# Things that don't bother voters vs. things that REALLY bother voters **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 11, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304 "2026-08-11T21:58:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/61 "2026-08-13T18:54:11Z")
Or “Trump defies death to save child from sniper with ties to Democrats; child didn’t make despite Trump’s valiant effort” ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/62 "2026-08-13T19:21:25Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Think about Caligula, Nero, et all, and how they got away with one atrocity after another primarily because Roman society was Okay with it. Not a great comparison. I will suppress the pedantic urge to go into the whys as it would be a hijack. But in general the common use of the Roman Empire/emperors as a paragon of creeping moral decay in society is not a great one. It is very apples and oranges relative to the modern world. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/63 "2026-08-13T19:22:08Z")
I mean, the purpose of the holiday was to celebrate an Italian to smooth over relations with Italian Americans. None of those would accomplished that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/64 "2026-08-13T21:17:10Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > What might bring Donald down is if he followed the example of the atrocious politician in a Stephen King story. > > When a sniper opened fire on him, he grabbed a small child to hold in front of him as a shield, and escaped - but did it on camera. Elon Musk did something pretty close to that-- When that insurance executive got killed, he started showing up to all of his public appearances with one of his kids (who he otherwise pays well to avoid having to do anything with) in tow. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/65 "2026-08-13T22:57:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Elon Musk did something pretty close to that-- When that insurance executive got killed, he started showing up to all of his public appearances with one of his kids (who he otherwise pays well to avoid having to do anything with) in tow. Good point. And I’m guessing that opinion poll results for Elon are even worse than Donald’s. (YouGov has 21% favorable, which would track.) > [@Alessan](#): > > The funny thing about the whole changing jet mess is that’s it’s possible that it wasn’t even Trump’s fault. Obviously Donald has been blaming the Secret Service (because even in his protected-cocoon of positivity he’s managed to sense that this episode is hurting him). Just as obviously, we shouldn’t assume that because he claimed it, it’s true. > [@joebuck20](#): > > Also, I can’t imagine Fox, OANN and the other Trumpist mouthpieces are devoting much airtime to this right now anyway. Oh, no doubt they will ignore it as much as possible, and when not possible, try to spin it as ‘Brave Trump outsmarted the Iranians’ (as has been suggested in the thread). But when a story gets really big, even those who restrict their media diet to FoxNews and the like can become aware of it. It leaks. And the more it leaks, the worse for Donald. The Musk polling: > **[Elon Musk popularity & fame | YouGov](https://yougov.com/en-gb/topics/public_figure/Elon_Musk)** > > Elon Musk is the 8th most popular business figure and the 62nd most popular public figure. Explore the latest YouGov polling, survey results and articles about Elon Musk. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/66 "2026-08-13T23:03:46Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Obviously Donald has been blaming the Secret Service (because even in his protected-cocoon of positivity he’s managed to sense that this episode is hurting him). Just as obviously, we shouldn’t assume that because he claimed it, it’s true. On the other hand, does anyone actually believe that Trump himself could have come up with that and successfully pulled it off? A secret agent, he’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/67 "2026-08-13T23:13:07Z")
Okay, look. I’d call Trump a lot of things, but I wouldn’t call him a coward. At least not for actual physical danger. You’re talking about a guy who was standing with his fist in the air seconds after someone tried to kill him. He has no fear of anything because he believes he’s invincible. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep hammering this meme or anything else that causes him to lose credibility. But in reality, I imagine he was all bluster and “bring it on!” And the Secret Service had to convince him to go with their plan. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/68 "2026-08-14T10:42:47Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > a guy who was standing with his fist in the air a guy who was **completely surrounded by security staff** standing with his fist in the air ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/69 "2026-08-14T16:28:58Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > There’s not much that bothers 2026 right-wing Americans. Not much that one of their candidates can do, other than offend their Dear Leader. But Dear Leader himself seems to get a pass on just about everything. > > Is it possible that this could change? I’ve said before, the only thing Trump could do to undermine his cult is to promote egalitarianism and equality. Trump is popular because white christians feel they are the default Americans and they deserve to rule. They see America becoming browner, more secular, more feminist, less traditional, etc and it terrifies them because it shows they are rapidly losing power and influence. They love Trump because Trump treats muslims, POC, women, etc like garbage. That is a feature, not a bug. The only thing Trump could do to lose support of his cult is to promote equality. Someone needs to create AI videos of Trump doing the following: - Apologizing to AOC, Omar and the squad for being bigoted to them - Promoting mass immigration from Africa and the middle east - Encouraging those brown skinned immigrants to have the right to vote - Saying that the future is female - Saying Muslims are just as American as christians - Encouraging black people and muslims to buy guns - Praising Obama as the first black president - Saying ‘peace be upon him’ anytime he mentions Mohammed If Trump did that, his cult would fall apart. Nothing short of that will bother his cult. His cult don’t care about child molestation, they care about brown people, women and non-christians gaining power. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/70 "2026-08-14T16:43:46Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > a guy who was **completely surrounded by security staff** standing with his fist in the air I’m just saying it it were me, I wouldn’t have left the fetal position for like twenty minutes. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/71 "2026-08-14T21:31:06Z")
