# 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:** 371
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7403 "2016-09-28T22:52:47Z")
“Oh Donald… And your son Eric was SO very proud of you for not bringing up irrelevant personal digs. But there you go.” And then move on to a different topic. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7404 "2016-09-28T22:57:42Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > “I’m so proud of my dad for suppressing his usual instinct to be a scumbag. I’ll never forget that moment.” I don’t get this at all. Assume, for the sake of argument, that bringing up Bill Clinton’s infidelity would’ve been the right thing to do if only Chelsea Clinton hadn’t been there – and that Trump backed off, at the last moment, solely because he saw Chelsea Clinton. Now, that’s mind-bogglingly stupid – but just go with it for a moment; say you’re the kind of person who genuinely thinks that Hillary Clinton must be stopped, and that for the good of the nation Donald Trump should safeguard our borders and our guns while placing originalists on the Supreme Court, and he can’t bring himself to mention something relevant that would’ve You’re-No-Jack-Kennedy-ed her? That’s all it takes? Just keep Chelsea Clinton in his line of sight at the remaining debates, and watch as he can’t get out the words that could make him president? Or watch him somehow get elected – and then just show him Chelsea whenever he’s going to declare something she’s made a heartfelt statement against? Can you picture the response if Hillary had said anything like that? _“Well, I had a relevant point to make about how he’s unfit to serve as commander-in-chief, but I’m just too soft and weak to actually say that out loud if, y’know, Ivanka is watching.”_ Instead, we’ve got L’il Trump saying it was the praiseworthy thing to do – before his dad maybe does the opposite in Debate #2 or Debate #3? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7405 "2016-09-28T23:05:56Z")
Personally, I saw a Trump that was agitated, twitchy and hyped and sniffing for the first 25 minutes, followed by a drop in energy, and then finally someone who was whiny and petulant at the end. It was very much like he was coming down from a stimulant of some kind. ---
**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 28, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7406 "2016-09-28T23:12:14Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Personally, I saw a Trump that was agitated, twitchy and hyped and sniffing for the first 25 minutes, followed by a drop in energy, and then finally someone who was whiny and petulant at the end. It was very much like he was coming down from a stimulant of some kind. Yeah, I’ve read all these people saying he started off so well, and then collapsed. I felt like he started off like a bull in a China shop-- obnoxious, sniffy, red-faced, loud, interrupting constantly, his opening statement seemed disjointed and unprepared. I even said to my wife that he’s lost this thing in the first 30 minutes. But then I read so many people saying how strong his first half hour was, so I just figured I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7407 "2016-09-28T23:16:59Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Yeah, I’ve read all these people saying he started off so well, and then collapsed. I felt like he started off like a bull in a China shop-- obnoxious, sniffy, red-faced, loud, interrupting constantly, his opening statement seemed disjointed and unprepared. I even said to my wife that he’s lost this thing in the first 30 minutes. But then I read so many people saying how strong his first half hour was, so I just figured I was wrong. I think you were right, but the first 30 minutes were still his best - its just that the last part was so very bad. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7408 "2016-09-28T23:27:18Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > “I felt like I was watching the political Titanic hit the iceberg, back up, and hit it again. Just for fun.” > David French-National Review > > :D:D:D My god, that’s brilliant. I want to subscribe to his newsletter. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7409 "2016-09-28T23:30:28Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I don’t get this at all. > > Assume, for the sake of argument, that bringing up Bill Clinton’s infidelity would’ve been the right thing to do if only Chelsea Clinton hadn’t been there – and that Trump backed off, at the last moment, solely because he saw Chelsea Clinton. > > Now, that’s mind-bogglingly stupid – but just go with it for a moment; say you’re the kind of person who genuinely thinks that Hillary Clinton must be stopped, and that for the good of the nation Donald Trump should safeguard our borders and our guns while placing originalists on the Supreme Court, and he can’t bring himself to mention something relevant that would’ve You’re-No-Jack-Kennedy-ed her?.. I’m just baffled as to what exactly Donald thought he would accomplished, had he dared to stoop so low. He solemnly intones that, ladies and gentlemen, I’m reluctant to mention this but I must do so for the sake of the country. My opponent’s husband … had sexual dalliances with loose women while married to my opponent. To which Hillary (and the world) would yawn, and reply: Uh, yeah? And? The 1990’s called and they want their newspaper back. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7410 "2016-09-28T23:46:02Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Howard is trolling Trump. Yep. He’s just raising the question of whether Glenn Beck supplied Trump with cocaine before he (Beck) [raped and murdered that girl in 1990](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/glenn-beck-rape-murder-hoax). > [@elucidator](#): > > How long did it take him to find that out? What, he couldn’t say “Hey, this mike bites it, get me another!”? If there was any problem with the microphone, the obvious explanation would be that Trump blew it out by yelling into it, which obviously wouldn’t show up in the pre-debate testing. