# Will you give Donald Trump a chance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529 "2017-01-19T06:24:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/21 "2017-01-19T13:58:11Z")
It is interesting seeing the different responses that seem to stem from different views on what “give a chance” means. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/22 "2017-01-19T14:07:03Z")
Does the OP mean “take a 3-month\* rest before renewing criticism on fora like the Dope?” I’ll go with “no.” Does the OP mean “take a 3-month rest before actively working toward mitigating, in whatever small ways I can (including steps toward the next elections), a few among the dozens of harmful actions by his administration (some already well underway?”. I’ll say “yes,” but only because I’m exhausted and demoralized and have a lot on my plate at the moment. Does the OP mean “refrain from assuming that there will be more harmful actions to come?” I suppose I’m already doing that. On fora like this, I’ve made few predictions, and those have been mere logical extrapolations of Trump’s real actions to date. \*Time period selected rather arbitrarily – but since the OP wasn’t specific, I get to choose the details. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/23 "2017-01-19T14:41:57Z")
> [@ultimate11](#): > > As we near the presidential inauguration, I ask you dopers, will you give Trump a chance? I really hope the OP comes back to describe what he thinks “give him a chance” means. Does it mean not offering my opinion if it differs from Trump? Does it mean not criticizing Trump? Does it mean not thinking poorly of him? Does it mean actively supporting his agenda? I’m genuinely curious as to what the OP intended to mean. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/24 "2017-01-19T14:59:23Z")
> [@naita](#): > > What if he reduces the deficit but cripples the military, various industries, the health care system and the education system? If he does those things, then I’ll consider him a failure. But I don’t speak for his supporters. They wanted a businessman, so they may think reducing the deficit is more important than causing the sort of damage you describe. I think it’s more likely that we’ll follow the pattern of the last 20+ years. Republicans complain about deficit spending as a threat to the nation, but only when a Democrat is president. As soon as a Republican is elected, it’s like they never even heard of the national debt. They got what they said they wanted, now it’s time to hold their feet to the fire. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/25 "2017-01-19T15:07:26Z")
How about a head start? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/26 "2017-01-19T15:11:23Z")
God’s reasons are not ours, and God has ordained Trump to be elected. Donald Trump is there for a divine reason, that, I believe is to bring forth the hatred and bitterness that has been a ongoing generational problem which has been simmering under the surface. These people are emboldened and also exposed for who they are. Like a good therapists will uncover hidden issues that must be dealt with to move on, I believe that is what God is doing with Trump. It is a time to heal those, or at least contain those, who are angry and hateful towards others. The turn to prayer, and offer good will despite the will of Trump is the way forward for our people. This is the time that God wants us to move forward, not with Trump, but to throw off our old ways of hatred, and embrace love, and pray that the grinch’s of this world have their heart grow 3 sizes. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/27 "2017-01-19T15:14:30Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > God’s reasons are not ours, and God has ordained Trump to be elected. This is the same God that ordained Hitler and Stalin to take power? Because you’re damn right God’s reasons are not ours: God, you’re telling us, is a real asshole. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/28 "2017-01-19T15:17:30Z")
I think that’s an entirely valid way to look at it, **kanicbird**. I, personally, don’t think god or prayer have much to do with it but I’d welcome their assistance. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/29 "2017-01-19T15:20:20Z")
You mean, keep an open mind and hope that the every single thing he has done or said in his entire life is now going to change? It’s sounds like the question is, are you as stupid as a doorknob? Or, to put it more succintly, no. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/30 "2017-01-19T15:20:36Z")
He will be the President of the United States, appalling a thought as that is, and I will continue to respect the office even though I hold the man (as I have for years) in utter contempt. I will give him a chance in the sense of hoping and looking for him to do some few things which I can support, but I will strongly oppose him on what I already expect will be 95%+ of his toxic agenda. My prayer is that he (a) utterly disgraces himself and the GOP, but (b) does no lasting harm to the country. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/31 "2017-01-19T15:31:57Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > God’s reasons are not ours, and God has ordained Trump to be elected. Donald Trump is there for a divine reason, that, I believe is to bring forth the hatred and bitterness that has been a ongoing generational problem which has been simmering under the surface. These people are emboldened and also exposed for who they are. > > Like a good therapists will uncover hidden issues that must be dealt with to move on, I believe that is what God is doing with Trump. It is a time to heal those, or at least contain those, who are angry and hateful towards others. The turn to prayer, and offer good will despite the will of Trump is the way forward for our people. This is the time that God wants us to move forward, not with Trump, but to throw off our old ways of hatred, and embrace love, and pray that the grinch’s of this world have their heart grow 3 sizes. So, you are saying that Trump is the lance to pierce the festering boil of hate and bigotry? Would that could work, but lancing boils just creates a disgusting, painful mess, and, without treating the underlying causes, they just come back anyway. God help us all. ---
