@Purple:
I mean, they are. That's why they specifically asked Romney to say "yo guys, don't vote for trump."
I'm talking about literally. :/
@Purple:
I mean, they are. That's why they specifically asked Romney to say "yo guys, don't vote for trump."
I'm talking about literally. :/
I am not vouching for Rubio. He is so far off the deep-end on foreign policy that even thinking about vouching for him would give me a heart attack. What if he confuses Pakistan and India and bombs my home instead? I am merely pointing out that his profile (immigrant, middle-of-the-road conservative on domestic issues, war hawk, fairly popular in a pretty important swing state, might look charismatic given the right spin) would appeal more to the Republican bosses than the donut-gorging extra from Jersey Shore.
None of that mattered because you could spin Rubio in circles and he'd still be a busted hunk of junk. That wasn't a secret when they decided to support him.
If he were ever relevant in the election, what do you think his opponents would be trumpeting (heh) from the rooftops? Add the spin of being a corrupt vindictive man-child and you've got a campaign dead in the water.
I already said I don't think it would hurt chances if they brought it up. No one cares about bridgegate. No one is going "omg I used to like Christie but then Bridgegate made me think he was the worst." Bridgegate is to the right what Benghazi is to the left. The only candidate who doesn't have any real dirt is Bernie and Hilary is the only one who can throw that stone without shattering her glass house.
Contrary to the perception built in this place, Republican politicians vary on their stances on immigration. W was pretty pro-immigration and even worked with Congress to try and streamline the process of granting illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. The rabid xenophobia Trump has built is not something that every Republican espouses, which is why you still don't see him topping 40% in any major national poll among Republicans. Also, no one in the mainstream Republican Party has called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States. (Cue dozens of articles about nutbags in some obscure local office calling for mass-execution of all Muslims.)
All the leading candidates for the Reps support some form of drastic border control from walls to tracking. They wouldn't have all jumped on such terrible ideas if it wasn't resonating with the base in some way.
What sort of asinine logic is this? Someone who can out-Trump Trump would never be for the establishment because they would lose the number one reason Trump is doing so well. He is a fucking outsider and he does not listen to the establishment. Seriously, talk to a Trump supporter, or if that is too unpalatable, see some of the interviews with them on TV. This is the same reason Carson and Fiorina also got their moments in the spotlight, however brief they might have been.
You just remarked how Trump wasn't topping 40%. So at least 60% some other candidate would have to work with. Cruz is Trump light, if the party had a stronger establishment candidate like NOT Rubio who was as loud and as obnoxious as Trump I think they would have an easier time bleeding from Trumps 40% and consolidating the 60% around them. I think Fiorina would definitely play ball with the party which is why I brought her up earlier. Christie also fits that bill. He's known for speaking his mind and is no stranger to earning flak for saying shit only his party could agree with. With the support of the party I think as the field shrunk he would have been a better choice to run against Trump than Rubio. This is all speculation but it's less asinine than speculating that if a person was a completely different person he'd have had a shot at winning.
@Purple:
I mean, they are. That's why they specifically asked Romney to say "yo guys, don't vote for trump."
That's less skin-flaying and more walking-around-and-hitting-yourself-in-the-face-with-a-board.
When Mitt Romney makes the same points as John Oliver, you know shit’s gone south.
This is ‘the villain helps the heroes take down a more evil villain’ trope come to life
If the GOP really had its marbles together, it would have outright made the claim for strategic voting by now. "Vote for Marco Rubio in Florida! Or Trump wins the nomination!"
You know… dangle the treat of that "OR ELSE" like they do on their dogwhistles, from gay marriage to healthcare.
Because barring a victory for Rubio in Florida, that is really what will happen. Shame for them party is too fractious -- and disorganized -- to manage that.
Can't say I feel sorry for them!
And yet, despite all this, once or if Donald Trump wins the nomination, watch.
Watch all these so-called establishment figures fall in line. All of these people who slammed him, who rallied against him (in the 11th hour),
Who call him a traitor and an outsider and all the rest (not for failing to share their problematic views, mind, but for failing to respect them as handlers),
Watch them, when the writing is on the wall, move to consolidate power. That is what a political establishment does.
It is far more interested in its own self-preservation than in making an ideological stand. I'm betting we'll see it unfold right before our eyes.
You'll see other politicians start to wise up, to try and catch hold of Trump's coattails and ride this out. Chris Christie already has: and there will be more.
"Trump has impressed me!" "Donald Trump has matured!" Trump, the man so pathetically insecure he boasted about his dick size on national television!
