% in 1990. In 2015, it was 230% - [http://www.tradingeconomics.com/japan/government-debt-to-gdp](http://www.tradingeconomics.com/japan/government-debt-to-gdp) average GDP growth is 0.8% from 1996 as discussed earlier. Japan may be worse and a couple of decades faster, but USA is on same path as Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/224 "2016-05-08T20:02:44Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Huckabee came out strongly for party unity. [Blasting Ryan.](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/279018-huckabee-to-ryan-lead-follow-or-get-the-heck-out-of-the) Huck has defended Trump several times.[Like in Feb](http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/02/mike-huckabee-donald-trump-kkk-219954) > Huckabee might be considered for VP. Huckabee did a good job as my Governor and he knows the Clinton machine better than most outsiders. He’d be a good asset for Trump. You could very well be right about this. By choosing Huckabee, Trump would double down on the White Male thing–and we all know how much he loves doubling down. Trump is never going to win over female voters or non-white voters, so there’s little point in his trying to court any of them by choosing a non-white and/or female VP. (I say that even though I’d earlier posted about Utah Representative Mia Love as a possibility; with each passing day I’ve become more convinced that Trump will go for the ‘screw you, people who fail to be straight white Christian males!’ option.) And Huckabee could advocate for Trump with his own Evangelical fanbase–‘yes\*, I know he’s had a messy personal life, but the Lord has chosen him as his vessel, and how can we contradict the Lord’s wishes?\*’…and the like. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/225 "2016-05-08T20:39:13Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > You could very well be right about this. By choosing Huckabee, Trump would double down on the White Male thing–and we all know how much he loves doubling down. > > Trump is never going to win over female voters or non-white voters, so there’s little point in his trying to court any of them by choosing a non-white and/or female VP. Some freepers want Allen West. Which makes me laugh really hard. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/226 "2016-05-08T22:00:03Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Some freepers want Allen West. > Which makes me laugh really hard. It would certainly make the nation’s comedians happy. (Until nuclear Armageddon, of course. The crazy! The crazy! It burns worse than radiation!) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/227 "2016-05-09T17:44:29Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Anyway, I see that whatever economic policy you favor, _ **Trump is your man!** _ He’s now on record as saying > [ul][li] Taxes are too high,[/li][li] Taxes are too low,[/li][li] Wages are too high,[/li][li] Wages are too low,[/li][li] The federal minimum wage should be increased,[/li][li] The federal minimum wage should be abolished.[/li][/ul] > What’s not to love? As SNL said about Trump and his abortion position(s): “He has to be pro-choice because he’s made _all_ the choices!” ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/228 "2016-05-09T18:27:24Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > A An inability to borrow on the part of the US would plunge the world into depression. Has zip to do with honesty or lying. I think he considers this to be a feature, not a bug. This dude wants Trump in the same way that an anarchist thinks burning down all the banks would be a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/229 "2016-05-09T18:32:15Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You’re just now beginning? I’ve been looking at my TV for the _last_ six months saying, “Christ, what an imagination I’ve got!” Oh, c’mon, the presumptive nominees at this point (Bush and O’Malley) ain’t **that** weird . . . Are you sure you’ve been taking your meds? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/230 "2016-05-09T19:47:29Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > Japan’s Debt to GDP was about 60% in 1990. In 2015, it was 230% - > [http://www.tradingeconomics.com/japan/government-debt-to-gdp](http://www.tradingeconomics.com/japan/government-debt-to-gdp) > > average GDP growth is 0.8% from 1996 as discussed earlier. > > Japan may be worse and a couple of decades faster, but USA is on same path as Japan. Not really, Japan has problems like a rapidly aging population that the United States does not. Also TRUMP declares that the national debt isn’t a problem because we can [print more money](http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/politics/donald-trump-national-debt-strategy/index.html): > [@](#): > > Donald Trump declared Monday the U.S. never has to default on debt “because you print the money,” while trying to clarify his strategy for managing the national debt. > > Trump insisted that he never said the U.S. should default or attempt to renegotiate with creditors, as had been reported. > “People said I want to go and buy debt and default on debt, and I mean, these people are crazy. This is the United States government,” Trump told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on “New Day.” “First of all, you never have to default because you print the money, I hate to tell you, OK?” ---
