# 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:** 178
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3543 "2016-08-03T17:00:32Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Jesus. :smack: Why does he keep doing those interviews? They always seem to go badly. What does he think he’s getting out of them? I should have made it clearer that the interview took place in early April. For some reason, the Post released the full transcript very recently. But I think the answer to your question, and to many other questions about his behavior, is that he is a full-blown narcissist. ---
**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 3, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3544 "2016-08-03T17:02:32Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > And I’ll add this: [Joe Scarborough reports that Trump, while being advised by a foreign policy expert a few months ago, asked why we couldn’t use nukes if we have them.](http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/03/trump-asks-why-us-cant-use-nukes-msnbcs-joe-scarborough-reports.html) I just wanted to quote this, in case anyone missed it the first time. Granted, it’s just Morning Joe’s word without any names or corroboration, but fucking-a, apparently Donald Trump actually asked THREE TIMES during a discussion with a foreign policy adviser “if we [have nuclear bombs], why can’t we use them.” I don’t know if this is true, but it gives me the bubble-guts regardless, because it’s not out of the realm of possibility with this asshole. It’s entirely within his character to ask something like this. ---
**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 3, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3545 "2016-08-03T17:12:22Z")
I feel bad for Sarah Palin. Each day she would ask her magic mirror: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall- who’s the craziest Pubbie of all?” and she’d be reassured that it was her. A couple days ago she got this reply “Sorry Sarah, but it’s true… Donald Trump is ten times more nuts than you.” I think a mental breakdown is imminent. His grasp on reality is fleeting at best and no longer cares if he gets caught in obvious lies. When he lied about the NFL objecting to the debate schedule, he had to know this would be instantly checked. He didn’t care. He doesn’t seem to mind dissing a mother with a crying baby and (paraphrasing just a bit) saying “Ha! That silly bitch believed me when I said I didn’t mind her crying little bastard!” He fucking goes into full psycho mode against gold star parents, perhaps only because they’re _Muslim_ gold star parents. Every single day is another train wreck. He is not physically or mentally up to the ordeals of a sustained presidential campaign. Either his body or his mind is going to give out completely before this month is out. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3546 "2016-08-03T17:22:50Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Jesus. :smack: Why does he keep doing those interviews? They always seem to go badly. What does he think he’s getting out of them? "People are looking at me! I’m the greatest! " ---
**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, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3547 "2016-08-03T17:26:52Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I thought this is oddly [interesting](https://li.st/l/b477578e-5e68-4414-927c-5f010976b997). Apparently, Comedy Central did a roast of Trump, and the roastee is allowed to declare some things off limits. Trump, to be fair, was quite open to being roasted allowing such topics as the weirdly incestuous relationship with his daughter and his weight and hair. > > The only thing listed as being off the table: “NOT ALLOWED: Any joke that suggests Trump is not actually as wealthy as he claims to be.” > > I think the Clinton campaign should just matter of factly drop into conversations that there is no evidence that Trump has accumulated any wealth at all in the past four decades. Just strongly imply that he has no more money than his daddy gave him years ago. He’s not even a billionaire as he claims. Drop this information into speeches and treat them as facts. > > Trump is completely incapable of letting this go, but the only way to disprove it would be to release his tax returns, which obviously he can’t do (likely because he isn’t nearly as wealthy as he claims to be and because he paid next to nothing in taxes). I’ve been suggesting precisely this tactic for months. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3548 "2016-08-03T17:28:16Z")
Latest in Real Billionaires Mock Trump: Moishe Mana is offering $2,000,000 to charity of Trump’s choice if he releases last five years of tax returns. ---
**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 3, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3549 "2016-08-03T17:31:18Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > In case anyone was looking for a summary of Trump’s campaign since 8am yesterday, [NBC News has you covered](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/first-read-gop-trump-go-unraveling-break-glass-mode-n622116?cid=sm_fb): > > And I’ll add this: [Joe Scarborough reports that Trump, while being advised by a foreign policy expert a few months ago, asked why we couldn’t use nukes if we have them.](http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/03/trump-asks-why-us-cant-use-nukes-msnbcs-joe-scarborough-reports.html) > > Quite the list. And as the NBC link points out, any one of these things would’ve been extremely problematic for a campaign-- and these \*all \*happened in about a 24-hour period for Fat Don. He suggested people take their 401k’s out of the stock market?? I missed that one. I wonder what he thinks people should do with their retirement savings? Put everything in Treasury bonds? That’ll go great when President Trump gets bondholders to take a haircut. Offhand I can’t recall a nominee for President asking people not to invest in American corporations. ---
**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 3, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3550 "2016-08-03T17:33:19Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I’ve been suggesting precisely this tactic for months. That and the word “loser” seem to be his big things. I think Hillary and surrogates should start saying things like, “after this election is over, Hillary Clinton will be winner and Donald Trump will be the loser.” Just a smidgen of emphasis on that last word there. Start kicking it around. Get it into a few headlines. Trump’s name and the word “loser” on the same line. ---
**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, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3551 "2016-08-03T17:39:01Z")
[Trump says the recent court rulings overturning voter ID laws will cause a rigged election.](http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/08/03/Trump-Voter-ID-rulings-could-lead-to-rigged-election/4671470231190/) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3552 "2016-08-03T17:44:42Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If the GOP leadership repudiated Trump en masse, tried to un-nominate him, etc. I still don’t see him actually dropping out of the race. More likely he’d declare that the Republicans are all a bunch of losers trying to rig the system against him, and that he’s declaring himself the candidate of the Trump Party, and that anyone who doesn’t fall in line with him is going to be sorry when he gets elected. IMHO, if there was a Caine Mutiny and Trump is replaced at the top of the ticket, the result would be permanent schism between establishment Republicans, and the millions who voted for Trump. One or the other would form a new party. