# 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:** 50
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/983 "2015-12-11T08:20:28Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I don’t see where you got the idea that I was crediting Jesus for the difference. After all, I said that Christian nations in the past were just as bad as Muslim nations are now. It’s just a different stage of social development. [Edited to add: and I myself am not a Christian, just to be clear. I am an atheist.] You didn’t - but **T.M.** who I was responding to, did. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/984 "2015-12-11T08:21:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Fail. Maybe we can get Trump to run for President of France. They’ve got a racist party all warmed up and ready to go. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/985 "2015-12-11T09:07:45Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > You didn’t - but **T.M.** who I was responding to, did. So you quoted me, but responded to someone else? 😕 That is going to tend to create confusion. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18927912&postcount=920](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18927912&postcount=920) ---
**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:** [December 11, 2015, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/986 "2015-12-11T10:38:34Z")
Meanwhile, the fun and games in the UK continue. [Nicola Sturgeon strips Donald Trump of his “Business Ambassador” status](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-strips-donald-trump-of-scottish-ambassador-role-a6766786.html). Trump’s response, incidentally, was that the Scots should be grateful for his contribution to the country. “I have done so much for Scotland”, he said. [Robert Gordon University strips Trump of his honorary degree](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35054360). And my fave of the day, the Transport for London (TfL) sign reading: “TfL welcomes everybody of ALL faiths except Donald Trump. The nylon-haired tosser can FUCK OFF.” Also: the petition to ban Trump from the UK is now over 514,000. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/987 "2015-12-11T12:44:31Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Hah! Fucked that right up, I did. :smack: Responding to me, you most certainly did. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/988 "2015-12-11T13:34:58Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Muslims wouldn’t be able to attack America if they were all banned, so the logic checks out. Embassies and tourist areas popular with Americans, maybe a problem. Oh now I see the logic of Trump’s plan! Asking someone about their religion in order to decide if they can enter the country is BRILLIANT! We all know that terrorists are men of honor and would NEVER lie about their religion in order to get by the SS, I mean the immigration officials. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/989 "2015-12-11T13:49:54Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Oh now I see the logic of Trump’s plan! Asking someone about their religion in order to decide if they can enter the country is BRILLIANT! We all know that terrorists are men of honor and would NEVER lie about their religion in order to get by the SS, I mean the immigration officials. Presumably, if the refugee vetting program can ferret out terrorists, it can identify what religion a refugee is, despite his claim at the border. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/990 "2015-12-11T13:55:24Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Oh now I see the logic of Trump’s plan! Asking someone about their religion in order to decide if they can enter the country is BRILLIANT! We all know that terrorists are men of honor and would NEVER lie about their religion in order to get by the SS, I mean the immigration officials. Actually, asking about religion is current practice, since we give priority to those suffering religious persecution. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/991 "2015-12-11T13:58:06Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Actually, asking about religion is current practice, since we give priority to those suffering religious persecution. I assume that those applying for asylum from religious persecution disclose this voluntarily, rather than it being a standard question asked of all refugee status seekers. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/992 "2015-12-11T14:20:56Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Actually, asking about religion is current practice, since we give priority to those suffering religious persecution. I’m also assuming that it’s not standard practice to ask about religion to those who are simply visiting the country (as tourists, students, temporary workers, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/993 "2015-12-11T14:21:49Z")
No, but for asylum they get really intrusive. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/994 "2015-12-11T15:08:33Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > No, but for asylum they get really intrusive. Drop those goalposts and put your hands where we can see them, mister! Trump’s statement didn’t limit the (temporary?) banning to those seeking asylum, so don’t try sneaking that word into the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/995 "2015-12-11T17:34:51Z")
A former student just messaged me the following on Facebook. This is young woman was born and raised in post-unification Germany. She studied in Texas for a year of high school (at my school). She has since finished university in Germany. She is a soccer (sorry, football) athlete and a musician. She is also lesbian, if that matters. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and lived in various places other than Germany. Anyway, she said this: “Is Donald Trump really running for president? Or is he thinking about running? In Germany, we think it is just one big weird joke. He can’t be serious about the things he says…” I know how to answer the factual question, but what would you say to this young woman? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/996 "2015-12-11T17:42:25Z")
“It seems crazy, doesn’t it? Yes, within the terms of our system, yes, he is ‘really’ running, for what that means at this stage. There will be a new threshold of seriousness when actual voting begins February 1.” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/997 "2015-12-11T19:04:42Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > So you quoted me, but responded to someone else? 😕 That is going to tend to create confusion. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18927912&postcount=920](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18927912&postcount=920) You responded to my response to another person, who seems to have vanished. I assumed you knew the context. No worries, it was a bit of a hijack anyway. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/998 "2015-12-11T20:35:47Z")
Last night, in an appearance where he accepted the endorsement of the New England Police Benevolent Association, Trump called for the death penalty for cop killers. Not that unusual for a Republican, you say? One detail sticks out, though (via [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/10/politics/donald-trump-police-officers-death-penalty/index.html)): > [@Durr Furor](#): > > One of the first things I do, in terms of executive order if I win, will be to sign a strong, strong statement that will go out to the country – out to the world – that anybody killing a policeman, policewoman, a police officer – anybody killing a police officer, the death penalty. It’s going to happen, OK? I’m not sure you can mandate the punishment for crimes (most of which are prosecuted at the state level) with an executive order. But then, I’m a stupid person and a total loser. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/999 "2015-12-11T22:48:51Z")
After he pulls the big switch with the gazillion volts, he peers into the execution chamber and says “You’re fried!”. Ratings go through the roof… ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1000 "2015-12-11T23:03:55Z")
[The more negative things about him that Trump supporters hear about him, the more strongly they support him.](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-focus-group-ive-never-seen-anything?cid=sm_fb_maddow) ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1001 "2015-12-12T00:03:52Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [The more negative things about him that Trump supporters hear about him, the more strongly they support him.](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-focus-group-ive-never-seen-anything?cid=sm_fb_maddow) > [@](#): > > It would appear the focus-group participants were a spirited bunch. Most believed ridiculous conspiracy theories about President Obama; they assumed Trump’s most outlandish lies were true; they endorsed his anti-Muslim plan; and they discounted any information that originated from major news organizations. Basically, they are not living in the reality-based universe. They are magical thinkers. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1002 "2015-12-12T00:38:35Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Basically, they are not living in the reality-based universe. They are magical thinkers. Indeed, as we have to remember again about the kind of groups and the percentage that Trump is getting support from now. > **[Dear Media, Stop Freaking Out About Donald Trump’s Polls](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/dear-media-stop-freaking-out-about-donald-trumps-polls/)** > > Lately, pundits and punters seem bullish on Donald Trump, whose chances of winning the Republican presidential nomination recently inched above 20 percent for t… > [@](#): > > Quite often, however, the Trump’s-really-got-a-chance! case is rooted almost entirely in polls. If nothing Trump has said so far has harmed his standing with Republicans, the argument goes, why should we expect him to fade later on? > > One problem with this is that it’s not enough for Trump to merely avoid fading. Right now, he has 25 to 30 percent of the vote in polls among the roughly 25 percent of Americans who identify as Republican. **(That’s something like 6 to 8 percent of the electorate overall, or about the same share of people who think the Apollo moon landings were faked.)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=51)