# 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:** 175
**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:** [August 3, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3483 "2016-08-03T02:07:54Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > There’s a lot of time to go yet, but hopefully this week has given Trump a stench of “loser” that will linger long enough to repel significant numbers of undecided voters. I think you’re right that a tipping point may be approaching. It’s petty of me, but if and when that happens I really want people to start asking him how it feels to have the taint of “loser” that makes everyone want to abandon him. I am a little afraid that he will quit the race and the GOP will find someone else who has a chance to beat Hillary. ---
**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 3, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3484 "2016-08-03T02:08:47Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Trump [spokeswoman blames](https://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/watch-katrina-pierson-crashes-in-epic-flameout-by-blaming-obama-for-capt-khans-2004-death/) Clinton and Obama for Khans’ son’s death. In 2004. And Wolf Blitzer sat there like a bearded lump. No challenge. Anderson Cooper brought it up during an interview with Mr. Khan. Incidentally, Mr. Khan ripped Trump (another) new one over Trump’s Purple Heart and his incredibly tone deaf comment. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3485 "2016-08-03T02:25:40Z")
Is Blitzer that ignorant…or does he just not give a shit any more as long as he gets face time on air? ---
**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:** [August 3, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3486 "2016-08-03T02:25:43Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Trump [spokeswoman blames](https://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/watch-katrina-pierson-crashes-in-epic-flameout-by-blaming-obama-for-capt-khans-2004-death/) Clinton and Obama for Khans’ son’s death. In 2004. So the Secretary of State, not of Defense, is responsible for the rules of engagement? ---
**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 3, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3487 "2016-08-03T02:27:11Z")
No, the Senator from NY and the Illinois State Senate are responsible for the ROE. (Khan died in 2004) ---
**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 3, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3488 "2016-08-03T02:37:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Until we finally put a stop to any and all illegal chronological excursions, we will be facing these problems. If I could only pop ahead to November 8 and know _for sure_ that the Trumptanic was going to sink… ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3489 "2016-08-03T02:42:20Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > So the Secretary of State, not of Defense, is responsible for the rules of engagement? Just for the record, Colin Powell was Secretary of State in 2004. ---
**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 3, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3490 "2016-08-03T02:50:02Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > So the Secretary of State, not of Defense, is responsible for the rules of engagement? > [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Just for the record, Colin Powell was Secretary of State in 2004. [Chain of Command.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_of_the_United_States_Armed_Forces) > [@](#): > > The Chain of command leads from the President (as commander-in-chief) through the Secretary of Defense down to the newest recruits. Which makes even less sense blaming Clinton for Bhengazi. She has no authority to order a military response. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3491 "2016-08-03T02:50:31Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Just for the record, Colin Powell was Secretary of State in 2004. It’s Hillary that they’re accusing of messing up the rules of engagement, not Colin Powell. Or any Secretary of Defense. ---
**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 3, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3492 "2016-08-03T03:00:57Z")
Hillary was Senator from New York in 2004. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2016, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3493 "2016-08-03T03:05:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Hillary was Senator from New York in 2004. Who is this in response to? ---
**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:** [August 3, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3494 "2016-08-03T03:11:45Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And Wolf Blitzer sat there like a bearded lump. No challenge. Another thread asks the question\*When did America _stop_ being “great?”\*and I didn’t have a good answer. But now an answer comes to mind:_When Wolf Blitzer replaced Walter Cronkite as America’s premier news anchor._ ---
**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 3, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3495 "2016-08-03T03:14:45Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Who is this in response to? A few posts back, you implied that the Trump spokesperson was wrong about which official determines rules of engagement – but that wasn’t their obvious error. Their obvious error, rather, was in failing to realize that Captain Khan died halfway through the Bush Administration. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3496 "2016-08-03T03:17:55Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > A few posts back, you implied that the Trump spokesperson was wrong about which official determines rules of engagement – but that wasn’t their obvious error. Their obvious error, rather, was in failing to realize that Captain Khan died halfway through the Bush Administration. Uh, yeah, I knew that. I was including my comment to point out that the Secretary of \*State \*does not decide rules of engagement, the Secretary of _Defense_ does. ---
**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 3, 2016, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3497 "2016-08-03T03:25:02Z")
Gotcha. Simple miscommunication, obviously shared by others. ---
**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 3, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3498 "2016-08-03T03:27:49Z")
🙂 “Lesser included offense.” ---
**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:** [August 3, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3499 "2016-08-03T03:31:04Z")
[Harrisburg, PA is not happy with Trump calling them a “war zone”.](http://www.mcall.com/news/local/elections/mc-pa-trump-harrisburg-war-zone-20160802-story.html) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3500 "2016-08-03T03:31:49Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I am a little afraid that he will quit the race and the GOP will find someone else who has a chance to beat Hillary. If that happens, for whatever reason, I think the new nominee would still have a rough uphill climb, in terms of organization and fundraising, not to mention shaking off the stink of Trump and dealing with voters who wanted to vote for Trump instead of some insider. I think that helps counter the flood of relieved Republicans who’ll vote for that person. And hey, at least we wouldn’t have Trump as president. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3501 "2016-08-03T03:33:00Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > On the one hand, he’s doing frighteningly well without buying ads. On the other hand, what exactly is his campaign spending on? Don’t forget that the whole purpose of Trump’s campaign is personal profit. $$Millions of campaign expenses have gone directly to Trump and his companies. In May alone, the campaign paid $423,000 for the use of Mar-a-Lago, the private club in Florida that serves as Trump’s vacation home. He’ll need the money. The main profit hope — building his brand-name value — seems to be backfiring. ---
**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 3, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3502 "2016-08-03T03:33:36Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Uh, yeah, I knew that. I was including my comment to point out that the Secretary of \*State \*does not decide rules of engagement, the Secretary of _Defense_ does. In other words, the spokesperson was like having sex on an elevator. Wrong on so many levels. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=174) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=176)