# So admit it, are (still) sure Trump will not become the new president? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 23, 2016, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445 "2016-05-23T07:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/181 "2016-05-25T14:03:48Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Clinton can’t play that card so when more scandals on her spring up as they surely will before November . . . Don’t see how. She’s had RWs desperate to hunt up any dirt on her for the last 23 years. There can’t be anything left to find. OTOH, there can be plenty more in Trump’s case; he’s been famous for decades but he’s never before come under a national-political-candidate level of scrutiny. ---
**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 25, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/182 "2016-05-25T14:20:49Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Low-income whites might have been numerous enough to form a “Silent Majority” in Nixon’s day, but they are a minority now. He can’t win with them alone. And even among low-income whites he’ll piss off a lot of the women. Can’t remember where but I read that Trump supporters actually don’t skew low-income -in fact overall they’re slightly above average income-wise. They skew “angry middle-class whites”, which are _not_ a predominantly Democratic-leaning demographic. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/183 "2016-05-25T14:21:45Z")
> [@GunnarFranz](#): > > There are plenty of moderate Republicans who can be considered socially liberal but prefer small gov’t in terms of spending and influence. > > The definition of party lines blur over time, ideally the Republican party would just adapt, but that hasn’t been the case of late. No there aren’t. They’ve been purged. If you are Republican, you have to love guns and hate abortion and gays and want to destroy the safety net. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/184 "2016-05-25T14:41:50Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No there aren’t. They’ve been purged. If you are Republican, you have to love guns and hate abortion and gays and want to destroy the safety net. And this ridiculous characterization is one reason why I wouldn’t be too saddened to see a President Trump. Call it spiteful but the self-righteous and smug on the left need a beating. Electorally of course. ---
**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 25, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/185 "2016-05-25T14:50:55Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > And this ridiculous characterization is one reason why I wouldn’t be too saddened to see a President Trump. Call it spiteful but the self-righteous and smug on the left need a beating. Electorally of course. **BobLibDem** was being slightly reductive but it’s hardly a “ridiculous characterization” to note that the Republicans have placed a great deal of emphasis on ideological purity in recent years (particularly in the context of the rise of the Tea Party), nor to note that guns, gays, abortion and benefit cuts have been key shibboleths in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/186 "2016-05-25T14:54:05Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No there aren’t. They’ve been purged. If you are Republican, you have to love guns and hate abortion and gays and want to destroy the safety net. Yeah, that shit drove me out, and my first Presidential vote was for Richard Nixon. ---
**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 25, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/187 "2016-05-25T15:32:44Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Yeah, that shit drove me out, and my first Presidential vote was for Richard Nixon. Mine was for Bob Dole in the '88 primary\*. I wasn’t a Bush I fan then, although these days he looks like a goddamn statesman compared to some of the current crop. Meanwhile old Bob has recently endorsed in succession Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and now Trump. Third time lucky, Bob! \*I think I ended up voting Dukakis in the general, although I thought he was another Mondalesque milquetoast. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/188 "2016-05-25T15:56:38Z")
> [@john\_b\_2](#): > > Yes, truly so. Trump is in the processing of stealing the base of the Democratic party–low income white Americans–away from them, while Hillary is p!ssing off that same base _and_ recruiting only minorities, or so it seems, while alienating the young and not so young Left that Bernie has a lock on. Quite frankly, if current trends persist, I think that the election is Trump’s to lose. The intense dislike of Hillary among large segments of voters is, while not so strong as those who fear and despise Trump, surprisingly large, and it ain’t shrinking. Probably at least people who are working on Govt. payroll (having permanent Govt. jobs) or those supplying to the government, would be doing good. Government’s revenue in FY15 was 3.25 trillion dollars, overall government debt is around 19.5 trillion. So debt to revenue ratio is 6. IIRC, this ratio is the highest ever in history except during world war 2. There doesn’t seem to the income equality which is why Trump and Sanders are popular. But at least those having (permanent not contractual) Govt. jobs should be doing well since Govt. seems to be ready to incur infinite debt for their hefty salaries and retirement benefits. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/189 "2016-05-25T16:04:55Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > Probably at least people who are working on Govt. payroll (having permanent Govt. jobs) . . . Nobody goes into civil service for the money. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/190 "2016-05-25T16:14:44Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Nobody goes into civil service for the money. Why? How are the pay n benefits? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/191 "2016-05-25T16:38:25Z")
Worse than in the private sector, by far, if you’re a professional or white collar position. For blue collar positions and for the less-educated, they do better than the private sector: To quote [Mother Jones](http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/chart-day-federal-government-pay-vs-private-sector-pay): > [@](#): > > Federal jobs have always been plum positions for blue-collar workers, while for highly-educated professionals it’s something you do if you either want a lot of job security or are really dedicated to public service. If you’re a doctor or a lawyer, you can almost certainly do better in private practice than you can working for the government. > **[The Differences Between Federal and Private Pay](https://facethefactsusa.org/facts/federal-vs-private-sector-pay-where-gaps-are/)** > > The latest figures show the federal government pays its workers 2 percent more, on average, than workers in the private sector. But comparing education levels tells the full story. Turns out workers with a high school diploma or less do far better... Please note that things are different in the state, city, and county levels. Pay _tends_ to be lower than Federal pay, though there will be plenty of exceptions to the rule (for example, the City Manager of San Antonio makes 2X what the Pres of the US does… but she makes FAR LESS than what she would be making running a similarly-sized division ($1 billion in revenue) in a multi-national corp.) ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/192 "2016-05-25T16:52:27Z")
