# Donald Trump's 2016 General Election Campaign
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901
**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:** 263
### Author:  [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5243 "2016-08-26T18:17:09Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> Sarah Palin warns the Trumptanic on immigration: [News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines - AOL.com](http://www.aol.com/article/2016/08/26/sarah-palin-predicts-a-huge-erosion-of-support-if-trump-backs/21459455/)
I hate to agree with Palin, but I think this immigration pivot is a desperate Hail Mary heave from the back of his own end zone that is destined to be swatted down by a swarm of d-backs at midfield. If it has any effect at all, it strikes me as more likely to discourage his hard-core supporters and lead them to think all politicians are the same after all. Which then probably spurs them to just give up in disgust and stay home, helping Democrats downballot. [ETA: the problem is that both sides will see him as insincere and untrustworthy.]
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> “That so many could vote for Trump with all his manifest faults speaks volumes about Clinton.”
>
> No. It speaks volumes about the _voters_.
**Yes**.
---
### Author:  [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5244 "2016-08-26T18:23:45Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> And **that’s** the Trap that Trump finds himself in. Keep up his “immigrants are all rapists and criminals and I’ll deport them all” talk, and lose bigly among the non-white voters in the country;
>
> or
>
> Backtrack ever so slightly, and lose the votes of the nasty racist immigrant haters that form the bulk of his support.
A thought going around, which makes sense to me, is that this is a play for more moderate whites not for non-whites. Basically he’s trying to show he’s not a complete racist so you can still vote for him without feeling guilty. If it worked, the gains in traditional college educated GOP voters would more than offset any losses of rabid “deport them all” types. Clinton’s KKK ads are perfectly timed to blunt this attempted move by Trump.
---
### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5245 "2016-08-26T19:04:46Z")
Megyn Kelly has given up any pretense of being neutral in the Trump election. She criticizes Trump spokespeople at every turn. Even Fox News has gone anti-Trump. This clip is from Fox, and is even on the Fox Channel YouTube channel, labeled “‘Oh Good God’: Megyn Kelly Flips Out Over Donald Trump Relitigating So Many Controversies”
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNA_IDX0qnM)
---
### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5246 "2016-08-26T19:09:10Z")
[quote=“Rick\_Kitchen, post:5245, topic:753901”]
Megyn Kelly has given up any pretense of being neutral in the Trump election. She criticizes Trump spokespeople at every turn. Even Fox News has gone anti-Trump. This clip is from Fox, and is even on the Fox Channel YouTube channel, labeled “‘Oh Good God’: Megyn Kelly Flips Out Over Donald Trump Relitigating So Many Controversies”
[/QUOTE]
Not to disagree with you, but that clip was a month ago.
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### Author:  [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5247 "2016-08-26T19:09:39Z")
I have been wrong before, but I think the Clinton landslide is now finally on.
No questions asked: Trump is officially running the worst general election campaign in American history.
---
### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5248 "2016-08-26T19:09:48Z")
[quote=“Rick\_Kitchen, post:5245, topic:753901”]
Megyn Kelly has given up any pretense of being neutral in the Trump election. She criticizes Trump spokespeople at every turn. Even Fox News has gone anti-Trump. This clip is from Fox, and is even on the Fox Channel YouTube channel, labeled “‘Oh Good God’: Megyn Kelly Flips Out Over Donald Trump Relitigating So Many Controversies”
[/QUOTE]
I just watched that clip, and I know political rallies are often raucous affairs, but watching the reactions and gestures and faces of the people behind Trump reminds me of the Jerry Springer show.
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### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5249 "2016-08-26T19:32:50Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> Not to disagree with you, but that clip was a month ago.
Yes, and?
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### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5250 "2016-08-26T19:35:28Z")
[Eric Trump claims that his father decided to run for President after having seen that the White House Christmas tree was renamed the “Holiday tree”.](https://stream.org/james-robison-interviews-eric-trump-pt-2/)
[Except, that never happened.](http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/Obama-White-House-Christmas-Tree-Myth.htm)
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5251 "2016-08-26T19:38:03Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#):
>
> Yes, and?
I read the post as suggesting this turn of events was new. Perhaps I was wrong.
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### Author:  [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5252 "2016-08-26T19:39:00Z")
I took it as being new as well.
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### Author:  [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5253 "2016-08-26T19:48:51Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#):
>
> [Eric Trump claims that his father decided to run for President after having seen that the White House Christmas tree was renamed the “Holiday tree”.](https://stream.org/james-robison-interviews-eric-trump-pt-2/)
>
> [Except, that never happened.](http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/Obama-White-House-Christmas-Tree-Myth.htm)
That whole rant of bullshit just sums up my opinion of the Republican party at this point.
