# How is trump still a viable candidate for president? Really, how? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 12, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949 "2023-05-12T14:28:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 62
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1232 "2024-03-29T00:04:09Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/999506/35): > > America is an English-speaking nation. One thing I agree with the right is that you should speak English in America. I am wondering if this language discussion has anything to do Trump being viable. I guess the connection is that old-Time Republican politicians would never express Bulls99’s quite popular view, but Trump more or less does: [Trump warns of ‘languages coming into our country’ that ‘nobody’ has heard of](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-warns-languages-immigration-migrants-rcna141535) Meanwhile, to judge by some recent posts, many Biden supporters imply that learning multiple languages is something native Americans should do if possible. There’s lots of learning that is good, but no one can do it all. My mom’s mother was a native Yiddish speaker who never learned much English, even though she went to some classes in Philadelphia. I do not know why anyone should think less of her for this, even if she didn’t go to classes. I only speak English, although my retirement-time volunteer job is tutoring English language learners at the local public library. I do not need to learn any other language to do this. Should every non-English speaker in my town, of whom there are many, learn English? No, their life may already be full. Their children in school need to, and are. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1234 "2024-03-29T00:13:43Z")
Yikes ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1235 "2024-03-29T00:19:03Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I also don’t think much of the tyranny of the majority. It beats the alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1236 "2024-03-29T00:27:14Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > My mom’s mother was a native Yiddish speaker who never learned much English, even though she went to some classes in Philadelphia. And now the few remaining native Yiddish speakers are supporting…Trump. > **[Why Haredi Jews Weren’t Troubled by Trump’s Conspiracy-Mongering](https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/haredi-jews-trump-conspiracies)** > > Ends to a means ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1237 "2024-03-29T12:25:16Z")
Split this topic on March 29, 2024, 12:25pm UTC A post was merged into an existing topic: [Trump expected to attend wake for fallen NYPD officer as he ramps up rhetoric on crime {And other posts he made added after #25}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-expected-to-attend-wake-for-fallen-nypd-officer-as-he-ramps-up-rhetoric-on-crime-and-other-posts-he-made-added-after-25/999506/39) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1240 "2024-03-29T09:52:39Z")
I wasn’t sure where else to share this, but Trump is having a big Palm Beach fundraiser. An interesting factoid about it is that “the invitation’s fine print shows that if a hypothetical $15,000 comes through the committee, the first $6,600 from the donor (or $10,000 from a PAC) goes to the Trump campaign and the next $5,000 goes to Save America – before any of the funds would go to the Republican Party committees.” I know his financial takeover of the Party has been discussed, but geez! They must really have faith in his (badly-tailored) coattails! > **[Trump faces major financial disadvantage against Biden as legal bills eat...](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-faces-major-financial-disadvantage-biden-legal-bills/story?id=108346336)** > > Trump and the Republican National Committee are, right now, facing a serious financial disadvantage in the early general election fight against Biden, new filings show ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1241 "2024-03-29T09:57:47Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I know his financial takeover of the Party has been discussed, but geez! They must really have faith in his (badly-tailored) coattails! And it’s only march. This is just going to get much much worse as the year drags on. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1242 "2024-03-29T23:06:00Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I know his financial takeover of the Party has been discussed, but geez! They must really have faith in his (badly-tailored) coattails! > > [Trump faces major financial disadvantage against Biden as legal bills eat into allies' cash: Filings - ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-faces-major-financial-disadvantage-biden-legal-bills/story?id=108346336) I know you are probably just poking fun at the griftees and the party, but just in case, and for all those reading at home (our precious lurkers!) who might think that’s the reason, I think a dozen + Trump threads have made it clear: no, if they aren’t already true-MAGA believers, they realize that Trump breaking away and running his own MAGA party will turn the government over to the Democrats on all levels for one of more election cycles - enough time to force through some fixes to gerrymandering and other undemocratic forces that keep them in comfy power. So not breaking with Trump and getting a slim majority, or even not too small minority works a hell of a lot better for them, moth-eaten coattails and all, than having an actual split. The remaining, tattered core of traditional Republicans and their sponsors / funders should have had the courage of their convictions after Jan 6, but they came crawling back out of fear of that split, when they found their base wouldn’t hold Trump responsible. And they were unwilling to risk that 1-2 cycles. Further words regarding my feelings about that being utterly Pit-worthy, I’ll stop there. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1243 "2024-03-30T14:24:52Z")
