# 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:** 343
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6843 "2016-09-20T02:43:55Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > Everything you quoted as reasons for your trump vote is so beyond reason that it actually makes me sad you actually think you have true reasons… You’re free to dislike my reasons, or disagree with them, or even try to persuade me that they’re not very good reasons, but you’ll excuse me if I make my own determinations about what “true reasons” are. ---
**Author:** ![Uqbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a587f6/32.png) [@Uqbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uqbar)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6844 "2016-09-20T02:51:33Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > [That Donald Trump's Economic Plans Would Cause A Recession Really Doesn't Matter At All](http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/06/22/that-donald-trumps-economic-plans-would-cause-a-recession-really-doesnt-matter-at-all/#121eb2933249) > > > [@](#): > > > > The closing down of trade with China is an absurdity for example. But I say that this doesn’t matter. Simply because no one, not even Trump, thinks he’d ever get these ideas implemented, America just doesn’t work that way. This is all showground stuff to gain votes, no more and no less than that. ``` Ding. Ding. Ding. Because his proposals are so unlikely to be literally implemented, and so obviously targeted to get voters to bite, that you end up knowing very little about what he actually plans to do, about policy specifics. This uncertainty translates directly into risk. ``` ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6845 "2016-09-20T03:25:04Z")
So, he won’t do anything like that, because that would be crazy. Therefore, you are reassured? Or he very well might want to, but it would be impossible. That would be more reassuring. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6846 "2016-09-20T03:38:41Z")
I think an evangelical put it really nicely: > **[Meanwhile… - Digby's Hullabaloo](https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2016/09/conservative-evangelical-throwdown.html)** > > https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1825978535896297708 https://twitter.com/implausibleblog/status/1825859317569863768 https://twitter.com/nycsouthpaw/status/1825983381194018974 > [@](#): > > Yesterday at the National Press Club some conservative evangelicals held a throwdown over Donald Trump. Peter Montgomery of Right Wing Watch was there: > [@](#): > > Wichterman took on three of the arguments being used to justify evangelical support for Trump: Trump is the lesser of two evils; God uses bad people for good purposes; and Trump is a “good man”—a phrase Pence repeats over and over when talking about Trump. > > Wichterman says the lesser of two evils argument is the most compelling. He said he has used it himself over the years, and understands that Trump is more likely to nominate conservative judges. But that’s not enough, he said, because Trump may actually be “a threat to our democratic republic”: > > I care about the Supreme Court because I care deeply about the government handed down to us by the founders…Trump, on the other hand, has too often demonstrated contempt for the rule of law. He has sounded more like a strongman impatient with constitutional constraints. He advocates death to the innocent family members of terrorists…He advocates torture, not as a means of extracting important intelligence, but as a means of retribution. He said he would do a hell of a lot more than waterboarding. > > Wichterman slammed Trump for praising dictators like Vladimir Putin – who is a strong leader in the same way arsenic is a strong drink – and the Chinese officials who Trump says showed “strength” by slaughtering peaceful protesters in Tiananmen Square. He cited examples of Trump encouraging violence against protesters. “Trump admires strength whatever form it takes,” he said, which is “inimical to the Gospel.” > > **Wichterman challenged people who say they won’t vote for Clinton because they believe she’s a liar, but will vote for Trump hoping that he’s been lying and doesn’t really mean what he says. Trump, he said, corrupts his supporters and corrupts “what it means to be a Republican.”** ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6847 "2016-09-20T04:11:09Z")
The reporter deserves a scolding. Even as receptive as I am to the ideas offered, the writing is poorly structured. I cannot determine what is an opinion of the author and what is reporting of the opinion of someone else. Its not that damn hard to use paragraph breaks, ellipses and quote marks to make things clear about who is saying what. And this: > [@](#): > > …and the Chinese officials who Trump says showed “strength” by slaughtering peaceful protesters in Tiananmen Square… Thought I’d heard them all, but not this one. Verification is cried out for, a cite for sore eyes. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2016, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6848 "2016-09-20T04:21:21Z")