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7411 "2016-09-28T23:55:28Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Those same official television diagnosis licenses that are apparently near-universal on the republican side, able to diagnose Hill’s Parkinson’s Disease, right? Because those are completely credible. Obviously, Howard Dean learned the technique from Bill Frist (by watching Frist on television). ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7412 "2016-09-29T00:03:27Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Speaking of which, during the debate, Mr. Trump claimed he had, or was about to have, the endorsements of over 200 “admirals and generals”: > > Presumably he’s talking about retired flag officers, since (I think) active-duty military aren’t allowed to make endorsements. All I could find in a quick search on this were some articles dating from earlier in September [(like this one)](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/retired-generals-admirals-endorse-trump-227755) mentioning endorsements from **88** retired officers. > > Guess we’ll have to see if the other 120 or so promised endorsements actually turn up. Anyone know the real story? To be fair, he didn’t specify that they were _American_ admirals and generals. I’m too lazy to look up whether or not Russia has similar rules. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7413 "2016-09-29T00:52:40Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I’m just baffled as to what exactly Donald thought he would accomplished, had he dared to stoop so low. He solemnly intones that, ladies and gentlemen, I’m reluctant to mention this but I must do so for the sake of the country. My opponent’s husband … had sexual dalliances with loose women while married to my opponent. > > To which Hillary (and the world) would yawn, and reply: Uh, yeah? And? The 1990’s called and they want their newspaper back. No, she could say “you don’t know anything about economics, and you don’t know anything about national defense, but I admit that you are an expert on infidelity.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7414 "2016-09-29T01:16:42Z")
Trump just tripled-down calling Machado fat and a disgrace on O’Reilly tonight. However, Kurt Eichenwald is releasing a piece tomorrow explaining how Trump’s companies routinely violated the Cuban embargo. This is a bigger deal. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7415 "2016-09-29T01:18:06Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > My god, that’s brilliant. I want to subscribe to his newsletter. No. No, you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7416 "2016-09-29T01:22:35Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > No. No, you don’t. OK, I got swept away for a moment by a well-turned phrase. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7417 "2016-09-29T01:23:33Z")
[CNN goes to a Trump rally.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNZ3rNZvRU4) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7418 "2016-09-29T01:24:36Z")
Front cover of Newsweek: > ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7419 "2016-09-29T01:38:03Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > Also since instead of admitting like a regular human being that he had a cold or allergy problems, Trump said that it was a bad mic. It was actually quite a remarkable mic. A magic mic. It made his words clear but it jumbled them together in a way that made no sense, and at the same time it was amazingly sensitive enough to pick up all his sniffles. Yet Hillary was given a mic that looked identical, but was cunningly designed to make her sound knowledgeable, articulate, and intelligent. Obviously Trump’s strategy at the next debate must be to demand at the last minute that the mics be switched. That’ll do it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7420 "2016-09-29T02:21:08Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > …A magic mic… Don’ think for a second that you’re gonna get away with that. ---
**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 29, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7421 "2016-09-29T02:26:18Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It was actually quite a remarkable mic. A magic mic. It made his words clear but it jumbled them together in a way that made no sense, and at the same time it was amazingly sensitive enough to pick up all his sniffles. Yet Hillary was given a mic that looked identical, but was cunningly designed to make her sound knowledgeable, articulate, and intelligent. > > Obviously Trump’s strategy at the next debate must be to demand at the last minute that the mics be switched. That’ll do it. Both mikes are rigged. Hillary has spent the last few years building up an immunity to rigged mikes. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/7422 "2016-09-29T02:42:12Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/27/no-matter-how-garbage-the-poll-if-it-shows-that-donald-trump-won-the-debate-hell-endorse-it/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/27/no-matter-how-garbage-the-poll-if-it-shows-that-donald-trump-won-the-debate-hell-endorse-it/) > > Well I figured Steve Bannon and the rest of Trump’s army would start this propaganda > war sooner, but it has started at long last. I actually think this could be a good thing. Sure, some waverers might look at this and keep wavering. But I also think Trump is gonna look at it too and see what he wants to see. The biggest danger for the next debate is if he realizes he got played, and changes up his approach–refusing to rise to bait, preparing to talk like a rational human being, not interrupting. These sham online polls give him all the cover he needs to think this approach works. Hell, I’m half-tempted to believe that Hillary’s campaign is the one upvoting Trump in those sham polls, just so he won’t change things up at the next debate :). > [@JohnT](#): > > Front cover of Newsweek: > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/Newsweek/status/781300513815957505?s=09) Meh. Not gonna matter. It’s not like there are any Republicans in any swing states who care about the Cuba embargo, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=370) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=372)