I think why Trump is still a viable candidate is part of the Trump delusion and the cost of buying into the Trump delusion. The Trump delusion is Trump can not be seen to lose against anyone else. In this Trump will do whatever it takes to have the other side admit Trump won. We see this in golf, where Trump blatantly cheats, but if you call him out on it you are out of the club and labeled a cheater. Everyone who wishes to stay in the club is compelled to agree with this Trump delusion. This is the same thing for election interference, stop the steal. Trump knew he was going to lose ‘bigly’ to Biden, so had to make up some BS about the election was stolen and that not only did Trump win but overwhelmingly so. To be a Trump MAGA you have to support the delusion that Trump really won no matter the cost to one’s moral compass. I also liken this to the leader of N- Korea where the population must celebrate the leader’s birthday, and in doing so become more devoted to him. This bent moral compass is the reason, and if you don’t go along with Trump you are out of MAGA, not a real MAGA, etc. and Trump has been shown to tell those people off and say he does not need them. So MAGA’s need to believe what Trump is saying, that Trump is going to win as the rightful winner, or ‘all hell is going to break loose’. It is the hold over these people who don’t realize they are in the Trump delusion that keeps Trump alive. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1244 "2024-03-30T18:22:11Z")
Some supporters get defensive when a [video showing one of his famous trick shots](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qaYjjJ4NqKE?feature=share) is labeled as an example of bad golfmanship. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1245 "2024-04-01T19:27:19Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > We see this in golf, where Trump blatantly cheats, but if you call him out on it you are out of the club and labeled a cheater. Everyone who wishes to stay in the club is compelled to agree with this Trump delusion. The question then becomes why would you want to stay in the club? ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1246 "2024-04-01T19:38:57Z")
Because you are afraid no other group will let you join after you’ve debased yourself so much for the cult leader. It’s fear of being excommunicated and not having a home along with delusion that you’ll be the one that is safe from getting bus tossed whenever you stop being useful. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1247 "2024-04-01T20:28:08Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > The question then becomes why would you want to stay in the club? I assume because the perceived value to stay in the club for the individual is worth the cost of putting up with that sort of stuff. Not to mention being disgraced by Trump and called a cheater and kicked out will have negative social consequences with the existing club members, so loss of business opportunities. So people are somewhat trapped there too. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1248 "2024-04-01T21:05:02Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > The question then becomes why would you want to stay in the club? You might have paid a big, essentially non-refundable, up-front membership fee before Trump bought it. Also, you probably never will play with Trump, or compete with him for the club championship. Some, or all, of it is explained here: > **[Commander in Cheat](https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rick-reilly/commander-in-cheat/9780316528030/?lens=hachette-books)** > > NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Reilly pokes more holes in Trump's claims than there are sand traps on all of his courses combined. It is by turns amusi... ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1249 "2024-04-01T23:04:01Z")
I often say that tyranny of the masses beats tyranny of them asses. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1250 "2024-04-02T01:40:32Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I assume because the perceived value to stay in the club for the individual is worth the cost of putting up with that sort of stuff. Not to mention being disgraced by Trump and called a cheater and kicked out will have negative social consequences with the existing club members, so loss of business opportunities. So people are somewhat trapped there too. Are we talking about one of the clubs he owns or the Republican party? Because this seems applicable to either. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1251 "2024-04-02T02:10:41Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Are we talking about one of the clubs he owns or the Republican party? This is exactly what I was thinking. I came back to this thread after a couple of days and actually thought we were talking about the Republican party. Then I recalled we were talking about his Golf Clubs and had a little laugh. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1252 "2024-04-02T11:11:03Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Are we talking about one of the clubs he owns or the Republican party? Because this seems applicable to either. I used his golf clubs as an example of how he does the republican party and how he would try to run the nation. So both. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1253 "2024-04-05T05:33:39Z")
The Trump Two Step. (Gift link.) > **[The Trump Two-Step](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/trump-two-step-bloodbath-2024-election/677966/)** > > Once you recognize the pattern, you’ll see it everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1254 "2024-04-05T12:05:11Z")
That link is still paywalled for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=61) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=63)