# Will the stupidity and incompetence of Trump hurt the GOP going forward **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 9, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367 "2017-02-09T01:26:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [February 9, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/1 "2017-02-09T01:26:34Z")
There was a hope under Bush, due to his ineptitude and cronyism that it would help usher in a more progressive era. It didn’t happen I don’t think. 2006 and 2008 were good years for democrats, and millennials seem to have developed a lifelong aversion for the GOP (millennials have been supporting the dems by 20-35 point margins for the last decade) but it hasn’t really changed politics much. The GOP controls most state houses as well as the executive and legislative on the federal level. So lets assume Trump is a more corrupt, incompetent, dangerous, deranged version of Bush. That may lead to democratic landslides in maybe 2018 and 2020, but after that will elections be balanced again or will it lead to long term realignments? I guess I’m not hopeful of long term realignments, or people permanently refusing to vote GOP. Personally, I don’t think I can ever vote GOP again after seeing them support Trump, but I’m in the most liberal 20% of the electorate so I’m not representative. However, millennials as I said do seem to have a long term realignment. And minorities are growing as a % of the electorate. But the fact that whites w/o a college diploma (who make up half of white voters, which is 35% of the electorate in 2016) are moving further and further to the right, negating the benefits from millennials and non-whites. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/2 "2017-02-09T02:01:34Z")
The problem with that is what we saw under Obama and Bush, if people show up to vote for or against one particular person only you can’t really count on them for any other elections. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/3 "2017-02-09T02:11:00Z")
Tape delay anything by the administration, only broadcasting after scrolling fact checking is added. Give the administration a chance to respond and correct before broadcasting…but, the American public, and the world, deserves the full and unblemished truth in all statements from the White House and both sides of congress. Don’t they? ---
**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:** [February 9, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/4 "2017-02-09T02:14:57Z")
God, I hope so. ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/5 "2017-02-09T03:12:32Z")
With news like this Trump can be as incompetent as he wants to be: Intel Will Invest $7 Billion in Chip Factory in Arizona (and create 3000 jobs) > **[Intel, in Show of Support for Trump, Announces Factory in Arizona (Published...](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08/technology/trump-intel-chip-factory-arizona.html?_r=0)** > > The world’s largest chip manufacturer, which opposes President Trump’s immigration order but backs his tax and regulatory plans, will invest $7 billion to finish a factory conceived in 2011. Besides the main stream liberal media no longer has a stranglehold on narrative of what’s happening the country. He’ll tweet past the gatekeepers. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/6 "2017-02-09T03:15:49Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > With news like this Trump can be as incompetent as he wants to be: > > Intel Will Invest $7 Billion in Chip Factory in Arizona (and create 3000 jobs) > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08/technology/trump-intel-chip-factory-arizona.html?\_r=0](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08/technology/trump-intel-chip-factory-arizona.html?_r=0) > > Besides the main stream liberal media no longer has a stranglehold on narrative of what’s happening the country. He’ll tweet past the gatekeepers. You do realize that Fox and Limbaugh and Hannity have been active for decades, right? Some stranglehold. ---
**Author:** ![Celidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Celidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celidin)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/7 "2017-02-09T03:22:20Z")
I’m hoping that as Millennials grow up and become more active the Overton window starts to shift back to the left, to the point where there’ll still be a GOP, but it’ll move back to the centrist GOP that existed in previous decades. Probably won’t happen, but I’m hopeful. ---
**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 9, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/8 "2017-02-09T03:25:09Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > With news like this Trump can be as incompetent as he wants to be: > > Intel Will Invest $7 Billion in Chip Factory in Arizona (and create 3000 jobs) > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08/technology/trump-intel-chip-factory-arizona.html?\_r=0](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08/technology/trump-intel-chip-factory-arizona.html?