Trump

[OriZ 3,157]

I'm starting to believe more and more that Donald Trump is playing one of the greatest practical jokes in history. No candidate (not even Sarah Palin) is doing a greater disservice to the GOP than Donald Trump. Though I don't agree with him, I understand his appeal. He says flat out what a lot of Americans are thinking but don't dare say in public (thanks to media and unhinged political correctness). The problem isn't that 28% of GOP primary voters agree with him. The problem is that nearly 100% of Democrat, most independent voters and even most Republican voters don't agree with him and find him completely unelectable at best.

Whether you agree with Trump or not, if he wins the nomination, Hillary will be the next president of the United States.

I say this as a liberal who misses the old GOP and is secretly hoping for a moderate Republican president - Not because I agree more with the GOP, but because I don't believe that any liberal will be able to de-polarize the country at this point.

I've made it pretty clear I am not a Trump fan, but I think anyone who is so positive this far ahead of time that there's no way Trump beats Hillary just might end up with egg on their face.

[JayJayH 546]

I've made it pretty clear I am not a Trump fan, but I think anyone who is so positive this far ahead of time that there's no way Trump beats Hillary just might end up with egg on their face.

Maybe. I have no problem seeing Trump building up a solid voter base. I just find it extremely difficult to believe that he'll be able to grab enough independent or Hispanic voters to actually beat Hillary in a general election. Obama won twice because enough independent voters voted for him, because the Hispanic vote went in his favor by a much larger margin than it ever did for Gore or Kerry, and because African American and young voters had record turnouts.

Remember, to win a general election, your goal is only in part to fire up the base (increase voter turnout). The "classic" Republican voter base already statistically has the highest voter turnout. Republicans have a more important task of swaying the folks in the middle and win a large enough portion of the Hispanic vote, which George W. Bush did. Something I believe a candidate like Marco Rubio would be much better suited at.

McCain and Romney both failed to win over the middle as well as the Hispanic vote, coupled with record turnouts from African American and young voters. That cost them Florida, Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. Twice.

Edited December 19, 2015 by JayJayH

[ExPatty 502]

I still don't think Trump is that bad for the election. He's entertaining. A lot of the stuff he says is dead-on point and that's why he has a lot of support. He isn't politically correct, which is amazing. He also says things that are crazy like registering people of a certain religion and deporting millions more.

So back to him being good for it. If he wins, we don't get CLinton, which may be good. If he loses (which I think he will--I give strong odds on clinton being the next POTUS and I really think that is just terrible for the country), I'm hopeful that the GOP completely self-destructs and maybe we get a viable party next time. The GOP is stuck in a huge rut that keeps getting deeper. They need to reinvent themselves.

Trump is the only one up there with any chance of winning who hasn't been bought part and parcel by lobbyists.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I still don't think Trump is that bad for the election. He's entertaining. A lot of the stuff he says is dead-on point and that's why he has a lot of support. He isn't politically correct, which is amazing. He also says things that are crazy like registering people of a certain religion and deporting millions more.

So back to him being good for it. If he wins, we don't get CLinton, which may be good. If he loses (which I think he will--I give strong odds on clinton being the next POTUS and I really think that is just terrible for the country), I'm hopeful that the GOP completely self-destructs and maybe we get a viable party next time. The GOP is stuck in a huge rut that keeps getting deeper. They need to reinvent themselves.

Trump is the only one up there with any chance of winning who hasn't been bought part and parcel by lobbyists.

What has he said that's dead on point?

[jyaku 138]

I wish there was a Republican that supported a minimum wage increase and LBGT protections. I'm forced to be a liberal just to be happy with the person I love and to get a raise.

Sad isn't it? I voted for Dole and Bush but the GOP has gone completely insane.

[lostinblue 1,989]

What has he said that's dead on point?

[ExPatty 502]

What has he said that's dead on point?

Everything in this quote for starters: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform

He's the only politician who has brought any meaningful attention to immigration and although rounding up millions and deporting isn't realistic, taking a truly hard stance on illegal immigration is a great idea and nobody has done it in decades, despite huge popular support for it. He was also right about what he said about mexico originally--what he actually said, not what the media spun his words into pretending he thinks everyone from mexico is a rapist, which was neither said nor implied. It's at the heart of US immigration policy: stringent, harsh vetting for legal people with good educational backgrounds and lax, couldn't-care-less on people who are poorly educated and will leech social services, putting a heavy toll on public services that they do not pay their share of.

Sad isn't it? I voted for Dole and Bush but the GOP has gone completely insane.

How did you vote for Dole but didn't get your greencard until this year and at the same time as being old enough to have voted for dole you live in NYC and make minimum wage?

Edited December 21, 2015 by ExPatty

[Teddy B 17,252]

How did you vote for Dole but didn't get your greencard until this year and at the same time as being old enough to have voted for dole you live in NYC and make minimum wage?

I believe the person posting is the USC, greencard holders cannot vote.

[smilesammich 10,727]

I believe the person posting is the USC, greencard holders cannot vote.

no teddy, it's a liberal conspiracy.

[ExPatty 502]

no teddy, it's a liberal conspiracy.

In accusing me of paranoia you betray your own.

[Teddy B 17,252]

no teddy, it's a liberal conspiracy.

It must be, I don't know anyone who openly admits voting for Dole.

[smilesammich 10,727]

In accusing me of paranoia you betray your own.

weak links must be liberated into oblivion.

It must be, I don't know anyone who openly admits voting for Dole.

i'm free and clear. i was 17 in 96.

[Teddy B 17,252]

i'm free and clear. i was 17 in 96.

But when did you get your greencard?

[smilesammich 10,727]

But when did you get your greencard?

78 via birth canal. rough trip.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I still don't think Trump is that bad for the election. He's entertaining. A lot of the stuff he says is dead-on point and that's why he has a lot of support. He isn't politically correct, which is amazing. He also says things that are crazy like registering people of a certain religion and deporting millions more.

So back to him being good for it. If he wins, we don't get CLinton, which may be good. If he loses (which I think he will--I give strong odds on clinton being the next POTUS and I really think that is just terrible for the country), I'm hopeful that the GOP completely self-destructs and maybe we get a viable party next time. The GOP is stuck in a huge rut that keeps getting deeper. They need to reinvent themselves.

Trump is the only one up there with any chance of winning who hasn't been bought part and parcel by lobbyists.

Oddly enough ole Jeb is gaining some traction based on his ISIS fear propaganda. It would be pretty ironic if a 3rd Bush becomes president thanks to the flustercluck his daddy and brother started.

78 via birth canal. rough trip.

So you entered the US without inspection?