"Matured." "Yes, Trump has changed. I'm confident he has what it takes to be the president of this country," they'll say, believing not one empty word of it.
All while Rome is burning around them.
Pretty much how we all feel at this point.
It's honestly almost painful to see most of the people I used to know support Donald Trump. They think the reason Bernie appeals to so many people is because they want "free shit", and just keep posting generic anti-welfare, anti-food stamps, anti-raise minimum wage, anti-free college talking points 25/8. Their entire lives seem to consist of talking about this, watching Marvel movies, and reading Marvel and DC comic books.
I don't know wtf happened to these people. Last election they supported Obama and had completely different beliefs.
If the GOP really had its marbles together, it would have outright made the claim for strategic voting by now. "Vote for Marco Rubio in Florida! Or Trump wins the nomination!"
You know… dangle the treat of that "OR ELSE" like they do on their dogwhistles, from gay marriage to healthcare.
Because barring a victory for Rubio in Florida, that is really what will happen. Shame for them party is too fractious -- and disorganized -- to manage that.
Can't say I feel sorry for them!And yet, despite all this, once or if Donald Trump wins the nomination, watch.
Watch all these so-called establishment figures fall in line. All of these people who slammed him, who rallied against him (in the 11th hour),
Who call him a traitor and an outsider and all the rest (not for failing to share their problematic views, mind, but for failing to respect them as handlers),
Watch them, when the writing is on the wall, move to consolidate power. That is what a political establishment does.
It is far more interested in its own self-preservation than in making an ideological stand. I'm betting we'll see it unfold right before our eyes.You'll see other politicians start to wise up, to try and catch hold of Trump's coattails and ride this out. Chris Christie already has: and there will be more.
"Trump has impressed me!" "Donald Trump has matured!" Trump, the man so pathetically insecure he boasted about his dick size on national television!
"Matured." "Yes, Trump has changed. I'm confident he has what it takes to be the president of this country," they'll say, believing not one empty word of it.All while Rome is burning around them.
At the end of the debate last night after repeated stabs and gouges from Rubio and Cruz, when asked what would they do if Trump won the nomination they responded by saying they would fall in line with the party and support him.
If I was a moderate Republican or Independant who is on the fence whether to vote Democrat or Republican I would vote for Hillary/Bernie based on that.
OK random question for you guys. My mom was bitching about Trump but she has a good point: what the hell are Donald Trump's policies? I know about the whole Muslim charade, the wall he wants to build around Mexico and the expertise in economics but what's his foreign policy? How does he feel about college? Does he just rant and rave or does he actually have some legitimate quality ideas?
@Medical:
It's honestly almost painful to see most of the people I used to know support Donald Trump. They think the reason Bernie appeals to so many people is because they want "free shit", and just keep posting generic anti-welfare, anti-food stamps, anti-raise minimum wage, anti-free college talking points 25/8. Their entire lives seem to consist of talking about this, watching Marvel movies, and reading Marvel and DC comic books.
I don't know wtf happened to these people. Last election they supported Obama and had completely different beliefs.
Tell me about it. In the town I live in the Republicans voted for Trump. In this well-off, well-educated town they voted for Trump. To be fair, Kasich was a close second, but still. What is going through their minds?
OK random question for you guys. My mom was bitching about Trump but she has a good point: what the hell are Donald Trump's policies? I know about the whole Muslim charade, the wall he wants to build around Mexico and the expertise in economics but what's his foreign policy? How does he feel about college? Does he just rant and rave or does he actually have some legitimate quality ideas?
That's the thing, it's really hard to gauge where he stands, since it appears to change whenever it suits the purposes of his campaign.
The only concrete things we can say about him are that he's a liar, a narcissist, a failure of a businessman and an effective hatemonger among people. If we took his words at face value, then his plans range anywhere from just mimicking the republican party to committing war crimes. As far as I can tell from his website, his plans mostly involve deregulation of industry and his immigration talk. Even when he lays out his plans, he demonstrates no real understanding of the legislation involved with any of them. Even then, he only addresses big ticket items and some of his points still contradict each other.
So outlook uncertain, but bad.
@Monkey:
Duke is probably the most famous name in modern American white supremacy, and basically has been since the 90's.
Trump damn well knew about him, multiple examples of that are available.
Then I guess he did know him.
Why would you need to know more about a white supremacist…
I think he was going for, I cannot know if they are white supremacist from your words only so I have to learn about them before saying anthing. Basically that he doesn't know their group and therefore cannot judge them.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
At the end of the debate last night after repeated stabs and gouges from Rubio and Cruz, when asked what would they do if Trump won the nomination they responded by saying they would fall in line with the party and support him.
