# What the hell is Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 30, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581 "2015-07-30T15:21:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/501 "2015-09-10T16:03:46Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Hey Donald DID say that if County Clerk Kim Davis can’t reconcile her job duties and her religion she should look for a different job. Maybe THAT will turn off “the base”…? I don’t think that’s enough. Maybe if Trump called her a “loser” with blood coming out of her “whatever”… then MAYBE that would change things. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/502 "2015-09-10T16:12:17Z")
Trump appears to be the Don Rickles of the GOP. He can say anything he wants, and not suffer the consequences that another candidate would. Carly Fiorina was almost excited he was paying attention to her, as that meant she was rising above the establishment candidates. Trump is just a game show host turned comedian entertaining an audience before the main act comes on. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/503 "2015-09-10T16:13:43Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I don’t think that’s enough. Maybe if Trump called her a “loser” with blood coming out of her “whatever”… then MAYBE that would change things. I’ve come to the realization that nothing short of a press conference with Trump holding hands with both Obama and a Mexican immigrant, while quoting passages from the Koran, will be enough to dissuade his True Believers. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/504 "2015-09-10T17:11:47Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Trump appears to be the Don Rickles of the GOP. Great. Now every time Trump calls someone a “loser,” I will hear him calling them a “hockey puck.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/505 "2015-09-10T18:58:06Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > Maybe I missed something, but why do we care so much about what a cartoonist well past his prime has to say about politics? He has some interesting things to say about Trump and why he is doing so well. It’s not whether Trump is a good candidate or would be a good President, it’s about Trump’s methodology and why he’s doing so well despite all the reasons people keep thinking he’s a noncontender and his numbers will fall any minute. Look, if you want a different perspective on Trump and how he works, read what Adams has to say. He may not be right, but he’s certainly unique. > [@](#): > > He’s the same guy that socked up on a message board somewhere to defend himself after posting some pretty controversial stuff on his blog right? Yes, and he admitted that after he was caught. Admittedly he has said some strange things and offered some unusual positions and ideas, but often he is misquoted or taken out of context. > [@wolfpup](#): > > Scott Adams is a brilliant satirist of office politics and general workplace idiocy and I adore the Dilbert strips, but I’ve not found him to be very insightful or even particularly sensible in his occasional forays into serious observation. I think he’s just way wrong here and is perhaps losing it in his advancing years. He’s in his mid-fifties, not exactly the age for senility. And he’s in incredible shape - he’s posted pics to prove it. Diet and exercise. He does put forward some weird and unusual ideas, but he’s written some interesting things, like his concept of systems over goals. Look, I don’t necessarily agree with him, but this thread was about understanding Trump, and Adams has offered an unusual position that explains Trump’s continued success and also his strategy for defeating his opponents. It’s worth a read. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/506 "2015-09-10T21:58:26Z")
Trump dumps on Ben Carson’s [so-called Christian faith](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-hits-back-at-ben-carson-hes-the-one-faking-his-faith/): > [@](#): > > “All of a sudden he becomes the great religious figure. I don’t think he’s a great religious figure. I saw him yesterday quoting on humility, and it looked like he memorized it two minutes before he made the quote. So don’t tell me about Ben Carson,” Trump responded. > > “Go back to look at his past,” he continued. “Go back to look at his views on abortion and see where he stands. You talk about abortion, go back to look at his views on abortion. Now all of a sudden he gets on very low key– frankly, he makes [Jeb Bush] look like the Energizer Bunny. > > Trump went on to say Carson was just an “okay doctor” and told Cuomo to look into his record as a surgeon. “He’s got a lot of donors, a lot of people pushing him. But Ben Carson, you look at his faith and I think you’re not going to find so much.” ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/507 "2015-09-10T23:47:40Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Great. Now every time Trump calls someone a “loser,” I will hear him calling them a “hockey puck.” Trump’s the only huckity-puck to have a chernchilla on his head. **Fear Itself** : I sincerely hope Trump calls out everyone who claims to be overtly religious this cycle, and that the media has enough sense to follow up on it to milk it for ratings. That would be a hell of a hand grenade to lob into the modern GOP, wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![yawuntz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a5b964/32.png) [@yawuntz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawuntz)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/508 "2015-09-11T00:03:00Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Trump appears to be the Don Rickles of the GOP… Exactly. Don Rickles, without the Ricklesian class or humor. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/509 "2015-09-11T01:58:35Z")
Bobby Jindal defends Carly Fiorina, [takes a shot at Trump](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bobby-jindal-donald-trump-squirrel-head): > [@](#): > > “I think it’s pretty outrageous for him to be attacking anybody’s appearance when he looks like he’s got a squirrel sitting on his head,” Jindal told CBS Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/510 "2015-09-11T04:14:43Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I’ve come to the realization that nothing short of a press conference with Trump holding hands with both Obama and a Mexican immigrant, while quoting passages from the Koran, will be enough to dissuade his True Believers. Not even then. He’d have to be on his knees blowing at least one of them. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/511 "2015-09-11T04:17:21Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I think photo spreads of Ms Coulter modeling Victoria’s Secret lingerie might be useful in promoting celibacy. If anybody wanted to, that is. More like promoting suicide. _gouges out mind’s eye_ ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/512 "2015-09-11T05:36:45Z")