So low paying government jobs pay better than low paying private jobs? But low paying private jobs are by far the largest portion of total jobs out there. And so one can conclude that Govt. Servants are less likely to vote Trump or Bernie than private sector workers? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/193 "2016-05-25T17:01:36Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Nobody goes into civil service for the money. Then why does the government offer such high salaries and pensions compared to the average joe? That’s the only way someone would choose to do such mind-numbing and antisocial work is if he’s getting rewarded for it. Those professionals that go after tax dollars want something easy and uncompetitive. The City Manager of San Antonio would never be considered for a high paying private sector job. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/194 "2016-05-25T17:02:53Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Trump is like watching a drunk driver. You know it’s just a matter of time before he’s in a major accident. Yeah, but the thing is that sometimes they get home safely. I hang right and I’ve been following the Republican primaries with mounting concern. I just couldn’t believe that Trump was going to get there but the asshole did. Best scenario now for me is for Trump to get his ass kicked by Clinton and the Republicans to reshape and remember what they were once so good at: winning elections. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/195 "2016-05-25T17:14:00Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Then why does the government offer such high salaries and pensions compared to the average joe? That’s the only way someone would choose to do such mind-numbing and antisocial work is if he’s getting rewarded for it. > > Those professionals that go after tax dollars want something easy and uncompetitive. > > The City Manager of San Antonio would never be considered for a high paying private sector job. IIRC some of the countries who come out tops on different ratings like happiness ratings are those were Govt. employs more than 50% of the total workforce. For all countries including USA, it is only possible when Govt. Job salaries and retirement benefits are less. Only then, they can employ more people. I like this approach. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/196 "2016-05-25T17:16:36Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Then why does the government offer such high salaries and pensions compared to the average joe? That’s the only way someone would choose to do such mind-numbing and antisocial work is if he’s getting rewarded for it. > > Those professionals that go after tax dollars want something easy and uncompetitive. > > The City Manager of San Antonio would never be considered for a high paying private sector job. Wow. I’m detecting a note of government-hate here, correct me if I’m wrong. What makes you think that working in the public sector is mind-numbing and anti-social? Generally, professionals make more in the private sector, going into the public sector brings lower pay but higher job security and the knowledge that you’re working for the good of the citizens and not some corporation. I don’t know the mayor of San Antonio, perhaps the skills that make one rise in politics are transferable to the public sector, so I disagree with your conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/197 "2016-05-25T17:17:34Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Small government republicans hate feeding children. Huh. I thought it was the parents’ responsibility to feed their children. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/198 "2016-05-25T17:18:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Even without shooting someone, [Trump is a Second Amendment champion](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/second-amendment-rights). And [Hillary is making herself out to be the enemy of the right of the people to keep and bear arms](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-makes-big-gun-control-pitch-marking-shift-in-presidential-politics/2015/07/09/4309232c-2580-11e5-b72c-2b7d516e1e0e_story.html). On that issue at least, there’s a very clear contrast between the two parties. Those beliefs about the second amendment are about as genuinely held as his beliefs on abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/199 "2016-05-25T17:22:59Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > When was the last time the NRA endorsed a Democratic president? People who vote based on genuflecting before the Second Half of the Second Amendment while totally ignoring the first half are going to vote Republican like they have done for each and every prior election in their lives. Doesn’t make any difference how Donald tries to pass himself off as a redneck. Bone is probably one of the gun nuttiest gun nuts (at least on this board) and he has voted for Democrats. The partisan divide on guns is not nearly as strictly enforced as the partisan divide on abortion. At least the gun nuts are genuflecting to an actual amendment. Which amendment is NARAL genuflecting to? ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445/200 "2016-05-25T17:27:53Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Wow. I’m detecting a note of government-hate here, correct me if I’m wrong. What makes you think that working in the public sector is mind-numbing and anti-social? Generally, professionals make more in the private sector, going into the public sector brings lower pay but higher job security and the knowledge that you’re working for the good of the citizens and not some corporation. I don’t know the mayor of San Antonio, perhaps the skills that make one rise in politics are transferable to the public sector, so I disagree with your conclusion. I dont know about USA but in Govt. jobs here in India, the entry level salaries are nowhere near enviable. Like in private jobs, the salaries keep increasing with age but the issue is productivity. Govt. Jobs aren’t productive enough. So (in India atleast) Govt. Jobs pay hikes should be close to zero and retirement benefits should be less. Both my parents are govt. servents. With provident fund and gratuity in retirement, they will be probably in top 2 percentile in India money-wise. Plus the pension and medical insurance. So a HUGE burden on the Govt. So now the Govt now has almost frozen the permanent hiring lol…all contract workers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-admit-it-are-still-sure-trump-will-not-become-the-new-president/755445.md?page=11)