Well that is kind of the point of primaries. I'm surprise that Fox actually asked the question especially at end, their answer will probably help Trump keep his momentum.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
OK random question for you guys. My mom was bitching about Trump but she has a good point: what the hell are Donald Trump's policies? I know about the whole Muslim charade, the wall he wants to build around Mexico and the expertise in economics but what's his foreign policy? How does he feel about college? Does he just rant and rave or does he actually have some legitimate quality ideas?
He keeps it vague, call everyone a great guy(except other candidates) and promise to get the best to assist him. But if you want specifics I doubt you can find that last more than 1 debate(except the wall).
Tell me about it. In the town I live in the Republicans voted for Trump. In this well-off, well-educated town they voted for Trump. To be fair, Kasich was a close second, but still. What is going through their minds?
The well educated thing surprises me. I'm not honestly surprised at lower/middle class conservatives in the Northeast leaning Trump for a few reasons.
1. He's a northeast style shit talking "Guy" who aside from the millionaire huckster thing almost sounds like an asshole from down at the bar.
2. Southern style evangelical far-right is more toxic to this crowd, so Cruz was a nonstarter by comparison.
But the upper class republicans supporting him? Hurts my head. Most that I know who are more of the business sort are anti-Trump and like Kasich or Rubio. But the ones that are for Trump I really dunno.
I had to triple-check that this WASN'T The onion before I posted it but…..
Donald J. Drumpf.... the man who very easily could end up being our next president..... Tweeted an Unsolicited Dick Pic today in response to Rubio's comments about the size of his hands….
This is a thing that actually happened.
For real.
Not a Joke....
Oh my god.....
I had to triple-check that this WASN'T The onion before I posted it but…..
Donald J. Drumpf.... the man who very easily could end up being our next president..... Tweeted an Unsolicited Dick Pic today in response to Rubio's comments about the size of his hands….
This is a thing that actually happened.
For real.
Not a Joke....
Oh my god.....
That's not the real ABC news site.
Check the other articles on the site. It's satire.
Oh thank god…. Is it bad tho that I totally believed it's something he might do?
That's the thing, it's really hard to gauge where he stands, since it appears to change whenever it suits the purposes of his campaign.
The only concrete things we can say about him are that he's a liar, a narcissist, a failure of a businessman and an effective hatemonger among people. If we took his words at face value, then his plans range anywhere from just mimicking the republican party to committing war crimes. As far as I can tell from his website, his plans mostly involve deregulation of industry and his immigration talk. Even when he lays out his plans, he demonstrates no real understanding of the legislation involved with any of them. Even then, he only addresses big ticket items and some of his points still contradict each other.
So outlook uncertain, but bad.
I just dont understand why people support this guy. He's a dick, im not even going to write a huge novel as to why. Hes not getting the black vote, nor the latino one, and probably very few women votes especially if running against Hillary. Why the fuck is he so succesful? Are we really so mad at Obama that we're going to jump all the way to Trump! He doesnt even know what hes doing! Hes winging it! The best part is if you dont support him his supporters call you a liberal idiot! The utter irony!
Oh thank god…. Is it bad tho that I totally believed it's something he might do?
His twitter posts dick pictures all of the time though.
I just dont understand why people support this guy. He's a dick, im not even going to write a huge novel as to why. Hes not getting the black vote, nor the latino one, and probably very few women votes especially if running against Hillary. Why the fuck is he so succesful? Are we really so mad at Obama that we're going to jump all the way to Trump! He doesnt even know what hes doing! Hes winging it! The best part is if you dont support him his supporters call you a liberal idiot! The utter irony!
What do mean we?
Most us know that most of what's happened the last 8 years is the fault of Republican obstructionism and plain stupidity. The other half are either being too ignorant or too stubborn to do proper research so they either lap up lies or come to shortsighted conclusions.
His twitter posts dick pictures all of the time though.
Where you are what you are in the dark…..or the camera flash.
What do mean we?
Most us know that most of what's happened the last 8 years is the fault of Republican obstructionism and plain stupidity. The other half are either being too ignorant or too stubborn to do proper research so they either lap up lies or come to shortsighted conclusions..
Republicans are criticizing Obama as the most "divisive and partisan president in American history" (actual quote from Trump's site).
That's what they say still even weeks after the first official reaction to the death of a supreme court justice was "Obama ain't gettin none of that!"