[Don Jr. compares Syrian refugees to tainted Skittles.](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/trump-jr-compares-syrian-refugees-to-bad-skittles-228392?cmpid=sf) Complete with an official Trump-Pence logo, no less. Nothing like a little dehumanization to scare up some votes, amirite?! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6849 "2016-09-20T04:26:38Z")
Refugees, who have known little mercy, turn to us, the most powerful nation in human history. This isn’t punching down, its not even pissing down. Brave, brave, brave Sir Donald. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6850 "2016-09-20T04:32:00Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The reporter deserves a scolding. Even as receptive as I am to the ideas offered, the writing is poorly structured. I cannot determine what is an opinion of the author and what is reporting of the opinion of someone else. Its not that damn hard to use paragraph breaks, ellipses and quote marks to make things clear about who is saying what. > > And this: > > Thought I’d heard them all, but not this one. Verification is cried out for, a cite for sore eyes. [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/11/trump-just-called-tiananmen-square-a-riot-the-communist-party-will-be-pleased/) > [@](#): > > TAPPER: Mr. Trump, some of your Republican critics have expressed concern about comments you have made praising authoritarian dictators. You have said positive things about Putin as a leader, and about China’s massacre of pro-democracy protesters at Tiananmen Square, you’ve said: "When the students poured into Tiananmen Square, **the Chinese government almost blew it, then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength."** ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6851 "2016-09-20T04:34:52Z")
I am reminded, it rings a knell. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6852 "2016-09-20T04:42:19Z")
According to [Politico.com](http://Politico.com), Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend, Robert F. Kennedy’s daughter and the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, has said that George H. W. Bush is voting for Clinton. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/exclusive-george-hw-bush-to-vote-for-hillary-228395](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/exclusive-george-hw-bush-to-vote-for-hillary-228395) > [@](#): > > On Monday, Townsend posted a picture on her Facebook page shaking hands next to the former president and this caption: "The President told me he’s voting for Hillary!!” > > In a telephone interview, Townsend said she met with the former president in Maine earlier today, where she said he made his preference known that he was voting for a Democrat. “That’s what he said,” she told POLITICO. > > Asked about Townsend’s post, George H.W. Bush spokesman Jim McGrath in an email replied, “The vote President Bush will cast as a private citizen in some 50 days will be just that: a private vote cast in some 50 days. He is not commenting on the presidential race in the interim.” ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6853 "2016-09-20T05:02:25Z")
> [@TheStake](#): > > I want Obamacare overturned or at least fixed. Well, Clinton is proposing a pretty obvious fix that was unobtainable before: the single payer option. Meanwhile, the republicans have no _alternative_ to propose. > [@](#): > > I think that the people who came into America illegally should be deported (as they have broke the law). I am not saying I am against immigration, but it should be legal. For the large part of my family that is Filipino, it is something worth doing correctly. Fair enough. It’s not realistic to deport 11 million people in the span of 4 years, but I at least understand the sentiment here. > [@](#): > > I hate the deal with Iran. I have seen argument points about how it will slow them down, but I thought the embargos were doing just fine. But what’s actually the problem here? The rest of the international community wasn’t going forward on the embargoes any more, so it’s not like we could stop Iran on our own. And every time we waited on a diplomatic solution with Iran, the terms keep getting worse, as their position consistently got stronger, despite the embargo. > [@](#): > > I do not want this Obama apologizing for America business. (Japan) The closest thing I found to this was this: > **[Did President Obama Apologize for Dropping the Atomic Bomb on Japan?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/obama-apology-hiroshima/)** > > While President Obama offered his sympathies for the loss of life during a visit to Hiroshima, he did not apologize for dropping the bomb. So I have no idea what you’re talking about. This seems to be a rehashed and bogus right-wing talking point. > [@](#): > > I feel like she will not lead a war on ISIS correctly. Not against muslims in general. As I fear Trump will. (Sadly for both points) And Trump will? I realize he’s got quite a lot of bluster and bravado, but does he have anything else? Like, he’s been bragging for the better part of a year about his amazing plan to defeat ISIS, right? Well, when pressed on it, it turns out the whole plan was to literally “[make the generals come up with something](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/07/politics/mark-hertling-trump-30-day-isis-plan/)”. That’s not a revolutionary new plan to