# 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:** 76
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1505 "2016-01-22T16:57:06Z")
From your article: > [@](#): > > But in a strange twist, Trump’s latest attack came from an account called “@WhiteGenocideTM,” which had a reference to Adolf Hitler on its cover image. The account’s tweets and retweets included a stream of racist, anti-Semitic, and other prejudiced posts. The “twist” is only strange because it’s not actually a twist. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1506 "2016-01-22T17:19:00Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Donald Trump shares another bizarre Jeb Bush image — this time from a ‘White Genocide’ account. > > [Trump Shares 'White Genocide' Twitter Post - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-jeb-bush-white-genocide-tweet-2016-1)? > > Going to the twitter feed of the account he’s been following and it’s worse than the article made it out to be. After Trump did rely on a neo Nazi for his past racist tweet you would think Trump had learned his lesson. Well, it seems that he did, he is going for the racist vote. Seeking and getting the support of Palin pointed to Trump as being dumber than a bag of hammers (Carson already demonstrated that being good in a subject does not translate to being smart in other matters) but the continuing relying on racist sources of information points to the other choice besides the one where he is just being an incompetent. The other choice was that Trump is a racist that **will** let guys like Arpaio and even worse prejudiced guys than the sheriff to run things their way. More on what the white genocide guys are going for: > **[Following the White Rabbit](https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2013/following-white-rabbit)** > > Tim Murdock sits atop an online cult, spreading fears of ‘white genocide’ that have fueled violence and terrorism > [@](#): > > The basic idea of the Mantra and its proponents — that white people, far from ruling most of the developed world, are actually being subjected to a genocide that will ultimately wipe out their race — is not new. It has been developing since the racist right essentially lost the civil rights battles of the 1960s, and racist writers like Wilmot Robertson began adopting the language of the civil rights movement to depict whites as increasingly “dispossessed.” In the last 20 years, the idea that the white race is facing mortal attack has become the norm on the extreme right, with the neo-Nazi National Alliance, for instance, repeatedly describing whites as “Earth’s Most Endangered Species.” Such fears have picked up speed in recent years thanks in large part to the U.S. Census Bureau, which has predicted that non-Hispanic whites in this country will lose their majority by about 2043. > > Murdock, Whitaker and the “swarm” of their enthusiasts have reduced their message of fear to a few sentences and sent it out to the world via thousands of web postings. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1507 "2016-01-22T17:46:41Z")
Hmmm . . . [Bob Dole now finds Trump more acceptable than Cruz.](http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/20/bob-dole-warns-of-cataclysmic-losses-with-ted-cruz-and-says-donald-trump-would-do-better/?_r=0) And [he might not be the only party elder who feels that way.](http://www.salon.com/2016/01/21/the_gops_terrifying_trump_plan_why_the_partys_establishment_thinks_it_can_control_the_donald_and_why_its_wrong/) ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1508 "2016-01-22T18:11:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Hmmm . . . [Bob Dole now finds Trump more acceptable than Cruz.](http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/20/bob-dole-warns-of-cataclysmic-losses-with-ted-cruz-and-says-donald-trump-would-do-better/?_r=0) And [he might not be the only party elder who feels that way.](http://www.salon.com/2016/01/21/the_gops_terrifying_trump_plan_why_the_partys_establishment_thinks_it_can_control_the_donald_and_why_its_wrong/) [QUOTE= **Bob Dole**] “I don’t know how he’s going to deal with Congress,” he said. “Nobody likes him.” [/QUOTE] Bob Dole is just conveniently ignoring that it is the Senate that does not like Cruz, but as the past government shutdown showed Cruz is loved by many of the radicals in the house. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1509 "2016-01-22T20:29:11Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Donald Trump shares another bizarre Jeb Bush image — this time from a ‘White Genocide’ account. > > [Trump Shares 'White Genocide' Twitter Post - Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-jeb-bush-white-genocide-tweet-2016-1)? > > Going to the twitter feed of the account he’s been following and it’s worse than the article made it out to be. Jesus. :eek: Every time I think Trump couldn’t possible surprise me or sink any lower… ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1510 "2016-01-22T20:48:10Z")
And it’s not like you can blame it on “I didn’t really know what that Twitter guy was about”. It’s right there in the username! This has to be some kind of performance art. Anyone seen Sacha Baron Cohen lately? ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1511 "2016-01-22T20:50:12Z")
If someone made a fictional movie about such a candidate gaining traction and having such Teflon, I’d shrug it off as OTT satire, like _Being There_. Hard to believe he hasn’t been sunk many times over. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1512 "2016-01-22T20:50:18Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Jesus. :eek: > > Every time I think Trump couldn’t possible surprise me or sink any lower… I’m starting to seriously wonder if Trump is not actively trying to lose the nomination at this point. I think he loves running, but is smart enough to know that the job itself is difficult and he would hate it. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1513 "2016-01-22T20:52:45Z")
It does often seem like he’s running an ongoing prank/experiment to see how low he can go before he flames out. But I don’t buy the idea that he wouldn’t actually want to be president. I tend to take the view FDR did, as related by Doris Kearns Goodwin on PBS Newshour: “Who wouldn’t want to be president?” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1514 "2016-01-22T21:08:56Z")
