# 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:** 310
### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6183 "2016-09-10T00:43:00Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> …Or a picture of the late Phyllis “Stein” Shafly: “This is Phyllis Shafly. She is nice. She wasn’t nice before, but now she is dead. That’s nice.”
I laughed.
---
### Author:  [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6184 "2016-09-10T01:15:54Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Trump 2016; Make Russia Great Again
Trump '16: Make America as great as Russia!
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6185 "2016-09-10T01:23:19Z")
Practical question:
Trump has been _relatively_ less insane this last week or so, allowing the race to be less completely about him and some about Clinton. Actually going to Black churches may not win him any Black votes but it makes him seem less despicable to some White college-educated too. That’s worked moderately well in regards to the polls moving him to what I consider his likely polling ceiling of down 3ish (3.8 in 538’s polls-only and 4.3 in Nowcast; 3.6 for Wang’s Meta-margin; 2.1 to 2.7 RCP rolling average, 4-way and 2-way).
No doubt polls are important but part of his potential path to victory is predicated upon increasing the non-college-educated White turnout, in particular the White resentful vote.
Any thoughts on how that balance plays? Will a less crazed Trump visibly reaching out to “The Blacks” be less effective in getting the resentful Whites to actually vote this cycle?
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### Author:  [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6186 "2016-09-10T01:45:12Z")
My gut instinct is that if he can keep it up it will be a net gain. A lot of “resentful Whites” are not deeply racist. They may not like illegal immigrants taking their jobs and think equal oppurtunity is bullshit but that doesn’t mean Trump speaking at a Black church taints him. The earlier “what have you got to lose?” stuff plays into any stereotypes they might hold. And a fair number who are truly racist probably accept that he’s “just playing the game” and give him a pass.
On the other side, college educated whites might ironically now be able to think he was just “playing to the base” before he made these overtures.
So like I said, net gain. I am betting minimal though. Like a point or so max. Most people have made up their mind.
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### Author:  [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6187 "2016-09-10T03:11:07Z")
> [@DSeid](#):
>
> . . . Trump has been _relatively_ less insane this last week or so . . .
Maybe until tonight (Friday).
Tonight’s awfulness.
[Link:](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/295273-trump-i-would-shoot-at-confrontational-iranian-ships)
> [@](#):
>
> “With Iran, when they circle our beautiful destroyers with their little boats and they make gestures at our people that they shouldn’t be allowed to make, they will be shot out of the water,” Trump said to loud cheers.
OK, is going to war over a gesture officially unhinged or not?
Do we continue to grade Trump on a curve or do we finally(!!) hold him accountable for his bellicose and weird statements?
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6188 "2016-09-10T03:26:27Z")
[Such fine Christians who support Trump.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/lock-her-up-yell-christian-conservatives-as-trump-addresses-values-voters-summit-001157223.html)
> [@](#):
>
> What a difference a year makes.
>
> At the 2015 Values Voter Summit, the annual gathering of conservative Christians held in Washington, D.C., Donald Trump finished a distant fifth place in the straw poll vote of GOP candidates — far behind overwhelming favorite Ted Cruz, as well as Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee and Marco Rubio.
>
> On Thursday, he returned to the confab hosted by the Family Research Council, but now as the Republican presidential nominee and the event’s main attraction. Trump addressed the packed ballroom at D.C.’s Omni Shoreham Hotel, where he answered the question of what you get when you cross a combative, coarse reality-show star with a group of conservative values voters. **Enthusiastic chants of “Lock her up!” filled the room in the middle of Trump’s speech** , only to be replaced by earnest applause minutes later as he read from the New Testament:\*\* “No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.”\*\*
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### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6189 "2016-09-10T03:31:34Z")
A Russian fighter plane came within 20 FEET of an American plane the other day. He probably thinks that’s all right.
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6190 "2016-09-10T03:37:59Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> [Such fine Christians who support Trump.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/lock-her-up-yell-christian-conservatives-as-trump-addresses-values-voters-summit-001157223.html)
Holy Schlamoley! Trump READ SCRIPTURE in front of the Bible-beaters? That is…whoa, I need a few hours to process this. Trump as Christian Sunday School Teacher. Fuckin’ shit…
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6191 "2016-09-10T03:40:10Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#):
>
> Maybe until tonight (Friday).
>
> Tonight’s awfulness.
>
> [Link:](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/295273-trump-i-would-shoot-at-confrontational-iranian-ships)
> OK, is going to war over a gesture officially unhinged or not?
>
> Do we continue to grade Trump on a curve or do we finally(!!) hold him accountable for his bellicose and weird statements?
