# To Trump or not to Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 18, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905 "2022-08-18T19:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/1 "2022-08-18T19:49:38Z")
That is, which would be worse at this point: Trump reelected as President in 2024; or a just as authoritarian but shrewder and more competent Republican? ---
**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:** [August 18, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/2 "2022-08-18T19:53:45Z")
Would I like to get kicked in the right nut, or the left nut? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/3 "2022-08-18T19:55:49Z")
I would say Trump THIS time. Only bc he knows he won’t get another term and will blow everything up as much as he can while he’s in office. Disantis is smarter and scarier, but I don’t see him doing anything that can’t be fixed by a more ethical politician. I may be naïve about that though. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/4 "2022-08-18T19:56:37Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > or a just as authoritarian but shrewder and more competent Republican? So Ted Cruz? Truly nightmarish. DeSantis is not shrewder or more competent. Truly nightmarish. Who are other prominent names at this point? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/5 "2022-08-18T19:58:07Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Disantis is smarter and scarier, but I don’t see him doing anything that can’t be fixed by a more ethical politician. Beyond butchering his name, he is not any smarter. He’s about equally scary. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/6 "2022-08-18T20:00:21Z")
What are you basing that on? Is he or any of his cabinet members under criminal investigation? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/7 "2022-08-18T20:03:15Z")
Do you listen to him? Do you see what he does as governor? His dumbass fight with Disney? Neither of us has access to their IQs, but the signs are he is not very smart. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/8 "2022-08-18T20:04:01Z")
It’s better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/9 "2022-08-18T20:09:33Z")
I feel like you’re conflating smart with A-hole. In which case, I would agree they are both on the same level. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/10 "2022-08-18T20:12:53Z")
Give me the more authoritarian, but at least more competent, Republican. I’d rather a competent 80% tyrant than a bumbling 50% tyrant. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/11 "2022-08-18T20:14:01Z")
I don’t think Trump is as dumb as you think he is and DeSantis is not as smart as your giving him credit for. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/12 "2022-08-18T20:26:04Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Give me the more authoritarian, but at least more competent, Republican. More authoritarian and more competent? Yes, it would be better that the trains run on time. I hate having to wait for my turn in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/13 "2022-08-18T20:29:55Z")
The only advantage I see toward more Trump is that he’d probably try to do the same shit over again, because, hey, it worked before. This time the rest of us might be more prepared for it. OTOH, the cult of personality is strongest with Trump, so a different person might not be able to command so much blind loyalty. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/14 "2022-08-18T20:39:08Z")
As of yet I have no evidence that DeSantis wants to become a dictator in the Banana Republic mode the way that Trump does. If DeSantis became president I think he would be authoritarian and awful but within reasonable parameters. I think we would be more or less satisfied with using the traditional powers of the president to reshpeg America to match his twisted vision. I would expect elections to be held more or less as normal except by Jim Crow style voter suppression to make sure that the right guys get more votes. Trump on the other hand will start from day one, using all his power and influence to dismantle all of the institutions which held him in check last time around. To make sure that his power is absolute. He would gladly burn the country to the ground if it would keep him on top of the smoking ruin that remains. Given the choice between Gilead and Damnation alley, I will reluctantly choose the former. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/15 "2022-08-18T20:44:54Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I don’t think Trump is as dumb as you think he is I don’t think of him as particularly smart but not particularly dumb either, just… average. His problem is that he has the emotional gravitas and attention span of a toddler. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/16 "2022-08-18T21:34:32Z")
I worry that Trump was holding back at times because he wanted to be reelected. I especially worry what Trump would do if he got his Executive Privilege back and had nothing to lose. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/17 "2022-08-18T21:42:22Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > His problem is that he has the emotional gravitas and attention span of a toddler. Now that’s not fair. I’ve seen him act like a spoiled eight-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/18 "2022-08-18T21:44:23Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I especially worry what Trump would do if he got his Executive Privilege back and had nothing to lose. Imagine all the federal prisoners he would pardon because the price was right—grifter in chief. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/19 "2022-08-18T21:51:46Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > As of yet I have no evidence that DeSantis wants to become a dictator in the Banana Republic mode the way that Trump does. If the America-hating fuckstick were to win in 2024, would Biden’s term be considered a Gap between two Banana Republics? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905/20 "2022-08-18T22:11:27Z")
I’m not sure that the extent to which he held back was really about re-elction but more that he was held back by a Bureaucracy that worked to stymie is most destructive impulses. Trump came into the whitehouse with the assumption that he had absolute power and everyone would do what he said, only to be confronted by the “deep state” of public servants who were more loyal to the Constitution than the Donald J Trump. Nearing the end of this term he started seriously weeding these out and replacing them with yes men who wouldn’t say he couldn’t order the army to shoot protestors. Trump 2.0 wouldn’t make the same mistake and would immediately fire any part of the government who didn’t swear absolute fealty. > **[If Trump Is Reelected, His Aides Are Planning to Purge the Civil Service](https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2022/07/trump-reelected-aides-plan-purge-civil-service/374842/)** > > Officials are looking to revive a controversial order issued in Trump's waning days and have already identified 50,000 federal positions to target. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-trump-or-not-to-trump/969905.md?page=2)