# 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:** 171
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3403 "2016-08-02T15:30:08Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > 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. I’m no Trump supporter, but I’ll field this: it’s not a tactical decision. Trump is a fragile, whiny narcissist who thinks that every bad thing that happens to him is the result of people jealous and/or scared of his greatness trying to tear him down. The idea that Trump is playing some kind of chess game is not borne out by the facts. There is no master plan, no long game. He’s flying by instinct without a map. ---
**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, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3404 "2016-08-02T15:34:33Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Then go after city councils, mayors, county drain commissioners, governors, legislators, even parks or sanitation workers.\*\* Why fire marshals?\*\* > [@Gorsnak](#): > > 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. What **Gorsnak** said. Trump had a rally in Colorado Springs where the Fire Marshal limited occupancy to 1,500 even though there were (supposedly) 10,000 in attendance. No doubt, Trump saw all the empty space in the room and concluded that the Marshal was against him and not that “maximum occupancy” does not mean pack 'em in like sardines. Now he went after another Marshal for the same reason. Looks like Fire Marshals are his current distraction. ---
**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, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3405 "2016-08-02T15:38:13Z")
Fair enough, and I get it: He simply cannot be bested by anyone. But I still want to hear a Trump supporter defend these attacks on fire marshals, or show support for their candidate for doing this. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3406 "2016-08-02T15:39:52Z")
He saw “fire marshals” on his to-do list, and got confused. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3407 "2016-08-02T15:43:49Z")
**Starving Artist** hasn’t been around with his “Trump is a brilliant 10-moves-ahead strategist” shtick lately, has he? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3408 "2016-08-02T15:48:08Z")
He doesn’t actually like Trump, he just likes him better then he likes us. ---
**Author:** ![Crybaby\_Boobie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crybaby_boobie/32/545_2.png) [@Crybaby\_Boobie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crybaby_Boobie)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3409 "2016-08-02T16:34:18Z")
> **[Trump: 'I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier'](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-purple-heart-226565)** > > “I said to him, is that like the real one or is that a copy?” the Republican nominee said moments after taking the stage at a local high school. He always wanted a purple heart! But you know, those deferments, he was too hurt to fight, sad. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3410 "2016-08-02T16:42:44Z")
[Trump kicks a crying baby out of his rally.](http://www.politicususa.com/2016/08/02/trump-kicked-baby-rally-unhinged-gop-nominee-hits.html) Gold star parents, fire marshals, and now babies. Next thing you know it will be mom and apple pie. ---
**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, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3411 "2016-08-02T16:45:03Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > [Trump kicks a crying baby out of his rally.](http://www.politicususa.com/2016/08/02/trump-kicked-baby-rally-unhinged-gop-nominee-hits.html) Gold star parents, fire marshals, and now babies. Next thing you know it will be mom and apple pie. There’s only room for one red-faced, whining crybaby in the room. ---
**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, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3412 "2016-08-02T16:49:44Z")
> [@Crybaby\_Boobie](#): > > [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-purple-heart-226565](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-purple-heart-226565) > > He always wanted a purple heart! But you know, those deferments, he was too hurt to fight, sad. > [@](#): > > Following Trump’s statement, NBC reporter Katy Tur tweeted that she had spoken with Dorfman and that he said the medal he gave to Trump was a copy of the one awarded to him. That’s OK. I’m sure someone can rustle up a phony wound to go with it. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3413 "2016-08-02T16:56:52Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > 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?” Rep. Richard Hanna of New York has repudiated Trump and is now backing Clinton: [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party-richard-hanna.html?\_r=0](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party-richard-hanna.html?_r=0) > [@](#): > > By throwing his support to Mrs. Clinton, he becomes the first Republican member of Congress to go beyond disavowing Mr. Trump, and join forces with the Democrats against him. > > ```auto > > Mr. Hanna said he disagreed with Mrs. Clinton on “many issues,” but would vote for her anyway. “She stands and has stood for causes bigger than herself for a lifetime,” he said. “That matters.” > > ``` Of course, he’s retiring at the end of his term. Even so… ETA: Sorry, **Happy** ; didn’t scroll down past **RickJay** ’s post before writing mine. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3414 "2016-08-02T17:04:31Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > **Starving Artist** hasn’t been around with his “Trump is a brilliant 10-moves-ahead strategist” shtick lately, has he? [Donald Trump, Sooper Geeneuis.](http://wwohanaworldwide.com/images/wile_e_coyote_super_genius.jpg) ---
**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, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3415 "2016-08-02T17:11:50Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > ETA: Sorry, **Happy** ; didn’t scroll down past **RickJay** ’s post before writing mine. Hey, this stuff needs to be repeated. It needs to be repeated, and it needs to be repeated good. Believe me, it really needs to be repeated. ---
**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, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3416 "2016-08-02T17:35:46Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > 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. I do not believe the Wall Street Journal usually formally endorses a Presidential candidate. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3417 "2016-08-02T17:37:19Z")
Speaking of Trump’s campaign…has anybody seen a Trump TV ad yet? And why do I have a feeling that there’s going to be an ad released just before election day which pretty much boils down to, “Do you **really** want a woman as President?” But why do I also have the feeling that, if there is such an ad, it won’t be put up by the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, or even a pro-Trump PAC, but some organization with a conservative-sounding name whose intent is to enrage undecideds to the point where not only do they vote for Clinton, but they vote for Democrats in Congress as well? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3418 "2016-08-02T17:38:42Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I do not believe the Wall Street Journal usually formally endorses a Presidential candidate. From what I can find, 1928 (Hoover) was the last one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3419 "2016-08-02T17:49:45Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > [Trump kicks a crying baby out of his rally.](http://www.politicususa.com/2016/08/02/trump-kicked-baby-rally-unhinged-gop-nominee-hits.html) That baby was probably a Hillary supporter. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3420 "2016-08-02T18:02:25Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Hey, this stuff needs to be repeated. It needs to be repeated, and it needs to be repeated good. Believe me, it really needs to be repeated. You can say that again! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3421 "2016-08-02T18:04:18Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Speaking of Trump’s campaign…has anybody seen a Trump TV ad yet? I’ve seen an ad from a PAC a couple of times in the midst of the barrage of pro-Clinton ads that have been running for a month here, but nothing from the campaign or the RNC. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3422 "2016-08-02T18:05:41Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > [Trump kicks a crying baby out of his rally.](http://www.politicususa.com/2016/08/02/trump-kicked-baby-rally-unhinged-gop-nominee-hits.html) Gold star parents, fire marshals, and now babies. Next thing you know it will be mom and apple pie. Look, the baby attacked him first, OK? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=170) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=172)