_r=0) > > Besides the main stream liberal media no longer has a stranglehold on narrative of what’s happening the country. He’ll tweet past the gatekeepers. Trump cheered the loss of jobs at Macy’s. Called for a boycott even. [Macy’s Drops Donald Trump’s Fashion Line Over Immigrant Remarks](https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/07/01/macys-drops-donald-trumps-fashion-line-over-immigrant-remarks/) > [@](#): > > [Twitter](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/616290244753760262) > For all of those who want to #MakeAmericaGreatAgain, boycott @Macys. They are weak on border security & stopping illegal immigration. I wasn’t aware that Macy’s enforced immigration law. [Macy’s cuts 10,000 jobs after Trump-demanded boycott](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/1/5/1617367/-Macy-s-cuts-10-000-jobs-after-Trump-demanded-boycott) ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/9 "2017-02-09T03:40:50Z")
> [@Celidin](#): > > I’m hoping that as Millennials grow up and become more active the Overton window starts to shift back to the left, to the point where there’ll still be a GOP, but it’ll move back to the centrist GOP that existed in previous decades. > > Probably won’t happen, but I’m hopeful. My child has become a Alex Keaton like character because of the Internet. (FYI - Alex Keaton was the conservative child who clashed with his hippie parents in a sitcom called Family Ties.) I’ve heard stories of children being far conservative than their parents because of Internet posts and videos. That plus a heavy dose of Fox News when he visits the grandparents.😉 ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/10 "2017-02-09T04:32:39Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > With news like this Trump can be as incompetent as he wants to be: > > Intel Will Invest $7 Billion in Chip Factory in Arizona (and create 3000 jobs) > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08/technology/trump-intel-chip-factory-arizona.html?\_r=0](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08/technology/trump-intel-chip-factory-arizona.html?_r=0) > > Besides the main stream liberal media no longer has a stranglehold on narrative of what’s happening the country. He’ll tweet past the gatekeepers. This is all it takes for you? It was in the works before November right? You’re clutching at straws man. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/11 "2017-02-09T04:36:09Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > My child has become a Alex Keaton like character because of the Internet. (FYI - Alex Keaton was the conservative child who clashed with his hippie parents in a sitcom called Family Ties.) I’ve heard stories of children being far conservative than their parents because of Internet posts and videos. That plus a heavy dose of Fox News when he visits the grandparents.😉 So you’re a liberal? Or is he more conservative than you? I don’t get the comparison. That is weird, and a little scary. I don’t remember bonding with my grandparents over tv, and I’m glad. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/12 "2017-02-09T04:46:12Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > This is all it takes for you? It was in the works before November right? You’re clutching at straws man. I think that’s exactly the point. I remember my HS history teacher saying that, in general, when you tear into a president over something, it’s usually something that’s been in the works since the previous administration. So when you rip him a new one over starting a war or a declining economy or whatever, instead of being shortsighted and just looking at what happened in the last 2 weeks, look back at the last few years. I think Pearl is saying the same think. People will see Intel and their 3000 jobs and be thrilled that Trump did that, even if he had nothing whatsoever to do with it. You could show people land deals, building contracts and employment negotiations from 8 months ago, but people would only see 3000+ jobs (and a booming economy in that area) when the plant opens. ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/13 "2017-02-09T05:02:58Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I think that’s exactly the point. I remember my HS history teacher saying that, in general, when you tear into a president over something, it’s usually something that’s been in the works since the previous administration. So when you rip him a new one over starting a war or a declining economy or whatever, instead of being shortsighted and just looking at what happened in the last 2 weeks, look back at the last few years. I think Pearl is saying the same think. People will see Intel and their 3000 jobs and be thrilled that Trump did that, even if he had nothing whatsoever to do with it. You could show people land deals, building contracts and employment negotiations from 8 months ago, but people would only see 3000+ jobs (and a booming economy in that area) when the plant opens. Intel could have scrapped it also. Or built the plant in Mexico. The fact it wasn’t built during the Obama years speaks volumes. It was something they wanted to do but were probably reluctant to do in an anti-business or indifferent environment. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/14 "2017-02-09T05:17:08Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I think that’s exactly the point. I remember my HS history teacher saying that, in general, when you tear into a president over something, it’s usually something that’s been in the works since the previous administration. So when you rip him a new one over starting a war or a declining economy or whatever, instead of being shortsighted and just looking at what happened in the last 2 weeks, look back at the last few years. I think Pearl is saying the same think. People will see Intel and their 3000 jobs and be thrilled that Trump did that, even if he had nothing whatsoever to do with it. You could show people land deals, building contracts and employment negotiations from 8 months ago, but people would only see 3000+ jobs (and a booming economy in that area) when the plant opens. I don’t think we’re in the same political environment you remember and recognize, where this means anything. The kind of voters we are talking about, why do they care about 3000 jobs