# 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:** 50
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/981 "2016-06-06T21:13:54Z")
Oh my goodness…this is a slow motion train-wreck. First, as noted above, Trump is doing everything on this issue except something that would be productive: file a motion asking the judge to recuse himself. Second, he’s second-guessing his own staff. Expect to see resignations. Third, his ‘supporters’ are leaking this embarrassing info. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/982 "2016-06-06T21:20:51Z")
My guess is gonna be that this “fraud” thingy is starting to get dangerous for him, and he is hoping to drown it out by playing victim. Weird thing about that is, the trial is not scheduled to take place untll after the election. If he shuts up about it, the judge isn’t likely to say anything about it until then, so WTF? Of course, speculating about the reasons of an unreasonable person is a bit pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/983 "2016-06-06T21:24:35Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > The incoherent rambling, the compulsive repetition of phrases and words, the directly contradictory statements, the inability to focus in answering questions without tangential commentary, refusal to take advice from campaign staff, demonstrable [Dunning-Kruger effect](http://psych.colorado.edu/~vanboven/teaching/p7536_heurbias/p7536_readings/kruger_dunning.pdf), lack of self-reflection, social tone-deafness, rage and bullying, overt racism… is Trump mentally ill? He’s 70. I think he’s clearly having a Senior Event. I admit – I kind of wish this was happening _after_ the Republican convention. But I suppose we’re close enough now that we’re guaranteed a shitshow even if Trump is carted off stage by men in white coats. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/984 "2016-06-06T21:27:14Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Ken White, Lawsplainer, has a couple of articles about why Judge Curiel’s summary judgements in Trump’s case looks quite reasonable - > [https://popehat.com/2016/06/01/lawsplainer-is-there-anything-unusual-about-judge-curiels-orders-in-the-trump-university-case/](https://popehat.com/2016/06/01/lawsplainer-is-there-anything-unusual-about-judge-curiels-orders-in-the-trump-university-case/) > And also about the issue of recusal and how it works - > [https://popehat.com/2016/06/06/lawsplainer-when-must-federal-judges-recuse-themselves-anyway/](https://popehat.com/2016/06/06/lawsplainer-when-must-federal-judges-recuse-themselves-anyway/) > Ken characterizes Donald’s behavior as “Puerile “Alpha” bullshit” but he also offers citations about how and why a judge might be recused and why he thinks this is all just public posturing. > [@jsc1953](#): > > Oh my goodness…this is a slow motion train-wreck. > > First, as noted above, Trump is doing everything on this issue except something that would be productive: file a motion asking the judge to recuse himself. > > Second, he’s second-guessing his own staff. Expect to see resignations. > > Third, his ‘supporters’ are leaking this embarrassing info. Read the links **Merneith** posted. Good explanation why his lawyers haven’t asked for recusal. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/985 "2016-06-06T21:52:42Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Theodore Roosevelt, more than any other political figure, gives me shivering fits of love/hate. Much to admire in his progressivism, but dear God! A man who believed that war was some sort of manly, virile sport? I have a book of letters TR wrote to his children when they were away at school. Long, erudite, and (dare I say it) wise letters from a dad to a Harvard son. What blows me away about them is that many were written WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT. Roosevelt was spending his days doing all the President things…plus boxing, playing tennis, riding horses, reading three novels and five books of history or natural science…and he still made time to write those letters. Compare and contrast to what Dubya probably did with his time all day. (But then you read about how TR got all his Rough Rider apparel made up at Abercrombie & Fitch because he didn’t like the uniform designs of the U.S. Army, and you go “Okay, in addition to all this he was a bit of a shit.”) ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/986 "2016-06-06T22:07:14Z")
It wasn’t that unusual for officers to buy their own uniforms, back then. I mean, of all the things you can ding him for, that one seems kind of lame. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/987 "2016-06-06T22:22:28Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Theodore Roosevelt, more than any other political figure, gives me shivering fits of love/hate. Much to admire in his progressivism, but dear God! A man who believed that war was some sort of manly, virile sport? And believed it even after he saw its face? I don’t get it, I just don’t get it… Most warriors seem to hate war. But some see the elephant and love it. I’m not inclined to judge those who have been through it. People handle extreme situations differently. For some, war is the ultimate means of proving oneself. If you can fight a war and emerge mentally and emotionally unscathed, you’re invincible in all but the physical sense. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/988 "2016-06-06T23:11:03Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > He’s 70. I think he’s clearly having a Senior Event. > … He was only in his 40s when he was pretending to be John Miller and John Barron. So I’m not so sure we can attribute his bizarre conduct to aging. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/989 "2016-06-06T23:26:58Z")
Yeah, he’s always been a buffoon. But he used to be able to speak in full sentences. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/990 "2016-06-06T23:48:02Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Yeah, he’s always been a buffoon. But he used to be able to speak in full sentences. Exactly. Listening to him being interviewed by John Dickerson yesterday morning on _Face the Nation_ was actually painful to watch. Transcript [here](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-june-5-2016-trump/). His answer to every question regarding his racist attitude with respect to that federal judge seemed to consist of blurting out, “I’m gonna build a wall!” Dickerson looked like he was dealing with a 5-year old at one point after an exchange about dismissing the case in which he stated, “Yes, I guess I’m just confused how that – what his Mexican parents have to do with that.” Trump’s reply: “Excuse me. I want to build a wall. …I don’t think it’s very confusing.” My reaction: WTF?! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/991 "2016-06-07T00:11:24Z")
That’s just sad. He makes me think of a grandad sitting on his porch rambling on, and the teenage grandkids going “Sure, Granddad, sure”, while rolling their eyes behind his back. I’m really starting to buy the Alzheimers theory. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/992 "2016-06-07T00:42:10Z")