fight the islamic state, that’s the same basic delegation that’s been happening for the last eight years, with the added bonus of implying (and earlier outright stating) that those responsible for _actually_ coming up with the plan are incompetent and incapable. It’s the [stupid psychopath problem](http://www.nationalreview.com/article/433296/donald-trump-stupid-psychopath-ignorance-policy-complex-problems). Apparently Trump thinks, and you’ve apparently bought into the idea, that the main problem is not that these issues are complex or difficult to resolve, but that there are easy solutions that we just haven’t been _tough enough_ to try. That alone should be a clear indicator that Trump’s ISIS plans are bullshit, if everything else wasn’t a dead giveaway. He’s _bullshitting you_. Even assuming Clinton was running against a candidate who was competent, why would you say she wouldn’t lead the war on ISIS effectively? What’s indicated to you that she’s incapable? Even leaving out the comparison to Trump, why would she be “incompetent”? > [@](#): > > I feel like she has been, and will continue, to use her position to amplify her foundation. Well, it could be worse - [she could try to use her position to amplify her business interests, as opposed to her non-profit charity work](http://europe.newsweek.com/donald-trump-foreign-business-deals-national-security-498081?rm=eu). She’s pledged to completely abandon the foundation if she wins. I see little reason to doubt that pledge. > [@](#): > > I also fear that there is a lot of information out there that can be used against her. (Talking email leaks) Largely baseless… > [@](#): > > Then of course the 2nd amendment issues that I have. Fair enough. > [@](#): > > Sorry If my list is ignorant. I do not claim to have any of that in fact. It’s got some problems, make no mistake. There are a few legitimate issues in there, but when you consider the full package, I cannot imagine that they outweigh the crucial flaws possessed by Donald Trump. He has no viable or realistic policy plans. He lies about nearly everything on a near-constant basis, and uses those lies to prop up every one of his policies. He completely and utterly lacks temperament, being set off angrily by _tweets_ is not something that’s okay for someone with the nuclear football. He’s notoriously unable to focus on anything but himself. He lacks any and all understanding of policy, and has shown no interest over the past year of gaining such an understanding. His plans would drop us back into a recession according to at least two [noteworthy](http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-trade-plan-could-push-u-s-into-recession-study-says-1474257662) [sources](http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/24/heres-why-trumps-economic-plan-would-spark-a-recession-moodys-mark-zandi.html), and that’s ignoring the _really_ insane proposals, [which would take a stick of dynamite to the bedrock of the world economy](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/05/donald-trumps-economy/481743/) and is literally dangerous to _even suggest_. He listens to sources which are at best complete crap - you should not want your president praising _Alex fucking Jones_. He’s led to an extreme resurgence and empowerment of white supremacists. As Vox puts it: this election is a choice between a normal candidate and an abnormal candidate. With Clinton, we have a basic idea of what we’re getting, because we’ve gotten similar before. With Trump, we know what we’re getting is probably not good, but we have no idea just how bad things might get. > [@](#): > > That is why I am on here reading constantly. My outburst earlier was because I feel like the name calling and shit is pointless. Someone telling me Trump and his supporters are everything that the “deplorables” are. I feel that over using words like that take away their power. Let’s be crystal fucking clear here. If you’re voting for Trump, you have fundamentally failed at either civics 101, fact-checking 101, or not-being-a-racist-douchebag 101. That, or you’re a single-issue voter, which is also incredibly problematic. This should be the most straightforward and easy election in American history. It’s an established and reputable politician against a racist, shit-flinging howler monkey. The fact that around half the country seems ready to rally around the latter makes me so incredibly glad my parents got me out of that shithole backwater of a country before things _really_ got bad, and then depresses me when I remember just how huge of an influence my home country has even here in Germany. I think my uncle put it best: It is impossible to disassociate a vote for Trump from everything he has said, he stands for (or doesn’t stand for) and in particular the outrageous behavior he has encouraged among his supporters which his dangerous and damaging to our nation. I don’t know that I’ll completely write off a friend, acquaintance, colleague or family member (!) who votes for Trump, but no doubt it will seriously reduce my respect for them and absolutely change the way I look at them. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Sure, there’s lots of other reasons that I hope Trump beats Clinton. Specifically: taxes and border security come to mind at the moment. Free speech is another one. > > Or were you referring to other SCOTUS issues? If so, we could talk about _Kelo_, or _Citizens United_ Case in point: this person thinks Trump is better on the first amendment. He’s not been paying attention. At all. Like, even pretending to be awake. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6854 "2016-09-20T05:55:33Z")
