# I finally recognize why Donald Trump's speaking style seems familiar... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220 "2016-07-06T14:20:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/21 "2016-07-07T15:51:57Z")
[quote=“12mgdaily, post:19, topic:759220”] This is my own personal opinion. Please, no Trump supporters argue with what I say. I have zero interest in Trump. I’m not interested in how he delivers his speeches or what he has to say. He is the worst candidate ever to run for ANY office. **I have not listened to (nor read) a single word this person has said in his quest to become president**…" Bolding mine. Probably not wise to indict yourself like that. No one should endorse this behavior, but your post is ironic, considering that it’s dumb voters being dumb that leads to Trump’s strategy of dumbing it all down. Mind you all, Hillary has resorted to this winning tactic, and for the time being, her team has done better at it (only recently). . ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/22 "2016-07-07T16:29:46Z")
> [@12mgdaily](#): > > He is the worst candidate ever to run for ANY office. No he isn’t. > [@](#): > > I just can’t stomach him. So what? > [@](#): > > He is not someone I would ever cast my vote for. So what? > [@](#): > > The fact that he is in this race seems like a big joke to me. This post is coming off as a joke. > [@](#): > > His running for president actually causes me to feel embarrassed and humiliated. Interesting. His running makes me feel proud for myself and this country. > [@](#): > > Other countries around the world must think our nation has sunk to new lows. What you wanna go the way of North Korea or Greece? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/23 "2016-07-07T16:38:07Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > What you wanna go the way of North Korea or Greece? Trump said he _admires_ Kim\_Jong-un for strength in dealing with his enemies. Including executing his uncle. He _admires_ how China gunned down the students in Tienanmen Square. He admires Sadam Hussein for ignoring rights of those he considered terrorists and had them executed without trial. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/24 "2016-07-07T16:46:26Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Interesting. His running makes me feel proud for myself and this country. You must be Drunky, Smurf. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/25 "2016-07-07T17:09:09Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > No he isn’t… > > Interesting. His running makes me feel proud for myself and this country. > > What you wanna go the way of North Korea or Greece? Seriously??? > [@running\_coach](#): > > Trump said he _admires_ Kim\_Jong-un for strength in dealing with his enemies. Including executing his uncle. > > He _admires_ how China gunned down the students in Tienanmen Square. > > He admires Sadam Hussein for ignoring rights of those he considered terrorists and had them executed without trial. You nailed it! 😃 > [@QuickSilver](#): > > You must be Drunky, Smurf. 😃 ETA: As far as reminding us about a lower grade primer book… He also reminds me of this: [Lily talks to Andy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tzUI8jkr0E&index=1&list=RD1tzUI8jkr0E) ---
**Author:** ![Doubticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@Doubticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubticus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/26 "2016-07-07T17:50:34Z")
I’m starting to think that perhaps there needs to be general competency test before one is permitted to vote. The Achilles’ heel of democracy is an uneducated electorate. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/27 "2016-07-07T18:14:06Z")
The quote from the OP also struck me as notable. Again: > [@](#): > > “Saddam Hussein was a bad guy, right? > He was a bad guy. Really bad guy. > But you know what he did well? > He killed terrorists. He did that so good. > They didn’t read them the rights, they didn’t talk. > They were a terrorists - it was over.” Yeah, this is 1st grade stuff…BUT, a 1st grader would probably ask, “WHY was Saddam Hussein such a really bad guy? What did he do?” And then you would have to say, “Well, he killed a lot of people without care for their rights, or proving that they had done anything…” “But, but, you just said that’s what made him good…” So 1st grader? Maybe not…this is more like what happens after intellectual curiosity and basic thought processes have been worn away by years of training to recite just the information that’s been fed to you. And the thing is, even if you point out the problems with his admiration of Saddam for killing terrorists, they will still insist that handling terrorists that way is fine because they’re terrorists and deserve it; but oh yeah, killing the innocent people was bad. But it’s _incredibly_ difficult to convince them that you don’t get one without the other. That somehow there’s a magical way to target ONLY the “right” people (or even _define_ the “right” people) without any due process or oversight or repercussions. And if they then insist that there is, it gets even scarier because then you’re literally getting into genocide/“ethnic cleansing” territory… ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/28 "2016-07-07T18:26:33Z")
I think the answer is that, he appeals to simpletons and bigots. When all is said and done, he speaks their language. I know that not a PC thing to say. So they could hardly object to hearing it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/29 "2016-07-07T18:35:46Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > It turns out then, that the enemy is not the con-artist like Trump, but a large segment of the population that is either unable or unwilling to think critically. Which, I realize, sounds like an elitist thing to say. But is it? Have we arrived in a place and time where a well informed population is seen as being ‘elitist’ and not something everyone simply aspires to as a matter of principle and function of a better society? Turns out? This has always been the case. People like Trump can’t rise to power in a democracy without two things: cynical people who know better, who support him for what they can get; and voters who can’t be bothered to rub two thoughts together to see through him. This is always the case. Go watch “A Face in the Crowd” and “All the King’s Men” again. We have always had a sizable percentage of voters like that, and other countries have too. Our job, as sensible people, is to make sure that the hysteria of circumstances don’t switch the less-lazy, less-malleable voters over to their side. There has been some good advice in this thread. Don’t underestimate Trump. Remember that his soul is that of a salesman, while at heart he is a narcissist. If he cleans up his act even a little bit, he will be even more dangerous. Don’t let down your guard, don’t waste your time trying to convert true believers, but if you run across anyone leaning his way, please do put in the effort to calmly and respectfully show them the would-be emperor’s lack of attire. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/30 "2016-07-07T19:16:38Z")
