# Has the left figured out why Trump won the election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 30, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827 "2018-07-30T19:32:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/162 "2018-08-02T16:34:47Z")
Double post. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/163 "2018-08-02T17:13:16Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > So Obama, who had a 56% approval rating in November, would have had trouble beating a guy with a 36% approval rating? > > Huh. According to Rasmussen’s poll numbers on Aug. 2, 2010, President Barack Obama had an approval rating of 45 percent. In an analysis on Aug. 2, Rasmussen said President Trump had a monthly job approval of 46 percent in July 2018, which was down one point from June 2018. In April 2018, the pollster noted, Trump had an approval rating of 49 percent. [https://www.ntd.tv/2018/08/02/poll-president-trumps-approval-rating-at-50-percent/](https://www.ntd.tv/2018/08/02/poll-president-trumps-approval-rating-at-50-percent/) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/164 "2018-08-02T17:14:24Z")
Rasmussen, he says. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/165 "2018-08-02T17:31:52Z")
[Poll headed by a pollster with historically conservative views](https://web.archive.org/web/20090220235847/http://washingtonindependent.com/30539/rasmussen-the-only-poll-that-matters) [skews Republican.](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-rasmussen-reports-biased/) Film at 11. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/166 "2018-08-02T17:34:37Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Rasmussen, he says. 🙂 What does the Razzleberry Poll say? That’s the one I believe. But seriously, OP, would you mind explaining why you seem to believe Rasmussen is the most trustworthy of the various polls out there? Not many seem likely to agree. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/167 "2018-08-02T17:35:50Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > According to Rasmussen’s poll numbers on Aug. 2, 2010, President Barack Obama had an approval rating of 45 percent. > > In an analysis on Aug. 2, Rasmussen said President Trump had a monthly job approval of 46 percent in July 2018, which was down one point from June 2018. In April 2018, the pollster noted, Trump had an approval rating of 49 percent. > > [https://www.ntd.tv/2018/08/02/poll-president-trumps-approval-rating-at-50-percent/](https://www.ntd.tv/2018/08/02/poll-president-trumps-approval-rating-at-50-percent/) Cherrypick much? Here’s _all_ of Obamas approval ratings: > **[Presidential Approval Ratings -- Barack Obama](https://news.gallup.com/poll/116479/barack-obama-presidential-job-approval.aspx)** > > Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? Here is ALL of Trumps: > **[Presidential Approval Ratings -- Donald Trump](https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx)** > > Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? Anyone can see that Obama over all consistently averaged much higher. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/168 "2018-08-02T17:36:06Z")
> [@](#): > > BobLibDem You’re quoting CNS, a joke of a right wing “news” source, not CBS, a respected legitimate news organization. Bob, use any lefty source you can find if they bother reporting the truth. Manufacturing jobs are way up under Trump. I’ll help you. [https://70news.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/manufacturing-jobs-up-22000-in-march-281000-under-trump/](https://70news.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/manufacturing-jobs-up-22000-in-march-281000-under-trump/) [https://unemploymentdata.com/employment/manufacturing-jobs-soar-under-trump/](https://unemploymentdata.com/employment/manufacturing-jobs-soar-under-trump/) You have zero points here. None. > [@](#): > > He used Kremlin-sourced lies in social media and was as incoherent and rambling in front of his addle-pated supporters in his rallies as he is now. Utter BS. Where is the proof? > [@](#): > > I’m such a nice guy I won’t jump on your misspelling of “border”. What he did was capitalize on the enormous power of racism to appeal to his KKK base. If the Republicans nominated Colin Powel, who would these kkk people vote for? You know the white vote is pretty evenly split and racism is on both sides. > [@](#): > > I don’t entirely disagree with this but Bernie would not have won the nomination even without the DNC’s thumb on the scale. He might have, didn’t he do better than Clinton in many of the key MidWestern states? You agree because it gives you hope, I think 🙂 But it also shows how crooked Dems can be using Sander’s being Jewish against him and calling the Latino push the Taco bowl. Stuff the KKK might like. OUCH. > [@](#): > > Not sure why television is capitalized, but he appeals to people who look up to bullies, as