# 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:** 170
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3383 "2016-08-02T10:38:30Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > You know Georgia went for Clinton in 1992? Yes. But it has been dead red in the 24 years since then. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3384 "2016-08-02T10:53:45Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Also, what sort of idiot eats bone-in fried chicken with a knife and fork? [These sorts](http://www.gq.com/story/john-kasich-humiliates-himself-eats-pizza-like-an-idiot) Second pic… ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3385 "2016-08-02T11:06:03Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s the Night Of The Short Fingers. Ha!! ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3386 "2016-08-02T11:14:05Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I would had call it the night of the short sporks. No, that’s [Ted Cruz](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v75wCTMZoSY). (At 1:59). ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3387 "2016-08-02T11:14:18Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > [These sorts](http://www.gq.com/story/john-kasich-humiliates-himself-eats-pizza-like-an-idiot) > > Second pic… Yeesh. Even Trump knows [you’re supposed to eat pizza backwards.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVmAcULPMu4) ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3388 "2016-08-02T12:23:06Z")
CNN: 50% of Americans believe Russia is attempting to influence the US Presidential election. [http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/02/politics/presidential-polls-trump-vs-clinton/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/02/politics/presidential-polls-trump-vs-clinton/index.html) ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3389 "2016-08-02T12:46:43Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [Trump’s July fundraising numbers released: $35.8 million.](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-calls-clinton-devil-boasts-about-meager-35-million-fundraising-n621406?cid=sm_fb) > > Romney raised over $100 million in the same time period four years ago. Yet Trump still brags about his $35.8 million haul calling it “unheard of.” > > His full quote: “It’s gonna be announced tomorrow or the next day: we’ve raised, we think, about $35.8 million. This is unheard of for Republicans, $35.8 million.” > > I anxiously await Ms. Clinton’s July numbers. Even if she drops 40% from her June fundraising total, she’ll have out-raised him yet again. But Fat Don somehow thinks he’s knocking it out of the park. Clinton raised $90 million according to the email solicitation I’ve gotten. Trump’s number was unheard of … to be so small for a GOP candidate in July of the election year. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3390 "2016-08-02T12:46:52Z")
Trump praises Ryan’s challenger: > **[Trump gives shout-out to Ryan's GOP challenger](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-paul-ryan-226543)** > > "Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated," the Republican nominee wrote. Interesting to see if Trump’s support has any pull. The vote is in 8 days and Ryan is expected to win handily. However, this is a Republican primary vote, not a general election vote, so if the narrative this year is “Trump changes everything\*” we will get a preview if that REALLY holds up August 9th. \*As an economist by training and a business historian by interest, I doubt this. But we will see… ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3391 "2016-08-02T14:22:54Z")
[Trump goes after another Fire Marshal.](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/01/politics/donald-trump-fire-marshals-crowd-size/) > [@](#): > > Columbus, Ohio (CNN)Even before Donald Trump kicked off his town hall event Monday he gathered reporters to decry “politics at its lowest” – but he wasn’t talking about Hillary Clinton or the latest controversy swirling around his campaign, his feud with the parents of a slain Muslim US soldier. > Instead, Trump was unleashing on the local fire marshal, accusing the city official of turning away thousands of Trump supporters without cause. It was the second time in three days Trump has lambasted a local fire marshal during a campaign rally. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3392 "2016-08-02T14:52:14Z")
_Wall Street Journal_ deputy editorial page editor Bret Stephens has criticized Trump consistently. In June, he [said](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/06/17/wsjs_bret_stephens_hillary_clinton_as_awful_as_i_find_her_is_a_survivable_event_im_not_so_sure_about_trump.html), “Listen, I think that for the United States, Hillary Clinton, as awful as I find her, is a survivable event. I’m not so sure about Donald Trump.” Yesterday, he had a [piece](http://www.wsj.com/articles/to-the-go-along-republicans-1470091421) in the _WSJ_ urging Republican office holders to abandon Trump. Stephens continues to say, essentially, that Clinton is terrible but Trump is catastrophic. Regarding Trump’s attack on the Khans, Stephens writes: > [@Bret Stephens](#): > > What makes Mr. Trump’s remarks so foul is their undisguised sadism. He took a woman too heartbroken and anxious to speak of her dead son before an audience of millions and painted a target on her. He treated her silence as evidence that she was either a dolt or a stooge. He degraded her. “She was standing there. She had nothing to say,” Mr. Trump told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.” > > In this comment there was the full unmasking of Mr. Trump, in case he needed further unmasking. He has, as Humayun’s father Khizr put it, a “black soul.” His problem isn’t a lack of normal propriety but the absence of basic human decency. He is morally unfit for any office, high or low. Stephens said in the June interview that he probably wouldn’t vote for either Trump or Clinton. On Facebook last week I pleaded with my friends to please not support Trump, even if they couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Clinton. To the “Clinton is worse!!” people, I suggested voting for Johnson. I’d never normally encourage anyone to vote Libertarian. But I figure those of us who think Clinton is the antichrist might actually be persuaded to at least divert their vote to Johnson instead of helping Trump get elected. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3393 "2016-08-02T15:01:59Z")
