# Great things about a Trump presidency. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204 "2016-11-09T14:50:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/61 "2016-11-10T02:09:27Z")
> [@ganthet](#): > > One of the actual (great? good?) things about a Trump presidency is one of his [stated top goals](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/10/18/donald-trump-calls-for-congressional-term-limits-to-end-cycle-of-corruption/) is to introduce a constitutional amendment to create Congressional term limits. That wouldn’t go down too well with his Republican Congressional acolytes, but would probably be pretty popular overall. its never gonna happen. Hell, much of the population of the Congress got elected in 1994 on Newt’s term limits, but have violated them clearly by still being there. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/62 "2016-11-10T04:15:07Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > So your attempt to throw stones at Obama in that regard are nothing more than throwaway campaign lines that are not based on reality. You got me … oh wait you didn’t. He supported and voted for the stimulus as SENATOR as in “member of Congress”. But thank you for playing. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/63 "2016-11-10T04:22:32Z")
The depths of comedy in the OP might make it all worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/64 "2016-11-10T04:26:28Z")
One of the few positive takeaways from this election is that some amount of power still rests with the people. Corporate interests did not want this result yet were powerless to stop it. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/65 "2016-11-10T18:02:39Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > No Trump News Network Why not? You don’t think Trump believes a state-run media would be a good idea? And that he’d like to personally profit from it? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/66 "2016-11-10T18:40:56Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > One of the few positive takeaways from this election is that some amount of power still rests with the people. Corporate interests did not want this result yet were powerless to stop it. I think I agree with this. And I’d maybe include advertising. Trump spent much less on ads. Maybe this campaign showed the limited effectiveness of advertising by outside groups. On the other hand, I don’t know how much a non-crazy candidate could count on all the free coverage Trump got. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/67 "2016-11-10T19:18:20Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I think I agree with this. And I’d maybe include advertising. Trump spent much less on ads. Maybe this campaign showed the limited effectiveness of advertising by outside groups. On the other hand, I don’t know how much a non-crazy candidate could count on all the free coverage Trump got. In fairness to Trump, he’s been building his image for 30 years. I doubt a crazy candidate who came out of nowhere would get as much coverage because he or she would lack the established media background. Similarly, I expect someone like George Clooney could announce he’s running for Senate in California and get some respectable percentage of the vote on name recognition alone. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/68 "2016-11-10T19:33:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > 1. We will finally have a president that won’t cave into the Chinese on every issue whether it’s fake territorial claims, lead in baby formula, IP violations, etc. > > 2. Better relations with Russia. Despite what you may think about Putin, the world as a whole would function better if the Americans and Russian could work with each other. What’s happening in Syria proves that. > > 3. A president that understands the economy. Obama has really had no idea how to jumpstart this economy beyond tax and spend and spin. In his debates with McCain he offered no plan besides “I’ll consult with economists.” He supported giving banks free money and you can read about the [RFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_Finance_Corporation) to see how well that worked out the first time (Hint: the banks took the money and invested it for themselves and didn’t lend it out. Sound familiar?). > > 4. The fact that she lost to Trump makes it that much more humiliating for the Queen of the Harpies. Say what you will about Obama, he did this country a favor by knocking Paris Hilton out of the spotlight. And she never came back. Kim Kardashian is made of sterner stuff. I was at target last night and I saw Kim Kardashian’s face on several magazine covers. The election knocked her off the front page but she is trying to make a comeback. With Hillary in office, I think she could have done it. But there is no chance that Trump will be sharing the spotlight with Kim Kardashian. None. And we can be grateful to him at least for that. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/69 "2016-11-10T19:44:25Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > In fairness to Trump, he’s been building his image for 30 years. I doubt a crazy candidate who came out of nowhere would get as much coverage because he or she would lack the established media background. > > Similarly, I expect someone like George Clooney could announce he’s running for Senate in California and get some respectable percentage of the vote on name recognition alone. That’s a good point. And Clooney seems like a swell guy, so his running might not be a bad idea! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/70 "2016-11-10T20:09:03Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > That’s a good point. And Clooney seems like a swell guy, so his running might not be a bad idea! Well, he doesn’t seem any less qualified for political office than Trump, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/71 "2016-11-10T20:56:42Z")