Ok, Trump’s campaign is beginning to look more like popcorn time rather than scary time. In the video here at 3:08 a reporter reads from leaked notes from a conference call of Trump and his surrogates and supporters. The leakers report that Trump is going all out against the Judge in the Trump U case. And Trump claimed that the people and reporters that keep asking questions are the ones who are the “racists”. [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-06/trump-orders-surrogates-to-intensify-criticism-of-judge-and-journalists](http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-06/trump-orders-surrogates-to-intensify-criticism-of-judge-and-journalists) > [@](#): > > An embattled Donald Trump urgently rallied his most visible supporters to defend his attacks on a federal judge’s Mexican ancestry during a conference call on Monday in which he ordered them to question the judge’s credibility and impugn reporters as racists. > > “We will overcome,” Trump said, according to two supporters who were on the call and requested anonymity to share their notes with Bloomberg Politics. “And I’ve always won and I’m going to continue to win. And that’s the way it is.” > > There was no mention of apologizing or backing away from his widely criticized remarks about U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is overseeing cases against the Trump University real-estate program. > > When former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer interrupted the discussion to inform Trump that his own campaign had asked surrogates to stop talking about the lawsuit in an e-mail on Sunday, Trump repeatedly demanded to know who sent the memo, and immediately overruled his staff. > > “Take that order and throw it the hell out,” Trump said. > > Told the memo was sent by Erica Freeman, a staffer who circulates information to surrogates, Trump said he didn’t know her. He openly questioned how the campaign could defend itself if supporters weren’t allowed to talk. > > “Are there any other stupid letters that were sent to you folks?” Trump said. “That’s one of the reasons I want to have this call, because you guys are getting sometimes stupid information from people that aren’t so smart.” > > Brewer, who was on the call with prominent Republicans like Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, interjected again. “You all better get on the page,” she told him. Good luck on biting the hand that fed you during the primaries Mr. Trump! I do think that this Trump item also has a schadenfreude bonus: Now Trump has to wonder and worry about who could be the back stabbers that leaked the notes to the media. And the surrogates and supporters must be wondering who will be blamed and be given some nice concrete shoes as a farewell gift. 🙂 ---
**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:** [June 7, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/993 "2016-06-07T00:59:20Z")
Now I’m beginning to worry that Trump will implode in time for the Republicans to do something about it prior to the convention… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/994 "2016-06-07T01:04:09Z")
His choice of VP candidate is starting to look very important. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/995 "2016-06-07T01:56:36Z")
I just caught this bit and what it meant: > [@](#): > > When former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer interrupted the discussion to inform Trump that his own campaign had asked surrogates to stop talking about the lawsuit in an e-mail on Sunday, Trump repeatedly demanded to know who sent the memo, and immediately overruled his staff. > > “Take that order and throw it the hell out,” Trump said. > > Told the memo was sent by Erica Freeman, a staffer who circulates information to surrogates, Trump said he didn’t know her. He openly questioned how the campaign could defend itself if supporters weren’t allowed to talk. > > “Are there any other stupid letters that were sent to you folks?” Trump said. “That’s one of the reasons I want to have this call, because you guys are getting sometimes stupid information from people that aren’t so smart.” The “stupid letters” and “stupid information” coming from “people that aren’t that smart”? He’s talking about his own staff, some of whom were, I’m sure, sitting in that room. My best bet as to the identity of one of the leakers is the writer of the “stupid” memo, or their #2. My next best bet is that \>50% of the people who were in that call today will not be around for a similar call in 2 months. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/996 "2016-06-07T02:00:49Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I just caught this bit and what it meant: > > The “stupid letters” and “stupid information” coming from “people that aren’t that smart”? He’s talking about his own staff, some of whom were, I’m sure, sitting in that room. > > My best bet as to the identity of one of the leakers is the writer of the “stupid” memo, or their #2. > > My next best bet is that \>50% of the people who were in that call today will not be around for a similar call in 2 months. So much for hiring all the best people. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2016, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/997 "2016-06-07T02:02:14Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Now I’m beginning to worry that Trump will implode in time for the Republicans to do something about it prior to the convention… This, this, a million times this. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/998 "2016-06-07T02:04:12Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > His choice of VP candidate is starting to look very important. I think Trump’s going to have a hard time actually finding a creditable VP candidate, and I wonder if the Convention could try to force a candidate on him instead of just rubber stamping whoever he selects. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/999 "2016-06-07T02:05:25Z")
I think he’ll bail. He will blame the media, the Dems, the Pubbie, the Unitarians and the Mexicans. But I think he will bail out. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/1000 "2016-06-07T02:08:48Z")
Thing is I am not so sure how much this hurts _him_. Oh, down ticket candidates sure … McCain is sure happy about his endorsement now I am sure! But him? Those inclined to vote for him are of four main flavors: 1. Eating up this shit up. Preach it! Normally I stay home but I’ll come out to vote for this! 2. It’s all an act, he does not mean it, it’s pandering to his base. (Or he’ll be controlled by Congress.) 3. I hate Clinton so much that nothing else matters. 4. He’ll be more likely to give “the right” Supremes than Clinton would. What? He’s going to lose more Hispanic share? His candidacy is predicated upon those who love this crap, who want to vote other than what has been, even if, or maybe in some cases especially if, it means voting for insane. My guess? Polls next week return to Clinton +6 or 7, like they had been last month before he cinched, but no worse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=51)