Trump loves power, perks and the spotlight, and the Presidency offers all three - although he’d be disastrous in the job. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1515 "2016-01-22T21:31:46Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Jesus. :eek: > > Every time I think Trump couldn’t possible surprise me or sink any lower… Well, of course. Every time he does, his polling numbers go up. This is not what you call negative reinforcement. And you just know they’re gonna go up again now that this has broken. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1516 "2016-01-22T21:32:21Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > It does often seem like he’s running an ongoing prank/experiment to see how low he can go before he flames out. But I don’t buy the idea that he wouldn’t actually want to be president. I tend to take the view FDR did, as related by Doris Kearns Goodwin on PBS Newshour: “Who wouldn’t want to be president?” > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Trump loves power, perks and the spotlight, and the Presidency offers all three - although he’d be disastrous in the job. Agreed. But for the various folks who just can’t accept the idea he wants to be President I have an alternative scenario you might prefer. He intends to hold the GOP and its Establishment supporters to ransom. For a large enough payment in dollars and gold he’ll withdraw shortly before the convention. All of which of course would be totally illegal and totally secret. IOW, this whole thing was a con leading to a shakedown pure and simple. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1517 "2016-01-22T22:37:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, of course. Every time he does, his polling numbers go up. This is not what you call negative reinforcement. And you just know they’re gonna go up again now that this has broken. But it’s not like there’s no limit to this linear equation. Right? If he goes on stage with an actual swastika, chants “Heil Hitler”, and declares that all Americans lacking pure Aryan blood must be rounded up and put in detention camps, you think he gets another bump in the polls? ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1518 "2016-01-22T22:48:24Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > But it’s not like there’s no limit to this linear equation. Right? If he goes on stage with an actual swastika, chants “Heil Hitler”, and declares that all Americans lacking pure Aryan blood must be rounded up and put in detention camps, you think he gets another bump in the polls? What does he do leading up to that point? Trump seems to operate on the [boiling frog theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog#As_metaphor). Just be a tad more ridiculous each day and who knows where it can end. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1519 "2016-01-22T22:55:18Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Agreed. > But for the various folks who just can’t accept the idea he wants to be President I have an alternative scenario you might prefer. > > He intends to hold the GOP and its Establishment supporters to ransom. For a large enough payment in dollars and gold he’ll withdraw shortly before the convention. All of which of course would be totally illegal and totally secret. > > IOW, this whole thing was a con leading to a shakedown pure and simple. Most of the things you write about the current election I agree with, but I strongly disagree with this point. I see trump a little differently than many and I will try to articulate my point the best I can. Trump believes strongly in a certain ethos and certain values. I think he is running due to this more than anything. Contrary to how many view Trump, I think in his world, the world of the ultra wealthy, he occupies a different place based upon the many articles and several news stories about him I have seen since I was young. I think he is first and foremost a doer. What I mean buy this, is that he is not necessarily concerned about social class, social mores, ego, etc. but is concerned about having a goal, a challenge and getting it done. He believes that this is what has made America a strong nation, what has made it competitive, and ultimately he is against anything that interferes with this is bad. He believes a divided country is bad, and that it is being diminished by nonproductive people who do nothing but complain about perceived injustices. I believe he hates this as much as he hates the effete social register set that snubs its nose at him because he is not of the right birth. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1520 "2016-01-22T23:03:57Z")
Trump has no values other than to aggrandize Trump. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1521 "2016-01-22T23:15:26Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump has no values other than to aggrandize Trump. That’s not fair! He also likes money! ---
**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:** [January 23, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1522 "2016-01-23T02:47:55Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Most of the things you write about the current election I agree with, but I strongly disagree with this point. > … > I see trump a little differently than many and I will try to articulate my point the best I can. … I was joking about the shakedown. I agreed with the folks I quoted that he is serious about wanting to be President. Maybe for honorable reasons as you suggest or maybe for sheer ego. But the worthiness of his reasons for wanting to be President is immaterial (at least to me) at this point and I take no position on that. It’s the folks who persist in name calling and in assuming the campaign is a PR stunt run amok who are being IMO unrealistic. I came up with what I hoped was an over-the-top joke scenario to highlight how farfetched him having any goal other than winning really is. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1523 "2016-01-23T20:58:45Z")
The Champion Of Tabloid Fodder [strikes again with this brilliant line:](http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/23/politics/donald-trump-shoot-somebody-support/index.html) > [@The Donald](#): > > “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.” Keep 'em coming, carnival barker. You look more intelligent every day to the uneducated. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/1524 "2016-01-23T20:59:06Z")
Here’s the ad that the anti-Trump crowd should have run long ago: > **[This Man Is Leading the Republican Race?](https://politicalwire.com/2016/01/23/this-man-is-leading-the-republican-race/)** > > This is by far the most effective ad against Donald Trump, but is it too late? OTOH, relating to our discussion just upthread of how low Trump would have to go before it would finally hurt him: > **[Trump: I could ‘shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters’ | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/23/politics/donald-trump-shoot-somebody-support/index.html)** > > Donald Trump boasted Saturday that support for his presidential campaign would not decline even if he shot someone in the middle of a crowded street. > [@](#): > > “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters,” Trump said at a campaign rally here. Think about how that would have seemed for a leading presidential candidate to say a year ago. The real life boiled frogs thing is false, but as a metaphor it certainly works here. He is really making it hard for me to stick to my guns in believing that this is not an elaborate prank. Someone asked about Sacha Baron Cohen, which is on point; I also wonder about the staff behind MTV’s “punk’d” or maybe that SyFy show “Scare Tactics”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=75) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=77)