Republicans are criticizing Obama as the most "divisive and partisan president in American history" (actual quote from Trump's site).
Well we know Trump is a lapdog he kind of has to being given he has no acumen for politics and also because has to say that to give himself credibility like every single republican (RINO's or otherwise) running for anything these days.
Well we know Trump is a lapdog he kind of has to being given he has no acumen for politics and also because has to say that to give himself credibility like every single republican (RINO's or otherwise) running for anything these days.
The point isn't how Drumpf fits into this, it's that the republican party has been passing off their meddling as Obama's fault. That's the rhetoric on their side. They've trained their voterbase to believe that the slightest attempt to enact any policy as a democrat, regardless of whether it's right or left in nature, is a transgression. The content of Obama's work has never been a question.
I just dont understand why people support this guy.
something something "we need to make America great again!!!!1!"
I just dont understand why people support this guy. He's a dick, im not even going to write a huge novel as to why. Hes not getting the black vote, nor the latino one, and probably very few women votes especially if running against Hillary. Why the fuck is he so succesful? Are we really so mad at Obama that we're going to jump all the way to Trump! He doesnt even know what hes doing! Hes winging it! The best part is if you dont support him his supporters call you a liberal idiot! The utter irony!
Trump is a rabble rouser to malcontents and racists who dislike things like those darn queers getting married, those job-stealing illegals, them thuggish black people, and those terrorists, among others.
Sadly, as much as I do like living in Arizona, there are many of those aforementioned people here.
To the surprise of, well, really, nobody, Ben Carson suspended his campaign.
To the surprise of, well, really, nobody, Ben Carson suspended his campaign.
It's about time. Kasich will probably hang on until the 15th.
Back to studying pyramids.
What do mean we?
I personally have no quarrel with Obama or a slightly leftist presidential agenda. I think Obama has been decent albeit shady. George W Bush dicked the country down pretty well and Obama has mostly fixed or at least plateaued the damage. It just seems most americans are ungrateful and bitter towards him now. That why i said we.
We seems like too vague and sweeping of a term though.
It just seems most americans are ungrateful and bitter towards him now. That why i said we.
Obama's approval numbers are actually fairly decent for a sitting President and will probably spike pretty high after he leaves office. They're about a third again as high as Bush's were at a similar point in their terms.
Obama's gonna rank high on academic and popular surveys of presidents.
He's certainly topped Johnson by leaps and bounds.
We seems like too vague and sweeping of a term though.
It has more to do with lazy grammar than my actual point. I guess if you want specifics independents and far right voters? I think the middle to leaning rights cant seriously be stumping for Trump at least i think.
@Monkey:
The well educated thing surprises me. I'm not honestly surprised at lower/middle class conservatives in the Northeast leaning Trump for a few reasons.
1. He's a northeast style shit talking "Guy" who aside from the millionaire huckster thing almost sounds like an asshole from down at the bar.
2. Southern style evangelical far-right is more toxic to this crowd, so Cruz was a nonstarter by comparison.But the upper class republicans supporting him? Hurts my head. Most that I know who are more of the business sort are anti-Trump and like Kasich or Rubio. But the ones that are for Trump I really dunno.
I doubt less than 10% has a bachelor's degree here. I'm betting at least 25% has a Master's.
Education doesn't automatically equal money, but you can't be less than middle/upper-middle to buy a house here. The house we live in was around $300,000 (12 years ago) and it's a three bedroom, 1843 New England sea-style house with garage on 1/2 an acre. The house on the hill behind me is a mansion with a stable and fields.
And fucking DRUMPF. It makes me want to go to the next town meeting and shout, "FOR SHAME!!!"
I doubt less than 10% has a bachelor's degree here. I'm betting at least 25% has a Master's.
Education doesn't automatically equal money, but you can't be less than middle/upper-middle to buy a house here. The house we live in was around $300,000 (12 years ago) and it's a three bedroom, 1843 New England sea-style house with garage on 1/2 an acre. The house on the hill behind me is a mansion with a stable and fields.
And fucking DRUMPF. It makes me want to go to the next town meeting and shout, "FOR SHAME!!!"
As a San Diego native currently renting an apartment in the Bay Area, those housing prices make me wistful.
As a San Diego native currently renting an apartment in the Bay Area, those housing prices make me wistful.
We're outside of the Boston area. If you go into Boston, it'll get more expensive.
And this house isn't that great, so don't be that wistful.
We're outside of the Boston area. If you go into Boston, it'll get more expensive.