If it had been me, i wouldn’t have reacted emotionally to the danger for 45 minutes. And i am a coward. I’m just slow to react. But i don’t think his followers care about his physical courage. I think some of them voted for him because they didn’t think he’d be this bad, and they cared about stuff he promised (lower prices, less regulation of industry, abortion…) and a depressing fraction of them voted for him because they are bigots and were frightened by where America was headed (that is, away from bigotry.) I think the inflation he’s caused is something voters care about. (This will hurt him.) I think the difficulty his tariffs cause for industry is something (a few well-heeled) voters care about. (This will hurt his funding.) I think his bigotry is something voters care about (fervently, on both sides, but the issue seems to be a net positive for him.) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/72 "2026-08-14T21:44:59Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > If Trump did that, his cult would fall apart. I agree it would lose him some followers—many, perhaps. IF enough of them believed the AI videos. But your suggestions are brilliant. They are exactly the sort of things-that-COULD-happen in some weird circumstance in which Donald is forced into an epiphany. And of course his followers would react with revulsion. They’d reject him. I hope someone does this. (It’s not against the law so far as I know.) They’d have to come up with that ‘_reason for the epiphany_,’ too, I think. > [@Chronos](#): > > does anyone actually believe that Trump himself could have come up with that and successfully pulled it off? I agree that he couldn’t have come up with the details of the switcheroo. He would never have suggested the ‘catering truck’ move, for example—he’d see that as beneath his Considerable dignity. But I _ **also** _ have trouble with the idea that a Secret Service agent could authorize the _“let’s make Cabinet members and those military folks who fly and run Air Force One into decoys for the missiles we believe are coming”_ plan. What Secret Service agent would have the clout to put all those lives actively into danger? It seems much more likely that the SS told Donald they wanted to put him on that other plane, and that HE came up with the '_let’s let AF1 fly with everyone thinking I’m still onboard, so the missiles will be aimed at IT’_ plan. I mean, it would be just like him. I’m hoping this mystery will be solved. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/73 "2026-08-14T21:53:53Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I guess my 8th grade history teacher was right. > > She said every nation has a rise and decline and we were at its peak (in the 90s.) She predicted a decline within our lifetime. That could be the case. On the other hand, we may be repeating an era of history that we DID get through successfully: the Gilded age at the end of the nineteenth century. Then as now, income and asset inequality were huge and getting bigger with each passing month. Poverty and want were given front row seats to watch the millionaires of the day lighting their cigars with hundred-dollar bills—and it didn’t sit well at all. The oligarchs were choking off every possible avenue for higher wages or the rise of small businesses that could compete with their own empires. The oligarchs owned the politicians, and all the laws favored them. 90% of the population knew that they could never hope to get ahead. The game was rigged. But-----we got through that. A few brave politicians faced down the oligarchs. Monopolies were broken up. Oligarchs had to start paying an income tax. Life got better for the 99%. That _could_ happen again. In the meantime, here’s a meme: [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xc7xr3iicrz4myp5nlhevryb/bafkreiakeazd6dwcmwsyann2p7tpuz4kxyslhvf4nhjoxg7ggktsn6lpvy) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xc7xr3iicrz4myp5nlhevryb/bafkreiakeazd6dwcmwsyann2p7tpuz4kxyslhvf4nhjoxg7ggktsn6lpvy) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/74 "2026-08-14T22:47:23Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I hope someone does this. (It’s not against the law so far as I know.) They’d have to come up with that ‘_reason for the epiphany_,’ too, I think. Trump had a near death experience due to a medical complication, saw the white light, and saw that all humans are equals and have dignity. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/75 "2026-08-14T23:14:19Z")
Didn’t that kinda sorta happen to George Wallace? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/76 "2026-08-14T23:57:19Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > But-----we got through that. A few brave politicians faced down the oligarchs. Monopolies were broken up. Oligarchs had to start paying an income tax. Life got better for the 99%. > > That _could_ happen again. Ok. That sounds hopeful. Looking for the brave politicians… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/77 "2026-08-14T23:58:33Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > But I _ **also** _ have trouble with the idea that a Secret Service agent could authorize the _“let’s make Cabinet members and those military folks who fly and run Air Force One into decoys for the missiles we believe are coming”_ plan. That wasn’t the plan. Nobody turned those folks into decoys. If they were threatened, the threat came from Iran. That’s who was, putatively, aiming missiles at Air Force 1. The Secret Service’s job is to protect the President, which they did by taking him away from the targeted airplane. They didn’t protect the President’s entourage, because that’s not their job. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/78 "2026-08-15T00:15:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That wasn’t the plan. Nobody turned those folks into decoys. If they were threatened, the threat came from Iran. That’s who was, putatively, aiming missiles at Air Force 1. The Secret Service’s job is to protect the President, which they did by taking him away from the targeted airplane. They didn’t protect the President’s entourage, because that’s not their job. Were the folks on Air Force 1 informed of the threat? AF1 was a false target, i.e. it was a decoy. There was a credible threat to the plane and Trump and the Secret Service left most of the people onboard to act as a decoy so Trump could be safe. Yes, the Secret Service’s job is to protect Trump, but that doesn’t mean it was right to endanger everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/79 "2026-08-15T00:19:13Z")
But they weren’t endangering anyone else. They were just not protecting them. The others on that plane would have been in no greater danger if the Secret Service had done nothing at all. There are lots of folks that they don’t protect, even folks that actually do get attacked or killed. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304/80 "2026-08-15T00:53:53Z")
Yeah, i don’t really see the secret service being at fault here. If they’d done nothing, the risk to those people would have been slightly greater. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-bother-voters-vs-things-that-really-bother-voters/1032304.md?page=5)