**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 19, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/32 "2017-01-19T15:33:01Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > My prayer is that he (a) utterly disgraces himself and the GOP, but (b) does no lasting harm to the country. I’m counting on it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/33 "2017-01-19T15:35:10Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > God’s reasons are not ours, and God has ordained Trump to be elected. Donald Trump is there for a divine reason, that, I believe is to bring forth the hatred and bitterness that has been a ongoing generational problem which has been simmering under the surface. These people are emboldened and also exposed for who they are. > > Like a good therapists will uncover hidden issues that must be dealt with to move on, I believe that is what God is doing with Trump. It is a time to heal those, or at least contain those, who are angry and hateful towards others. The turn to prayer, and offer good will despite the will of Trump is the way forward for our people. This is the time that God wants us to move forward, not with Trump, but to throw off our old ways of hatred, and embrace love, and pray that the grinch’s of this world have their heart grow 3 sizes. That makes me wish I believed in God so I could un-believe in him all over again! ---
**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 19, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/34 "2017-01-19T15:36:47Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > God help us all. According to **kanicbird** , god is how we got into this mess. He probably should go back to minding his own business. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/35 "2017-01-19T15:42:30Z")
Hey ultimate11, you can add a poll whenever you like I think. Above your OP click “thread tools” then “add a poll”. Not that I think it’s particularly useful for this topic… ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/36 "2017-01-19T15:58:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > This is about what I was going to say. Like it or not (I don’t), he’s going to become the President tomorrow. He and his party will be able to institute all sorts of policies. I can’t stop that. “Giving him a chance” just means “not engaging in armed insurrection”, which is sort of the default for me. Oh my good man no. No,no, no. Give him a chance means doesn’t mean donning your financial protection isn’t the best move. Begin moving your assets to secure, liquid holdings. Don’t trust the market’s future to an idiot who thinks financial mistakes are wiped clean by a bankruptcy system that renders him “tax free” for years to come. Cash holdings are your protection from this clowns 3 AM twitter tantrums and the world’s response to his thoughtless comments. I’m not a financial genius by any means, but I really think this is one time in history to to move to secure, less productive, liquid assets. So yep, give him a chance, but keep your parachute very close. Maybe wear it, even when you sleep. Disclaimer: I really hope I’m wrong, but when the wind blows from the east, I smell something terrible this way coming. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/37 "2017-01-19T15:59:11Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > According to **kanicbird** , god is how we got into this mess. He probably should go back to minding his own business. You misspelled **Putin** , and yes, he should mind his own business. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/38 "2017-01-19T16:01:05Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > … to to move to secure, less productive, liquid assets… Beer. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/39 "2017-01-19T16:03:31Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > God’s reasons are not ours, and God has ordained Trump to be elected. Donald Trump is there for a divine reason, that, I believe is to bring forth the hatred and bitterness that has been a ongoing generational problem which has been simmering under the surface. These people are emboldened and also exposed for who they are. > > Like a good therapists will uncover hidden issues that must be dealt with to move on, I believe that is what God is doing with Trump. It is a time to heal those, or at least contain those, who are angry and hateful towards others. The turn to prayer, and offer good will despite the will of Trump is the way forward for our people. This is the time that God wants us to move forward, not with Trump, but to throw off our old ways of hatred, and embrace love, and pray that the grinch’s of this world have their heart grow 3 sizes. If their was a god, I don’t think she/he would appreciate “help” like this. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529/40 "2017-01-19T16:12:28Z")
> [@ultimate11](#): > > As we near the presidential inauguration, I ask you dopers, will you give Trump a chance? > > (And yes, I was intending a poll for this topic, but I messed up and didn’t add one. Opinions are welcome.) I don’t have any choice, sadly. My fellow Americans elected this clown. So…he has his chance. We’ll see what he does with it. Thus far I’ve been pretty horrified by some of his foreign policy Tweets, but actions will speak louder than words. Will he actually try and do the things he campaigned on? If so then it’s going to be pretty bad. If not…well, what will he do? Time will tell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-give-donald-trump-a-chance/777529.md?page=3)