# 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:** 143
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2843 "2016-07-21T22:59:15Z")
Bet Hillary can’t wait for the foreign policy debate… ---
**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:** [July 22, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2844 "2016-07-22T00:16:34Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is sounded to me more like Trump would re-write the deals and decide whether any particular country was paying “enough”. I think Trump USA would be far more likely the country that would end up not honoring already existing agreements. Don’t we owe the UN a shitload of dough? I agree that substantively, this is one of the worst things he’s ever said. But it’s too dry and wonky to get the attention of most voters, alas. > [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > And Trump is relying on the party apparatus much more heavily than previous candidates since he has such a bare-bones campaign. Guess who controls the Republican Party in Ohio? Good call: [Trump’s Feud with Kasich Backfires In Ohio](https://politicalwire.com/2016/07/21/trumps-feud-with-kasich-backfires-in-ohio/) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2845 "2016-07-22T00:40:31Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Good call: [https://politicalwire.com/2016/07/21/trumps-feud-with-kasich-backfires-in-ohio/](https://politicalwire.com/2016/07/21/trumps-feud-with-kasich-backfires-in-ohio/) I thought Manafort was the experienced political operator? ---
**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:** [July 22, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2846 "2016-07-22T00:56:39Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I thought Manafort was the experienced political operator? He is. Scary, isn’t 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:** [July 22, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2847 "2016-07-22T01:31:08Z")
Here’s Jeffrey Goldberg’s excellent analysis in _The Atlantic_ of how three key Republicans have abdicated their responsibility to stand up to Trump: [Jeffrey Goldberg on the Republican Party's Hollow Men - The Atlantic](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/the-hollow-men/492320/) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2848 "2016-07-22T03:06:02Z")
I first heard of Chris Christie when he defended the Muslim judge and came out with the line “This is crazy! I’m tired of the crazies!” I thought that maybe, just maybe, there was a senior Republican politician standing up for principles of equality and good judgment. Now he’s Aide-de-Camp to the King of the Crazies, at Ground Zero in Crazy-Town. «Le sigh.» ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2849 "2016-07-22T03:28:36Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Don’t we owe the UN a shitload of dough? Yep, the US is the only member of the permanent security council to be behind on it’s payments. [http://untribune.com/as-obama-heads-to-general-assembly-us-debt-to-un-balloons-to-3-billion/](http://untribune.com/as-obama-heads-to-general-assembly-us-debt-to-un-balloons-to-3-billion/) Of course republicans seem to think the UN is a worthless institution and waste of money. ---
**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 22, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2850 "2016-07-22T03:33:20Z")
Paul Manafort: > [@](#): > > [Women in this country feel they can’t afford their lives,\*\*\* their husbands\*\*\* can’t afford to pay for the family bills. Hillary Clinton is guilty of being a part of the establishment that created that problem. They’re going to hear the message and as they hear the message that’s how we’re going to appeal to them.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paul-manafort-trump-women-voters_us_57916482e4b0fc06ec5c7899?section=politics) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2851 "2016-07-22T03:34:37Z")
It’s not a bad strategy. Trump needs to settle on one message: the political class has failed, The political class has failed. The political class has failed. It’s the only effective thing about his candidacy. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2852 "2016-07-22T03:38:04Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Yep, the US is the only member of the permanent security council to be behind on it’s payments. > [http://untribune.com/as-obama-heads-to-general-assembly-us-debt-to-un-balloons-to-3-billion/](http://untribune.com/as-obama-heads-to-general-assembly-us-debt-to-un-balloons-to-3-billion/) > > Of course republicans seem to think the UN is a worthless institution and waste of money. This way, the U.N. can’t afford to take over the USA. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2853 "2016-07-22T04:00:00Z")
They can’t afford not to, with all those trillions and trillions of dollars pouring in to the US. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2016, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2854 "2016-07-22T05:37:45Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I thought Manafort was the experienced political operator? Right? But this week, he has not shown it. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2855 "2016-07-22T06:05:16Z")
Look what he has to work with. Professional politicians know to just let the handlers feed them their lines and handle the messaging. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2856 "2016-07-22T06:05:44Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > If you start throwing small countries to the wolves, it just encourages the wolves… It’s just Poland, after all. Anyway, have you ever tried chopped liver? It sucks. No loss here. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2016, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2857 "2016-07-22T12:03:08Z")
The Secret Service is investigating an informal Trump aide [after he calls for Hillary’s execution for treason](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/20/politics/tom-cotton-al-baldasaro-hillary-clinton-treason/). ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2858 "2016-07-22T14:30:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not a bad strategy. Trump needs to settle on one message: the political class has failed, The political class has failed. The political class has failed. It’s the only effective thing about his candidacy. **TrumpOn**! Apply directly to the forehead! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2859 "2016-07-22T14:58:24Z")
We now have a clearer picture of Republican strategy in the general. 1. Attack Hillary on 2 fronts. Negate her experience by pinning all the chaos in the Middle East on her (unfairly, but never mind). Negate her judgment with email/Benghazi. This can be effective. 2. Our nation is a dark apocalyptic hellscape of ISIS-trained Mexican immigrants swarming over the border and taking our jobs and shooting cops, and only Donald can stop it. This is pure fantasy, but seems to resonate with some sizable portion of the electorate. ---
**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 22, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2860 "2016-07-22T15:29:09Z")
Not a majority of the Electoral College, far from it, I think. But Trump has surprised me (always to my chagrin) before. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2861 "2016-07-22T15:36:38Z")
Well, then, lets have this fight. The Forces of Darkness appear to be convinced beyond all reason that _they_ are the Americans, the vast, silent majority. Lets draw the lines stark and clear, and then vote. If the truth is dark and terrible, at least we will know. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2862 "2016-07-22T15:46:47Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Well, then, lets have this fight. The Forces of Darkness appear to be convinced beyond all reason that _they_ are the Americans, the vast, silent majority. Lets draw the lines stark and clear, and then vote. If the truth is dark and terrible, at least we will know. I can picture the outcome of a straight-up Trump victory, and it’s bad. I can picture the outcome of a straight-up Clinton victory, and it’s good. I can picture 2000-In-Reverse, where Trump gets more votes but Clinton wins. That last one would be . . . is _interesting_ the right word? Yeah, let’s say “interesting”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=142) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=144)