And please become educated about and vote in all upcoming non-presidential elections. We’ve seen how influential the US Congress and state governments are in the past 8 years. Even if Trump becomes president there is still a way to have a decent country. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/31 "2016-07-07T19:47:39Z")
> [@troub](#): > > The quote from the OP also struck me as notable. Again: > Yeah, this is 1st grade stuff…BUT, a 1st grader would probably ask, “WHY was Saddam Hussein such a really bad guy? What did he do?” And then you would have to say, “Well, he killed a lot of people without care for their rights, or proving that they had done anything…” “But, but, you just said that’s what made him good…” I have kids. No, they’re not that capable of deconstruction at age six. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/32 "2016-07-07T20:54:25Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > …If he cleans up his act even a little bit, he will be even more dangerous. He won’t. He can’t; one of his most trusted techniques is the dead cat strategy. [Dead cat strategy](http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/20/lynton-crosby-and-dead-cat-won-election-conservatives-labour-intellectually-lazy) is a diversionary tactic used in politics. Picture a dinner table, and the conversation is going somewhere you don’t want it to go. To divert everyone, do something strange and revolting, like throwing a dead cat in the middle of the dinner table. Guarantee that everyone will talk about the dead cat and why you would do such a crazy thing. Repeat as necessary. Trump never runs out of dead cats. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/33 "2016-07-08T04:24:26Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > He won’t. He can’t; one of his most trusted techniques is the dead cat strategy. > > [Dead cat strategy](http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/20/lynton-crosby-and-dead-cat-won-election-conservatives-labour-intellectually-lazy) is a diversionary tactic used in politics. Picture a dinner table, and the conversation is going somewhere you don’t want it to go. To divert everyone, do something strange and revolting, like throwing a dead cat in the middle of the dinner table. Guarantee that everyone will talk about the dead cat and why you would do such a crazy thing. > > Repeat as necessary. Trump never runs out of dead cats. Well, I did say “if.” To pursue your analogy, those people may talk about your dead cat, but they won’t come back to eat at your table either. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/34 "2016-07-08T06:48:48Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > To pursue your analogy, those people may talk about your dead cat, but they won’t come back to eat at your table either. Sure, but all the people at other tables will think you would never throw a dead cat at their table. And they may even think it cool that Donald stuck it to the man, with that dead cat. ---
**Author:** ![GunnarFranz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/da6949/32.png) [@GunnarFranz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GunnarFranz)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/35 "2016-07-08T17:00:28Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I watched part of Trump’s speech in N.C. yesterday. > > Part of it was an attack on President Obama, in which he criticized the president for flying on vacation in Hawaii to play “Lots and lots of golf”. “He chipped, he putted, he drove. He flew in that big 747. He flies everywhere in that 747, folks. He talks about saving the environment but flies in that big jet that vents all kinds of stuff into the air…” > > Now you tell me… how does anybody with a pulse listen to that and not wonder… 'Mr. Trump, you play golf. You own golf courses. You fly everywhere in a big jet. You vent all kinds of things into the air." > > How the FUCK do the people attending his rallies not ask those obvious questions, and many like it? > > Just, HOW THE FUCK DOES HE GET AWAY WITH THIS BULLSHIT? Because Trump isn’t claiming to care about the environment, just pointing out Obama is acting hypocritically. Also, to the same point, Trump has had the time to play golf, Obama, presumably, should have more important things to focus on. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/36 "2016-07-08T21:16:19Z")
And did you notice how neatly he packed the chemtrails conspiracy in there? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/37 "2016-07-08T21:22:12Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > And did you notice how neatly he packed the chemtrails conspiracy in there? That went over my head. _ducks and covers_ ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/38 "2016-07-09T00:14:27Z")
He speaks in Power Point. Short, repeatable phrases and lots of bullet points. ``` • Build a wall. • Mexican rapists. • Crooked Hillary. • Sad! ``` ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220/39 "2016-07-09T04:45:50Z")
i think that this is less like writing like a first grader than like writing to a first grade reader. Trump is trying to cast, if not the widest possible net, something like that. Add that to his conscious use of obscenity, and I have to give him props. He’s winning not because he knows what he’s talking about, but because he talks differently than the professional politicians. Honestly, the way we try to make politicians speak did need shaken up. Good for him. I fear he has little to no administrative acumen, though. He’d be a terrible President. He has no friends in Congress, and he would be a weaker President than he looks as a campaigner. He’d have to give up so much stuff to the people in Congress! And they’re bad people. Very, very bad. These are the same people that give politicians a bad name. I hope I’m wrong! But I think he’d just be weak. They’d say, “We want these judges,” and he’d agree. And the judges, well, they’d be the crooked judges the party leadership want. Isn’t that how it goes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-finally-recognize-why-donald-trumps-speaking-style-seems-familiar/759220.md?page=1)