OK, this might be like standing in a lake during a rainstorm and noticing how wet we’re all getting, but this campaign is just getting plum weird. What on earth is possessing Fat Don to go after fire marshals on a daily basis? What group could he possibly be appealing to by doing this? Are their anti-fire department people out there? Is anyone at Trump Tower telling him this is a bad idea? Or do they think it’s a good idea? I would love to hear a Trump supporter explain why this is a good message/tactic for Trump. I’m genuinely curious. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3394 "2016-08-02T15:07:06Z")
One wonders, honestly, what thge breaking point is for office-holding Republicans. What does it take for a Senator or a Congressman to finally say “I’m sorry, but I cannot endorese Mr. Trump for President?” I’m not talking about low information voters, the dedicated Trumpists who already post Facebook articles about how Mr. Khas is an ISIL sleeper agent. I mean professionals, people like Paul Ryan. I realize that breaking with one’s party is a huge, huge deal, especially if you’re the first one to do it. It could be the end of your career. The whole point to a party is you stick together in bad times and good because a bunch of independents will lose forever. But in theory there is a limit, surely, and Donald Trump has got to be hitting that limit. Ted Cruz told him to stick it, but that was personal, and Josh Kasich seems to have done the same but that’s an Ohio matter, not national. If his being a horrible, narcissistic sociopath wasn’t enough, is the fact that he is publicly abusing the heartbroken mother of a man who died a hero fighting for his country the straw that break the camel’s back? If it’s not, if it’s the second to last straw, what is that last straw? Another grieving mother? Insulting local fire departments… oh, he’s done that. Being used for swindling… oh, that’s actually happening. Rape allegations… oh. I don’t know what he has to do to make Republicans finally say “Look, that’s enough. Donald Trump isn’t my candidate. He should not be President. I’m out.” Does he actually have to get caught selling state secrets to Russia? Is that what it’ll take? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3395 "2016-08-02T15:07:21Z")
One wonders, honestly, what the breaking point is for office-holding Republicans. What does it take for a Senator or a Congressman to finally say “I’m sorry, but I cannot endorse Mr. Trump for President?” I’m not talking about low information voters, the dedicated Trumpists who already post Facebook articles about how Mr. Khas is an ISIL sleeper agent. I mean professionals, people like Paul Ryan. I realize that breaking with one’s party is a huge, huge deal, especially if you’re the first one to do it. It could be the end of your career. The whole point to a party is you stick together in bad times and good because a bunch of independents will lose forever. But in theory there is a limit, surely, and Donald Trump has got to be hitting that limit. Ted Cruz told him to stick it, but that was personal, and Josh Kasich seems to have done the same but that’s an Ohio matter, not national. If his being a horrible, narcissistic sociopath wasn’t enough, is the fact that he is publicly abusing the heartbroken mother of a man who died a hero fighting for his country the straw that break the camel’s back? If it’s not, if it’s the second to last straw, what is that last straw? Another grieving mother? Insulting local fire departments… oh, he’s done that. Being used for swindling… oh, that’s actually happening. Rape allegations… oh. I don’t know what he has to do to make Republicans finally say “Look, that’s enough. Donald Trump isn’t my candidate. He should not be President. I’m out.” Does he actually have to get caught selling state secrets to Russia? Is that what it’ll take? ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3396 "2016-08-02T15:13:03Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > OK, this might be like standing in a lake during a rainstorm and noticing how wet we’re all getting, but this campaign is just getting plum weird. What on earth is possessing Fat Don to go after fire marshals on a daily basis? What group could he possibly be appealing to by doing this? Are their anti-fire department people out there? Is anyone at Trump Tower telling him this is a bad idea? Or do they think it’s a good idea? > > I would love to hear a Trump supporter explain why this is a good message/tactic for Trump. I’m genuinely curious. It boils down to his “the system is rigged” shtick. He claimed the Marshal was probably a Democrat, that the limited occupancy was a political move and that the fire regulations are part of why the country is going to hell(over-regulation). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3397 "2016-08-02T15:15:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > One wonders, honestly, what the breaking point is for office-holding Republicans. What does it take for a Senator or a Congressman to finally say “I’m sorry, but I cannot endorse Mr. Trump for President?” > > I’m not talking about low information voters, the dedicated Trumpists who already post Facebook articles about how Mr. Khas is an ISIL sleeper agent. I mean professionals, people like Paul Ryan. I realize that breaking with one’s party is a huge, huge deal, especially if you’re the first one to do it. It could be the end of your career. The whole point to a party is you stick together in bad times and good because a bunch of independents will lose forever. But in theory there is a limit, surely, and Donald Trump has got to be hitting that limit. Ted Cruz told him to stick it, but that was personal, and Josh Kasich seems to have done the same but that’s an Ohio matter, not national. > > If his being a horrible, narcissistic sociopath wasn’t enough, is the fact that he is publicly abusing the heartbroken mother of a man who died a hero fighting for his country the straw that break the camel’s back? If it’s not, if it’s the second to last straw, what is that last straw? Another grieving mother? Insulting local fire departments… oh, he’s done that. Being used for swindling… oh, that’s actually happening. Rape allegations… oh. I don’t know what he has to do to make Republicans finally say “Look, that’s enough. Donald Trump isn’t my candidate. He should not be President. I’m out.” > > Does he actually have to get caught selling state secrets to Russia? Is that what it’ll take? It’s happened. [Three-term Congressman Richard Hanna (R-NY) has said he’s voting for Hillary.](http://www.newyorkupstate.com/news/2016/08/gop_rep_richard_hanna_says_hell_vote_for_hillary_clinton.html) > [@](#): > > I can’t look back in my life when I leave this job and know that I didn’t speak the truth when it was important to do so. Granted, he’s retiring at the end of this term. But it’s a start. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3398 "2016-08-02T15:16:45Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Trump praises Ryan’s challenger: > > [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-paul-ryan-226543](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-paul-ryan-226543) > > Interesting to see if Trump’s support has any pull. The vote is in 8 days and Ryan is expected to win handily. However, this is a Republican primary vote, not a general election vote, so if the narrative this year is “Trump changes everything\*” we will get a preview if that REALLY holds up August 9th. > > \*As an economist by training and a business historian by interest, I doubt this. But we will see… I would love to see the day (20 Minutes into the Future) where Ryan is asked (again) to comment on one of the Donald’s remarks, and he just plain loses it. Something like this: > [@](#): > > Reporter: Would you care to comment on Mr. Trumps remarks on (insert your own subject here)? > > Ryan: Yes, while I disagree with Mr. Trump (his latest outrage) and think he spoke in error, I will continue to support…aw, fuck it. > > Reporter: I beg your pardon, sir? > > Ryan: You heard me. I refuse to keep demeaning myself by supporting a man who is not a Republican, not a conservative, and not fit for the office of President. I will continue to work hard to preserve the Republican majority in Congress, but I have nothing more to say about that orange-faced nincompoop masquerading as a possible President. Except that voting for him is not supporting the Republican party. Now will that occur? I doubt it, Ryan is much too cool and disciplined and too much the ‘party’ man to do something like that, but damn, he’s got to be thinking it now and then, doesn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3399 "2016-08-02T15:21:55Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > _Wall Street Journal_ deputy editorial page editor Bret Stephens has criticized Trump consistently. In June, he [said](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/06/17/wsjs_bret_stephens_hillary_clinton_as_awful_as_i_find_her_is_a_survivable_event_im_not_so_sure_about_trump.html), “Listen, I think that for the United States, Hillary Clinton, as awful as I find her, is a survivable event. I’m not so sure about Donald Trump.” > > Yesterday, he had a [piece](http://www.wsj.com/articles/to-the-go-along-republicans-1470091421) in the _WSJ_ urging Republican office holders to abandon Trump. Stephens continues to say, essentially, that Clinton is terrible but Trump is catastrophic. Regarding Trump’s attack on the Khans, Stephens writes: > > Stephens said in the June interview that he probably wouldn’t vote for either Trump or Clinton. On Facebook last week I pleaded with my friends to please not support Trump, even if they couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Clinton. To the “Clinton is worse!!” people, I suggested voting for Johnson. I’d never normally encourage anyone to vote Libertarian. But I figure those of us who think Clinton is the antichrist might actually be persuaded to at least divert their vote to Johnson instead of helping Trump get elected. If he is losing support on the Wall Street Journal editorial page, which is about as rock-ribbed conservative as you can get anywhere outside Fox News, well…I really don’t know what to say. That the Journal wouldn’t endorse the Republican candidate (not saying that they would endorse Hilary) is just so…so…sorry, I am at a loss for words. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3400 "2016-08-02T15:22:34Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Now will that occur? I doubt it, Ryan is\*\* much too cool and disciplined and too much the ‘party’ man\*\* to do something like that, but damn, he’s got to be thinking it now and then, doesn’t he? Spineless would be more concise. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3401 "2016-08-02T15:23:49Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It boils down to his “the system is rigged” shtick. > He claimed the Marshal was probably a Democrat, that the limited occupancy was a political move and that the fire regulations are part of why the country is going to hell(over-regulation). Then go after city councils, mayors, county drain commissioners, governors, legislators, even parks or sanitation workers. Why fire marshals? I would imagine fire fighters are among the most popular public servants across the board. It just doesn’t make any sense. It would be like going after the parents of, say, a slain soldier-- oh, wait. It would be like mocking a Senator in your own party for his time as a POW-- oh, wait. Now with the Khans and John McCain, I get Trump’s motivation (as petty as it is)-- he saw them as publicly attacking him. But these fire marshals are just behind-the-scenes fire department guys, who most people either don’t think about much, or they respect them. There’s no obvious reason to attack them. They’re not even elected positions as far as I know. And that’s why I’m asking for Trump supporters to defend (or explain) why these attacks make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3402 "2016-08-02T15:26:36Z")
What is possessing him is that someone is telling him that he can’t have something he wants, and he is incapable of dealing with that without lashing out. ETA: This in response to Happy’s question about what possessed Trump to attack fire marshals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=169) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=171)