# How can Donald Trump win at this point? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, kamala-harris\ **Created:** [August 6, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351 "2024-08-06T21:13:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**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:** [August 7, 2024, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/161 "2024-08-07T05:55:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Using as few syllables as possible, tell them directly that they are bigoted dipshits and that their grandchildren are going to be very ashamed of them…if they are spoken of at all. > Tell them they are gullible. How did that work out for Hillary when she called them “deplorables”? There’s a basic principle that’s been said many times in many different ways, and one version that comes to mind is what a wise manager once said to me: when dealing with the deranged and irrational, the absolute worst thing you could possibly do is confront them with their irrationality. This is especially true if dealing with someone who has any kind of effective power over you, such as a superior in a business setting, or voters who will retaliate by doubling down on their support for the Orange Menace. In their minds, it’s them and their pal the unjustly framed Orange Felon against the likes of you who call them stupid and irrational. That’s a no-win situation. It’s been tried many times. Trumpists usually regress to comfortable lies rather than confronting bitter truths that expose their own gullibility. A few have seen the light, but not many. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/162 "2024-08-07T05:58:55Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I don’t think that’s in any way relevant. There probably wasn’t anything they could have used in those campaigns. Actually, they used the material right in front of them, and it was effective in 2016 and ineffective in 2020. IOW, they didn’t _need_ October surprises, and they didn’t try to create them. In contrast, in 2004, the Bush team really did cook up swiftboating. Sure, the kernel was perhaps there, but it took some clever work to turn it into a weapon. So it’s relevant in that Trump has not demonstrated the capability to cook up an October surprise. I’m not saying that it’s impossible, however. > [@](#): > > We hope there isn’t anything now either, but it’s possible. At the very least, they have nothing in plain sight that they are failing to use. > [@](#): > > If you go panning for gold and find nothing, it’s not necessarily that you’re incapable of it. There just wasn’t anything to find. Maybe there will be in the next river. But people are also suggesting that something could just be made up. That does not seem easy to do, and Trump has not done it in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/163 "2024-08-07T06:01:39Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > At the very least, they have nothing in plain sight that they are failing to use. Agreed. > [@Aeschines](#): > > But people are also suggesting that something could just be made up. That does not seem easy to do, and Trump has not done it in the past. Also agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/164 "2024-08-07T07:07:08Z")
Another important player in Trump’s chances is Putin. In a Quid pro quo the Quid is Trump has already threatened to pull out of NATO. Or perhaps at least Trump could make Article 5 “exceptions” for the Baltics should Putin want to. oh let’s say connect back up with the Kaliningrad Oblast. In any case, should Trump win, Ukraine up to Kiev and whatever else Putin wants of that country is doomed. Either before the end of the year, after the inauguration or if Putin doesn’t want to take on General Winter (again) he can wait till spring. The “pro Quo” is the Russian Social Media trolls are certainly doing the things they do. Then there are the electronic voting machines that I reckon are vulnerable to tampering. Recall Joseph Kennedy paid the Chicago Mob to get enough dead people to vote for his son to win Illinois. Perhaps Putin isn’t stupid to make a “deal” with the likes of Trump. Yet just getting those pesky drones out of Poland might be enough. Even Trump’s well known indifference and attraction to shiny things would be enough. Surely Greenland must still be up for sale? ---
**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:** [August 7, 2024, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/165 "2024-08-07T08:07:01Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > How did that work out for Hillary when she called them “deplorables”? Is that what she said, or was that the right-wing version you just repeated…after being corrected oh so many times? It doesn’t fucking matter what she said or how she said it, the fact that _anything_ might have been said by a Democrat is the only real sin here. Hillary Clinton is guilty of being Hillary Clinton, period. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/166 "2024-08-07T08:14:45Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Surely Greenland must still be up for sale? I think Mette Frederiksen’s reply would still be “absurd”. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/167 "2024-08-07T12:17:31Z")
> [@Ferris](#): > > I haven’t seen any mention of a ‘Swift Boat’-style attack on Harris, which is certainly a worry when Russian disinformation is such a threat in US elections now. > [@Aeschines](#): > > I think they would have to come up with something both real and big for it to do damage. Thus far, they barely seem able to attack her based on her known record. Yes, the swift boat lie came from the era when the people making up the lies knew they were lies, and thought that they had to be plausible lies for them to be believed. But now we’re into an era when far too many people on the GOP side are True Believers. They really believe that “Biden has been the worst President in history”. The really believe that Harris supports “Aborting” babies after they’re already born. They don’t seem to realize that those are lies, or that they sound utterly deranged to anyone outside their cult. There’s no way they’ll come up with a lie subtle enough to trick anyone who isn’t deranged, and they won’t latch on to any such lies created by Russia, or whoever, because they don’t think they need them. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/168 "2024-08-07T12:22:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is that what she said . . . It’s what she said at a fundraiser – [and walked back](https://time.com/4486601/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-basket-of-deplorables-half/) – where what she said was much more damaging than the questionable benefit of running up her campaign war chest that was already bigger than Trump’s. Attack the candidate, not the supporter. Many of Trump’s supporters would run into a burning building to the save my life. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/169 "2024-08-07T12:38:31Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > But right now, it seems as though the Democrats are doing everything right, and the Republicans are doing everything wrong. Well, many people felt the same way in 2016, and we saw what happened. Make no mistake, this election is going to be a litmus test that measures our national character. He should lose by the greatest margin ever in a presidential election. If he doesn’t, I think it will bode ill for the future of this nation. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/170 "2024-08-07T13:23:58Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Well, many people felt the same way in 2016 Yeah, I remember the '16 R convention looking like shambling baffoonery, versus the D convention, which looked like it was put on by people who knew how to put on a convention. As you say, that turned out well. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/171 "2024-08-07T13:41:43Z")