**Budget Player Cadet** : well and clearly stated. I salute you. How can anyone not see it? And yet, sadly, many\* will refuse to see it. And I can’t understand why. \*Even in this usually pretty damned intelligent group. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6855 "2016-09-20T08:12:39Z")
Trump has apparently veered back into “babbling incoherence” mode. Tonight on Fox News, O’Reilly asked him how he’d respond in the debates if Clinton attacks him on his record of how he treats women, and he responded thusly; [QUOTE=Loser Donald] Well you know, the New York Times wrote a story about women and the women called the office and said, ‘We never said that about Donald Trump. We really like him. He’s really good.’ They quoted women and they never even said it. It was on the front page, centerfold, massive big color picture. It was disgraceful. They are so dishonest. I’ll tell you what. There is nobody that respects women more than Donald Trump. [/QUOTE] He’s so terrified of the idea that **a girl** is going to call him out that he can’t even bring himself to talk about the possibility and instead goes off on a tangent. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6856 "2016-09-20T12:07:42Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > [Don Jr. compares Syrian refugees to tainted Skittles.](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/trump-jr-compares-syrian-refugees-to-bad-skittles-228392?cmpid=sf) Complete with an official Trump-Pence logo, no less. > > Nothing like a little dehumanization to scare up some votes, amirite?! Not to defend the Trump campaign, but I remember essentially the same analogy about men being made a few years ago during the “#YesAllWomen” thing on Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6857 "2016-09-20T12:54:45Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Not to defend the Trump campaign, but I remember essentially the same analogy about men being made a few years ago during the “#YesAllWomen” thing on Twitter. Yeah, sure, but if every woman vetted men to the degree that refugees are vetted, they wouldn’t be in much danger. Not saying women should do that, just that the skittles analogy has potential value in illustrating why women might be apprehensive when dealing with men. The analogy is still useless when applied to granting asylum to refugees, except for fear mongering. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6858 "2016-09-20T13:15:01Z")
[Trump wants to do away with more of the Constitution.](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-bemoans-amazing-hospitalization-york-bombing-suspect/story?id=42204575) > [@](#): > > “Now we will give him amazing hospitalization. He will be taken care of by some of the best doctors in the world,” said Trump. “He will be given a fully modern and updated hospital room. And he’ll probably even have room service, knowing the way our country is. And on top of all of that, he will be represented by an outstanding lawyer.” I wasn’t aware of hospitals that require patients to drag themselves to the cafeteria. Horrible thing, defending yourself in court. it’s almost like we have a justice system. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2016, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6859 "2016-09-20T13:16:08Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Not to defend the Trump campaign, but I remember essentially the same analogy about men being made a few years ago during the “#YesAllWomen” thing on Twitter. And…? ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6860 "2016-09-20T13:17:54Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Trump wants to do away with more of the Constitution.](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-bemoans-amazing-hospitalization-york-bombing-suspect/story?id=42204575) > I wasn’t aware of hospitals that require patients to drag themselves to the cafeteria. > > Horrible thing, defending yourself in court. it’s almost like we have a justice system. Well, it’s ok to skip due process when you know the guy is guilty. Don’t worry, Trump will only do that for the guilty ones. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6861 "2016-09-20T13:19:27Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > And…? It was a stupid analogy then, it was a stupid analogy now, but I don’t remember the Internet getting up in arms about the former. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/6862 "2016-09-20T13:23:15Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > It was a stupid analogy then, it was a stupid analogy now, but I don’t remember the Internet getting up in arms about the former. Then you misremember. Simply Google “M&Ms #YesAllWomen” But even if “the Internet” didn’t get up in arms about it back then, I repeat: “And…?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=342) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=344)