# 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:** 356
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7103 "2016-09-23T06:02:33Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Omarosa, who was on the first season of The Apprentice and is considered [one of the most hated people in the history of reality tv](http://www.tv.com/news/americas-most-hated-omarosa--534/), and a Trump spokesperson: > > “[every critic, every detractor will have to bow down to President Trump](http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/omarosa-critics-bow-president-trump-article-1.2754654).” Yes, of course, but, will every tongue give praise to [DEL][COLOR=“Black”]God[/DEL][/COLOR] Trump? CMC fnord! ---
**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 23, 2016, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7104 "2016-09-23T06:04:38Z")
Former Republican National Comitee Chair tells it like it is. > **[Former RNC Chair: Trump’s Birtherism is ‘Bullshit Racism’](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/former-rnc-chairman-michael-steele-trump-birtherism-bullshit-racism)** > > Former RNC Chair Michael Steele said Trump's focus on "nonsensical" issues like birtherism was "nothing more than bullshit racism — excuse my French." Appearing on David Axelrod's podcast " > [@](#): > > Former RNC Chair Michael Steele said Trump’s focus on “nonsensical” issues like birtherism was “nothing more than bullshit racism — excuse my French.” ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7105 "2016-09-23T06:15:53Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > “[every critic, every detractor will have to bow down to President Trump](http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/omarosa-critics-bow-president-trump-article-1.2754654).” The cretins that inhabit one of Donald’s forums on reddit refer to him as “god-emporer Trump”. And yes the forum is a total echo chamber, any one posting criticism of Trump in anyway is banned from posting there. They even have another forum which is supposed to be for “Ask Trump Supporters” but again if you ask any hard questions they just ban you and delete the post. This is the level of political discourse and discussion they want, chanting slogans and absolute fascist loyalty. It is truly terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7106 "2016-09-23T08:45:14Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Is anyone keeping track of Trump’s failed staffers? There’s the idiotic Kathy Miller, the guy who kept pulling guns on co-workers, Manafort and his suspicious Russian connections, Lewandowski and his alleged manhandling of reporters. Anyone else? Lewandowski is still on the Trump campaign’s payroll, even. Is Katrina Pierson still on the team? It’s been a while since I saw a news story about her claiming that Vietnam was Obama’s fault or some such garbage. Yeah…[some of them are not as gone as we thought](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3800958/Corey-Lewandowski-remain-Trump-s-payroll-end-year-continues-contract-CNN.html). > [@](#): > > Former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is to remain on Trump’s campaign payroll through the end of the year, even as he continues to serve as a consultant for CNN. > > Trump’s status was revealed in federal financial disclosure reports, which showed him getting $20,000 in August for ‘strategy consulting.’ ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7107 "2016-09-23T09:17:10Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m usually pretty skeptical of “copyright infringement” claims like this. The usual result seems to be that the use of \_\_\_\_ is covered by the “fair use” exception. No actually use of a photograph like this is explicitly NOT fair use, because they use the entire copyrighted work and not just a portion of it, and it’s not for educational purposes or for critical purposes to discuss it as an artwork or any of the other things that fall under fair use. Photographers have won similar cases to this, and I hope Kittos very publicly takes this to court, I am pretty sure that their would be pretty of Law firms willing to take it on contingency. So what about Trump’s bizarre claims that he is going to scrap the energy department, education and the commerce department? Can he do such a thing without congress approving it? ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7108 "2016-09-23T10:12:45Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > No actually use of a photograph like this is explicitly NOT fair use, because they use the entire copyrighted work and not just a portion of it, and it’s not for educational purposes It is totally educational. It is teaching you that in every bowl of refugees there are 2 or 3 that are poisonous. 