Well, he’s a bit … flexible … with the rules of engagement.
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6192 "2016-09-10T04:11:45Z")
He’s the Stretch Armstrong of naval warfare.
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### Author:  [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6193 "2016-09-10T06:09:55Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#):
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > “With Iran, when they circle our beautiful destroyers with their little boats and they make gestures at our people that they shouldn’t be allowed to make, they will be shot out of the water,” Trump said to loud cheers.
>
> OK, is going to war over a gesture officially unhinged or not?
>
> Do we continue to grade Trump on a curve or do we finally(!!) hold him accountable for his bellicose and weird statements?
I mean, why do we even have destroyers if we don’t destroy stuff with them?
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### Author:  [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6194 "2016-09-10T06:17:21Z")
When they’re done shooting little boats maybe they can stop in and take all the oil.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6195 "2016-09-10T06:45:56Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#):
>
> Holy Schlamoley! Trump READ SCRIPTURE in front of the Bible-beaters? That is…whoa, I need a few hours to process this. Trump as Christian Sunday School Teacher. Fuckin’ shit…
I want to know why you mainstream Christians refuse to do anything about these Radical Extremist Christianists. I say keep them out until we can figure this thing out.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6196 "2016-09-10T06:48:08Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#):
>
> Maybe until tonight (Friday).
>
> Tonight’s awfulness.
>
> [Link:](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/295273-trump-i-would-shoot-at-confrontational-iranian-ships)
> OK, is going to war over a gesture officially unhinged or not?
>
> Do we continue to grade Trump on a curve or do we finally(!!) hold him accountable for his bellicose and weird statements?
If he is president and orders this shit, I don’t know what scares me more: the Navy listening to him or the Navy disobeying orders. The latter scares me because it could set a precedent that could hurt if we made it through to having a sane president again.
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### Author:  [@pathrunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pathrunner)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6197 "2016-09-10T07:10:09Z")
I am far more concerned about what Hillary has done compared to what Trump has said.
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### Author:  [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6198 "2016-09-10T07:34:58Z")
Well, when it comes to a President of the United States, words have tremendous power across the globe, so methinks you should be equally concerned with both.
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### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6199 "2016-09-10T07:36:17Z")
Skimming the thread, I was stunned by this:
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> [x.com](https://twitter.com/williamjordann/status/774230137097379840)
>
> Comparison of YouGov/Economist poll results:
>
> PUTIN Net-Favorability
>
> Democrats
> July 2014: -54
> Aug 2016: -54
>
> Republicans
> July 2014: -66
> Aug 2016: -27
America’s polarization is ugly and terrifying. And this is no Bush, Romney, McCain or even Cruz who sort-of kind-of huuuugely admires Putin; it’s the man whom rational GOPpers claim to loathe but vote for anyway to keep the White House away from the Evil Witch of Clunchkin Land.
I wan’t the only one stunned:
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Just read a [very interesting article](Republicans July 2014: -66 Aug 2016: -27) about the malleability of Republicans when it comes to Russian dictators who invade neighboring countries. It seems that Republicans can shove their qualms under a mattress, as long as their local authoritarian Strong Man tells them to.
>
> PUTIN Net-Favorability (YouGov/Economist Poll)
> Democrats
> July 2014: -54
> Aug 2016: -54
>
> Republicans
> July 2014: -66
> Aug 2016: -27
---
### Author:  [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6200 "2016-09-10T07:49:40Z")
Haven’t some Republicans had a crush on Putin for a while? Trump’s thing about Putin being a better leader than Obama isn’t something he just made up. There have been other Republican politicians saying that for years. [Ah, it was Rudy.](http://www.salon.com/2014/03/04/rudy_giuliani_unlike_obama_putin_is_%E2%80%9Cwhat_you_call_a_leader%E2%80%9D/) [And also Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan.](http://articles.latimes.com/2014/mar/07/nation/la-na-tt-conservatives-admiration-for-putin-20140306)
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### Author:  [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6201 "2016-09-10T08:26:41Z")
> [@pathrunner](#):
>
> I am far more concerned about what Hillary has done compared to what Trump has said.
[Trump: Iranian soldiers who harass U.S. Navy ‘will be shot out of the water’.](http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-trump-iranian-soldiers-who-harass-u-s-1473472852-htmlstory.html)
---
### Author:  [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2016, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6202 "2016-09-10T09:08:23Z")
> [@pathrunner](#):
>
> I am far more concerned about what Hillary has done compared to what Trump has said.
Please, enlighten us! This is The Donald’s thread, so this would be a good place for you to express your admiration for _him…_
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