# Who Is The Left's Equivalent Of Donald Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 9, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137 "2017-11-09T19:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/21 "2017-11-09T22:12:12Z")
We’re assuming that there are enough people on the extreme Left to compare to the number of people who are die-hard Trump worshippers and that the Lefties are all as gullible, as easily manipulated, and as uninformed. Do we have any hard data to on either? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/22 "2017-11-09T22:12:59Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Warrant machine broken. But don’t press your luck. Thought you didn’t need the warrant for immediate administration of justice? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/23 "2017-11-09T22:13:09Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Trump is _sewer generis_. This is brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/24 "2017-11-09T22:17:07Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Whom could the Left put up as a POTUS candidate who is that side’s equivalent of Donald Trump? There used to be Hugo Chavez, but he’s dead. Ditto Fidel Castro. There’s Jeremy Corbyn in a well-meaning, hand-wringing, Church of England sort-of-way. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/25 "2017-11-09T22:30:13Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > We’re assuming that there are enough people on the extreme Left to compare to the number of people who are die-hard Trump worshippers and that the Lefties are all as gullible, as easily manipulated, and as uninformed. Do we have any hard data to on either? It only takes one idiot to have a terrible presidential candidate. It takes several million idiots working together to have a terrible president. Trump ran as a Democratic presidential candidate several times. He found no support in the Democratic Party and failed. He wasn’t successful until he ran as a Republican presidential candidate. So the Democrats might have the equivalent of a Trump. But they don’t have the equivalent of Trump voters. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/26 "2017-11-09T23:03:25Z")
Michael Bloomberg could switch his party affiliation back to Democrat and run for President. But he’s way too stable and rational to be a Trump equivalent. Mark Cuban is an annoying loudmouth, but not in Trump’s league either. Now maybe if Dennis Kucinich won the lottery and had a huge wad of cash to make a Presidential run…he’d need to dial up the loony a fair amount though. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/27 "2017-11-10T00:21:43Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > What are Martin Shkreli’s political leanings? Clearly a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/28 "2017-11-10T00:30:59Z")
Oprah. Nobody else is as useless, politically, or as conceited. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/29 "2017-11-10T00:43:17Z")
Barack Obama. Slightly different style, but pretty much the same person. Egotism Demagoguery Identity politics Of course, that is every president going back a long way, except maybe Carter. If you’re looking for similar styles, I’d go with Cam’ron. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/30 "2017-11-10T00:45:54Z")
I think we did this once before and the winning answer was “Kanye West.” Who has, I believe, announced he is planning on running for President. Well, this week. Next week he may decide to be something else. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/31 "2017-11-10T00:59:36Z")
Are we looking for people who meet the constitutional requirements to become President? If so, Barack Obama is out, as he’s served two terms, and so is Jeremy Corbyn, who’s a Brit. > [@](#): > > It only takes one idiot to have a terrible presidential candidate. It takes several million idiots working together to have a terrible president. Exactly, Little Nemo. Without that element, it’s an entertaining but hollow debate. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/32 "2017-11-10T01:01:07Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Barack Obama. Slightly different style, but pretty much the same person. > > Egotism > Demagoguery > Identity politics > > Of course, that is every president going back a long way, except maybe Carter. If you’re looking for similar styles, I’d go with Cam’ron. No, on all counts. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/33 "2017-11-10T01:27:18Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Barack Obama. Slightly different style, but pretty much the same person. > > Egotism > Demagoguery > Identity politics > > Of course, that is every president going back a long way, except maybe Carter. If you’re looking for similar styles, I’d go with Cam’ron. Uh huh. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/34 "2017-11-10T01:44:43Z")