😛 ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7109 "2016-09-23T10:48:09Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > No actually use of a photograph like this is explicitly NOT fair use, because they use the entire copyrighted work and not just a portion of it, and it’s not for educational purposes or for critical purposes to discuss it as an artwork or any of the other things that fall under fair use. Photographers have won similar cases to this, and I hope Kittos very publicly takes this to court, I am pretty sure that their would be pretty of Law firms willing to take it on contingency. I agree with the first part. In the bizarre world of youtube, people post entire CDs or entire TV shows or entire movies and in the description box put “THIS IS FAIR USE” and then reproduce the section of the copyright law concerning fair use and think that just declaring that it is fair use somehow makes it fair use and that the copyright owners will somehow be scared off by their obvious mastery of the law. But it ain’t so. They don’t fool anyone. But the second part I’m not so sure of. Just making one reproduction of an obscure picture isn’t likely to be worth a high-powered law firm’s time to take on a contingency basis. > [@](#): > > So what about Trump’s bizarre claims that he is going to scrap the energy department, education and the commerce department? Can he do such a thing without congress approving it? Please remember that 90% of the stuff that all Presidential candidates promise is not within the power the President to actually do. Bernie couldn’t eliminate all public college tuition if he got elected, for example, without Congressional action. Yes, it would take Congress to formally eliminate the departments, but it would be within Trump’s power to make them ineffectual. All cabinet secretaries submit their resignations at the beginning of every presidential term (even if the same president is re-elected). And if they don’t, the President can fire them. Depending on the agency, the President also has power to fire other top executives. Then he can take one of two paths: Don’t fill the empty positions or fill them with people who are dedicated to making the agencies ineffectual. And if Congress passes some law mandating that these agencies start performing their functions, if Trump and his appointees refuse, Congress’s only recourse is impeachment. Would a Republican Congress impeach? Unlikely. In fact, it’s very likely that they would take no action or even support Trump. So, yeah, there are limits to his power, but he can certainly screw up the workings of government mightily. ---
**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 23, 2016, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7110 "2016-09-23T11:12:56Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [The painting has been found.](http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/22/politics/david-fahrenthold-univision-enrique-acevedo-donald-trump-portrait/index.html) > > So what else is new? Any word on whether the painting has transformed into a more accurately hideous picture of Trump, while the man himself remains locked in his conventionally hideous state? Can someone take a knife to the painting to see if it stops Trump? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7111 "2016-09-23T12:03:02Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Any word on whether the painting has transformed into a more accurately hideous picture of Trump, while the man himself remains locked in his conventionally hideous state? Can someone take a knife to the painting to see if it stops Trump? [The painting is unveiled.](http://boingboing.net/2016/03/10/trump-the-carpathian.html) ---
**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 23, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7112 "2016-09-23T12:57:48Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [The painting is unveiled.](http://boingboing.net/2016/03/10/trump-the-carpathian.html) I can just imagine it zapping Paul Ryan to mind control him into not commenting on Trump’s various gaffes. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7113 "2016-09-23T13:11:34Z")
Trump says Hillary is responsible for the [violence in Charlotte](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-clinton-narrative-police-racist): > [@](#): > > “Those peddling the narrative of cops as a racist force in our society — and this is a narrative that is supported with a nod by my opponent, you see what she’s saying, and it’s not good — share responsibly and the unrest that is afflicting our country and hurting those who have really the very least.” ---
**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 23, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7114 "2016-09-23T13:34:47Z")
The Secret Service, and therefore the taxpayers, are [paying Trump for transit costs](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/donald-trump-secret-service-campaign-travel-payments-228553). Reimbursing candidates for campaign security is normal, but since Trump is using his own airline for travel, some of that money is going into his pocket. > [@](#): > > Federal Election Commission records show that the U.S. Secret Service has paid the Trump campaign about $1.6 million to cover the cost of flying its agents with the candidate on a plane owned and operated by one of his companies. > > It’s standard practice for the agency — which is tasked with protecting presidential candidates as well as presidents and other federal officials — to reimburse presidential campaigns for the cost of traveling with the candidates. > > In fact, the Secret Service has reimbursed the Clinton campaign, too: $2.6 million so far this cycle. > > The difference with Trump is that one of his companies, TAG Air, Inc., owns the plane, so the government is effectively paying him. Not surprising, since it’s old news that Trump has made a point of using his own companies for campaign services. But it’s still extremely frustrating, just another reason that Trump losing isn’t good enough. He has to have a legendary loss; I want him to leave this election with his spirit crushed, his brand wrecked, and his many shady activities under continuing scrutiny. If there’s any justice in the world, Trump will not come out of this election with **any** net positives. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7115 "2016-09-23T14:05:25Z")