witnessed by his classless mocking of a disabled reporter. The fact that his supporters failed to be appalled by this behavior reveals what worthless pieces of shit they are. Guys who present well on TV do well in politics. See Clinton, a poster boy for me too , or Obama with the aid of a teleprompter. Trump was not elected for his morals…Thanks for illustrating my point. the left still needs to buy clues as to why he won. > [@](#): > > Oh Christ, you forget about the bankruptcies, the fraud of T\*\*\*p University, settling on his racial bias in renting apartments, etc. A “focused person”? What planet do you live on? He can’t even read a one page briefing. He spends half the fucking day watching Fox and Friends and the other half tweeting. That is when he’s not bilking the taxpayers to rent golf carts from him. Oh nothing! His bankruptcy rate is very low. You know he has 100’s of businesses, right? You know he turned a few million into a billion, right? Not a fan of a land deal. Obama had just one slum land deal, and it was rather smelly with Tony R if you care to remember. > [@](#): > > The economy went from free fall to recovery thanks in part to the stimulus that Republicans tried desperately to sabotage. I’ve already debunked the silly “if you like your doctor” “lie” that is often brought up by the Cult Of Donald. The Stimulus was poorly planed and filled the pockets of some Obama’s largest donors. It was the weakest recovery since the great depression, and the labor rate as I said went down under Obama. Learn what the labor rate is and come back to me. > [@](#): > > Printed on hats made in China and worn by simpletons across the country. Did it work? It was a good slogan. Simpletons, that would be the lower half of the Democratic base which on average are less educated and lacking college degrees. Trump by the way won the white college degree group if you care to know. > [@](#): > > Also by suppressing the Democratic base with the help of voter ID laws and by proliferation of Kremlin-sourced lies all over social media. More BS. Proof please. > [@](#): > > Only due to the fact that his cult members do not possess multiple brain cells. Hitler’s supporters overlooked his flaws, too. Back to cults and ad hominem attacks again? Boy you are just full of anger and little facts 🙂 I thought you said you were a nice guy. > [@](#): > > I rather doubt that condemning African-American athletes who protest the murders of blacks by police is going to win him many black votes, nor will his appointment of racist pigs like Sessions resonate well. Latinos (note my proper non-use of apostrophes, which are not used to indicate plurals) are not going to be sympathetic to the jackbooted thugs who rip families apart You are aware the cops assault more white people, aren’t you? If you want to protest, that’s fine. Do it on your time, not at a paid event. What did Sessions ever say that was racists? Facts and dates please. Don’t be a fool, people vote jobs first and African-American’s and Latinos have historic low unemployment and more money back thanks to Trump tax cuts. While the police have some problems for sure, I don’t see how a President can help. The same stuff happened under Obama, people just have more access to video devices these days. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/169 "2018-08-02T17:40:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Cherrypick much? > > Here’s _all_ of Obamas approval ratings: > [Presidential Approval Ratings -- Barack Obama | Gallup Historical Data & Trends](https://news.gallup.com/poll/116479/barack-obama-presidential-job-approval.aspx) > > Here is ALL of Trumps: > [Presidential Approval Ratings -- Donald Trump](https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx) > > Anyone can see that Obama over all consistently averaged much higher. I was quoting Trump two years in. Obama two years in on your source was 44% approve. Mine said 45% for Obama. Hardly cherry picking, I’m making him look better compared to your source! Donald Trump’s Presidential Job Approval Ratings – Historical Comparisons Average for U.S. presidents 53 1938-2018 Average for elected presidents’ 7th quarter 54 various Other elected presidents in August of second year Barack Obama **44 Aug 2010** George W. Bush 67 Aug 2002 Bill Clinton 41 Aug 1994 George H.W. Bush 75 Aug 1990 Ronald Reagan 42 Aug 1982 Jimmy Carter 41 Aug 1978 Richard Nixon 55 Aug 1970 John Kennedy 67 Aug 1962 Dwight Eisenhower 65 Aug 1954 ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/170 "2018-08-02T17:43:17Z")
