# Is Trump confused? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 24, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589 "2024-01-24T13:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 129
**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:** [October 14, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2594 "2024-10-14T14:52:51Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m pretty sure the “circles” thing was in relation to the social distancing circles at the few Biden events in 2020. And he’s claiming that there weren’t even enough supporters to fill them, and that the Biden campaign had to fill them with press members. And yet somehow Biden won. > > Basically it’s just another variant on his usual crowd size shtick. [Those “beautiful circles”](https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/09/22/fact-check-joe-biden-events-smaller-because-covid-19/5780898002/). [![](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2020/09/09/PDTF/45a0f4c2-ba35-4beb-a9e2-0e87d28b336e-AP_Election_2020_Biden_MIPA1_1.jpg?width=2560) ](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2020/09/09/PDTF/45a0f4c2-ba35-4beb-a9e2-0e87d28b336e-AP_Election_2020_Biden_MIPA1_1.jpg?width=2560) So beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2595 "2024-10-14T14:59:32Z")
[Even worse, he’s suggesting using the military against Americans he considers “radical left,” which, let’s face it, he has classified as anyone who disagrees with him](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4931778-donald-trump-national-guard-military-enemy-from-within/) “I think the bigger problem are the people from within,” Trump said. “We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical left lunatics.” “And I think it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard or, if really necessary, by the military, because they can’t let that happen,” he added. Why is the Harris campaign not using these words in TV spots? Here in Michigan, the only ad in seeing attacking Trump with his own words is one where he’s speaking to a group of rich people and tells them he’s gonna cut their taxes. She needs to hit him with his own fucking insane words. He’s given her a gold mine of them. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is cutting and editing her words in ads to make it sound like she’s fucking nuts. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2596 "2024-10-14T15:10:09Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Why is the Harris campaign not using these words in TV spots? Because half of us already hate his ever-loving guts and are repulsed by comments like these … while … the other half strongly supports this kind of Nazi rhetoric. I’ve long said … what _do_ you do when everything we detest about him is exactly what _they love_ about him? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2597 "2024-10-14T15:15:00Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Because half of us already hate his ever-loving guts and are repulsed by comments like these But there are plenty of people in swing states who have no idea he’s saying these things. They don’t have smapti giving them links multiple times a day, they don’t obsess over stories on The Hill, they didn’t go to his rallies or watch his fox interviews. They just get info from his ads against Harris, social media posts from their maga friends and family, and they just think he’s a normal Republican. The Harris campaign needs to get this shit on front of those people as well as unmotivated/casual Harris supporters. This wouldn’t be about turning magats away from him or preaching to the choir, it’s about moving the small amount of casual voters, undecideds and people who may, oh what the hell, vote for Trump because they think he’ll be good for the economy ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2598 "2024-10-14T15:17:11Z")
I’m not sure that the media outlets you describe are willing to _air_ that kind of ad by Harris/Walz. Getting _to_ the people who are lapping up Trump’s demagoguery and authoritarian rhetoric [ETA: or those who truly _are_ “low information” undecideds] is a huge challenge – one that – I would wager – Harris/Walz struggles with every day. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2599 "2024-10-14T15:18:29Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I’m not sure that the media outlets you describe are willing to _air_ that kind of ad by Harris/Walz. Why not? These media outlets are running ads from Trump that attack Harris with her own words, edited for Trump’s benefit, of course. Hitting her on trans rights, immigration, crime. Hell the one I’m seeing 20 times a day hits her on all three in the same ad, all with her own words, edited in a way that’s very effective. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2600 "2024-10-14T15:24:14Z")
I just did a little poking around, and – if this checks out – I was mistaken (8/15/2024): [bolding mine] [**Harris campaign buys ads on Fox News: Report**](https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/2024-election/harris-campaign-buys-ads-on-fox-news-report/) > [@](#): > > The ads running on Fox News are also airing on many other channels as the Harris campaign attempts to continue the momentum that began when President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. The campaign is buying $90 million worth of TV ads in August. > > The FCC mandates that TV and radio stations sell advertising time to any “legally qualified candidate” and may only charge the lowest rate that a station’s best customers pay. > > **The rule was expanded to include cable and satellite TV, as well as satellite radio.** ETA: it actually does appear to check out: > **[Cable Television](https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/cable-television)** > > IntroductionThe Federal Communications Commission first established rules in 1965 for cable systems which received signals by microwave antennas.  In 1966, the Commission established rules for all cable systems (whether or not served by microwave). ... > [@](#): > > Once a cable system allows a legally qualified candidate for public office to use its facilities, it must afford “equal opportunities” to all other candidates for that office to use its facilities. The cable system may not censor the content of a candidate’s material in any way, and may not discriminate between candidates in practices, regulations, facilities or services rendered while making time available to such candidates. Candidate appearances which are exempt from the “equal opportunities” rules include appearances on a bona fide newscast, bona fide news interview, bona fide news documentary, or during on-the-spot coverage of a bona fide news event. > > Cable television systems may charge political candidates only the “lowest unit charge” of the system for the same class and amount of time for the same time period, during the 45 days preceding a primary or runoff election and the 60 days preceding a general or special election. Candidates should be charged no more per unit than the system charges its most favored commercial advertisers for the same classes and amounts of time for the same time periods. Information concerning the rates, terms, conditions and all discounts and privileges offered to commercial advertisers should be disclosed and made available to candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2601 "2024-10-14T21:15:05Z")