And this house isn't that great, so don't be that wistful.
I mean, the median price for a three bedroom house in San Diego is almost 550K. I probably won't be buying a house there for a while.
So… Drumpf ist Stumpf...? e_e
smh @ Cruz. This guy's a goddamn fucking loon, needless to say. This guy's Kansas stump rally speech going on right now is a horrorshow.
Apparently he and Trump are having their caucus rallies at the same site. I can't wait for a brawl to break out.
After finally watching the 11th GOP debate I think if the establishment threw their full support behind Kasich and the other candidates endorsed Kasich as the GOP nominee, as they said they would for whoever it was, then they'd actually have a shot at the presidency. I mean, sure, it's easy to sound sane and come off as the logical choice when you have so little time to speak and Trump and Cruz are standing next to you, but I guess that's Kasich's strength. He's not Trump, Cruz, or Rubio.
He's the closest thing the GOP has to a viable moderate Republican candidate.
You mean he's a real person and not a caricature? That explains why he's in last place.
Kasich's a moderate on foreign policy and the economy but he's almost as conservative on social issues as the rest.
I doubt less than 10% has a bachelor's degree here. I'm betting at least 25% has a Master's.
Education doesn't automatically equal money, but you can't be less than middle/upper-middle to buy a house here. The house we live in was around $300,000 (12 years ago) and it's a three bedroom, 1843 New England sea-style house with garage on 1/2 an acre. The house on the hill behind me is a mansion with a stable and fields.
And fucking DRUMPF. It makes me want to go to the next town meeting and shout, "FOR SHAME!!!"
It's funny but I think of all things Trump is uniting a common strand in the Northeast and South in certain parts of the conservative and middling population.
Being loud, proud, and speaking his mind and not "being PC".
I think on a really basic level that appeals to Joe "Springsteen Song Subject" Carmetti, and also appeals to Joe Bob "Good ol' Boy" Calhoun. Because hey that's exactly what the guys down at the factory/gas station talk like.
In spite of tremendous other differences in the regions this is still uniting a certain sort of people, generally male but plenty of women too.
Meanwhile funnily enough the Midwest? Doesn't seem to like him. The same middle aged dude in Nebraska or whatever doesn't like that sort of trash talking.
To the surprise of, well, really, nobody, Ben Carson suspended his campaign.
As much as the guy harped on about not being a politician being a sticking point, his campaign failed because he had absolutely no skill in politics and no long term plan.
As much as the guy harped on about not being a politician being a sticking point, his campaign failed because he had absolutely no skill in politics and no long term plan.
Also, unlike Trump, he was about as charismatic and engaging as a plate of cold mashed potatoes.
You mean he's a real person and not a caricature? That explains why he's in last place.
Kasich's a moderate on foreign policy and the economy but he's almost as conservative on social issues as the rest.
Mostly, at least he "respects" the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality.
@Monkey:
Meanwhile funnily enough the Midwest? Doesn't seem to like him. The same middle aged dude in Nebraska or whatever doesn't like that sort of trash talking.
Cruz currently has a sizable lead in Kansas as well, which falls in line with that. Considering that Rubio won Minnesota, it's possible the entire Midwest region could go to people other than Trump depending on how Nebraska and Missouri go.
You people need to realize that Midwest is a lot broader than you making it out. The Laker folk (besides the Minnesotans and the Cheesheads) like Trump just fine. It's those of us west of Ol' Man River and in the Great Plains that don't care much for him. Those that didn't develop large urban centers nor have sizable minority populations.
He will win in Illinois and Michigan, and possibly Ohio (only because of Kaisch being a well-liked governor there is there a struggle). I'd suspect he'll win in Missouri and Indiana as well.
According to NYT, Ted Friendless won the Kansas caucus by a big margin, Drumpf became second and Little Marco third.
You people need to realize that Midwest is a lot broader than you making it out. The Laker folk (besides the Minnesotans and the Cheesheads) like Trump just fine. It's those of us west of Ol' Man River and in the Great Plains that don't care much for him. Those that didn't develop large urban centers nor have sizable minority populations.
That might be true in some of the lakes but Minnesota and Iowa generally follow lake trends in other regards and they've rejected trump. And trump isn't exactly surging in urban centers either. Ohio and Michigan share some attributes and migration history with the nearby south as well. I understand the divide between lakes and plains, but the major differences you listed are urban focused. Which really, when it comes to conservatives does that really make that much of a difference?
Rubio is doing even worse than usual. Was Cruz winning in Maine expected?