# Trump's Republican primary campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 3, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828 "2015-09-03T18:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 114
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2265 "2016-03-02T19:30:09Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > That’s just wishful Trump hater thinking. Even the most realistic “he ain’t that rich” estimates is hundreds of millions, not tens. I don’t hate him. I just think he’s full of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Yogurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f0a364/32.png) [@Yogurt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yogurt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2266 "2016-03-02T22:38:44Z")
Alex Castellanos, one of Trump’s biggest detractors, exclaims that it is time to give up. As long as two other “viable” candidates are in the race, I agree. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/02/gop-strategist-castellanos-time-to-rally-around-trump-too-late-to-ask-mommy-to-step-in-and-rewrite-rules/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/02/gop-strategist-castellanos-time-to-rally-around-trump-too-late-to-ask-mommy-to-step-in-and-rewrite-rules/) ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2267 "2016-03-02T23:19:17Z")
Someone posted this to my Facebook feed: 2016: Trump won’t win. 2017: President Trump can’t do that, can he? 2018: You watching the Hunger Games tonight? I hope my District wins. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2268 "2016-03-02T23:22:20Z")
That’s pretty good. Stealing. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2269 "2016-03-02T23:33:51Z")
Why not, I did. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2270 "2016-03-03T02:12:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > If this has already been posted here, my apologies. Here’s John Oliver’s epic takedown of Trump: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpO\_RTSNmQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpO_RTSNmQ) Unless epic takedowns actually take someone down, it’s more accurately just called schoolyard taunting. Oliver’s piece went viral, and it was good, and Trump still had a good night, although not good enough to ensure a first ballot nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2271 "2016-03-03T06:01:10Z")
Trump has released his long-awaited proposal for health care reform. His proposals include: repealing the ACA; allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines; allowing individuals to deduct premiums from their taxes; allowing HSAs to accumulate indefinitely and exempting them from estate taxes; and block-granting Medicaid to the states. A serious proposal. You can tell he put a lot of thought into it rather than just repackaging Republican boilerplate. Turning HSAs into a multi-generational tax shelter is a new one to me, though. Is that a common idea on the right, or did Trump come up with it on his own? [https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/healthcare-reform](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/healthcare-reform) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2272 "2016-03-03T06:08:14Z")
> [@Yogurt](#): > > Alex Castellanos, one of Trump’s biggest detractors, exclaims that it is time to give up. > > As long as two other “viable” candidates are in the race, I agree. > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/02/gop-strategist-castellanos-time-to-rally-around-trump-too-late-to-ask-mommy-to-step-in-and-rewrite-rules/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/02/gop-strategist-castellanos-time-to-rally-around-trump-too-late-to-ask-mommy-to-step-in-and-rewrite-rules/) I find his belief that the GOP can “make” Trump into a better candidate naive. Plus, I wonder how many Republicans truly agree with him that a President Trump would be better for the country, party, and conservatism than the Democrats winning? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2273 "2016-03-03T08:13:43Z")
Have you seen Obama’s comments on Trump’s campaign? Does this help or hurt Trump / Hillary? He’s rather scathing in what he says… ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2274 "2016-03-03T08:35:11Z")
I think we all know the answer to that. To anyone close to being a Trump supporter “Obama says X” is already enough to conclude that X must be wrong / weak / ZOMG. ---
**Author:** ![soonerblue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soonerblue/32/3302_2.png) [@soonerblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soonerblue)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2275 "2016-03-03T13:13:20Z")
How about this senario - Trump gets the nomination. Trump bashes/schlongs Hillary to a pulp (with Bengazi, illegal email, enabling a cheating husband who used women like Kleenex, made-up stuff, whatever), and wins the presidency. Within a few months or a year at most, President Trump has changed his wingnut tune to a more moderate one - just like he told the NYT off the record - turns out he only said all those outrageous things to hog free air time and build his base. At last - the Republican party can start impeachment proceedings. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2276 "2016-03-03T14:00:21Z")
If the Rs impeached every R President who they later thought was a RINO the last one to finish his term would have been Ford. And him only because he predated the idea of RINOs. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2277 "2016-03-03T14:03:16Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Sorry, but I know many examples of what happens to targets of the professional bullshitters on the internet, they do post the contacts and sites of their enemies so as to get their viewers or readers to “get rid of the meddlesome ‘priests’”. > > Point being that yes, I can see how from time to time everyone in the public will get threats, but it is really disingenuous from those radio or internet trolls to claim that sending a concerted mob to do so is just “the usual” is asinine. Don’t mistake me as approving of criminals inciting mobs to threaten violence. It’s reprehensible and ought to be prosecutable under the “fire in a theater” doctrine. But I’m not getting the “OMG, they did it to anti-Trump pundits; the Trumpists are out of control!!11!” that seems to be out there in the media. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2278 "2016-03-03T14:34:56Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Trump has released his long-awaited proposal for health care reform. His proposals include: repealing the ACA; allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines; allowing individuals to deduct premiums from their taxes; allowing HSAs to accumulate indefinitely and exempting them from estate taxes; and block-granting Medicaid to the states. A serious proposal. You can tell he put a lot of thought into it rather than just repackaging Republican boilerplate. > > Turning HSAs into a multi-generational tax shelter is a new one to me, though. Is that a common idea on the right, or did Trump come up with it on his own? > > [https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/healthcare-reform](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/healthcare-reform) I’m not sure how that’s not “repackaged Republican boilerplate.” The plan is essentially indistinguishable from every other “repeal and replace” proposal. It is an article of faith among Republicans that allowing insurers to sell across state lines will somehow fix the problem of spiraling healthcare costs. Since insurers can already sell across state lines (they just have to offer plans that meet the requirements of any state they sell in) that seems unlikely. I don’t see the point of turning HSAs into estate-tax-exempt accounts, but I do think expanding HSAs is a good idea. They are one of the few enactments of the Bush years that were a really good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2279 "2016-03-03T14:57:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m not sure how that’s not “repackaged Republican boilerplate.” The plan is essentially indistinguishable from every other “repeal and replace” proposal. Sorry, I was trying to be sarcastic. Yes, he just coughed up the same crap Republicans have been saying for years. Except he’s an outsider or something. So it’s different I guess. > [@](#): > > I don’t see the point of turning HSAs into estate-tax-exempt accounts, but I do think expanding HSAs is a good idea. They are one of the few enactments of the Bush years that were a really good idea. I also think HSAs are a good idea for some people. Not sure if they’re much good for people like me (generally healthy guy with healthy lifestyle, mostly worried about something like a major accident). But, yeah, overall I have no issue with HSAs. AIUI, Trump’s proposal is to let HSAs grow without limit, to become part of the individual’s estate, and to be exempt from estate taxes. So, it seems like a transparent gift to the wealthy as far as I can tell. I hadn’t heard that proposal before, so maybe that’s the one piece of Trump’s plan that he actually did come up with himself. ETA: I hate Trump, and I’m deeply terrified of the idea of him becoming president. If I ever say anything vaguely approving of him, I’m being sarcastic 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2280 "2016-03-03T15:02:32Z")
_whoosh!_ I was a bit confused. Actually, HSAs are ideally suited for people like you (and me) who really only need catastrophic coverage. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2281 "2016-03-03T15:08:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It is an article of faith among Republicans that allowing insurers to sell across state lines will somehow fix the problem of spiraling healthcare costs. Since insurers can already sell across state lines (they just have to offer plans that meet the requirements of any state they sell in) that seems unlikely. It also isn’t very conservative either, as it would require the federal government to override the power of states to regulate the sale of insurance in their own state. More regulations and big government from the Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2282 "2016-03-03T15:11:32Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Actually, HSAs are ideally suited for people like you (and me) who really only need catastrophic coverage. Maybe a question for a different thread, but how so? I always saw HSAs as suited for people who had recurring expenses not covered by insurance. If I’m worried about, say, a car wreck and hospital stay, I don’t think I can hope to put enough in an HSA to cover that, so I rely on my insurance. Assuming the deductible, etc., is manageable, I’m not sure where an HSA helps me there. Also, AIUI, under the current rules you usually have to spend an HSA down before the end of the year, so unless I can predict my accident is going to happen this year, I can’t really plan on the HSA to cover those expenses. But, I may be just totally wrong here :). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2283 "2016-03-03T15:59:03Z")
The whole point is that under current law, HSAs are paired only with so-called “high deductible health plans” ("HDHP"s). Which have both real high deductibles, like $5K per person, and very low premiums. The idea is a healthy person can pay the low premiums, put the premium savings in an HSA and after a few years be safe from being bankrupted by an accident or whatever that caused them to need to cough up the whole deductible and then the 20% co-insurance (or whatever percentage) on much of the rest. Eventually the magic of compound interest takes over and you’ll never be cash out of pocket (other than the HSA’s pocket & low HDHP premiums) for medical care again. Where HSAs \*don’t \*work is the person with 2 doctor visits a month and 3 non-generic maintenance meds. For that person the HDHP + HSA means every year they’re going to be paying A) their low premium, plus B) their $5K (or more) deductible, plus C) co-insurance for all spending after that. If their budget isn’t broken yet they’re supposed to also fund their HSA for future years. For somebody with chronic health problems and good job & a low cost of living that’s doable. The typical schlub living with diabetes or whatever and also living paycheck to paycheck, not so much. The bottom line idea of HDHP + HSA is for healthy people to do that for a few years to fund the HSA. And at the first sign of chronic illness, then switch to a more conventional plan. Said another way, healthy people are overpaying for conventional almost all-inclusive health insurance. HDHP provides a way for them to truly insure just against catastrophic events without paying premiums for services they almost certainly won’t use. The HSA is simply a different way for a healthy person to insure against the “mini-catastrophe” of having to pay the full deductible in an unhealthy year. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/2284 "2016-03-03T16:03:44Z")
**LSLGuy** explained it much better than I could have. There are some unintended consequences of HDHP/HSA arrangements, but in general they incentivize young healthy people who might otherwise be uninsured to obtain coverage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=113) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=115)