[QUOTE=Eric Trump]
At the same time, he opens up the paper each morning and sees our nation’s leaders giving a hundred billion dollars to Iran,
[/quote]
That we owed them
> [@](#):
>
> or he opens the paper and some new school district has just eliminated the ability for its students to say the pledge of allegiance,
This claim is just absurd, I can’t imagine he’s even referencing a remotely real incident
> [@](#):
>
> or some fire department in some town is ordered by the mayor to no longer fly the American flag on the back of a fire truck.
[Also didn’t happen](http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/fire-apparatus/articles/94803018-RI-fire-chairman-Remove-American-flags-from-fire-trucks/).
> [@](#):
>
> Or, he sees the tree on the White House lawn has been renamed “Holiday tree” instead of “Christmas tree.”
Already addressed.
Let’s twist facts and make things up, and as long as these things _feel_ true to our constituents, that’s all that matters.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5254 "2016-08-26T19:57:53Z")
> [@steronz](#):
>
> Let’s twist facts and make things up, and as long as these things _feel_ true to our constituents, that’s all that matters.
That IS the Republican party at this point. Facts do not matter. If we “feel” that we are right, then we ARE RIGHT.
---
### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5255 "2016-08-26T20:00:09Z")
Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy secretary of defense under Bush, says that [Trump is dangerous, and he will not vote for him.](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/26/politics/paul-wolfowitz-voting-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/index.html)
The number of high-level Republicans (with knowledge of foreign affairs, defense and the economy) who are repudiating Trump is simply astonishing, and without precedent.
> [@](#):
>
> Former Bush administration official Paul Wolfowitz said he is considering voting for Hillary Clinton in an interview in which he lambasted Donald Trump as dangerous.
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### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5256 "2016-08-26T20:00:21Z")
Hitler learns that Trump is waffling on immigration: [Hitler Finds Out Trump Supports Amnesty - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=545aq1V1upM)
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### Author:  [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5257 "2016-08-26T20:05:32Z")
> [@steronz](#):
>
> That whole rant of bullshit just sums up my opinion of the Republican party at this point.
These are the accusations launched at the GUBMINT and PC SJWs from…let’s call them alternative right wing websites and radio hosts.
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### Author:  [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5258 "2016-08-26T20:09:00Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#):
>
> Hitler learns that Trump is waffling on immigration: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=545aq1V1upM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=545aq1V1upM)
That _Downfall_ meme is so durable and versatile. That is one of the best ones so far.
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> That IS the Republican party at this point. Facts do not matter. If we “feel” that we are right, then we ARE RIGHT.
What was it Newt Gingrich recently said that pretty much unabashedly owned this position?
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5259 "2016-08-26T20:12:04Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy secretary of defense under Bush, says that [Trump is dangerous, and he will not vote for him.](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/26/politics/paul-wolfowitz-voting-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/index.html)
>
> The number of high-level Republicans (with knowledge of foreign affairs, defense and the economy) who are repudiating Trump is simply astonishing, and without precedent.
Do you not see the contradiction between your two consecutive posts?
Many high level Republicans are repudiating Trump even to the point of crossing over and voting for Clinton (of whom they have no love). It seems to me that a fair number of Republicans, including some who I disagree with strongly on many things, including some who I otherwise hold in little regard, are willing to go beyond mindless support of party.
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### Author:  [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5260 "2016-08-26T20:16:00Z")
> [@steronz](#):
>
> That whole rant of bullshit just sums up my opinion of the Republican party at this point.
>
> That we owed them
>
> This claim is just absurd, I can’t imagine he’s even referencing a remotely real incident
>
> [Also didn’t happen](http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/fire-apparatus/articles/94803018-RI-fire-chairman-Remove-American-flags-from-fire-trucks/).
>
> Already addressed.
> Let’s twist facts and make things up, and as long as these things _feel_ true to our constituents, that’s all that matters.
“My dad is a gullible guy who doesn’t bother to check facts! Vote Trump!”
---
### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5261 "2016-08-26T20:17:27Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#):
>
> These are the accusations launched at the GUBMINT and PC \*\*SJWs \*\*from…let’s call them alternative right wing websites and radio hosts.
Why do you hate social justice?
Eric Trump’s claim that his father was upset over school districts that have banned the pledge of allegiance reminds me of an incident in which a Facebook friend of mine posted some right wing screed about schools banning the pledge because it offended people, and I asked for evidence that that had ever happened. I even looked online and in multiple news archives, and could never find a single incident of that having ever happened.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/5262 "2016-08-26T20:19:34Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#):
>
> What was it Newt Gingrich recently said that pretty much unabashedly owned this position?
It was during a CNN interview about crime statistics. When confronted with the actual FACT that crime was trending down, Gingrich said that the facts were not important here. What was important was that people FELT that crime was increasing.
Therefore,he concluded, crime was increasing and this was a problem. Damn the facts - people’s feelings were more important.
The interviewer could just not handle this amount of stupidity and denial of facts.
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