Any crippling mistakes or misfortune by Trump which cost him the election in November can be remedied, as he would be a solid bet to run again in 2028. An even crazier and more vicious 82-year-old version of Donald would still have dynamite appeal to his cult. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/172 "2024-08-07T13:42:48Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Well, many people felt the same way in 2016, and we saw what happened. We are not collectively going to make that mistake, since we remember 2016. > [@](#): > > Make no mistake, this election is going to be a litmus test that measures our national character. He should lose by the greatest margin ever in a presidential election. If he doesn’t, I think it will bode ill for the future of this nation. I think we’ve already failed the test, inasmuch 30% of the country still supports Trump. Actually, I think this is more of a human nature thing than a national character thing. And you know that Reagan won 49 states in 1984, right? So… ill-boding, already in progress… ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/173 "2024-08-07T13:45:34Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Any crippling mistakes or misfortune by Trump which cost him the election in November can be remedied, as he would be a solid bet to run again in 2028. That’s the good news. If we can get through this election, then His Orangeness will be hobbling the GOP for years. I mean, I’ll be hoping he lives to be 120 and runs every four years. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/174 "2024-08-07T13:54:28Z")
I’m not sure what you’re suggesting. This thread is about ways Trump could win this election. For Trump to do any sort of quid pro quo with Putin is highly likely to _lose_ Trump votes, not gain votes. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/175 "2024-08-07T13:55:39Z")
Trump has one rally this week, in the crucial swing state\* of Montana. Meanwhile, charismatic blowtorch of a speaker\*\* JD Vance has a full calendar: > **[Where The Hell Are All Trump's Rallies? He's Got ONE Scheduled. In Montana!](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/8/7/2261306/-Where-The-Hell-Are-All-Trump-s-Rallies-He-s-Got-ONE-Scheduled-In-MONTANA?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web)** > > VP Harris begins a 7 swing-state campaign tour over five days. Trump has ONE scheduled rally this Friday in Montana. WTF? NBC does mention Harris having a “far heavier travel schedule” than Trump but with only 3 months left, how is Trump not doing... I saw one interpretation somewhere that the campaign is trying to keep Trump off the trail, as they know how much damage he’s doing. I’m not sure what the truth is, but I do question whether these guys are _actually trying to win_ at this point. And need I tell you that Harris is carpet-bombing her week with major rallies and appearances?! \*Sarcasm. \*\*More sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/176 "2024-08-07T13:55:43Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > He should lose by the greatest margin ever in a presidential election. If he doesn’t, I think it will bode ill for the future of this nation. Well, it looks pretty guaranteed then that things will “bode ill for the future of this nation” since Kamala would have to win the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma and Wyoming. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/177 "2024-08-07T13:59:16Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Another important player in Trump’s chances is Putin. > > […] > > Perhaps Putin isn’t stupid to make a “deal” with the likes of Trump. Putin just _did_ a deal that everyone knows about–with Biden. In fact, the prisoner swap was such a big deal that people are speculating that Putin thinks that Trump will lose and therefore didn’t wait until after election. Also, I have not heard claims that Russian disinformation is doing anything effective on social media this year. Does anyone have further information one way or another on that? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/178 "2024-08-07T14:05:28Z")
Trump did congratulate Putin the other day on the successful prisoner swap, then criticized Biden for the same thing. As for a quid-pro-quo, I was just on about my conspiracy theory that the electronic voting machines are easy to manipulate. I can’t recall which election in the 2000’s it was, but most of them were running Microsoft Access and those files would be collected from each machine onto a USB stick and uploaded to somewhere. They’d never have passed a PEN (penetration) test and I doubt they’ve been “hardened” enough that a few people could not figure out ten ways to manipulate them. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/179 "2024-08-07T14:11:39Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Trump did congratulate Putin the other day on the successful prisoner swap, then criticized Biden for the same thing. Yep, one of about twenty Trump mouth ejecta that left even Republicans aghast in the past week. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351/180 "2024-08-07T14:16:16Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Also, I have not heard claims that Russian disinformation is doing anything effective on social media this year. Does anyone have further information one way or another on that? Don’t know about effectiveness, but there has already been Russian disinformation aimed at getting people to believe that the assassination attempt on Trump was directed by Biden and/or Ukraine. Activity has been stepping up, [and not just from Russia](https://apnews.com/article/russia-trump-biden-harris-china-election-disinformation-54d7e44de370f016e87ab7df33fd11c8). It’s early days. Expect a lot more garbage to flood social media. Democrats will need to have quick responses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-donald-trump-win-at-this-point/1005351.md?page=10)