# Why doesn't Trump's childishness simply disqualify him outright in your mind? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 2, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184 "2017-01-02T23:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 17
**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:** [January 5, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/321 "2017-01-05T19:52:39Z")
> [@Neo-Calredic](#): > > Oooh, 700 new jobs. Wow. > > Meanwhile… > > [Sears closing 150 stores, selling Craftsman in attempt to survive](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/01/05/sears-kmart-stanley-black-decker-craftsman/96191312/) Trumpy doesn’t care since the jobs aren’t going overseas. ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/322 "2017-01-05T20:20:49Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > That he is childish I take to be so obvious it doesn’t even need arguing. Is that not the case for everyone, or can we start from that point? My in-laws are hardcore Trump fans (life-size Trump cutout in the living room, etc) and I guarantee you they don’t see him as childish. Where you see thin-skinned petulance, they see someone fearlessly defending himself against BS flung by an unfair media / political establishment. Where you see boorishness and immaturity, they see refreshing straight talk, truth, etc. To your question, I don’t see childishness as disqualifying. Childish or not, I’ll take the candidate with great policy instincts and a sterling character over an ethically compromised adult who also happens to be pushing horrible policies. If you like Trump’s policies and can convince yourself, against all evidence, that he’s a basically stand-up guy with a few foibles while Clinton is the most corrupt candidate in history, I can see how you might vote for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/323 "2017-01-05T20:32:31Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Sweet, someone else knows the RI codes 🙂 Well, I _used_ to. It’s been a while. I remember the dreaded “ding” you’d hear after transmitting a message that was rejected for some pissant format error. A dingless day was a good day. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/324 "2017-01-05T20:40:31Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > …A dingless day was a good day. God, that is a straight line \*begging \*for a comeback. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/325 "2017-01-05T20:44:06Z")
That’s what SHE said!! No? Nevermind… ☹ ---
**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 5, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/326 "2017-01-05T20:47:52Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > My in-laws are hardcore Trump fans (life-size Trump cutout in the living room, etc) and I guarantee you they don’t see him as childish. Where you see thin-skinned petulance, they see someone fearlessly defending himself against BS flung by an unfair media / political establishment. Where you see boorishness and immaturity, they see refreshing straight talk, truth, etc. > > . I’m curious; For your in-laws, what WOULD be a disqualifying feature/event at this point? - When he does not deliver on any of his promises? Of course, the blame and excuses will be easy to come by. - Parties at the Whitehouse, where he invites Russian oligarchs and naked models? And it’s on pay-per-view? - Selling nuclear weapons to N. Korea because Kim Jong is a great guy and complimented Trumps hands? Do they have a tipping point? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/327 "2017-01-05T20:51:51Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > - Parties at the Whitehouse, where he invites Russian oligarchs and naked models? And it’s on pay-per-view? Come on now. Let’s not be TOO hasty on your list of disqualifying events. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/328 "2017-01-05T21:09:40Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Parties at the Whitehouse, where he invites Russian oligarchs and naked models? And it’s on pay-per-view? Airlifted in from thread about plans for Don’s inauguration: > [@Help me plan Trump's Inauguration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-trumps-inauguration/775491/16): > > Melania could do some pole stuff. Maybe Putin, just wearing jeans, can make an appearance. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/329 "2017-01-05T22:32:58Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > My in-laws are hardcore Trump fans (life-size Trump cutout in the living room, etc) and I guarantee you they don’t see him as childish. Where you see thin-skinned petulance, they see someone fearlessly defending himself against BS flung by an unfair media / political establishment. Where you see boorishness and immaturity, they see refreshing straight talk, truth, etc. So what you’re saying is,[they’re simple farmers.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHJbSvidohg) ---
**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 5, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/330 "2017-01-05T22:52:26Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Melania could do some pole stuff.. Hell, why not? She’s already done the soft-core lesbian pornography bit. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/331 "2017-01-05T22:57:09Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m curious; For your in-laws, what WOULD be a disqualifying feature/event at this point?.. > > Do they have a tipping point? I asked my Trumpette Facebook friend this very question before the election (in the wake of pussygate, I believe). Never got an answer, just a barrage of “Hillary is awful” posts. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/332 "2017-01-07T01:00:36Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > And if you’re referring to that statement about computers not being safe is crystal clear. You don’t seem to have responded to the point I made a couple pages back: namely, that if all that statement says is that ultimately, computers aren’t totally safe, then it may be “crystal clear” but it’s pretty devoid of meaningful content. > [@Kimstu](#): > > You claim that his words aren’t literally advising people to transmit confidential information in handwritten form by courier. But in that case, **he’s not saying anything useful at all about cybersecurity issues**. He’s just declaring “Can’t be done, too bad!”, and blathering a bit about old-fashioned data delivery and his young son’s computer skills merely to fill some airspace. > > The problem is that **while you can insist that Trump’s shallow-sounding folksy-grandpa blatherings aren’t intended to be taken literally, you can’t replace them with something that’s actually well-informed and meaningful unless you make up your preferred interpretation out of whole cloth.** > > ISTM that Trumpian exegesis is shaping up to be the new conservative ideological endeavor, like CCP members arguing about the correct interpretation of Chairman Mao’s mystic utterances. _“Obviously the Dear Leader did not intend that remark literally! It’s a metaphor for the inevitable flowering of worker prosperity under the stimulus of upper-bracket tax cuts!”_ Uh-huh. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/333 "2017-01-07T01:24:12Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m curious; For your in-laws, what WOULD be a disqualifying feature/event at this point? > > - When he does not deliver on any of his promises? Of course, the blame and excuses will be easy to come by. > - Parties at the Whitehouse, where he invites Russian oligarchs and naked models? And it’s on pay-per-view? > - Selling nuclear weapons to N. Korea because Kim Jong is a great guy and complimented Trumps hands? > > Do they have a tipping point? I think failing in a very obvious and visible way to deliver on any of his promises would be a tipping point. They still believe he’s waiting until after Inauguration Day to drop the hammer on HRC, for example. They think he’s going to somehow end all waste, fraud, and abuse in government. They expect the Iran deal to be scrapped. They expect him to Do Something™ to end lone wolf terrorism. I think if it turns out he just doesn’t DO much of anything other than Tweet and revel in the trappings of being president–my personal base case–they could turn on him. OTOH they’re equally likely to blame Dems for blocking his agenda. Another tipping point would be an audio or video recording of him boasting of what suckers his supporters are and how the whole thing is a big con. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/334 "2017-01-07T01:40:27Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > I think failing in a very obvious and visible way to deliver on any of his promises would be a tipping point. They still believe he’s waiting until after Inauguration Day to drop the hammer on HRC, for example. They think he’s going to somehow end all waste, fraud, and abuse in government. They expect the Iran deal to be scrapped. They expect him to Do Something™ to end lone wolf terrorism. I think if it turns out he just doesn’t DO much of anything other than Tweet and revel in the trappings of being president–my personal base case–they could turn on him. OTOH they’re equally likely to blame Dems for blocking his agenda. > > **Another tipping point would be an audio or video recording of him boasting of what suckers his supporters are and how the whole thing is a big con.** Those leftist, special effects people in Hollywood are very unfair and disloyal! Fake! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184/335 "2017-01-07T03:13:57Z")
> [@Donald\_Rump](#): > > I think failing in a very obvious and visible way to deliver on any of his promises would be a tipping point. . . I think if it turns out he just doesn’t DO much of anything other than Tweet and revel in the trappings of being president–my personal base case–they could turn on him. OTOH they’re equally likely to blame Dems for blocking his agenda. We’re in for a huge and sophisticated PR war, and not much more, which was the Republicans’ whole approach toward Obama anyway. This will be bolstered by the devil’s deal between the establishment Republicans and Trump. The next four years are going to be little change (at best) or (more likely) things will get worse. Yes, he’ll blame others (mostly Democrats) if anybody even notices his failures, but probably he’ll continue to use cheap theatrics and distractions (via Twitter) to claim fantasy “successes,” and stupid people will believe it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-trumps-childishness-simply-disqualify-him-outright-in-your-mind/776184.md?page=16)