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3553 "2016-08-03T17:54:52Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > He suggested people take their 401k’s out of the stock market?? I missed that one. It reminds me of what John Oliver said about Trump on his show last week: > [@](#): > > Just this week, [Trump]: > > \*declined yet again to release his tax returns, > \*lied about getting a letter from the NFL agreeing with him that the debate shouldn’t clash with football games, > \*called Angela Merkel a moron, > \*implied that Brazil brought the Zika virus on themselves, and > \*encouraged a foreign power’s hack on his political rival. > > Now, two of those didn’t happen, but you’re not sure which two, and that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? ---
**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 3, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3554 "2016-08-03T17:56:19Z")
According to [the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20025568), these are the signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder: > [@](#): > > •Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance > •Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it > •Exaggerating your achievements and talents > •Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate > •Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people > •Requiring constant admiration > •Having a sense of entitlement > •Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations > •Taking advantage of others to get what you want > •Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others > •Being envious of others and believing others envy you > •Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner I’m not 100% sure that Trump exhibits every single characteristic, but he definitely needs psychological treatment. ---
**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, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3555 "2016-08-03T18:04:26Z")
[ABC News’s Jon Karl is reporting that Republican leaders are exploring what to do if Trump drops out.](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senior-gop-officials-exploring-options-trump-drops/story?id=41089609) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3556 "2016-08-03T18:05:56Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Latest in Real Billionaires Mock Trump: Moishe Mana is offering $2,000,000 to charity of Trump’s choice if he releases last five years of tax returns. Perhaps Obama could trade his college transcripts for Trump’s tax returns? ---
**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, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3557 "2016-08-03T18:07:11Z")
[Mike Pence endorses Paul Ryan](http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/03/mike-pence-endorses-paul-ryan-a-day-after-donald-trump-declined-to.html) > [@](#): > > “I spoke to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan, our longtime friendship. He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday’s primary. I’m pleased to do it,” Pence told Fox. How long before The Sentient Cheeto turns on him? ---
**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, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3558 "2016-08-03T18:09:21Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > That and the word “loser” seem to be his big things. I think Hillary and surrogates should start saying things like, “after this election is over, Hillary Clinton will be winner and Donald Trump will be the loser.” > > Just a smidgen of emphasis on that last word there. Start kicking it around. Get it into a few headlines. Trump’s name and the word “loser” on the same line. I like it! Not sure if Hillary herself should say it, though. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3559 "2016-08-03T18:18:04Z")
I think he’s just getting one over on you guys with some four dimensional chess. He’s clearly [very smart](https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/332308211321425920?lang=en). It’s okay, though. It’s not your fault. ---
**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, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3560 "2016-08-03T18:34:22Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I was under the impression that corporations can in fact be charged with crimes, since they are legal persons. Correct in the United States: [List of companies convicted of felony offenses in the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_convicted_of_felony_offenses_in_the_United_States) > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > …I think the Clinton campaign should just matter of factly drop into conversations that there is no evidence that Trump has accumulated any wealth at all in the past four decades. Just strongly imply that he has no more money than his daddy gave him years ago. He’s not even a billionaire as he claims. Drop this information into speeches and treat them as facts. > > Trump is completely incapable of letting this go, but the only way to disprove it would be to release his tax returns, which obviously he can’t do (likely because he isn’t nearly as wealthy as he claims to be and because he paid next to nothing in taxes). This has seemed like a good idea to me for months, too. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Latest in Real Billionaires Mock Trump: Moishe Mana is offering $2,000,000 to charity of Trump’s choice if he releases last five years of tax returns. Love it! That’d be almost $2m more than Trump has donated to charity himself. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3561 "2016-08-03T18:43:56Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Fat Don’s former campaign chief, now a CNN employee,[again questions whether President Obama was born here, and again brings up the ridiculous demand for Obama’s college transcripts](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/obama-birther-corey-lewandowski-226607?cmpid=sf): I’d ask if Trump was aware of the fact that Obama is not, in fact, his opponent in the election, and cannot be because the Constitution says so. But we all know how familiar The Donald is with his own country’s Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3562 "2016-08-03T18:51:47Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I think he’s just getting one over on you guys with some four dimensional chess. He’s clearly [very smart](https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/332308211321425920?lang=en). It’s okay, though. It’s not your fault. Sidebar here: What’s the source of the “4d chess” line. I only hear it sarcastically now, but I’m assuming at one point it was used sincerely? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=177) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=179)