# Why are Trump and the Republicans polling better now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 5, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255 "2018-02-05T20:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/141 "2018-02-19T00:24:39Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > In essense: Nixon was impeached for obstruction of justice, contemp of congress and other issues. That burglary at watergate was not a reason, and so it is in this case IMHO. Obstructing justice is a very serious and damning issue for a president involved on it. [nitpick]He buggered off before he could be impeached.[/nitpick] ---
**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:** [February 19, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/142 "2018-02-19T01:15:14Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Oh? Why have big time Clinton donor’s on your team then? > > [http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/365365-muellers-has-a-partisan-pack-of-wolves-and-an-illegitimate-investigation](http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/365365-muellers-has-a-partisan-pack-of-wolves-and-an-illegitimate-investigation) [Politifact](http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2017/nov/03/sean-duffy/how-many-democrat-campaign-donors-special-counsel-/) > [@](#): > > The Justice Department looked into the contributions and employment histories of all of Mueller’s hires and determined them consistent with the rules of professional responsibility. That would be _ **Trump’s** _ Justice Department. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/143 "2018-02-19T01:49:42Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Ever hear of Alan Dershowitz? A famous law professor, and democrat. He said Muller has NOTHING. And if he had something substantial, it would be used or at least leaked by now. > > [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/28125-dershowitz-mueller-may-go-for-obstruction-because-he-has-nothing-else](https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/28125-dershowitz-mueller-may-go-for-obstruction-because-he-has-nothing-else) > > I’m not sure what happened to the reason of the left. The news the left watches continues to keep them high on catnip. Try reading other sources too. > > I could list several, but I really don’t need to. > > -SL Why don’t you just wait until this bullshit is over, then state who has what. There won’t be the need to speculate about what you can’t know then. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2018, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/144 "2018-02-19T02:51:19Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > [nitpick]He buggered off before he could be impeached.[/nitpick] Yep, he did that, of course: change the item to then just report that the impeachment filing by congress was made anyhow and it was at the sight of that that Nixon bolted. Of course, I also noted months ago that I do expect that Trump will be the first president to be impeached/removed all the way because Trump has no shame, Nixon at least had it. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/145 "2018-02-19T15:10:56Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > OK, technically, a few crumbs were thrown to the middle class. … I thought it was a mistake when Pelosi used that word (“crumbs”), but I hope your side keeps it up. First it was “your taxes are going to go up”. That was proven wrong, so now it’s “you’re only getting crumbs”. Seems like a determined campaign by the Dems to undermine their own credibility. Whatever, it works for me. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/146 "2018-02-19T15:26:49Z")
You shouldn’t straw man others arguments. Dems did not say “your taxes will go up” as a threat to the general public. They said that taxes for a good number of middle class people in our states were going up, especially in the early versions of the tax bills. Dems were not alone in saying this: the Joint Committee on Taxation and other independent analysts were providing the analysis that was used in Dem talking points. If there’s a credibility issue, it is on the Republican side. Would you like some reminders of how Trump has said completely wrong things about his tax proposals? I would guess that you would concede the point that the President often misrepresented the bill, probably because he didn’t understand it at all, without needing any cites. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/147 "2018-02-19T15:32:28Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I thought it was a mistake when Pelosi used that word (“crumbs”), but I hope your side keeps it up. First it was “your taxes are going to go up”. That was proven wrong, so now it’s “you’re only getting crumbs”. Seems like a determined campaign by the Dems to undermine their own credibility. Whatever, it works for me. In oone of the threads, one of your comrades was bragging(yes, _bragging_) that where he works, guys making 40K(3333/month) were getting a whole 200/month more. That’s a crumb. It’s not a better home, a car, college or retirement savings. It’s a little more for groceries or more TV channels. And it starts going away soon. Look at [this chart.](https://www.npr.org/2017/12/19/571754894/charts-see-how-much-of-gop-tax-cuts-will-go-to-the-middle-class) That doesn’t look like a crumb to you? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/148 "2018-02-19T16:31:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You shouldn’t straw man others arguments. Dems did not say “your taxes will go up” as a threat to the general public. They said that taxes for a good number of middle class people in our states were going up, especially in the early versions of the tax bills. Dems were not alone in saying this: the Joint Committee on Taxation and other independent analysts were providing the analysis that was used in Dem talking points. … I don’t think it’s a strawman, but I’ll let others judge for themselves - [WaPo Fact Checker: Senate Democrats falsely claim GOP tax plan will raise taxes for most working-class families](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/11/02/senate-democrats-falsely-claim-gop-tax-plan-will-raise-taxes-for-most-working-class-families/?utm_term=.1b148648ae6b) ---