for someone else? So maybe there’s 3000 votes out of the 3 million deficit nationally? I bet 500 voted for donnie anyway. If 2000 voted for democrats then they really couldn’t give a fuck. Donnies fans seem to feel entitled to something. I can’t say what it is just yet, but more of the endless echolaliac pimping for him on fox, and trumpsplaining jobs numbers, might not have the same effect it seems to have in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/15 "2017-02-09T05:55:49Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Intel could have scrapped it also. Or built the plant in Mexico. The fact it wasn’t built during the Obama years speaks volumes. It was something they wanted to do but were probably reluctant to do in an anti-business or indifferent environment. In which case, what I was suggesting is not at all what you were saying, so, nevermind, ignore my post. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/16 "2017-02-09T06:03:16Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I don’t think we’re in the same political environment you remember and recognize, where this means anything. The kind of voters we are talking about, why do they care about 3000 jobs for someone else? So maybe there’s 3000 votes out of the 3 million deficit nationally? I bet 500 voted for donnie anyway. If 2000 voted for democrats then they really couldn’t give a fuck. Who the 3000 people that get those jobs vote for is irrelevant. It’s when the unemployment numbers come out and everyone looks at those and makes decisions based on those numbers. What I was saying is that you can argue all day about (in this case) which president had more to do with Intel creating 3000 US jobs, but people, specifically Republicans will see that as theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/17 "2017-02-09T06:11:30Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Intel could have scrapped it also. Or built the plant in Mexico. The fact it wasn’t built during the Obama years speaks volumes. It was something they wanted to do but were probably reluctant to do in an anti-business or indifferent environment. Also, just to be clear, Intel actually announced this plan in 2011, with Obama. > **[Intel welcomes President Barack Obama to Hillsboro with promises of jobs,...](https://www.oregonlive.com/siliconforest/2011/02/intel_greets_obama_with_promis.html)** > > Intel will add 4,000 jobs in the U.S. this year, which could include more than 1,000 in Oregon. > [@](#): > > Also Friday [in 2011], Otellini announced that Intel will spend more than $5 billion to build an Arizona semiconductor factory, known in the industry as a fab. When it opens two years from now Curious, if they stall for another 5 years and it opens after Trump is gone and, for the sake of argument, a democrat is president, will that still ‘speak volumes’ or will there be some reason that it won’t? What about if it just takes them 5 years to get it up and running? Does the next president still get to claim the win? ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/18 "2017-02-09T06:25:46Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Also, just to be clear, Intel actually announced this plan in 2011, with Obama. > [Intel welcomes President Barack Obama to Hillsboro with promises of jobs, investment - oregonlive.com](http://blog.oregonlive.com/siliconforest/2011/02/intel_greets_obama_with_promis.html) > > Curious, if they stall for another 5 years and it opens after Trump is gone and, for the sake of argument, a democrat is president, will that still ‘speak volumes’ or will there be some reason that it won’t? > What about if it just takes them 5 years to get it up and running? Does the next president still get to claim the win? I absolutely agree this was in the works long before Trump was elected, but investing 7 billion is a big decision. There must be a genuine need for this plant. And, yes, if they stall for another 5 years, it will speak volumes about Trump. The thing is that no one has left after meeting Trump screaming in panic that we’re all going to die. In fact, it’s been the opposite. Even the Silicon Valley people have had good things to say about him. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/19 "2017-02-09T06:30:24Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Who the 3000 people that get those jobs vote for is irrelevant. It’s when the unemployment numbers come out and everyone looks at those and makes decisions based on those numbers. What I was saying is that you can argue all day about (in this case) which president had more to do with Intel creating 3000 US jobs, but people, specifically Republicans will see that as theirs. My point is that employment figures are from another political era. It may not work that way now. Republicans can see it as theirs if they want, but their party just got hijacked by a conman. trump voters are not like reagan or bush voters. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367/20 "2017-02-09T06:32:14Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > I absolutely agree this was in the works long before Trump was elected, but investing 7 billion is a big decision. There must be a genuine need for this plant. > > And, yes, if they stall for another 5 years, it will speak volumes about Trump. The thing is that no one has left after meeting Trump screaming in panic that we’re all going to die. In fact, it’s been the opposite. Even the Silicon Valley people have had good things to say about him. Cite on silicon valley? It’s not what I’m hearing. From very good people. The best. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-stupidity-and-incompetence-of-trump-hurt-the-gop-going-forward/779367.md?page=2)