**Silver** , your first “source” is a blog. A blog which links to the CNS link you had before. #MassiveFAIL. I’m not even going to bother with the rest of that screed. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/171 "2018-08-02T17:44:55Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Bob, use any lefty source you can find if they bother reporting the truth. Manufacturing jobs are way up under Trump. > > I’ll help you. > > [https://70news.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/manufacturing-jobs-up-22000-in-march-281000-under-trump/](https://70news.wordpress.com/2018/04/06/manufacturing-jobs-up-22000-in-march-281000-under-trump/) > > [Manufacturing Jobs Soar Under Trump - UnemploymentData.com](https://unemploymentdata.com/employment/manufacturing-jobs-soar-under-trump/) > > You have zero points here. Your points are from March and _December!_ How about something from [three weeks ago](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/13/business/economy/wages-workers-profits.html)? > [@](#): > > Corporate profits have rarely swept up a bigger share of the nation’s wealth, and workers have rarely shared a smaller one. > > The lopsided split is especially pronounced given how low the official unemployment rate has sunk. Throughout the recession and much of its aftermath, when many Americans were grateful to receive a paycheck instead of a pink slip, jobs and raises were in short supply. Now, complaints of labor shortages are as common as tweets. For the first time in a long while, workers have some leverage to push for more. > > Yet many are far from making up all the lost ground. Hourly earnings have moved forward at a crawl, with higher prices giving workers less buying power than they had last summer. Last-minute scheduling, no-poaching and noncompete clauses, and the use of independent contractors are popular tactics that put workers at a disadvantage. Threats to move operations overseas, where labor is cheaper, continue to loom. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/172 "2018-08-02T17:47:04Z")
Obama used a teleprompter. Holy fucking shit. All presidents since the use of teleprompters was a thing used them. Fuck me, the current guy can barely fucking read the teleprompter he uses. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/173 "2018-08-02T17:56:48Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Obama used a teleprompter. Holy fucking shit. All presidents since the use of teleprompters was a thing used them. Fuck me, the current guy can barely fucking read the teleprompter he uses. The TelePrompter accusation always struck as pure bitterness and hypocrisy. Here’s the now-retired Master explaining what they are during the Reagan administration. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/174 "2018-08-02T18:00:11Z")
Truly, you have a dizzying intellect. - The Dread Pirate Roberts, The Princess Bride ---
**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:** [August 2, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/175 "2018-08-02T19:08:20Z")
Why does every point Silver Lining raises in favor of Trump do more to disfavor his supporters? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/176 "2018-08-02T19:45:35Z")
Such fascinating sources of information, **Silver Lining**! Kudos for avoiding lamestream media sources and offering us the real truthiness! Other articles available from your citation: SICK LOOKING HILLARY WEARS A HOUSECOAT, ‘COLOSTOMY BAG’ ALLEGEDLY UNDER HER DRESS! APPLE iPHONE UPDATE REMOVES EASTER FROM CALENDAR This is news us lefties either do not realize, or have worked tirelessly to suppress, maybe both! How ever did you find such stalwart champions of truth? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/177 "2018-08-02T20:14:55Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > According to Rasmussen’s poll numbers on Aug. 2, 2010, President Barack Obama had an approval rating of 45 percent. > > In an analysis on Aug. 2, Rasmussen said President Trump had a monthly job approval of 46 percent in July 2018, which was down one point from June 2018. In April 2018, the pollster noted, Trump had an approval rating of 49 percent. > > [https://www.ntd.tv/2018/08/02/poll-president-trumps-approval-rating-at-50-percent/](https://www.ntd.tv/2018/08/02/poll-president-trumps-approval-rating-at-50-percent/) Shall I provide cites that say that Obama had a 90% approval rating at some random point during his Administration? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/178 "2018-08-02T21:13:47Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Guys who present well on TV do well in politics. See Clinton, a poster boy for me too , or Obama with the aid of a teleprompter. Trump was not elected for his morals…Thanks for illustrating my point. the left still needs to buy clues as to why he won. > . Then why did he win? Because for those of us on the left it appears that no matter how incompetent, corrupt, criminal, treasonous or hostile to democracy a politician is, about 60-65 million Americans will vote for them as long as they are a republican and not a democrat. We can’t figure it out. Why are people so loyal to R and so scared of D that they will overlook all these other important principles in a politician? I didn’t care for Romney’s agenda items, but he was morally, legally and intellectually qualified to be president. Trump is not, but Trump got more votes than Romney. It makes no sense to us. