# The Trump Campaign Promise Walk-Back Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 12, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556 "2016-11-12T00:14:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/221 "2016-12-04T18:19:30Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Is that the same mighty Rio Grande that Mexicans wade across? You can sometimes wade across small sections of it, but keep in mind: > [@](#): > > According to the International Boundary and Water Commission, its total length was 1,896 miles (3,051 km) in the late 1980s, though course shifts occasionally result in length changes. Depending on how it is measured, the Rio Grande is the fourth- or fifth-longest river system in North America. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande) Texas is a really big state. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/222 "2016-12-05T15:37:59Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > And to do so out of context is little more than living in the same bubble that cost HRC the election, but ramble on. > > If you’re interested in actual history, campaign walk backs generally start the day after the opponent’s concession speech - either by the candidate, the party or both. Like it or not, what it takes to win a presidential election in the USofA and what it takes to govern a country are wo different things. But I’ll exit this thread, as emotions are still seem too raw for real discussion. Sounds the same as saying that governing sometimes\* requires differing public and private positions. Hmm? I’d never think to hear that from a Trump supporter. \*Even those who may be comfortable with the notion may balk when “sometimes” becomes “usually”. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/223 "2016-12-05T15:56:16Z")
Didn’t Lincoln say: “You can walk-back some of your promises all of the time, and you can walk-back all of your promises some of the time, but you can’t walk-back all of your promises all of the time?” ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/224 "2016-12-05T15:56:16Z")
I guess whenever we think Trump is lying, it’s our fault for hearing it wrong. Here’s a bit from after he had dealings with Carrier. Note, he basically admits to lying on the campaign trail. I guess he flopped on his original intention of ignoring his campaign promise to punish Carrier for moving jobs out of the US, deciding instead to use special, individualized incentives to “save” half the jobs and halfway keep his promise. Republicans who hate “top-down” management of the economy were surely disappointed (excepting those who benefit from the deal in large or small ways). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/225 "2016-12-05T16:39:47Z")
> [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > I guess he flopped on his original intention of ignoring his campaign promise to punish Carrier for moving jobs out of the US, deciding instead to use special, individualized incentives to “save” half the jobs and halfway keep his promise. And yet he still thinks he’s threatening anyone else who dares to move jobs out of the country. “You better not! Or … or… I’ll have to hand you a bag of state taxpayer money, too! Watch out!” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/226 "2016-12-05T17:09:28Z")
A letter to Pestilence Elect Trump: "Your Gross: This unworthy one beseeches your attention to a crisis. My entrepreneurial efforts in the fast-growing tie-dye shirt and hand-dipped candle markets are hampered by big-government interference here in the People’s Republic of Minnesota. For one thing, they insist that no government employer incentives will be available until I actually pay someone for something. As you well know, Your Gross, no one gets rich by giving other people money! As well, there are remnants of a previous hemp growing project along our railroads, a marijuana-like plant with virtually no actual active ingredients, \*i.e. \*THC. My plans to market homeopathic weed are further hampered by needless regulation! As you see, I am, like you, a visionary capitalist stymied by big government! I may be forced to move my entire operation to Canada! I implore you to intercede on my behalf! If a bailout is not possible, i would be willing consider a “buy-out” option, with negotiations to start somewhere in the high two-figure range. Your pal, **e.**" ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/227 "2016-12-05T17:13:54Z")
Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there “in the high two-figure range”! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/228 "2016-12-10T15:14:00Z")