**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 9, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/231 "2016-05-09T20:37:38Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Anyway, I see that whatever economic policy you favor, _ **Trump is your man!** _ He’s now on record as saying > [ul][li] Taxes are too high,[/li][li] Taxes are too low,[/li][li] Wages are too high,[/li][li] Wages are too low,[/li][li] The federal minimum wage should be increased,[/li][li] The federal minimum wage should be abolished.[/li][/ul] > What’s not to love? Sometime I can’t help thinking Trump learned his politics from watching old Marx Brothers movies. “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.” ---
**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 9, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/232 "2016-05-09T22:33:08Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Also TRUMP declares that the national debt isn’t a problem because we can [print more money](http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/politics/donald-trump-national-debt-strategy/index.html): > > > [@](#): > > > > Donald Trump declared Monday the U.S. never has to default on debt “because you print the money,” while trying to clarify his strategy for managing the national debt. > > > > Trump insisted that he never said the U.S. should default or attempt to renegotiate with creditors, as had been reported. > > “People said I want to go and buy debt and default on debt, and I mean, these people are crazy. This is the United States government,” Trump told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on “New Day.” “First of all, you never have to default because you print the money, I hate to tell you, OK?” Every time I’m sure Trump has said the most ignorant thing possible, he proves me wrong. But here’s the punchline: Trump graduated from the Wharton School of Business in 1968. Guess what his degree was? A B.S. in ECO-freaking-NOMICS! I shit you not. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/233 "2016-05-09T22:37:30Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Anyway, I see that whatever economic policy you favor, _ **Trump is your man!** _ He’s now on record as saying > [ul] > [li] Taxes are too high,[/li][li] Taxes are too low,[/li][li] Wages are too high,[/li][li] Wages are too low,[/li][li] The federal minimum wage should be increased,[/li][li] The federal minimum wage should be abolished.[/li][/ul] > What’s not to love? It’s a big-tent movement, OK? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/234 "2016-05-09T22:52:59Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > It’s a big-tent movement, OK? In this case it’s a Big **Top** movement and the clown is the Ringmaster. ---
**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 9, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/235 "2016-05-09T23:47:06Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Sometime I can’t help thinking Trump learned his politics from watching old Marx Brothers movies. > > “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.” Michael P. Lynch, opining in NYT, May 7, explains why Trump’s mass of contradictions has been such a successful campaign strategy. [Trump, Truth and the Power of Contradiction](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/trump-truth-and-the-power-of-contradiction.html?ref=opinion) TL;DR: Everyone who listens to him, and who is sufficiently stupid (in the sense of lacking in critical thinking skills) gets to cherry-pick-and-choose which of his statements they like and want to believe. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/236 "2016-05-09T23:47:27Z")
Trump announces his pick for Attorney General: [Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC)](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/625869142592212992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), Chairman of the House Select Committee to investigate the 2012 Benghazi attack. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/237 "2016-05-10T00:20:08Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Every time I’m sure Trump has said the most ignorant thing possible, he proves me wrong. But here’s the punchline: Trump graduated from the Wharton School of Business in 1968. Guess what his degree was? > > A B.S. in ECO-freaking-NOMICS! > > I shit you not. Exactly. His degree was not in economics, it was in ECO-freaking-NOMICS! A special “rocks for jocks” sort of track some colleges offer. The caps and the exclamation point are actually part of the standard spelling. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/238 "2016-05-10T00:21:36Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Michael P. Lynch, opining in NYT, May 7, explains why Trump’s mass of contradictions has been such a successful campaign strategy. > > [Trump, Truth and the Power of Contradiction](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/trump-truth-and-the-power-of-contradiction.html?ref=opinion) > > TL;DR: Everyone who listens to him, and who is sufficiently stupid (in the sense of lacking in critical thinking skills) gets to cherry-pick-and-choose which of his statements they like and want to believe. All Hail President Rorschach! ---
**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 10, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/239 "2016-05-10T02:28:43Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Every time I’m sure Trump has said the most ignorant thing possible, he proves me wrong. But here’s the punchline: Trump graduated from the Wharton School of Business in 1968. Guess what his degree was? > > A B.S. in ECO-freaking-NOMICS! > > I shit you not. Heh; I suspect the guys on Freakonomics Radio would be fairly tough on him as well. ---
**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 10, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/240 "2016-05-10T02:42:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > All Hail President Rorschach! When you look at his hairpiece, what do you see? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=13)