I say that Sean Penn is the right answer. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/35 "2017-11-10T01:49:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It only takes one idiot to have a terrible presidential candidate. It takes several million idiots working together to have a terrible president. > > Trump ran as a Democratic presidential candidate several times. He found no support in the Democratic Party and failed. He wasn’t successful until he ran as a Republican presidential candidate. > > So the Democrats might have the equivalent of a Trump. But they don’t have the equivalent of Trump voters. Exactly correct. This is why sexual predators on the left like Harvey Weinstein and Anthony Weiner get thrown under the bus by those on the left, but those on the right like Roy Moore and the Cheeto in Chief are defended by their fellow right wingers. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/36 "2017-11-10T01:54:46Z")
I’m gonna go with Gwyneth Paltrow for the A-list celeb with a total lack of self-awareness, and an inflated sense of importance. She’s not exactly Donald Trump but she lives in the leftist’s version of that kind of cultural bubble. I would look forward to the congressional hearings on Jade Vagina Egg University. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/37 "2017-11-10T02:48:41Z")
Seeing how Trump was a democrat from 2001-2009, I’d say Donald Trump. Honestly I don’t think there is someone on the left. Right wing authoritarianism is a mindset that is only found on the right. Granted, in a communist country like the USSR, there were right wing authoritarians who defended communism. But since RWA is a defense of established social norms, you aren’t going to find a RWA movement among the true left (the ones fighting the system, not the system itself). So I don’t think there is one because the philosophies of the two sides are divergent. Trump is a pretty strong right wing authoritarian, and so are his most ardent followers. The dogmatism, nativism, compartmentalized thinking, aggression towards outsiders, etc. associated with right wing authoritarianism doesn’t exist on the left in anything like the same degree. Are there corrupt and criminal people on the left? Yes. Sex criminals? Yes. Maybe some of the more extreme Anti-FA members would be an apt comparison (the ones who use violence and want to restrict civil rights of those they disagree with), that is all I can think of. And none stand out on a national level. But if you can find a criminal, corrupt, sex criminal anti-fa who endorses violence and taking away the civil rights of people they disagree with, I guess that’d be our Trump. > **[Right-wing authoritarian personality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_authoritarianism)** > > In psychology, the right-wing authoritarian (RWA) is a personality type that describes somebody who is highly submissive to their authority figures, acts aggressively in the name of said authorities, and is conformist in thought and behavior. The prevalence of this personality type in a population varies from culture to culture, as a person's upbringing and education play a strong role in determining whether somebody develops this sort of personality. > The right-wing authoritarian personality was... ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/38 "2017-11-10T03:48:56Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I’m gonna go with Gwyneth Paltrow for the A-list celeb with a total lack of self-awareness, and an inflated sense of importance. She’s not exactly Donald Trump but she lives in the leftist’s version of that kind of cultural bubble. I would look forward to the congressional hearings on Jade Vagina Egg University. She doesn’t have the support or admiration of even the far left, so no. Someone sent me a link to [this Politico article](https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/08/donald-trump-johnstown-pennsylvania-supporters-215800) on Trump supporters. I found myself trying to come up with left-wingers who’d be as ignorant or as blindly loyal as these folks are, and I drew a blank. In fact, I’m trying to think of any U.S. president who could get none of his campaign promises accomplished and maintain the sort of rabid loyalty Trump enjoys from his base. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/39 "2017-11-10T10:42:24Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > She doesn’t have the support or admiration of even the far left, so no. > > Someone sent me a link to [this Politico article](https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/08/donald-trump-johnstown-pennsylvania-supporters-215800) on Trump supporters. I found myself trying to come up with left-wingers who’d be as ignorant or as blindly loyal as these folks are, and I drew a blank. In fact, I’m trying to think of any U.S. president who could get none of his campaign promises accomplished and maintain the sort of rabid loyalty Trump enjoys from his base. Well, keep in mind that Trumpism was a slow burn too. Trump used to be a Democrat. Though the more I think of it, the less I can imagine anybody willing to completely and successfully flip-flop to extremism purely on the energy of one’s own self promotion. Say what you want about left-wing extremism, but they reward ideological puritanism, not opportunism. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2017, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137/40 "2017-11-10T11:24:07Z")
Oprah or maybe Barbra Streisand. Neither of whom are likely to actually run, but they’ve got the ego and the fame, and if they did run they would have an automatic following of slavish groupies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-lefts-equivalent-of-donald-trump/801137.md?page=3)