The 2016 Presidential Election Trainwreck

[All-American]

So did Romney help or hurt Trump?

Won't affect Trump supporters. But it could hurt Trump if it nudges the remaining candidates to start coordinating their campaigns to try to keep Trump below 50%.

[Uncle Ted]

So SeattleUte joins Goatnapper and Venkman as the first three here to come of the closet as Trump supporters. Why am I not surprised?

I have been saying that SU is a Trump fanboy for some time.

BTW, why do I get the feeling that The Drudge Report web site likes Trump as well...

[Uncle Ted]

Sorry, there ain't no way a meaningful number of Sanders voters move to the Trump camp.

What if he promises a free education at Trump University?

[Walter Sobchak]

Excellent question. Amazing how resilient these Trump supporters are. They just keep digging in their heels.

Why I support Trump — and resent the elites trying to destroy him

I'll sum up: "He's not as bad as George W. Bush who I voted for twice."

[imanihonjin]

What if he promises a free education at Trump University?

Hell no. Those people don't want to learn about real estate they want to study something with utility. Something like theater arts or medieval history.

[venkman]

So Goatnapper and Venkman are the first two here to come of the closet as Trump supporters. Why am I not surprised.

I haven't decided who I'm voting for. I didn't read Goat's post as an endorsement of Trump, but rather an explanation of the appeal. It's not about racism. The working class have felt like they don't have a home since the Democrats abandoned them in 1994 with the passage of NAFTA. Trump talks about issues the working man is concerned about.

[BlueK]

I haven't decided who I'm voting for. I didn't read Goat's post as an endorsement of Trump, but rather an explanation of the appeal. It's not about racism. The working class have felt like they don't have a home since the Democrats abandoned them in 1994 with the passage of NAFTA. Trump talks about issues the working man is concerned about.

Too bad for them that Trump's trade ideas would hurt his supporters even worse. Have fun paying 30% more overnight for everything at Walmart. And while tariffs may eventually artificially prop up a few industries, it would take at least months if not longer for it to result in more jobs, and those would still only help a minority of workers. Higher prices on the other hand, would be instant and would hurt lower income people the most.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I haven't decided who I'm voting for. I didn't read Goat's post as an endorsement of Trump, but rather an explanation of the appeal. It's not about racism. The working class have felt like they don't have a home since the Democrats abandoned them in 1994 with the passage of NAFTA. Trump talks about issues the working man is concerned about.

It is most definitely partly about racism and xenophobia.

[BlueK]

It is most definitely partly about racism and xenophobia.

Yeah, there is no way to miss that. Of course it is.

[pelagius]

It is most definitely partly about racism and xenophobia.

Yep and I expect regardless of whether Trump gets the nomination or not the republican party platform will become increasingly protectionist and nativist (I suppose this expectation is conditional on the GOP surviving). It will look more and more like the "dirty right" of Europe. (count me out of that party)

[SeattleUte]

Yep and I expect regardless of whether Trump gets the nomination or not the republican party platform will become increasingly protectionist and nativist (I suppose this expectation is conditional on the GOP surviving). It will look more and more like the "dirty right" of Europe. (count me out of that party)

BS is just as much in for of that.

[Omaha 680]

BS is just as much in for of that.

I was just going to post that. He doesn't speak in racial terms, but a big part of his support comes from the protectionist wing of the democrat party.

[pelagius]

BS is just as much in for of that.

Maybe ... I don't think he is nearly as nativist as Trump, but he's probably as protectionist as Trump (of course, it's hard to say where Trump really is on protectionism). I do think the orange reich is all in on both so republicans are going to pander pretty hard to them over those aspects even after Trump is gone. (More generally I think you'll see more pandering to white-male resentment by the GOP for a while).

[BlueK]

I was just going to post that. He doesn't speak in racial terms, but a big part of his support comes from the protectionist wing of the democrat party.

Which is really what makes Trump dangerous to the economy, IMO. Where other candidates would fail to get much through the Congress, there is a real danger Trump could get his knucklehead protectionist crap to pass using mostly democrat votes with some help of Republicans only being supportive because they'd be in the same party as Trump. Same thing for taxes. If you make a decent living I guarantee you'll pay more in taxes under Trump, maybe as bad or worse than it's been with Obama. Again, because it's harder for a democrat president to push through higher taxes with a Republican congress than it would be for fake-republican Trump to do so with any Congress. At some point the economy will tank and he'll be booted out in 4 years.

On the other hand, I'm still not convinced he can win the general election anyway. It might be possible, but given the demographics of the country today I find it highly improbable for any candidate to win without getting a single non-white vote, which is essentially what Trump would have to do.

[Shaka]

Don't forget Shaka

I don't support Trump. I'll vote for Rubio or Cruz. In the general I'd consider Trump over Hilary.

With that said I don't think Trump is the anti-Christ nor do I think he's Hitler's equivalent. Mostly I think he's a blowhard.