[Trump Insists He’s Not ‘Cognitively Impaired’ In Jumbled Rally Tangent](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-insists-he-s-not-cognitively-impaired-in-jumbled-rally-tangent/ar-AA1seyVj) > “Who the hell can do this two three times a day?” he continued, pivoting abruptly to talk, apparently, about the number of public appearances he makes. “One little mistake if I pronounce a word slightly wrong, and I tend not to go back, because I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to say, ‘Uh, Excuse me, let me go.’” > > “So I speak for hours, mostly without a teleprompter, really, mostly. One mispronunciation of a word — ‘He’s cognitively impaired. He’s getting old, he’s getting old. He mispronounced a word like the name of the gang.’ If I did, I think I got it perfectly, didn’t I?” he went on. > > “But if they see any, they watch for weeks and weeks, for weeks and weeks. I’m up here, ranting and raving. Last night, 100,000 people. Flawless. Ranting and raving. I’m ranting and raving. Not a mistake.” > > … > > “And then I’ll be at a little thing, and I’ll say something a little bit like, ‘the,’ I’ll say ‘duh,’ they’ll say he’s cognitively impaired,” Trump went on. “No, I’ll let you know when I will be. I will be someday. We all will be someday, but I’ll be the first to let you know.” I’m not sure what he’s saying in that last bit. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2602 "2024-10-14T21:26:33Z")
My interpretation? He thinks he’s making a joke by being self-deprecating. But he doesn’t understand how humor works and he’s so fucking thin skinned it just comes out as insanely defensive. Compare… “People tell me I’m in cognitive decline. Well I haven’t noticed!” “People tell me I’m in cognitive decline. Well I’m not and I’ll be the first to let you know!” The second statement also has an underlying assumption that “the little people” don’t have a right to have a differing opinion from him. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2603 "2024-10-14T21:28:43Z")
It just came off as non sequitur to me. I see it now. He admits that he will be cognitively impaired at some point. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2604 "2024-10-14T22:31:20Z")
I think Trump has been told by a real doctor that he has a real problem that isn’t going to go away just because Trump thinks he’s the best of everything. The power of positive thinking has carried Trump way further than it ever should have but dementia isn’t reversible and Trump _knows_ it. He feels it. He knows his remaining lifespan is measured in days rather than years and each day is going to be worse than the last one. This is his way of kinda-sorta admitting he’s cognitively impaired _right now_. “I’ll let you know”? We know, Donald. It’s alright, you can admit it. We can handle it. And hey, guess what? If you have dementia you won’t be able to be put on trial! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2605 "2024-10-14T22:45:55Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > And hey, guess what? If you have dementia you won’t be able to be put on trial! All it’ll take is for one of his lawyers to mention that to him and he’ll start showing up for speeches in his bathrobe and declaring that Kamala Harris could never purple monkey dishwasher as bigly as he did in 1879. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2606 "2024-10-14T23:48:56Z")
“Gas is much better than electric for cooking, right… we do not have electric in the country but we have all the gas you can use… California is having blackouts every week… We’re getting rid of all the elect— You can’t have a hydrogen car” > “When I go Hannibal Lector… they say Hannibal Lector, why would you mention, you know because he was a sick puppy and we have sick puppies coming into our country, I think that is better than wasting a lot of words, just say Hannibal Lector” > “People put signs, this gun or we have, some of them actually even spell the kind of gun they have, we have an ak-47 inside and people say you know what, let us just, I knew about an ak-47 from a few weeks ago and the ar-15. I know a lot” > “If everybody gets out and votes on January 5th…” > Audience member: What is your plan to help small businesses? Trump: The fact is that you know they want to get away from gas. And I have friends, they’re into the cooking world – I’m not, I just like to eat – but they’re into the cooking. And I don’t know how you feel … > ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2607 "2024-10-14T23:54:03Z")
> [@Trump](#): > > Gas is much better than electric for cooking, right… I have to agree with him. I always had gas before I moved to northern Washington, so I’m used to it; and the electricity rarely went out. Here, electrical interruptions are frequent enough that I hope we don’t lose power when I’m cooking Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner. Once, we los power for three days. I’d much rather be cooking with gas. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2608 "2024-10-15T00:03:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I’d much rather be cooking with gas. I’ve had many stoves over the years and always MUCH preferred gas, as traditionally most chefs have. Gas is falling out of favor these days for various reasons, but not because it isn’t better for cooking. At least, the old stoves are better - new gas stoves kinda suck, as the grate is placed so high above the burner now. I guess that’s for safety reasons. (I was just shopping for a new range and ultimately concluded induction is the best. But we’re installing solar panels, so don’t have to worry about electric outages.) ---
**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:** [October 15, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2609 "2024-10-15T00:03:44Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > He admits that he will be cognitively impaired at some point. His father lived until he was 93, but was diagnosed with dementia when he was 86. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2610 "2024-10-15T00:09:42Z")
I know nothing about induction ranges. I do frequently use cast-iron frying pans, and I’d be worried about scratching the surface. (I also have the impression that the bottom of the pan should be in full contact.) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2611 "2024-10-15T00:54:01Z")
If you are ever looking at your options, [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-choosing-new-range-oven-stove/1008368) may be of interest. I started out opposed to induction because of the possibility of scratches and the need to replace cookware. But the more I learned, the more I realized that for me it is a good choice. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2612 "2024-10-15T01:07:07Z")
Apparently, Trump gave up speaking halfway through his rally and just stood on stage for an hour swaying back and forth to the music on the PA. > > > > > > ---
**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:** [October 15, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589/2613 "2024-10-15T01:28:01Z")
Can it properly be called a circus if the only one appearing is the clown? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=128) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-confused/996589.md?page=130)