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/179 "2018-08-02T21:28:02Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > I wanted to read a bit from the posters. Okay, I’ll give you 10 reasons why I think Trump won the election. > > 1 ) He converted many of the industrial-era Democratic voters in the Midwest by not only talking about jobs, and cooperate tax cuts, but also about bringing back manufacturing and blue collar type of jobs back to the USA. According to a CBS news article in May 2018, +304,000 manufacturing jobs have been created under Trump. [https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/manufacturing-jobs-24000-april-304000-trump-took-office](https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/manufacturing-jobs-24000-april-304000-trump-took-office) Only the white ones who didn’t go to college and scored high on authoritarianism. Why didn’t Trump win over women or non-whites if his message was about economics? Also why do studies show Trump support is more about fear of cultural displacement (white christian men afraid of the creeping threat of non-whites, muslims, atheists, feminists and immigrants usurping their role in society) than economics. Also Obama saved millions of manufacturing jobs with his auto bailout. Whites who didn’t go to college abandoned him for it. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 2 ) He did not let the media define his positions. He used Social media to make sure his voice was heard and proved to be a very good speaker at live events, drawing massive crowds. True > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 3 ) Boarder security. Not just a wall to stop illegal immigration and the crime they commit, but also to stop hard core drugs, human trafficking, and weapons trafficking. Which again, ties to point 1. Border security is largely a metaphor for fear of brown skinned immigrants. Also why didn’t his border security appeal to non-whites or women? Or college educated whites? > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 4 ) Hillary Clinton. Yes she was a lousy candidate on many levels. Too bad the DNC submarined Bernie Sanders. The DNC didn’t destroy Bernie. Had Bernie won more votes he would be president right now. Bernie never connected with black voters, that is why he didn’t win the primary. All the DNC did was discuss ways to slow down Bernie, and the RNC did the same with Trump. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 5 ) He was a celebrity with plenty of experience on Television, capable of making headlines or mocking his opponents with great effect. True. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 6 ) Trump is actually a very focused person, and perhaps the most successful person win the presidency from a business perspective. He was greatly under estimated, and still is to this day. To be underestimated in politics is an advantage. This is very confusing to those of us who are not the GOP base. Trump has the attention span of a 4th grader with ADHD. He has to have his security briefings given to him in picture book form. Also a big part of his business success is likely due to him helping Russia launder money via buying real estate. Granted, we did underestimate Trump. We did, but we also overestimated America. That was also our problem. We didn’t think Americans would elect someone so immoral or incompetent. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 7 ) Barrack Obama. Obama’s lousy economy despite putting in billions for a stimulus package saw the labor rate go down. As Bill Clinton campaign strategist once said, “ it’s the economy stupid “ Obama had the highest amount of debt accumulated, more than all the other presidents combined, and his top legislative win has some mis truths in it ( You can keep your doctor, and the average family of four will save $2,500 ). During Obama’s tenure Democrats lost 1,000 seats on the federal, state and local levels. Most of those seats were lost in 2010 (about 70% of them) and a big reason the democrats lost so many seats in 2010 is because the GOP lost tons of seats in 2006 and 2008. The democrats controlled something like 2/3 of statehouses before 2010. Also the GOP will probably lose over 1000 seats in 2018. So it’ll flip back. And we will be happy to rub that in forever too when it happens. Also even though the Obama economy wasn’t amazing, he stopped the job losses and led to years of steady job gains. However wages didn’t grow. All Trump is doing is taking credit for Obama’s economic growth. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 8 ) A very catchy slogan, “ Make America Great Again “ I’m not sure why it is more catchy than any other slogan. Also it is a dog whistle for ‘return America to the days when white christian men had all the power’. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 9 ) He brought out his base. According to some stuff I’ve read Trump polls as high as any Republican in history with his base. A loyal base is a politician’s greatest asset. Yes but both Bush & Obama scored 80-90% support among their party, and about 10% support among the other party. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > 10 ) He’s nearly bullet proof to media framing and his own past words. The stuff that would take down a normal politician does not seem to phase Trump. In this department, he defines political gravity. Yup, he is teflon. It is amazing. Political scientists will study Trump for decades, possibly centuries. > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > \*\*With a roaring economy, and record low un-employment for both African American’s and Latino’s, it would not surprise me at all if Trump chipped away at these two Democratic Strong hold in a similar fashion to the way he converted the > Industrial workers vote in 2020. \*\* Trump is taking credit for Obama’s economy. After passing the stimulus in 2009, the economy has been adding a fairly steady 2-3 million or so jobs a year. All Trump is doing is taking credit for Obama’s achievements. [https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CES0000000001?output\_view=net\_1mth](https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CES0000000001?output_view=net_1mth) > **[Historical US Unemployment Rate by Year](https://www.thebalancemoney.com/unemployment-rate-by-year-3305506)** > > The unemployment rate has fluctuated greatly since 1929. Learn how GDP, inflation, economic events, and other policies have historically impacted unemployment. Seeing how republicans did nothing but complain, complain, complain for the entire 8 years of Obama, now they want to take credit for his work? That is insulting to those of us who voted for him and supported him. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/180 "2018-08-02T21:35:21Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Also even though the Obama economy wasn’t amazing, he stopped the job losses and led to years of steady job gains. However wages didn’t grow. And still aren’t growing enough, if at all (see post #170). ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827/181 "2018-08-02T22:39:28Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > In light of that — and of the thread title — there’s something I keep thinking will happen, and I don’t know what to expect will happen next; I’ve mentioned it here before, and I still can’t avoid Step One or decide on Step Two. > > Whoever the Democrats tap will, I figure, eventually be asked — on live national television — _“When she ran for president against Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton famously said half of Trump’s supporters were deplorable and irredeemable; the next day, she said ‘I regret saying half; that was wrong’. Do you think half of Trump’s supporters are deplorable and irredeemable? More? Less?”_ > > I can’t imagine that won’t get asked. How should the candidate respond? The last thing you ever want to say is that someone is irredeemable. You can call them out for their actions, but hold out a reward for repentance. If people knew that they were guaranteed to be forgiven should they stop being “deplorable”, then they have an incentive to do so. If they are irredeemable, then they have nothing to lose by continuing. This is one thing that the left is very bad at, forgiveness. Anything you have done in your past is to be held against you, forever, no matter how much you have apologized for it, no matter how you have repented of your ways. Now, that is not saying that individuals on the left are unforgiving, but the “democrat collective” as some conservatives like to call it, as it is not an individual, but a large group of people with different views, is much less forgiving, as sometimes it seems you have to get forgiveness from every single person individually that has taken it upon themselves to be offended by your acts. We really need to make it clear to not only those of the opposing party, but to our own side as well, that with repentance should come forgiveness. That’s the only way to win over the voters who have taken the “deplorables” comment personally. > [@jaycat](#): > > I doubt it. > > It was put to me thus: “I lost my job and all the Democrats think about is who can use which bathroom.” That’s the disconnect, though. You lost your job, and all the Republicans can think about is how to prevent people from using the bathroom. Keep in mind, it was bills passed by republicans that caused it to become a topic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-left-figured-out-why-trump-won-the-election/818827.md?page=10)