You want his brain wrecked _more_ than it already is? ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7116 "2016-09-23T14:52:06Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Trump says Hillary is responsible for the [violence in Charlotte](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-clinton-narrative-police-racist): > [@](#): > > “Those peddling the narrative of cops as a racist force in our society — and this is a narrative that is supported with a nod by my opponent, you see what she’s saying, and it’s not good — share responsibly and the unrest that is afflicting our country and hurting those who have really the very least.” Nice sentence. Is this caused by eating pizza with a fork? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7117 "2016-09-23T15:04:59Z")
538 update: after 4 straight days of slippage, Hillary’s shown a bit of a rebound for the past 2. The odds are back up to 60/40. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7118 "2016-09-23T15:33:18Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > The Secret Service, and therefore the taxpayers, are [paying Trump for transit costs](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/donald-trump-secret-service-campaign-travel-payments-228553). Reimbursing candidates for campaign security is normal, but since Trump is using his own airline for travel, some of that money is going into his pocket. > > Not surprising, since it’s old news that Trump has made a point of using his own companies for campaign services. But it’s still extremely frustrating, just another reason that Trump losing isn’t good enough. He has to have a legendary loss; I want him to leave this election with his spirit crushed, his brand wrecked, and his many shady activities under continuing scrutiny. If there’s any justice in the world, Trump will not come out of this election with **any** net positives. I really hope that there’s a behind-the-scenes investigation going on into Trump’s finances. If nothing else I pray that the IRS gives him the mother of all audits next year. The financial shenanigans he’s pulling are mind-boggling. ---
**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 23, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7119 "2016-09-23T15:42:18Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > I really hope that there’s a behind-the-scenes investigation going on into Trump’s finances. **If nothing else I pray that the IRS gives him the mother of all audits next year.** The financial shenanigans he’s pulling are mind-boggling. But then we’'ll _never_ see his returns. 😃 ---
**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 23, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7120 "2016-09-23T15:47:42Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > … > > Is Katrina Pierson still on the team? It’s been a while since I saw a news story about her claiming that Vietnam was Obama’s fault or some such garbage. Looks like Ms. Pierson **is** still on the team: [Pierson on Cuban at debate: ‘No one can get in Donald Trump’s head’](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/mark-cuban-debate-trump-react-228577) > [@](#): > > “I just think it’s worth noting that this is one of those things that could get inside somebody’s head. And Mark Cuban, sitting right there in front of him,” Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo said during a discussion with national spokeswoman Katrina Pierson. > > Pierson objected to that assessment, remarking, “No one can get in Donald Trump’s head. No one can get in Mr. Trump’s head.” > > “He’s going to be focused and he’s gonna be … focused on talking to the American people,” Pierson said. “It doesn’t matter who’s in the front row. Mr. Trump is gonna make his case at Monday night.” Looks like she’s taking after her mentor a bit, with all that repetition. Still, it’s a distressingly coherent statement for her. I hope she returns to her habit of making asinine statements divorced from reality. ---
**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 23, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7121 "2016-09-23T16:00:24Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Looks like Ms. Pierson **is** still on the team: [Pierson on Cuban at debate: ‘No one can get in Donald Trump’s head’](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/mark-cuban-debate-trump-react-228577) > > Looks like she’s taking after her mentor a bit, with all that repetition. Still, it’s a distressingly coherent statement for her. I hope she returns to her habit of making asinine statements divorced from reality. Well, it could be argued that “No one can get in Donald Trump’s head” is indeed divorced from reality. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7122 "2016-09-23T20:38:15Z")
[After searching his conscience(and discovering that he hasn’t got one after all), Cruz has decided to endorse Trump.](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/24/us/politics/ted-cruz-donald-trump.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) Wow. I’m shocked. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=355) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=357)