Owners of mouthwash companies are ecstatic, considering all the presidential tuchus-kissing that will be going on the next 4 years. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/72 "2016-11-10T20:57:07Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Hey, remember how only Nixon could go to China? > > What’s the equivalent for Trump? - The immediate one is that he can get a massive infrastructure bill through congress. (On the other hand, the Mexican wall may be part of that bill, so YMMV.) Although that’s not really a Nixon-to-China, since he hasn’t really campaigned as a fiscal conservative, but still. - The one that will make liberal heads asplode is that, after the wall is built, and after deporting demonstrably dangerous illegal aliens, he will get a “path to citizenship” passed and legalize most of the aliens already here. - I expect that Congress will take back some of its powers from the executive branch (not that he’ll _want_ that, but it will happen because of him). - I have hopes that he may lead to a (temporary, no doubt) truce in the culture wars. He is probably the most socially liberal elected republican in DC, and I expect he will act like it (LGBT cabinet member, etc) – while also marginalizing the force-people-to-bake-cakes leftist bullies. - Similarly, I think he’s very sincere about wanting to reach out to poor urban blacks. That’s the first group he mentioned in his acceptance speech the other day, and creating special “economic empowerment zones” in the inner cities is one of Paul Ryan’s longtime goals. In general, I expect him to get a lot of things done domestically. He’s not an idealogue, he has no orthodoxy to follow, he does believe in making deals and compromising, and there are damned few people to whom he owes political favors or loyalty. Whether those things work is another issue… ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/73 "2016-11-11T02:15:08Z")
> [@ganthet](#): > > Which territorial claims of China did Obama cave into? > > The big [Chinese baby formula scandal](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-ruling-idUSKCN0ZY0FJ) happened in 2008. _Before_ Obama took office. > > Regarding the IP violations, since this existed before Obama and will likely exist after him, how did he “cave” on this issue? I never implied that it was about Obama. We have been kowtowing to China for decades. Hell I was pissed when China got Most Favored Nation status in 2001 and that was Bush2 and a Pub House and a 51D/49R Senate. We pay lip-service to their refusal to honor human rights (like arresting an 8 year old for treason) and have for years. ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/74 "2016-11-11T02:27:49Z")
The great thing about a Trump presidency is … it’s not a Cruz presidency. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/75 "2016-11-11T02:48:45Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > hopefully the end of safe spaces, trigger warnings, etc. Hah! You betcha! All those black sophomores at Yale and Stanford can look forward to their exciting new careers in Janitorial Services! ---
**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:** [November 11, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/76 "2016-11-11T02:54:30Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > In fairness to Trump, he’s been building his image for 30 years. I doubt a crazy candidate who came out of nowhere would get as much coverage because he or she would lack the established media background. Hell, at least 40. I’ve lived in the NYC area since going to college in New Haven in 1978, and have been looking at his smarmy face on the tabloids ever since. If he wasn’t doing something illegal, he was doing something reprehensible. If he wasn’t doing something reprehensible, he was doing something in bad taste. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/77 "2016-11-11T03:45:40Z")
He’s got his [twitter](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/11/10/trump-tweet-professional-protesters-media/93624612/) password back. He’s decided to continue his war on the media and anyone protesting against him. This is going to end badly if this is going to be his reaction to all adversity. ---
**Author:** ![Itself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/78 "2016-11-11T05:20:47Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > hopefully the end of safe spaces, trigger warnings, etc. Do you understand what the president does and does not— or can and cannot— do? ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/79 "2016-11-11T13:04:01Z")
> [@Itself](#): > > Do you understand what the president does and does not— or can and cannot— do? A lot more than just his enumerated legal powers. A president’s bully pulpit matters, and he/she sets a tone for the whole country. Having a President Obama in office makes progressives feel their ideas and values are ascendant and normative, that they speak for the majority; a President Trump does the opposite for conservatives (In reality, of course, the country is unchanged, but that’s the perception). That absolutely holds true in this specific case, and if you think the ridiculous PC culture didn’t play a huge role in his popularity, you’re nuts. How that plays out is that progressives inclined to impose speech codes are going to be a lot more hesitant, and conservatives inclined to resist them are going to be emboldened. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204/80 "2016-11-11T14:32:12Z")
> [@furt](#): > > How that plays out is that progressives inclined to impose speech codes are going to be a lot more hesitant, and conservatives inclined to resist them are going to be emboldened. I love this line of reasoning. Conservatives will be emboldened to say what they really think and apparently they think that the rise of Trump means progressives will no longer smack them in the figurative face for it. The more conservatism ties itself to bigotry, the worse for conservatism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-things-about-a-trump-presidency/771204.md?page=5)