So ugly, she walked past the blind man selling pencils and he tried to gouge his ears out! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/513 "2015-09-11T12:50:01Z")
I mean, come on, look at that _face_! That bloated pumpkin head, the beady eyes doing their best Jaden-Smithesque “please God, make me photogenic!” sexy squint, the ever-braying jackass piehole of a mouth (ever notice how rarely you see a photo of Trump without his blabbering yap churning at full bore?), and good Christ, the _hair_— that unspeakable tapestry of gilded cobwebs, that lion’s mane of aging male denial, the billionaire’s _coiffure effroyable_ that launched a hundred billion jokes— would anyone vote for that? Of course I’m referring to his _persona_, not his appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/514 "2015-09-11T12:50:52Z")
Has anyone else noticed that Trump is now on the [peanut butter M&Ms package](http://images.prod.meredith.com/product/39466929f498d47b107e10090e8c0358/dd1bb93b3adae2018b4df1a18f725c39cee6670da8daac3ab52c8e4ba8b572b1/m/m-and-ms-peanut-butter-chocolate-candies-8-ounce-pack-of-12)? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/515 "2015-09-11T20:12:47Z")
Trump looks like he’s ducking on a urine-flavored lozenge. His squint, his duck lips… You want to vote for \* that \* face? Adams is going on about “kill shots”, labels that so characterize the opponent so effectively they cripple their chances. For example, using to “low energy” to describe Jeb, or “nice” with regards to Carson. Mentioning “that face” for Fiorina, not about her attractiveness, but her expression that comes off like an angry wife. I think I have one for Trump: he’s throwing **temper tantrums**. I’ll dissect it. First, it reads as accurate as it describes his behavior of holding grudges and carrying on Twitter campaigns, like his continued attacks on Megyn Kelly, or his behavior. With Ramos at the press conference. Second, it immediately evokes the image of a childish brat; very un-Presidential. Third, it’s fresh for politics and not over-used. I say we pass it on and see if it gains traction. It can’t help Trump, and if it does any good it will be welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/516 "2015-09-12T01:42:00Z")
After this latest attack of his, he’s saying" “I’m not talking about looks. I’m talking about persona.” Right, just like he wasn’t talking about that other lady’s “whatever.” He seems to backpedal a lot. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/517 "2015-09-12T03:39:41Z")
nm ---
**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:** [September 12, 2015, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/518 "2015-09-12T07:39:46Z")
I gotta say, this Trump phenomenon is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in politics. Saw him on _[The Tonight Show](http://m.nydailynews.com/news/politics/donald-trump-parodies-tonight-show-article-1.2357809)_ tonight and he not only killed it but seemed to have the audience eating out of his hands. His appearance began with the “talking to himself in the mirror” thing, which was a parody of pretty much everything he’s become known for on the campaign trail. Here’s an excerpt from the linked article: > [@](#): > > How, Fallon asked, would Trump create jobs? > > “I’m just gonna do it,” said Trump, nonplussed. > > “Right. Right. But how?” > > “By doing it. It just happens,” Trump replied to audience howls. After the bit was over The Donald drew a standing ovation from what looked like 1/3 to 1/2 of the audience…an audience I would previously have pegged as primarily liberal. After the skit Trump came out for the sit down interview and drew laughter and approval and applause with pretty much every word out of his mouth. People seem charmed by his hyperbole despite knowing that’s all it is, and he seems to be aware of that fact too. It’s almost like a huge inside joke between Trump and his audience. He spouts hyperbole, they recognize and react to it with cheers and applause even though they and Trump both know his claims aren’t necessarily factually accurate, and he sits there smiling and nodding a sort of thanks in acknowledgement. Trump is not only riding the wave of approval that’s come from being known as a very successful businessman and tough negotiator, but also on pure charisma. He’s said in the past that most of the people who don’t like him are people who’ve never met him, and sure enough it seems the more people get to know the guy the more they seem to like him. He’s smart, he’s funny, he knows how to play to an audience, and he seems to enjoy an unprecedented relationship from his supporters, where he can make the most ridiculous sounding claims and insults and have them be acknowledged as such by an audience who doesn’t take them seriously while simultaneously buying into the underlying message the hype is intended to promote. Again, I’ve never seen anything like this, and I’m tellin’ ya this guy may very well wind up in the White House. As he said tonight he’s a very efficient guy, and I’d love to see how he’d perform in the presidency. No one seems to be questioning his ability to function in office despite being a Washington outsider, and to me this speaks volumes as to reputation as a guy who gets things done. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he didn’t turn out to be the most effective wheeler-dealer to sit in the Oval Office in decades, and this despite being even more of a political outsider than Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama were when they took office. Very, very, very interesting times. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2015, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/519 "2015-09-12T07:49:12Z")
“Many years ago, I learned from one of our diplomats in China that one of the principal Chinese curses heaped upon an enemy is, ‘May you live in interesting times’” \* -Frederic R. Coudert - Or “an interesting age” ---
**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:** [September 12, 2015, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581/520 "2015-09-12T11:31:47Z")
Jimmy Fallon asked Donald Trump [if he has ever apologized](http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/11/donald-trump-jimmy-fallon-tonight-show): > [@](#): > > “I will absolutely apologize, sometime in the hopefully distant future, if I’m ever wrong,” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-trump/726581.md?page=27)