Trump tries to diffuse a chant of "[Lock her up!](http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/09/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-lock-her-up-chant/index.html) at one of his pep rallies: “That plays great before the election – now we don’t care, right?” ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/229 "2016-12-10T16:27:33Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump tries to diffuse a chant of "[Lock her up!](http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/09/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-lock-her-up-chant/index.html) at one of his pep rallies: > > “That plays great before the election – now we don’t care, right?” So, he just out and out admitted to his supporters that he was just lying and playing them. They’ll love him for it, I am sure. (Hmmm, that last line sounds like it should be sarcastic, but I am afraid that it isn’t.) ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/230 "2016-12-10T16:45:04Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > So, he just out and out admitted to his supporters that he was just lying and playing them. > > They’ll love him for it, I am sure. > > (Hmmm, that last line sounds like it should be sarcastic, but I am afraid that it isn’t.) Hey, he could shoot somebody… ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/231 "2016-12-10T16:45:48Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Hey, he could shoot somebody… Don’t give him ideas for 2020. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/232 "2016-12-10T20:03:19Z")
On trump not living in the white house I don’t see it as possible. Just like Obama being unable to keep his blackberry and Hillary not being able to have her own private email server there is simply no way to make communications to trump tower as secure as the white house. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/233 "2016-12-10T20:26:33Z")
Of course there is, same technology applies. A lot depends on your meaning of “secure”. Step one, staple Il Douche’s lips together. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/234 "2016-12-11T01:57:41Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Of course there is, same technology applies. A lot depends on your meaning of “secure”. Step one, staple Il Douche’s lips together. It’s not my meaning it’s the NSA’s and you’d have to get a security clearance for everybody in the trump tower or evict them. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2017, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/235 "2017-03-30T10:25:10Z")
Now that the twidiot is President, this thread can have some actual examples, like the following: [Trump walk backs NAFTA promise to renegotiate and “tear up” agreement, seeks only minor changes to trade agreement.](https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/trump-administration-signals-it-would-seek-mostly-modest-changes-to-nafta-1490842268) ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/236 "2017-03-30T20:56:07Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Now that the twidiot is President, this thread can have some actual examples, like the following: > > [Trump walk backs NAFTA promise to renegotiate and “tear up” agreement, seeks only minor changes to trade agreement.](https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/trump-administration-signals-it-would-seek-mostly-modest-changes-to-nafta-1490842268) I guess his goal is to make “the worst treaty in the history of the world” only the second worst. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/237 "2017-03-31T05:48:30Z")
Ah yes, I’d almost forgotten this thread. Where are we now? - The promise to launch a special investigation into Hilary Clinton, with the goal of “lock her up!” was abandoned before he even took office. - “Repeal and replace Obamacare immediately upon assuming office” was attempted and failed miserably. - The wall may or may not make progress, but it’s a sure thing the Mexicans won’t be paying for it. - So far, he has tried and failed to keep out Muslims. - He won’t be tearing up NAFTA, as **Blue Blistering Barnacle** noted above. - Did he “drain the swamp”? I think that one is debatable. He has certainly put a lot of inexperienced outsiders in positions of power, but he has drawn on insiders and elites as well. I don’t really have a feel for how his supporters view his progress, or lack thereof, on this particular campaign promise. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2017, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/238 "2017-03-31T05:50:24Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > - Did he “drain the swamp”? I think that one is debatable. He has certainly put a lot of inexperienced outsiders in positions of power, but he has drawn on insiders and elites as well. I don’t really have a feel for how his supporters view his progress, or lack thereof, on this particular campaign promise. He drained the swamp only to replace it with much swampier swamp. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2017, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/239 "2017-03-31T08:33:18Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > He drained the swamp only to replace it with much swampier swamp. Yeah, I almost said something to that effect myself - but I’m trying to stick to a relatively neutral review of whether Trump is keeping his campaign promises or not. When he said he would “drain the swamp,” I took that to mean (and I think his supporters did) that he would remove Washington insiders from positions of power and replace them with outsiders. To some extent he has done that. The fact that his chosen outsiders are horrifying in their own right doesn’t mean he didn’t keep his promise. Or at least, that’s how I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/240 "2017-03-31T09:03:25Z")
I think it’s important to note that there is a material difference between “walking back a promise,” and “being an abject failure.” I just want to make sure credit goes where it’s due. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556.md?page=13)