# 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:** 72
**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:** [May 13, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1435 "2024-05-13T21:37:27Z")
That “latest” info is from 2019, and it conveniently misses what took place in the pandemic. Of course, then Trump showed how pathetic he was. > **[‘I Don’t Take Responsibility At All’](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/2020-time-capsule-3-i-dont-take-responsibility-at-all/622118/)** > > The Trump presidency, in a single sentence. As I said before, Trump doesn’t deserve to be president again, he deserves prison. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1436 "2024-05-13T21:45:49Z")
Presidents don’t control the economy! They are not economy wizards conjuring up market mojo. The direct influence presidents have on the economy is limited—e.g., selecting a Fed Chair. This notion will never take hold, but I will never stop pointing it out. I’m kind of a hero. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1437 "2024-05-13T21:48:05Z")
A president can sometimes make an economy worse- like an embargo or something. But yeah, his power to make it better is slim. Also the American economy often appears to be in a cycle. So the “thanks Biden” stickers on gas prices show a complete ignorance of how the economy works. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1438 "2024-05-13T21:56:18Z")
Yes. They can influence the economy at the margins—for example, stimulus issuance—and in instances of horrendous judgment they can help crater it (e.g., tariff policy). There are over 33 million small businesses alone in the U.S., in addition to the large corporations and mega corporations, with millions of supply chains tying it all together in a Byzantine network that no one fully understands, linked to a world economy with its own complexities. But, sure, Frosted Flakes cost more this year because Joe Biden has failed us. And the economy boomed because of Trump’s brilliance. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2024, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1439 "2024-05-14T10:07:29Z")
It’s not how well it’s doing, of course, it’s how well people think it’s doing. Just like it’s if you think that person down the street is waiting for a ride or a drug deal. Perceptions are hard to fight. Stickers are easy to make, just like signing checks to millions of Americans. Sorry if this all seems obvious, it just occurred to me in greater detail and I wanted to get it written out. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2024, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1440 "2024-05-14T12:11:01Z")
> [@Hurrilon](#): > > All one has to do is to look at the current shitshow in the White House. Then compare it with this: The already-made comments about how much the president can do (and how much of what Trump claimed credit for was the result of what happened under the Obama administration), by pretty much every metric mentioned there Biden is objectively better. But of course if one believes right-wing propaganda without question, one can certainly reach the conclusion that Trump was somehow a competent president. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2024, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1441 "2024-05-14T12:52:21Z")
Assuming we get a guilty verdict in the current NY case, I would hope it would be sufficien tfor the Dems to hammer the message: Trump has been found guilty of a felony fraud, he has been found guilty of fraud in another case, and he had a civil verdict against him for defamation and sexual abuse (apologies for not citing specific charges.) He is currently under indictment for (FL records, Ga election interference, incitement of riot). He says he wants to be a dictator upon re-election. Is THIS REALLY the person you want as YOUR president, making domestic and foreign policy, and representing the US on the world stage? If enough of the public is stupid enough to say, “YES”, then fuck it. Look out for yourself and let the degeneration proceed. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2024, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1442 "2024-05-14T13:00:13Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > If enough of the public is stupid enough to say, “YES”, then fuck it. Look out for yourself and let the degeneration proceed. Apologies for the possible hijack, but no. I’m not gonna fight just for “my own.” Trump would (Whoever forbid) be the President for everyone, and no one (with very few exceptions) deserves it. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1443 "2024-05-18T23:13:45Z")
Is it OK for the prosecutor to ask: Mr Cohen, can you summarize your work for Mr Trump? Monday in court. “Sure. I put in a lot of things like the Stormy Daniels payment so that you could not easily track down what Trump did. I made it difficult for you to get anything out of Trump’s accountant or lawyer at the witness box. I just did not imagine that witness would be me.” ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1444 "2024-05-18T23:16:15Z")
Trump completely misunderstands trade agreements. You agree on no tariffs. Then each side makes a list of things that are excluded from the rule. Often agricultural producsts. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1445 "2024-05-18T23:44:59Z")
Trump completely misunderstands… Everything. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2024, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1446 "2024-05-19T00:40:36Z")
Rather, he always ‘misunderstands’ in his favor. It’s as I’ve commented over at _Not Always Right_, errors in math or perception are _always_ in the customer’s favor. Something you’ll never hear: “Oh! It’s fifty _percent_ off? I thought it was fifty _cents_.” ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1447 "2024-05-19T01:37:52Z")
> [@Hurrilon](#): > > All one has to do is to look at the current shitshow in the White House. Then compare it with this Sure, let’s do that. It’s a list from March of 2019 and gives us stuff like > [@](#): > > - Due to President Trump’s pro-growth policies, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth exceeded 3 percent over the last four quarters. > - Real GDP grew at annual rates of 3.4 percent in the third quarter of 2018 and 4.2 percent in the second quarter. How cute. Now let’s compare it with how Biden did when he took office > [@](#): > > The U.S. economy improved more during President Joe Biden’s first year in office than in the first 12 months of any other president in the past 50 years. > **[the-u.s.-economy-has-experienced-a-record-rebound-under-president-biden-final.pdf](https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/d477dbcd-9b85-4866-accb-3d64ad30d8f3/the-u.s.-economy-has-experienced-a-record-rebound-under-president-biden-final.pdf)** > > 718.25 KB Help me out? Does “the past 50 years” include Trump’s term? ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1448 "2024-05-19T16:15:53Z")
I rewatched the movie _12 Angry Men_ for the first time in years and this line stood out to me as it relates to the MAGA political world: > JUROR #7: What d’ya mean, I don’t understand it? Who the hell are you to talk to me like that? [To the others.] How d’ya like this guy? I’m tellin’ ya they’re all alike. He comes over to this country running for his life and before he can even take a big breath he’s telling us how to run the show. The arrogance of the guy! The movie came out in 1957, yet I can imagine hearing this almost word-for-word at a rally from a Trump supporter today about immigrants (and non-whites). Some not insignificant portion of the population has been waiting a long time for a guy like Trump to put “these people” they resent in their place. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1449 "2024-05-20T19:11:42Z")
As I’ve said before, Trump didn’t actually _create_ anything, he merely turned a rock over exposing all the creepie-crawlies underneath; the rest of us had to stop pretending they weren’t there. Unfortunately, putting the rock back didn’t make them get back underneath it especially, I’ve added since Trump began campaigning again, especially when he keeps kicking at it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1450 "2024-05-20T21:28:44Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > As I’ve said before, Trump didn’t actually _create_ anything, he merely turned a rock over exposing all the creepie-crawlies underneath; the rest of us had to stop pretending they weren’t there. IMHO you are almost there. Lots of borderline bigots, who were kinda maybe ashamed of being a bigot, or didnt realize they were- finally got encouragement to let their bigot flag fly! trump made it Okay to be a loud and proud bigot. ---
**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:** [May 21, 2024, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1451 "2024-05-21T09:22:17Z")
He’s always had a consistent message. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1452 "2024-05-26T14:10:44Z")
Shouting epithets under an _UNGOVERNABLE_ banner is the epitome of trumpism. At some point he’s bound to reject the election nonsense and just go rogue making it up as he rolls along as a sovereign citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1453 "2024-05-26T16:59:26Z")
Soon, I hope he’s in a locked dementia ward in the US Prison system, along with all the other folks claiming to be president. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2024, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/1454 "2024-05-27T11:31:33Z")
Ha!! Surprised I hadn’t thought of that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=71) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=73)