**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:** [February 19, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/149 "2018-02-19T17:19:12Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t think it’s a strawman, but I’ll let others judge for themselves - [WaPo Fact Checker: Senate Democrats falsely claim GOP tax plan will raise taxes for most working-class families](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/11/02/senate-democrats-falsely-claim-gop-tax-plan-will-raise-taxes-for-most-working-class-families/?utm_term=.1b148648ae6b) That also shows what **Ravenman** was pointing at; in any case, most of the ones pointing at that inaccuracy dropped the point as new information was available. That is not the case with many Republicans regarding the voodoo economics they are **still** pushing. > **[No evidence Trump's tax cut could pay for itself](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/apr/28/rana-foroohar/trumps-tax-plan-prompts-question-can-tax-cuts-real/)** > > The Trump administration unveiled a one-page list of tax reform principles inspired by the theory that tax cuts can unle > [@](#): > > The Trump administration unveiled a one-page list of tax reform principles inspired by the theory that tax cuts can unleash enough economic growth to cover lost revenue. > > President George H.W. Bush famously derided this as “voodoo economics,” and present-day critics are no less dismissive of what they see as magical thinking by the White House. > > “The Trump administration will say, ‘Well, hey, tax cuts are going to create growth, growth is going to create revenue, that’s going to offset all this deficit,’” Rana Foroohar, a CNN economic analyst and Financial Times columnist, told CNN April 26. “Well, there’s no real evidence in the last 20 years that that has happened.” > **[Trump's $4 trillion budget would sharply raise federal deficit](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trumps-4-trillion-budget-would-sharply-raise-federal-deficit/)** > > The spending spree, along with last year's tax cuts, has the deficit moving sharply higher with Republicans in control of Washington > [@](#): > > Trump would again spare Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare as he promised during the 2016 campaign. And while his plan would reprise last year’s attempt to scuttle the “Obamacare” health law and sharply cut back the Medicaid program for the elderly, poor and disabled, Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill have signaled there’s no interest in tackling hot-button health issues during an election year. > > Instead, the new budget deal and last year’s tax cuts herald the return of trillion dollar-plus deficits. Last year, Trump’s budget predicted a $526 billion budget deficit for the 2019 fiscal year starting Oct. 1; instead, it’s set to easily exceed $1 trillion once the cost of the new spending pact and the tax cuts are added to Congressional Budget Office projections. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/150 "2018-02-19T17:31:47Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > … most of the ones pointing at that inaccuracy dropped the point as new information was available. … I thought I covered that when I said “… That was proven wrong, so now it’s …” ---
**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:** [February 19, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/151 "2018-02-19T17:33:54Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I thought I covered that when I said “… That was proven wrong, so now it’s …” Nope, that is “spinned by what the Republican talking points said” not “covered”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/152 "2018-02-19T17:41:41Z")
“That statement is no longer operative”. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/153 "2018-02-19T18:05:47Z")
In any case, seeing as the Republicans do not have an issue by being the party of “borrow and spend”, the old talking point from them about the ‘Democratic party being the party of “tax and spend”’ is better by comparison. > **[Washington is on track for more government spending and bigger deficits —...](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/07/republicans-pave-the-way-for-more-government-spending-higher-deficits.html)** > > This wasn't how the party of fiscal prudence intended to govern. > [@](#): > > The Treasury Department says it will need to borrow more than $1 trillion in each of the next two fiscal years, driven in part by the expectation of lower revenues from the new tax law Congress rushed to pass last year. That figure doesn’t factor in the reported $300 billion in increased spending that Senate leadership is negotiating as part of a two-year deal to fund the government. Washington will also need to raise the national debt ceiling before the end of net month. What is notorious in this case is that the Republicans are the ones making the case that becoming bankrupt is needed so as to remain popular. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/154 "2018-02-19T18:22:41Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I thought it was a mistake when Pelosi used that word (“crumbs”), but I hope your side keeps it up. First it was “your taxes are going to go up”. That was proven wrong, so now it’s “you’re only getting crumbs”. Seems like a determined campaign by the Dems to undermine their own credibility. Whatever, it works for me. Sure. And in ten years the ones who won’t be paying more taxes will be those making $200K+ per year. Neglected that little bit, didn’t you? I’m gonna take a wild guess which side of that line you fall on. Oh, but Pubbies won’t let that sunset, will they? Tell me another fairy tale. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/155 "2018-02-19T18:47:29Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > What is notorious in this case is that the Republicans are the ones making the case that becoming bankrupt is needed so as to remain popular. Hey, it worked for the guy they got elected President. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/156 "2018-02-19T23:54:38Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Uh-uh. _You_ want _quid pro quo_ because you think it distracts from Trump. > > Sorry, no joy. If you care about the political process there is dirty money in the Clinton Foundation, Bill gives a speech, 500k later he gets the money, and who knows what quid pro quo. But I guess Democrats are okay with doing illegal things like deleted 33,000 state emails, or sending classified information over an insecure server. Or how about taking in 25 million from Iran and Saudi Arabia which was spent where? Sure, sure. Meanwhile, there is zero proof of collusion with Trump. He’s not even in Hillary Clinton or the DNC’s ball park? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/157 "2018-02-19T23:57:01Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Seriously? That’s your evidence? Alan Dershowitz? > > Alert the media when he’s anywhere near the Mueller investigation, let alone knowing what they’ve got. > > Got a real source, from the Mueller investigation? Let me answer for you. No fucking way. You’re throwing up cotton candy thinking that people won’t see through it. > > Oh, and btw, I’m not part of the ‘left’ that you like to disparage so much. What does he have and **if** he had anything don’t you think Muller if he had a proof would used it by now, 12+ months in. Your answer will tell me everything, ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/158 "2018-02-20T00:01:09Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Seriously? That’s your evidence? Alan Dershowitz? > > Alert the media when he’s anywhere near the Mueller investigation, let alone knowing what they’ve got. > > Got a real source, from the Mueller investigation? Let me answer for you. No fucking way. You’re throwing up cotton candy thinking that people won’t see through it. > > Oh, and btw, I’m not part of the ‘left’ that you like to disparage so much. Yes, he’s only one of the top legal minds and a Democrat. You have zero above him, and to be fair if you want to balance things, list a Republican source as credible and Alan who says Trump is in legal jeopardy, following something called the Constitution. Ready set, go! I suspect Alan’s intellectual honesty might cost him some blue cards here. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/159 "2018-02-20T00:07:02Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You shouldn’t straw man others arguments. Dems did not say “your taxes will go up” as a threat to the general public. They said that taxes for a good number of middle class people in our states were going up, especially in the early versions of the tax bills. Dems were not alone in saying this: the Joint Committee on Taxation and other independent analysts were providing the analysis that was used in Dem talking points. > > If there’s a credibility issue, it is on the Republican side. Would you like some reminders of how Trump has said completely wrong things about his tax proposals? I would guess that you would concede the point that the President often misrepresented the bill, probably because he didn’t understand it at all, without needing any cites. Yes, Dem’s did try to scare people by saying their taxes will go up. It’s part of their playbook. Remember with Obamacare, the average family of four will see $2,500, and you can keep your doctor. Quite the opposite! The fact is the middle class, whom the Democrats used to fancy as their bread and butter will be seeing a much-needed tax break, and come election day those pragmatic and informed enough will remember on election day. I would suggest those opposed to anything Trump have the option of checking a box saying keep my tax cuts. HA! Maybe 1 in 50 in the middle class would do that. Good idea Running Coach or not? ---
**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:** [February 20, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255/160 "2018-02-20T01:22:18Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > If you care about the political process there is dirty money in the Clinton Foundation, Bill gives a speech, 500k later he gets the money, and who knows what quid pro quo. > > **But I guess Democrats are okay with doing illegal things like deleted 33,000 state emails, or sending classified information over an insecure server.** > > Or how about taking in 25 million from Iran and Saudi Arabia which was spent where? > > Sure, sure. > > Meanwhile, there is zero proof of collusion with Trump. He’s not even in Hillary Clinton or the DNC’s ball park? [Actually, it was Pence](https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/02/pence-used-personal-email-state-business----and-hacked/98604904/). Hilary was Federal emails. Pence used a AOL account which was known to be hacked and he refused to release most of his emails. > [@](#): > > Indiana law requires all records dealing with state business to be retained and available for public information requests. Emails exchanged on state accounts are captured on state servers, which can be searched in response to such requests. But any emails Pence sent from his AOL account to another private account likely would have been hidden from public record searches unless he took steps to make them available. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-trump-and-the-republicans-polling-better-now/808255.md?page=9)